If We Survive

Chapter 19

I find out only a few hours later that my problems have just started.

The good news is, I don't have to choose, and the bad...

Well, I should start back st the beggining. 

After everybody else has curled up in their respective rooms, sleeping, Greg asks to talk to me. I know I won't get any of Zack's tempermental crap, nor will I be given a clear pane of my options. 

Actually, I'm not even sure why he would want to talk to me. Maybe because he wants to keep me around, or wants me to leave. 

Of all of them, Greg and I were the least friendly- he's a cool guy, and a good hunter, but we never really connected. 

He leads me outside, were he was keeping watch erlier. Out of pure paranoia, I bring my gun. 

Better safe than brutally murdered, right? 

Greg looks at me quietly for a moment, light green eyes reflected by the night. 

"I know." He blurts out. 

What exactly do you know, dear Greg?

"About you and Zack." 

Ah, shit. 

"So?" I ask, instantly defensive. "Is that, like illegal, now?" 

He pauses for a moment. I wonder if he's ever had a teenaged daughter that he's ever had this sort of conversatuon with. I know pretty uch nothing about him, about who he was before all of this, who he loves, why he was in the Rockies, or even were he's from. 

He really isn't all that old, either.

At first I thought he was in his mid-fifties, but it's clear that's not true. More like early forties- you can almost tell by the way he talks. 

"Why did you keep it a secret?" 

"Because I knew you would react badly." I reply stubbornly. Why am I being such an ass? 

"Yeah, well, that was pretty smart of you. Speaking of lies, why did you not tell me that you knew Zack and Stephen before?" 

"Becuase I was afrad that you were a serial killer, and would go after them if I told you." It's most of the truth. 

"Liar." I'm not lying, I swear to God. 

"Do you even know what happen in the woods beofre you very convenently dissapeared?"

"Yeah." I lie. 

"Oh? Then what exactly happened?" 

Shit. 

"Fine. I don't know, because I hit my head, ok? But everybody is alive and well." 

He shakes his head. "You're not helping your case at all. Not that there ever was a case for you."

"What happened that day in the woods, then?" 

I'm screwed. I know it, I know. I don't know what's going to happen, but I do know that I am so very screwed. 

He glares. "Tomorrow, I'm telling everyone. And you-" But I go back inside, because if I hear another word, I'm going to start crying. 

What have I done? 

Oh God, what have I done?

I screw stuff up, ok? Ever since I was a kid, I've messed stuff up- it happens. Like, in middle school, I played basketball. Sometimes I forgot how big and tall I was, and... Well, I swear to God I don't takle people, they just bounce off me. 

I got in a lot of trouble, for that. 

But still my parents wouldn't let me play football. 

That's so petty now. 

I don't get a single wink of sleep. I breifly consider running off, and then I don't. I may be a coward, but not that much of one. 

I have to face this, no matter what happens. 

Greg doesn't waster any times calling us around the kictchen table. All of us, my family included, are standing there, waiting fot Greg's great snnouncment. 

I stand on the fringe, hoping, hoping...

"I belive, it is our job, as a democratic household, to vote on the fate of one of our own." He says. My fate, in their hands. It loks like I was th lst one to know. 

"Cassidy Lee James, you are chared with four accounts of murder, in the woods near to this house on the twnety-third of December, were you mercilessly killed three survivors, three poeple who posed no threat to you." 

Did I? 

Yeah, I did. 

Like the freaking killer that I am. 

My mother's mouth is slightly agape, eyes darting between Greg and I. 

"What do you plea?" He asks. 

I then do asomething really dumb. I don't know what makes me do it- I could just as easily lie, and get out, but I don't. "Guilty as charged." I reply.

Maybe I am brave. 

Or just stupid. 

Greg looks just as suprised as I am. 

"WHat will my punishment be?" The voice isn't mine. I mean, I'm the one talking, but the voice doesn't sound like my normal annoyingly teenage girl one. 

It sounds like that of someone who is fearless. 

I am frealess. In that exact moment, I know that whatever they do to me, I can take it. 

"You will be booted from the cabin." He replies. 

"Then I will." I reply, turning for my stuff. 

"Would anybody like to accompany her?" He asks, and I have to turn back around. I see my brother open his mouth, but I shake my head. If he steps forward, I swear to God the whole brave kid act will be done with. I'll burst into tears. 

I give up my gun and only hope for survival, and walk out the door, a duffel bag to my name. 

And I am not afraid. 

-

Two chapters in one night, herp derp. 

"Technicly" the story starts after this. I guess this was the longest charicter developing introduction of all literature, but it really doesn't matter to a total professional like me. 

Also: 19 Chapters! P-A-R-T-Y!