The group screamed as someone kicked in the vent, Leo quickly stood up he didn't know who or what kicked that vent in. They looked up, seeing a pair of worn down country boots. The boots were worn by a girl, one of the trappers. Megan screamed and scrambled back, upon seeing the female trapper.
"Relax, I ain't gonna hurt y'all." The cowgirl trapper from before said softly.
The girl then dropped down from the vent and dusted herself off. The group could see her more clearly now, and noticed more details than before. She had long black hair in a braid over her shoulder, and tan skin. She wore a black tank top, ripped bell bottom jeans, and a black and red flannel tied around her waist. While her cowgirl hat covered her face in a shadow, making it impossible to clearly see her face. She had a shotgun slung on her back, and a pouch on her right hip. Adorning a pistol on her right hip, and dual pistols on her thighs. She sure was stocked for a fight, or to hunt.
"Who are you?" Leo asked still on edge and tense.
"Name's Dixie, darlin', now again I ain't gonna hurt y'all. I'm just here to help y'all." Dixie explained.
"What do you mean help us?" Jake asked.
Dixie sighed. "Those people out there, huntin' y'all they ain't gonna stop 'til y'all are dead. And trust me it won't be pretty. Now I can get y'all out of here, I know my way 'round and I know the routes those people avoid." She explained.
Andrea scoffed, and spoke "Me and my brother know our way around too how do we-" however she was cut off by Leo.
"Wait hold on a minute Draya, she might actually want to help us. And unfortunately right now we're in no position to say no." Leo said.
The group looked at Leo, dumbfounded, but he was right they really were in no position to decline.
Dixie smiled and tilted her cowgirl hat back, revealing her face. There was a long rugged nasty looking scar down her right eye. "See this?" She asked pointing to the scar. "My boss gave it to me for helpin' two little girls. However I failed, and both those girls died. My boss shot and killed 'em, so unless you want that same fate?" She explained.
The group grew silent, if Dixie's boss hurt her, then they would definitely hurt them.
After a while Leo spoke up, he didn't want to see anyone hurt. "Alright then, Dixie, lead the way." Leo said.
Dixie nodded. "Lovely. Keep your mouths shut and follow me, any sound can give y'all away."
The group stayed silent as they all followed Dixie, the only sound was their footsteps, Jake's sneakers a little squeaky, and Christine's heels clicking under her. Dixie had them both take off their shoes, before she led them down numerous rooms until they reached a dark basement.
"Y'all wait here, y'all will be safe until I come back. I'll lead my group away, they have no idea how to get down here. But that won't stop 'em from gettin' lost and wanderin' around." Dixie said.
"How will we know it's you?" Chase asked.
"I'll whistle." She said, before whistling a creepy tune.
The group nodded, a little freaked out, but grateful for Dixie's help. They watched as Dixie turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Chase stopped her.
"Dixie, wait." Chase called out.
Dixie stopped and looked over her shoulder at Chase. "Yes?"
"What if it's not you?" He asked, his voice shaking.
"Than ya run for the hills." Dixie said, her cowgirl hat casting her face in shadows.
Her smiles could be seen as she turned and left, molding into the shadows of the dark hall.
"That lady is creepy as fuck!" Jake said.
The group nodded agreeing with Jake, but regardless, they were grateful for her help. Jake and Christine both leaned against the wall and put their shoes back on.
"Do you think she's really coming back?" Stacey asked.
"She could be." Leo said. "But what choice do we have other than trust her?"
"For all we know she threw us down here and is bringing her friends down to kill us!" Chase shouted.
"You guys saw her scar." Gwen said.
"How do we know she wasn't lying about how she got it?" Andrea said.
"You don't just lie about a scar like that, whatever happened it clearly hurt her, and it would be impossible to forget." Leo stated.
The group looked at him, he was right. A scar like that would hurt and you definitely wouldn't be able to forget how you got it. The only reason the group had a reason not to trust Dixie, was because she was a trapper. Her friends had tried to kill them, and were still looking for them. Right now they didn't have a choice but to hide in the room and hope Dixie wasn't lying to them.
"Why don't we take turns resting, we should get as much of our energy back as we can. Who knows when we'll have to run again." Leo suggested.
The group nodded, they all agreed. Jake and Megan sat in the corner, while Stacey curled up against Gwen. The young girl soon fell asleep, and Leo took the chance to ask Gwen something he had been meaning to ask.
"Yo Gwen." Leo called out to the girl.
"What's up?" She asked.
"I don't mean any disrespect, but uh, are you and Stacey like uh..." He trailed off unable to find the words.
"Dating?" Gwen asked, Leo sighed and nodded in response. "Yea, we have been for a few months now, she didn't want to tell you or your folks because she didn't know how you'd react." She explained with a fond smile, looking at the girl in her arms.
Leo chuckled and shook his head. "Man this girls always hiding things from me. But it's cool, I support you guys. Just don't hurt her, that's all I ask."
"I would never." Gwen said with a sincere smile.
Leo nodded and sat down, leaning his head on the wall. He stared at the wall blankly across from him, he was overthinking again. And the group clearly noticed it, but no one said anything.