“It looks like he hurried out,” Raven commented, gesturing to the footprints. “The ones going back toward the window are further apart than the ones coming in.”
Henry touched the footprint with the tip of his finger as if he could get a sense of the man that left it. He sheathed his knife and stood, wiping his damp hand on his jeans.
“We’ll have to secure this window from now on,” he said frowning. He shut the glass and closed the inner shutters that kept out the cold, running his hand down the wood.
“I saw an old slide bolt in one of the kitchen drawers, along with screws and a hand-held Philips.” Raven turned to fetch them and tell Liz that all was safe. For now, she thought darkly. She glanced at Henry from the hallway. He stood in thought staring outside into the pouring rain. His expression was brooding.
Raven sighed and trotted down the stairs. “Everything’s okay, Liz, Rocky,” she called.
Rocky scratched at the kitchen door and Raven let him out. He bounded up the stairs, growling menacingly.
Liz poked her face out from beneath the couch. “Is it safe?” she asked with a tremble. Her face was so innocent and lost-looking with her shock of curls that fell across her eyes that Raven’s throat constricted.
“Yes, come on out,” she answered, clearing her throat. Please let us keep this girl safe, she thought, praying to everything and nothing.
“Okay,” Liz responded and scooted from under the couch. Standing, she hitched up the too-big sweatpants and brushed dust and hair from them.
We’ll have to go out soon and get her some proper winter clothes, Raven thought but didn’t say anything out loud. Liz was so frightened of the outside world — not that Raven could blame her. Nothing was safe these days.
“Watch some TV, hon,” Raven spoke, patting Liz on her curly mop of a head. “I’m going to help Henry secure the upstairs window then I’ll start dinner.” She thought they would have the last of the frozen beef she’d thawed out yesterday, it had been in the cabin’s freezer when they arrived with a hand-written date on the side. She had plenty of dried garlic left, though her pasta and rice were getting low again. Raven had enough left for a week of meals and tonight she would make a good one. They deserved a filling supper.
Walking into the kitchen to grab the slid bolt, she had the feeling that their time here was coming to an end. Clearly someone knew they were here and wouldn’t stop at one attempt to take what they had. The cabin was a nice safe place but she’d known it couldn’t last forever. She grabbed the bolt, screws and screwdriver from the drawer, pushing aside the wine opener — a remnant from a happier time — and headed upstairs. Raven thought they might have to leave the cabin for good when they went out to find clothes for Liz and resupply. She knew that man would come back and he probably wasn’t alone. The more it circled around in her head; she became sure that they should leave immediately. Sighing, Raven went into Henry’s room and dumped what she carried on the windowsill.
Henry wasn’t there, but walked back in just as Raven was turning to look for him.
“The truck is safe,” he spoke, wiping a light dew of sweat from his brow. It was warming in here from the fireplace downstairs. “I can see it from the windows in your room.”
“It won’t be for long,” Raven sighed, sitting down on the bed. The comforter enveloped her with a soft sound. “As much as I don’t want to, I think we should leave tonight.” She paused to look through the glass. It was still raining. It seemed like it hadn’t stopped raining since this all began, like the clouds were crying for the human race. Raven snorted quietly. “Like they would care,” she spoke.
“What?” Henry asked, tilting his head in question.
“Nothing,” Raven responded, erasing her hands through the air. “Where’s Rocky?” she asked.
“He’s lying on your bed,” Henry responded. “I tried to get him to come back in here with us but he wouldn’t budge.”
“He’ll be fine in there,” Raven spoke. “My window has a better bolt and I know I locked it this morning.”
“I think we’ll be fine to leave in the morning,” Henry said, responding to her earlier statement. “I’ll sleep in the truck tonight.”
Raven opened her mouth to protest but Henry cut her off.
“I know,” he said, “splitting up is bad. But we have to keep everyone safe and it wouldn’t make sense to leave tonight when it’s dark. We can’t see the roads as well and it’s been fucking raining for weeks!” He gesticulated into the air roughly.
“Okay,” Raven responded, wanting to argue but his logic was sound. “I’m going to pack everything tonight and stow it in the truck. I’ve got a bad feeling.”
Henry nodded. “I’ll get ready.”
They stood silent for a moment regarding each other. The rain continued to fall outside, streaming down the window, making streaks in the glass. Raven walked to it and stared out. She couldn’t see very much, just dampness and greenery, but she felt a presence outside. Something or someone meant them harm and it weighed on her.
“Don’t worry, sis,” Henry spoke, slapping her on the shoulder companionably and making her jump. “It’ll work out all right.” He sounded so sure.
Raven scoffed and turned from the window. “I’ll go see if I have anything that might fit Liz better.”
“Okay,” Henry responded. “I’ll pack up everything here and
