I said it was a surprise.
Xoxo
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"So, when do we start?" I asked, trying to steady my breath, still feeling the fatigue from the brutal morning session.
Everett's grin widened, a wicked glint flashing in his eyes. He didn't say a word at first. Instead, he stood there, silent, his gaze drifting toward the window. The first light of dawn filtered through, painting the sky a soft pink. After a moment, he turned back to me, still wearing that devious mask of his, and said, "There's no time like the present."
Before I could even react, I felt a sudden pull. My legs were yanked from under me, and I was dragged out of bed. Within seconds, I was fully dressed in a vest, military boots, and jogging pants—without any say in the matter. The cold air hit me as I was hauled out into the woods, my feet barely touching the ground. I tried to scream for help, but my voice came out muffled, as if someone had stuffed my mouth with cotton. I glanced to my right and saw Everett walking beside me, his grin still in place. At that point, I just gave in, resigning myself to whatever was coming.
Four hours later, I stumbled out of the forest, my legs barely holding me up. I was caked in dirt, soaked in sweat, and my muscles screamed in protest at every movement. Every inch of my body ached in ways I didn't think possible. My chest heaved with exhaustion, but I kept pushing forward.
I made my way to the communal kitchen, desperate for water. It was late morning, and everyone was still cleaning up after breakfast. My head hung low as I dunked my face in the sink, desperately trying to wash away the grime and fatigue. As I looked up, my eyes caught sight of Lori. She was walking toward another girl in the camp, talking in low, hurried tones.
When she saw me, something sparked in her eyes—anger, maybe? It didn't matter. She was holding a stack of plates, a fork still poking out. Without warning, she slammed them down onto the counter with a violent crash. The sound echoed through the room, but my body was too tired to react. I simply went back to scrubbing my face, hoping she'd leave me alone.
But no. Her hand landed hard on my shoulder. I flinched but didn't turn around. Then, the slap came—sharp and unexpected. I didn't flinch this time, but before I could process it, she hit me again. This time, harder.
I whirled around, grabbing her wrist mid-swing, stopping her in her tracks. I didn't say a word. I just stared her down, holding her wrist in a vice-like grip. She yanked and struggled, trying to pull away, but I didn't budge. With a grunt of frustration, she finally managed to break free, stumbling backward into the kitchen counter. The other girls she was talking to rushed to her side, helping her up.
They looked at me like I was the monster here—like I was the one who'd done something unforgivable. They ignored the fact that she'd slapped me twice, tried to slap me again, and that I had every right to defend myself. Lori clutched her wrist, glaring at me with fury.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she spat, her voice seething with anger. "How dare you hit me? Who the hell do you think you are, Shane?"
I met her glare with a cold stare, my silence only making her more enraged.
"You disappeared this morning," she continued, her voice shaky but intense. "We were looking for you. You can't just vanish like that. Not anymore. Everyone was worried—especially Carl! He woke up alone, terrified. Do you have any idea how scared he was?"
I exhaled, trying to push past the exhaustion. "I was out exercising. Got up before anyone else. You expect me to wake everyone just to tell them I'm leaving? Carl was fine when I left. He was sleeping without nightmares."
I turned away, but as I grabbed a cloth to wipe my face, I remembered something—something that had been nagging me all morning. "Better question," I said, spinning around to face her again, "Where the hell were you this morning? I woke up first, and Carl was with me, still asleep. But you were nowhere to be found. Where were you?"
She looked caught off guard, the truth sinking in. She glanced nervously at her friends, hoping they'd bail her out, but none of them said a word. I could see the mark on her neck before she could hide it. I pointed at it, my voice cutting through the silence. "Well, I guess that answers it. It sure as hell wasn't from me."
Her face flushed bright red, her anger rising to an almost comical level. I could practically see steam coming from her ears.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice but making sure it carried. "We're done. The only connection we have now is Carl. I'll still be seeing him, but you? You mean nothing to me. I'm still his uncle. That's all you'll ever be to me."
I turned my back on her, heading toward my van. But Lori's voice rang out, bitter and spiteful. "Run away, Shane. You're no man. You'll be crawling to someone else soon enough, can't even get it up—"
I froze. The words hit me like a slap in the face, and I slowly turned back to face her, locking eyes with her coldly. I raised my voice, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Oh, I can get it up… just not for you."
Days passed, and I completely ignored Lori. The only person I spoke to was Carl.
Carl had started to figure things out—he'd understood that Lori and I weren't together anymore, that she was only pretending to be something she wasn't. His dad, Rick, was gone, and I'd been the one there for him through thick and thin, more than Lori had ever been. Carl started avoiding his mother too, and it was like a quiet understanding had passed between us. He might not have realized it yet, but I'd become his protector. I wasn't his dad—that spot was always going to be Rick's—but I was going to do everything I could to make sure Carl was safe, cared for, and loved.
A few days later, while we were returning from a training session, we heard the unmistakable sound of multiple vehicles driving up the road to the camp. The whole camp stopped in their tracks, heads turning toward the sound.
And then, the first familiar face appeared. People ran toward the vehicles, collapsing into each other's arms, sobbing, laughing, embracing. It was a scene of reunion, a moment of joy in a world that had been dark for so long.
Carl's face turned pale as he saw who was with them. His eyes widened with shock, and then... his knees buckled. He started to cry, though he tried to hold it back, tears silently falling down his face. I turned to him, my voice soft. "I'm so sorry, Carl. I wish your dad were here too."
That's when I heard Morales talking about someone who'd saved them. "It was a cop," he said.
I followed his gaze, and there, standing in front of the crowd, was Rick. Alive. In his deputy uniform, a look of disbelief on his face.
Carl didn't hesitate. He bolted toward him, and before I could stop him, he was in Rick's arms, both of them crying, their relief palpable.
I looked up, and at the corner of my eye, I saw Lori standing there, her face frozen in shock. Rick walked over to her, and without a word, pulled her into a tight hug.
I watched them for a moment, but the weight of everything—of what had happened, of where we were, of where I stood—pressed down on me. I didn't belong there anymore.
As I turned to leave, I heard Rick's voice calling out to me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. The only thing I could hear was the quiet crackling of the forest as I walked into it, leaving them
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The Plot has officially started.
Xoxo