The Long Road Home

Chapter Twelve

In the morning when the boy woke, Page let the silent boy help her make up enough oatmeal for everyone. She woke Jeremy and his little brother. Roger seemed to have improved a little, and he ate everything she gave him. After another round of antibiotics, Page gave them all a treat and make them some hot chocolate.

            'Here's my plan.' She told the three as they sat relaxing in the warm sunshine. The light of day revealed to her just how bad these poor kids looked. They were covered with bruises and the signs of starvation was sickening. 'Once you three are strong enough, I want to take you to the town a little bit to the east.'

            'What's there?' Jeremy asked confused.

            'Supplies.' She replied and then motioned to the house. 'I don't think it is safe to stay here. We can find a place to hold up until you're all stronger. Then we will decide what to do.' Jeremy nodded and concentrated on helping his brother drink.

Page kept a close eye on the two throughout the day. Roger seemed to improve although he slept a lot. He ate everything his brother gave him. Every once in awhile she would catch Jeremy whispering to him 'I'm sorry brother.' Repeatedly. Page did not know what to do to get it through the boy's head that this was not his fault.

The nameless boy was the healthiest of the bunch. He had turned into her shadow and helped her with everything. Weather it getting water from the guesthouse, or gathering wood for the fire. The whole time he remained blank and did not speak, but Page knew he would when he was ready.

She moved everyone into the guesthouse when she discovered a fireplace in the main room. Page made sure the three were comfortable before she built a fire. She was not happy about being inside again, but the boys would be better protected here if the infected came along.

She looked to the boy who was sitting next to the fire with the same blank stare. Jeremy was sitting cuddling his sleeping brother in his arms and whispering more apologies to him. Page did not know what to do with these three. She had no experience with kids at all, let alone traumatized children. What they needed was therapy and a good stable environment where they could recover. The world was lacking in both at the moment.

When the morning came, Page woke before the others. She checked the boy and found him caught in another bad dream. Page stoked his soft blond hair back and whispered encouragement to him. He settled with a sigh. She then went to check the other two.

Page froze in horror at what she found. Roger was dead in his brother's arms. Whatever had him so weak, had won and it looked like the child had passed in his sleep. Jeremy was dead as well. Not of sickness however. Page took the razor he used to slit his wrist from his limp hand and tossed it into the fire. She then covered them both with the blanket. Page stood wiping the tears from her eyes. She damned herself for taking so much time getting out of the woods. If she could have gotten here just a little sooner, she may have been able to save these poor boys.

She noticed the boy was watching her with his vacant stare. 'I'm sorry.' She told him. 'I tried, but I couldn't save them.' He nodded and watched as Page gathered her things. She took the boy by the hand and led him out of the house and to the front yard. Page sat him beside their first fire. 'I will be right back. Stay here okay?' He nodded, and she went into the main house. She found a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid in the pantry and took it to the living room. Page sprayed it everywhere emptying the bottle. She pulled her new lighter out and lit the room on fire.

Outside, she went to the guesthouse and dumped a bottle of alcohol she had gotten from her pack. After lighting the small house on fire, she returned to find the boy watching the main house burn. He looked to her when she reached his side. Page offered him her hand, and he took it. She looked to the house. 'May the lord bless you and keep you. May the lord make his grace shine on you and be gracious to you. May the lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.'