“No rules, no cops,” Zach murmured, smiling beneath his hood. “I guess there’s a difference after all.”
“Hand me an MRE, dude,” Riley said. “And make one for yourself. We’ll need our strength today.”
Zach rummaged in his army green rucksack, pulling out two meals. He handed one to Riley. “Courtesy of your US military,” he said.
Riley chortled. “Only good thing they left us,” he spoke, opening the plastic around his meal and pouring the salt water into the heating pouch. It began to warm immediately.
Zach did the same and they ate without speaking, listening to the pattering of rain.
Liz
She sat in the couch watching the History channel, waiting for Raven and Henry to come back inside. Rocky had gone with them to run before it got too dark but Liz did not want to go. The mere thought of venturing outside the safety of the cabin turned her stomach.
Liz blew out a breath and it fluffed her hair that used to be bangs but now had grown too much. She caught an errant curl and stretched it straight. It reached to her chin and Liz stuck her tongue out, dividing the hairs.
“I need a haircut,” she spoke in a melodic whisper. Liz had always been afraid of talking too loudly; she avoided being noticed and that mattered now more than ever. Those things out there, the monsters that ate her dog and killed her father; she would like it if they never noticed her again. She shivered and turned the volume up, bringing the mellifluous tones of the British narrator into sharper focus. He stood in front of the Egyptian pyramids and talked endlessly about the pharaohs and the slaves that built the pyramids for them. His hair was windblown and his face was ruddy. The scene moved from the narrator to a diagram of the inner workings of the pharaoh’s tomb.
A scraping noise reverberated through the walls and Liz’s heart shot into overdrive. She jumped off the couch, looking about wildly for the source of the sound. Liz stood on the balls of her feet, ready to dash upstairs. The window was unlocked over Henry’s balcony. She could climb out there and wait for her new friends to come and save her. The scraping sounded again. It was coming from just outside the front door. Liz shrieked and covered her mouth, catching most of the noise. Something hit the door, shaking it in its hinges. She bolted, flying up the stairs two at a time and scampering into Henry’s room — the blue room. Liz darted to the balcony and caught sight of a man silhouetted in the open window. She screamed long and ragged and the man turned. He wore a green poncho and had dark eyes. Liz race back down the stairs and skidded through the kitchen, crashing into Raven and knocking her off her feet.
“Liz!” Raven exclaimed. “What the …?” She grasped Liz’s shoulders and held her still, looking into her frantic eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Henry locked the door behind them and shooed Rocky into the kitchen. “Stay out of the way, buddy,” he commanded.
For a moment Liz couldn’t speak, lips frozen with terror as her heartbeat raced. “A man,” she gasped finally. “There’s a man upstairs on the balcony!”
Raven’s visage underwent a change, morphing from gentle concern to rage in an instant. Her hands seemed to burn with heat and she let go of Liz’s arms. Unsheathing her axe, she glanced at her brother.
“Liz, hide under the couch. You’re small enough to fit. Don’t come out for any reason, not until Raven or I come get you. Okay?” His expression was serious but Liz could see the fear beneath like a wave about to crash. “Okay?” he asked again when she didn’t answer.
Liz nodded, breathless and laid on the ground. Using her hands and feet, she slid her slim body beneath the couch, breathing hard.
“Rocky, stay,” Raven spoke forcefully, shutting the kitchen door.
Liz heard Raven’s footsteps, muffled on the carpet. Liz heard a faint creak as someone stepped on the noisy bottom stair. After that she heard nothing but the sound of her own frantic breathing.
Raven
She followed her brother up the stairs, heart tapping out an increasing rhythm.
Henry stopped at the top of the stairs, indicating with his palm that she should stop. He peeked around the doorframe, body vibrating with adrenaline.
“Do you see anybody?” Raven whispered, touching her brother’s back lightly.
“No,” he murmured back. “I can see the curtains moving.”
“I left that window shut,” Raven responded, heart fluttering in her throat.
“I know,” Henry responded. “Come on.” He crept against the wall, glancing quickly to his right to make sure no one was there. Raven’s door was shut. She’d left it that way.
Reaching the door to his room, Henry jumped around the corner, knife raised. He was nearly silent on the soft carpet and did not yell out.
That’s always the mistake they make in movies, Raven thought absently. The victim calls out at the wrong time. She’d never been a horror movie buff but even she knew that.
Raven followed just as quietly, creeping around the corner with her axe held ready. Henry’s shoulder’s slumped and Raven knew there was no danger. She entered Henry’s room and let out a sigh, axe hand falling limp at her side though she kept hold of her hatchet.
The room was empty, sky blue curtains blowing in the breeze. Wind and rain whipped inside, dampening the navy carpet in spreading blotches.
“Someone was in
