Trails of Secrets

16. The Small Journey

"So where exactly are we going?"

Liam and Sara had been tramping through the woods for about an hour now. Sara could tell that he was getting restless. And his restless state was bothering her.

"I already told you. To the place that they are holding Chris and Annalise," Sara huffed.

"Oh, yes, of course. I keep forgetting that's where we are going," Liam grumbled sarcastically. 

Sara rolled her eyes and adjusted the backpack on her shoulders. This is really heavy. She looked up at the sun. And this scorching heat isn't helping the weight.

Liam walked closer to Sara and gently asked, "Would you like me to carry it?" 

She scoffed. He thinks I can't handle it myself. That I am a weak girl. I'll show him. She shifted the heavy bag. What weight? What heat?

"I can handle it myself." Sara walked a little faster and held her head up higher. Which was a huge mistake on her part, since she walked right into a spiderweb. "Ugh!"

"Can I please carry it?" He gave her a genuine smile.

Suddenly, the bag seemed very, very heavy.

"Whatever makes you sleep better at night," Sara huffed as she tried to wipe the web from her face. Liam grinned, took the bag from her, and slung it over his shoulder. As much as Sara hated to admit it, the removed weight was a huge relief.

The two continued to walk in silence. Worry and concern clouded their thoughts as they wondered what Annalise and Charlie might be going through.

Sara broke the silence. "It's a long walk to the place. We may have to camp out."

Instant panic for Liam.

"You mean, outside?"

"Yeah, I mean outside. Where else?"

"So outside, like, with the animals and stuff."

"Don't tell me you're scared?"

Was he? 

Yes. Yes he was.

"Of course not!" he lied. "I was just wondering why we would have to camp... I mean... can't we just keep traveling?"

"Best not to. We won't be able to see anything, and I might get lost."

"Ok. That's fine."

It was not fine. Far from fine. Not only did Liam have to get caught up in this mess, but now he had to go camping. He had never been camping before. It was too... different from home. Why would you spend the night outside your comfortable, safe home, and in the horrible outside, full of creatures that could kill you in your sleep. So yeah. He was scared to camp outside.

                                                                            ~~~

"Why don't you go get some wood or something."

Liam was standing nervously while he watched Sara ready the "camp." He looked around the trees near him from where he stood and couldn't see any sticks.

"Don't see any. Guess we are going to have to go without a fire." He snapped his fingers. "Oh darn."

He hated fires.

Or pretty much anything outdoors. 

Sara rolled her eyes. "You idiot. You have to look around. Now get to work while I get everything else set up." She sat on the ground and cleared a spot for the fire.