She cautiously steps out of the small, shoddy campsite they crafted the night before. Patrick has been gone for too long. The woods are thick in this area. Markus said this would be beneficial for them, but now she’s not so sure of that. Suddenly she hears the rustling of leaves and freezes. She wants to call to her son again, but she doesn’t want to lure whatever just made that sound to her.
“What’re you doing?”
The words come from behind her. She panics, her feet leaving the ground for only a second, but long enough to make her almost fall over. She whips around to see Patrick curiously staring at her.
“Damnit Patrick lower your voice! Where were you?!”
She’s frazzled and upset, her tone is not inviting, but still she speaks softly.
“I had to pee.”
“It doesn’t take that long to pee.”
The young boy sheepishly looks to the ground. His foot moves anxiously, stirring the leaves beneath him.
“What were you doing? And don’t lie to me.”
“I thought I saw a rabbit. I was gonna catch it, but it ran away.”
She grabs her son by the arm and leads him back to their campsite. She sits him down on the ground and joins him.
“Don’t worry about trying to catch food. That’s where your dad went.”
“I know. I just wanted to help.”
“You can help by staying in sight.”
“I’m sorry.”
There are times when she forgets he’s just a child. An eleven year old boy whose chance at a normal life was stolen from him. A boy who only knows the horrors of the times they are in, yet somehow he still always means well. He still smiles when he sees a butterfly, he still longs for his mother to hold him close, he still wants to tag along with his father, he still wants to grow, and to learn.
She puts her arm around her son, he wraps his around her waist, and lays his head against her shoulder.
“It’s okay.” she whispers to him.
She leans her head against his. She allows her eyes to close. For a moment their lives aren’t so bad.
“KYLIE?! KYLIE?!”
The shouting springs her up. She can hear movement not too far in front of them, but she can’t see anything.
“KYLIE?!”
Markus is somewhere up ahead and screaming her name.
“Stay here. Do not leave.” she sternly tells Patrick.
She walks to the edge of their camp site surveying the trees in front her. Her eyes squint, but she can’t see anyone.
“KYLIE?!” Markus screams again.
“Over here!” she replies.
“Keep talking so I can find you!”
She begins to recite the alphabet loudly, allowing Markus to guide himself to her position. Once he’s close enough to be seen a wave of terror washes over her. Markus has blood all over his shirt and his arms.
“Are you okay?!”
“I lost dinner.” he says, as he walks past her into their campsite.
“Shhh, lower your voice.” she pleads.
Her request stops him in his tracks.
“Calm down, no one fucking followed me.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, concern coating her words.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’m covered in blood and that’s your question?”
She hesitates, contemplating a reply, but decides not to. He’s upset and angry. Anything she says will lead to more conflict.
“Where is the first aid kit?”
She points to the tent, and he disappears into it. Patrick nervously remains seated on the ground. Markus emerges from the tent with the first aid kit in hand.
He holds the kit out to her, “Help me.” he says.
She takes the kit and removes some gauze and bandages.
“What happened?”
“I was on the way back with some canned food that I found in that little store we passed a day ago when some people ambushed me. Food was probably bad anyway.”
“People did this to you?” she asks as she wipes the blood away on his arm.
He’s got scratches on his skin. His eyes cut to her. His scowl saying all it needs to say. He hesitates, sighs, then finally answers her.
“Yes. I killed two of them, one of them took the food and ran. I chased him but couldn’t catch him.”
“I just don’t understand why they would scratch you. Did they have weapons?”
“One of them had a bat, but my hatchet was more handy.”
“Where is the hatchet?”
Again, he hesitates. She can feel he doesn’t want to answer her questions.
“I fucking left it, okay? I couldn’t get it out of one of their heads.”
She swallows hard, tensing up as he raises his voice. She only nods, choosing not to inquire any further. She has him remove his shirt. It’s too bloody, they’ll have to get rid of it. It’s obvious all of this blood isn’t his. It smells horrid, even worse than it usually does.
She bandages his arm him, and cleans the blood off his body. He tells her they’ll have to leave first thing in the morning, just in case the one that got away comes looking for them. She expected that much. Markus seems off, something is different about this encounter. He’s fought people before, even killed them, and he’s never been this shaken up about it. A sick feeling fills her gut. She doesn’t think he would lie to her, and yet she doesn’t believe his story.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It’s been four days since Rosaline and Mikey approached The Family. She’s surprised at how well he’s adapting to these new people. If The Family is as helpful and close as they say they are then staying here could be really good for Mikey.
As for her, well, she’s trying to fit in. It’s been a long time since she’s had to think about anyone other than Mikey and herself. The Family are timid around her, and most of them do not engage in extended conversations with her. Except for Zee and Sweetie. The latter seems to seek Rosaline out. She likes that.
She thinks the others avoid her because she’s different. She doesn’t always know what the proper thing to say is, and has often blurted out something embarrassing. They’re tying to connect with her, and she wants
