The bright morning sun wakes me. Willow is still in my arms. I pet him and feel his soft fur beneath my hand. I put him on the ground and stand to my feet. I need to go back to the village today to get the gel.
I grab a bird I already prepared for cooking. The animal had had deep green feathers with a plump body that I'm unsure of how it got off the ground. I'll need to make a fire. I can go to the village after eating. I have a large pile of sticks for the fire.
I grab a item I got from the market. It used to be a pan someone found from the ashes of the village but they changed it so that it can hang over a fire.
After cooking the bird, I let the pan cool and bring it inside with the bird still on it. I decided not to let Willow out today. It's too dangerous. I set the bird on one of Cora's clay plates on the table and I take off a big piece of meat and give it to Willow. I eat some of the bird but I'll need the rest later when I can't hunt.
After finishing eating, it's finally time to go to the village. I can't tell the time great using the sun, I zoned out when learning it in school, but I do know it's already nearly noon.
I get my bag and put it on the table. I take out the plant Graham gave me, which I'm surprised is still intact- mostly- much of the dirt spilled and a couple leaves fell off. I also take out the rest of the gel and put it on my burns from yesterday and then I set it next to the plant on the table. In the bag, I notice I have a small knife I'd bought from a former soldier. I take out the knife and put it in my boot just like I used to do. I might need to protect myself and I can't use my ring in the village.
I go outside, careful not to let Willow out, and I set off into the thick woods.
Surprisingly, I don't run into any problems on the way there. The forest was very quiet today. I go to the stand with women that sells the gel. "Back again so soon?" She asks with a warm smile . "Yeah sorry I-- I used it on someone else."
I put my bag on the counter and pull out the three leaves. "I need another one. Is this enough?"
"Oh, that's plenty, thank you!" She grabs the leaves and gives me a can. I smile. "Bye." I have to admit, she's one of the few people on Earth I still like. She's very humble and sweet.
I head to my dad's house, next. I always visit him and I've built somewhat of a relationship with him. We'd started speaking when I began coming to the village for supplies again. Of course at first, I didn't want to talk to him but he always spoke to me, no matter how many times I turned him away. Eventually he grew on me. He's my last family- I should talk to him anyways.
I open the door to his house "Hey Da-"
I don't finish the sentence. I can't. I feel like I can't even move right now I can't even breathe. After I finally allow myself breath, I choke out a single word. "Dad?"
He doesn't move. Of course he doesn't. He's dead. He lays on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. There's a scarlet-red patch of blood in his chest. "Dad! Dad!" he of course doesn't answer so why do I keep hoping he will? "I need help!" I scream, desperately, tears streaming down my face. I left the door open and a group of men run through it.
The general stands behind the men and pushes through them to the front to see the scene. "You killed him, didn't you?" He says, looking absolutely disgusted with me. "No- I-I cared for him. I found him here."
"Bullshit! You tried to kill him the first time you ever met him."
"Not that it matters, but that wasn't the first time I'd met him. We and I had built- a relationship."
The general scoffs. "Then what else could've happened to him?"
I stand and wipe the tears off my face. "Why would I call for help after killing him? That makes no sense."
"To hide that you did it of course."
"Cora killed him. I can prove it. Have them move the body." I say. He smirks. "Okay men, put it with the others."
A few men pick him up and carry him out of the room. I wonder where they're taking the body; better not to think about it. Where he once was, there's a puddle of blood and Cora's thorny plants stained with red. "I saw the vines in his- wound." I say.
"She did that?" one of the men says in disbelief. "The one that created all those- things out there?"
"Yes. she did. And she's-" I slowly back out the door. "She's after the others…"
I turn and run out the door. "Who? Hey! I didn't say you could go!" the general screams. I don't stop though I just keep running. I need to get to the cabin. I bump into a man who nearly falls and I think- I'm pretty sure he yells at me but I can't say for sure.
The large cabin is in sight and I'm out of breath but I keep running. My destination is so close. I swing open the door. Reece is sitting at the table staring at me and Jordan looks like he's preparing some unfamiliar purple berries- also now staring at me. "Great. You're still alive." I mumble. "Where's Graham?"
"Why do you care? You disappear for a while and now you think you can just come by anytime?" Jordan says. "Trust me, I don't want to see your face anymore than you want to see mine- but this is important. I think he might be in trouble."
"What do you mean by 'in trouble'?" Jordan asks. "I mean he could be dead! I need to find him!"
"Dead…? How would you know? What's going on?" Reece says, eyes wide. I walk up to Jordan. "I need to see him. Now." I say in a stern voice. Our noses are nearly touching. Jordan looks uncomfortable by how close we are. "He's fine. I just saw him. Go. Just leave us alone!"
"The only reason you want me to go- is because you don't want him to know what you did." I back up a little. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."
"That's not why you-" He looks at my hand then at Reece. He realizes it's not a promise- it's a threat. If he doesn't help, I tell about what he did yesterday. "I don't need you hurting Graham."
"I'm trying to save him. If anyone was going to hurt him- it'd be you." Jordan is clearly upset but he reluctantly tells me where he's at. "Fine. You can go up to the attic. He's taking care of the plants."
I run up the ladder faster than I knew was possible. Sure enough- Graham is there with a bucket of water, carefully spilling some water into in each plant. I laugh and run up to him, hugging him. "You're alive!" I let go. "Sorry…" I say, awkwardly. "I- I didn't mean to-"
He laughs and sets down the water. "It's fine. But um, what do you mean 'I'm alive?' Why wouldn't I be?"
"I um- well Cora she-" I feel warm tears run down my face. "She- um-"
He grabs my hand and gives me a warm smile. "It's okay. Come on. Let's go sit down."
We go to sit down against the wall. "Cora told me she w-was going to kill anyone I'm close with. She killed my dad and we were building a- a relationship and I thought-" I wipe my tears away but they keep popping out. "I thought you were already gone."
"Hey." He says. "It's fine. I'm right here." He pulls me closer. It feels good. It feels like I'm happy again. I feel how I felt with Jaxon- loved.
I feel horrible. I pushed him away for so long and after I let him back into my life- I pushed him away again. But he loved me through it all. He may or may not have caused Jaxon's death. Maybe if Graham would've sided with me- Jaxon still would've left. I need to stop blaming him. I need to let it go for the last bit of time we have left together. "I'm sorry." I whisper.
"Me too." He says back.
We remain here for a little while longer until we hear loud pounding from downstairs. "I should go see what's going on." Graham says. I sit up and nod. "I'll come with."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
We hear some more pounding before Graham goes down the ladder, me following after him. Jordan is shoving Reece into the bedroom and I see Logan peek out at me before Jordan closes the door. We hear more pounding.
"Coming!" Graham calls. "It's the general." Jordan says. He glares at me and hisses, "What did you do?"