Putz12 Plus One

FOURTEEN | EYES AMONG THE DARKNESS

The walk to the west forest wasn't that bad. Though last time he'd walked there it had been with Buddy, who was probably long-gone by now. It was a good thing there were so many with him now, he could tell himself to save the tears for later. Sera's glow guided the trail, and Putz was in front of them all. Iza wasn't sure if she could speak, so she was quiet for most of the trip. Even when questions arose.

"So how do you know it's an RV? I mean it would be helpful if it was, but--"

"Long time ago, there were some folks who stole from us. It was our RV." Felix explained. "And judging by the events that followed, it just makes sense."

"Can you not fucking interrupt me?!" Putz growled and for a moment there was silence. He turned to see Iza, see if she would say something he'd expect her to, like 'calm down,' and 'don't be such a spaz.' She wouldn't even look at him, her head down, hands folded together like she was some kind of ascetic girl. With a glum tilt of the head he faced forward, continuing to the riverside.

"S...orry. What were you gonna say?"

"I forgot, nothing just, just get on with what you were saying." He grumbled.

Iza looked at Sera who had been keeping close tabs on her, darting a deadly stare back every few meters.

"Well, there's a reason Jedd is the way he is. With us." It was a bit irritating the silence that lingered after every sentence, but Felix was sure to do whatever he could to avoid hearing that nasally voice of Putz's again. "We've been through some things."

"Me too," Iza said, finally. Sera didn't look back so she assumed she didn't overstep her boundaries. "But, things, they happen."

She talks about the sector, she barely speaks, she doesn't even bother to nag me anymore. It's like she avoids my eyes like I don't even exist. She doesn't smile anymore unless to Sera. I understand you don't know a person in a few days, or years even. But this isn't her. I don't know her, I'm not saying I do, but this. Isn't. Her. There was no explanation. Even before Sera kissed him, she avoided him the entire day. And that night with the backpack, what was up with that? It had nothing to do with Sera at all, he thought.

"Things, yeah. It has to be ours. Never thought we'd see it again. But, the things..."

"The remains..." Putz finished. "Why did they die, and why do you think you won't?" Because you have a god like me, he thought.

"We don't know anything." Derek admitted. "But being there, it's like a prison."

"Yeah," Agreed Felix. He was soft and kept glancing back at Sera and would show sullen eyes when she wouldn't notice. "They check your leg for your number, categorize you like you're some animal, then assign you something to do."

'Check for your number. Hand on her thigh.' Jedd wasn't trying to assault her at all. Iza wanted to scream but couldn't. It was like watching a movie, a bad movie, a horror movie, and it was some girl playing her, but not herself. If Sera knew these protocols they took, that means she intended to kill him for something else. But why?

"Octofro let us go because he knew he was wrong."

"Yeah, and I was tired of trying to score brownie points from Jedd. I think you have a point, nameless douchebag. We should move up."

"Excuse me, you fucking prick?!" He growled over the harshness of the river. Sera wrapped her hand around his shoulder and Iza was too busy trying to piece together what happened to make sure she wasn't falling apart at the seams of insanity, to notice.

"Hey, guys please. We don't have a home now. We don't have anywhere, a leader or anything. Just each other."

"Wrong!" Asserted Putz, getting right in Felix's face. "I am the leader! I am the sexy one!"