𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝

Chapter Fifteen: Too Trusting

Once Dylan parked the van, I hopped out of the car, not bothering to wake Fed up just yet, and walked towards the other van. Raine, Jack, and Sam came piling out and walked sleepily over to me. When my eyes found Raine's wearily face, I felt a small sting of sadness ripple through me.

It was hard to look at her and pretend like what Dylan told me hours ago didn't have an impact.

Does this mean we're not sisters anymore? Should I tell her? Or should I pretend like nothing happened and never say anything?

"Nora?"

I blinked back into focus to see Raine waving her hand around in front of my face,

"You good?" she asked.

"Yeah, good, just tired," I replied curtly before turning to face Charlie who was now next to me.

"I figured that we should stop here since it's getting late and we're running out of gas," I told him, "and I don't know about you guys but we don't have any more food left."

"Yeah we're running low over here too since Sam eats for two," Charlie snickered and Sam playfully punched him in the arm.

"And what are you, on a diet?" he countered, only to receive a similar shoulder smack from his brother. Dylan, who I could tell was starting to get frustrated with the useless chit-chat, spoke up to the group.

"I saw houses a short walk that way," he said, pointing his thumb to the right of the gas station where a few small houses were settled along the road, "so we can take turns filling up gas and heading over there to get clothes and a shower."

"Okay, I should probably wake Fed up now," I added and started walking back towards the van. I opened the back door carefully and climbed into the back next to where Fed was still asleep. How the hell is he still passed out? I shook my head before gently nudging his shoulder to wake him up, but he didn't even move. Well...okay.

This time I pushed his shoulder a little harder, but still nothing. Alright he's asking for it. I used both of my hands to grab his shoulders and shake him awake. Only then did Fed slowly start blinking awake.

"Finally," I sighed with a small smile, "I thought you were never going to wake up."

"What time is it?" he groaned, sitting up and rubbing his neck.

"Almost 9 pm," I replied, checking my watch, "you slept for about eight hours. We stopped at a gas station with a 7-Eleven and a couple of houses so we can get gas, food, clothes, and if we're lucky, a shower."

I gave Fed a hand to help him climb out of the van.

"That's great," he replied sleepily.

"Hey Fed, feeling better?" Charlie asked when Fed and I reached the group

"Yeah, much better. Thanks for letting me sleep for a while," he answered.

"Okay so, Jack, your group can go to the houses first while the rest of us hit the gas station and then we'll switch. Sound good?" Dylan spoke up, but his words seemed more like an order than a request and he started walking towards the gas station as soon as he finished talking. The rest of the group murmured in agreement and started breaking up.

"Fed, you can go with Sam and the others. I'll stay here with them," Charlie offered, nodding his head towards me and Dylan, who was almost at the entrance. I started walking to catch up with him.

"Be careful, we don't know for sure if those houses are abandoned. And you've got one of the...," I heard Charlie say as I walked away. Understanding what he was implying, Fed nodded his head.
"Yeah. I've got one just in case. You be careful too, alright."