Goner

Chapter Seven~ Existence

Adria ran back up the stairs. "What's going on!" She screamed as she ran over to Nial as fast as she could. She grabbed him and pulled him in tight to try and help calm him down. "We were talking about what happened yesterday and he started to lose it," Layne said as he was still in shock from what just occurred. Adria stroked Nial's hair soothing him to try to get him to calm down. "Hey, it's ok you're alright. I'm right here, no one is going to hurt you. It's alright." She said softly. Nial's breathing started to level back out. Adria lifted his head. She saw the tears all over his face and began to wipe them. "Hey you're ok, no one is going anywhere. We're safe." She said. Now let's continue with what task we were about to work on ok?" She said as she helped him up off of the floor.

The hours passed by as they clean the stains out of the clothes and woke Tyler up. They cleaned up around the house as they waited patiently for Adria's father to come back. Nightfall was approaching soon. They started worrying about him. But there was still work to be done. The boys started lighting candles are the house to give them more light. They continued to work. They hear the sounds of the locks on the front door unlocking. Axel walked in with a couple of squirrels and rabbits, he laid them down on the counter. "That should do us for a while. I'll have to go into town tomorrow and get something to get this place up and running." He muttered while catching his breath. "Go ahead and clean up, I'll teach the boys how to cook on the stove out back." She said as she picked up two rabbits and started walking towards the back door.

     "Hey, aren't you forgetting something?" His father proclaimed. She stopped in her track. Axel locked up the front door and tossed the keys to her. "Thanks." She said as she waved the boys towards the back door. "Now you guys stay in the back and that's it don't be wandering off." He said as he grabbed a candle and headed over to the bucket to wash up. Adria unlocked the back door and had Tyler carry the rabbits out to the stove. Adria waved Tyler over next to her. "Give the lighter to the boys and have them start making the fire for the stove, I'll teach you how to skin a deer." She tossed him the lighter in her back pocket. Tyler walks over to the boys and explains to them what they need to do. The children make dinner while Axel freshens up. Axel soon after walks out the back door and takes a seat next to the cozy fire.

Adria carried over the freshly skinned deer and skewered the rabbit and put it on the fire. They collect around the fire and enjoy the peace as it cooks. They haven't had time to relax in a couple of days, so this was nice. After about 45 minutes of blissful silence, the rabbit was ready to be eaten. Axel cut up the rabbit into pieces and passed out the rabbit for everyone to eat. "This tastes delicious, thank you," Nial said with a mouth full of food. Everyone started laughing. "You're welcome, it's the least I can do for you guys. You've been through a lot in the last couple of days. You guys have probably barely eaten." Axel stated. They all enjoy their meals and started to clean up. Layne something faint in the distance. What could that possibly be? He started walking towards what he was seeing. Nial notices that Layne is walking away from the others. "Hey, buddy where are you going?" He asked. Layne didn't hear him. He wanted to know what he was seeing. All he could see was a shadow. Maybe if I get closer to it I can figure out what it is... Nial ran after Layne. He touched his shoulder. Layne quickly looked back with a confused look on his face. "What are you going after Layne?" Nial asked him. Layne quickly turned back around and the shadow had disappeared. "There-there was something—never mind." Nial knew there was something off with Layne. Layne started walking back up to the others. Something is off about him. I shoulda kept a close watch on him... Nial thought. Everyone helped pack up and went back inside. Axel locked the door. "You guys should go get some rest, we have something's to get done tomorrow," Axel stated. Layne grabbed his lighter and started walking down the basement stairs. I could've sworn that I saw something. He thought as he lay down. Everyone laid down and got some rest for the next morning.