When Darkness Comes: Book 1 Dark Trilogy

Chapter 25 To Go or Not To Go...

The rain continued to pummel the earth. Even after we woke up. "What's the plan boss?" Gabriel asked.

"Let's eat breakfast and get dressed. Maybe the rain will be done by then." Kota answered. Why did Kota answer when Gabriel called out Boss? I thought Owen was the Boss.

"How muddy is it out there? Because the mud can be hard to slog through." Silas asked to no one in particular.

Nathan got up and opened the cabin door. "There are puddles but it doesn't look too bad."

"The big question would be, do we, option one, ask to stay another night and give up the rest of our apples? Or option two, wait out the storm and journey on hoping to get to tonights destination before dark? Or option three, leave after breakfast regardless of the rain."

By now, everyone is up and standing around in a circle debating the pros and cons of each option. I went to the bathroom and changed my clothes. I was back in my first day clothes of jean shorts and t-shirt. I do not care which option they all decide, as long as I don't get left behind. I will stick with them through it all.

When I came out of the bathroom, Gabriel motioned for me to sit on the bed in front of him. He had a brush in his hand. I sat cross legged on the bed in front of Gabriel. It felt like heaven to have someone brush my hair for me. Then I felt him start to braid my hair. I just remembered that he was tired of looking at my pony tail.

Victor came over and sat in front of me, pulling my legs over his lap. "But what you are suggesting is that we all get wet and all our stuff too. That could make for a miserable nights sleep if our bedrolls are wet." He said as he started massaging my calf muscles.

"Wet feet will cause a problem too. We will all end up with blisters, making it difficult to finish the journey tomorrow. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't want to walk the last fifteen miles where every step hurts." Sean gave a stern, no nonsense look.

"So it sounds like we can rule out option three." North confirmed.

I thought I should give my opinion now. "Why don't we do what Kota originally suggested? We finish eating and changing and then make our decision. Maybe the storm will be done by then?"

All of the guys quit talking and stared at me. "Cupcake has a point. We don't decide before we have even given the rain a chance to quit." Luke commented.

I helped Luke put together breakfast for everyone. This morning we ate the last of the crackers and peanut butter. We also cut up five of the apples. If we stay the night again here tonight we will be out of apples. That would leave us with the remainder of food being peanuts and beef jerky. I hope when we get to the Academy shelter that there is food or at least a way to get some.

Looking at our depleting food supply, solidifies my opinion that we get going on the rest of our trek as soon as we can today. "Is the only thing keeping us from heading out now, the inability to keep our socks dry?"

"Pretty much, yes." Gabriel answered me.

I got up and opened my pack. I opened up the gallon size Ziploc bag and dumped my stash of pads into my pack. "Each of us can put one pair of sock in this Ziploc bag of mine. Then even if the pack gets soaked with water, our socks would be dry."

"Perfect idea! Everyone, socks." Owen declared.

I reached in my own bag and pulled out a pair of socks. Then I moved the remaining pads to sit in the middle of my clothes so they would stay dry too. When I turned back around to the guys, everyone already had a pair of socks in my Ziploc. I added mine to the bag, smiling that I had a good idea.

"I had fucking forgot you had that Ziploc bag, Trouble! Thanks. I'm ready to get this show on the road."

"You were the one to give me the bag Gabe." I giggled.

"Pookie, there really isn't time for me to stop your giggles, unless you want me to postpone our journey another ten minutes. So how about you pack it in?"

"How do you stop giggles, Sean? And why does it take ten minutes?"

All the guys laughed and North put his arm around my shoulders, "Just stick close to me Baby and you never have to find out."

We took off through the mud and light drizzle that was falling from the light gray sky. At least the sky isn't showing signs of eminent downpour. The last thing I need is to have another panic attack because of a thunderstorm. That would really slow us down.