When I Die

Ch.15

Perry

I couldn't help but smile as the scent of the evergreen trees embraced me. Despite the faint coppery smell, it felt like home out here. I had always grown up near or surrounded by forests. My home, the one I had to leave, was in the middle of one. I loved waking up to the birds singing away right outside my window. 

I loved the smell of the dew mixed with the smell of the trees. I was nearly addicted to it. 

I felt a slight pinch in my chest. I began rubbing the spot and kept on walking. The forest was seemingly untouched. The floor was still covered in pine needles, twigs went unharmed, and I could even spot a few bird nests. It was beautiful. 

How could Keith take this away from me? This was where I felt the happiest and he took it. 

I shook my head and took a deep breath. I'm sure he had good intentions but that didn't quite justify it. 

I wasn't too sure about how long I had walked. I just kept going until I reached a cabin. I crouched at the edge of the woods, blade in hand. There was no sure way to tell if it was occupied or not. 

After about 15 minutes, my knees began to ache. But, I hadn't seen any movement inside and definitely nothing outside, not even a chirp from a bird. 

I waited a few extra minutes, just to be cautious. Not too long, and I was on the porch, tip-toeing over the nearly rotten through floorboards. They were warped and splintering, seemed safe. 

I gingerly placed a hand on the rustic knob and gave it a slight turn. The knob kept going until I heard the familiar click of the door opening. I palmed my knife and pushed the door open, only a bit wider. The hinges began to squeak and I winced at the noise. Anything that was hiding in the cabin would've heard it.

I held my breath and took a small step inside, unlike the porch, the floors inside didn't creak or dip. I looked around at the well kept space. The hutch by the door was made out of a smooth oak wood and looked to be dusted and oiled. 

A pile of books sat close to the edge along with a bowl filled with keys and mints. On the other side of the entry was a living room. Red couches sat across from each other. The cushions were covered in plastic and white throw pillows. 

They didn't at all fit the 'cabin in the woods' aesthetic. 

I checked room to room until each one had been cleared. This had to be the one place that had gone untouched during the apocalypse or there was someone who had some serious OCD living here. 

Clean and dried dishes sat next to the sink, a trash bag was filled with empty food boxes, and there was a generator next to the fridge. It wasn't running but the gas gauge showed it was almost full. 

Clean clothes were folded on the bed in the first bedroom and the bed was neatly made. It made it impossible to tell if the owner was still alive or not.

I sighed and put my knife in its holster. I wouldn't feel right taking anything from here. 

I took a last look around before heading towards the door, What a bust. I got my freedom and I wasted it. 

Before I could open the door, I heard the floorboards creaking.  I quickly backtracked towards one of the bedrooms. My heart began beating against my ribs, like a drum.

Seconds later, I heard the door open and then softly close. 

--- 

Keith

I snaked through the trees and made my way into the woods. I wasn't sure if she would have kept going straight or would have veered off. 

She wasn't dumb or you know, maybe she was. Who the fuck leaves the only safe place they had? My point is, She wouldn't put her self in a position to get lost. She would be smart about this.

About 2 miles deep, I noticed some slight foot prints. They looked to be around a size seven or eight. Just small enough to be those of a woman. Hopefully, Perry's. 

I followed them for another few miles, but something felt off about halfway through. Another set of prints began to show, but there was never a starting point. They just began, sort of like they just appeared out of nowhere. 

I slowed my steps as I approached a cabin. Perry's steps stopped cold at a bush just a few feet away from the front porch, they were also deeper then the others.

Smart girl, She must've scouted the place. I followed suit and crouched down behind a bit of a taller bush. I watched the windows, they were slightly barricaded off but there was enough of a gap to see into the place.

Whoever secured the cabin had no idea what they were doing. The was no perimeter or defense. The windows could easily be broken into, and the door wasn't blocked in anyway. I could go in there right now and take what I wanted. 

I held my ground for god knows how fucking long. I was starting to doubt my instincts. It was too quiet for her to be in there. She knows the protocols as well, She would've grabbed the shit inside and headed back to the compound.  

I shook my head and stood, This was dumb. I was being too protective. I turned and began to head back. 

Crack!

Without a second thought, I raced towards the cabin.