Do As I Say

Chapter Eight

One Week Later

She tied a black cloth around her upper arm in grief.

Two Weeks Later

"You can't just live alone."

"Yes, Jules, I can."

"What if you get raided?"

"I don't care."

Three Weeks Later

She stopped bothering to get out of bed.

The front door swung open. Cree didn't flinch when it slammed into the wall beside it. The cat, however, flew off the bed and went to investigate.

"Dammit, Jules, you broke her door." A not-quite-matured-yet voice rang out in the dusty house.

"No, it was like that before I opened it."

"Yeah, right,"

The cat rubbed itself against the muscular one's legs; it seemed to prefer him to the straw-haired one. A cupboard squeaked as it was opened.

"There's like, half a loaf of bread left. How is she still alive?" The straw-haired boy wondered aloud.

"Come on," Cree could hear the deep-voiced boy tug Thimble towards her room. "Cree?" Jules called out, "I just want to talk."

She didn't budge.

The footsteps continued until Cree was sure they were in her room. Bored, Cree tested the waters of Jules's mind. His thoughts were of pure concern for his friend. Bleh.

"Hey," Thimble greeted her quietly. Cree rolled over and glared at the two. Thimble was before her, and he was clearly nervous. Jules was hanging back. He looked very out of place, his large body taking up more space than should be allowed. "Um...We were thinking..." Thimble swallowed and Cree cut right in.

"What? That you should come and save me like some pathetic damsel in distress?" Her voice was hoarse.

"Look Cree, we're just trying to help." Jules took a step forward.

Cree sat up and sneered, "And who are you helping exactly? Don't be stupid, Jules. I don't need help." She snapped.

Jules's face fell. He looked hurt. Cree bit her lip and rubbed her eyes. She didn't mean to upset him. "I just..." She sighed and picked a dirty sweater up off the floor. Pulling it on, she gave an inch, "What did you guys want?"

"It's practically winter, Cree. We don't want to leave you here by yourself, freezing." Thimble glanced pointedly at her sweater.

Cree avoided their gazes and didn't answer. "Any word on Nix?" she changed the subject.

"Cree...Please,"

"What?" She snapped at Thimble. "I want to know about Nix."

He huffed and scratched the back of his head, "He hasn't shown up at school and no one knows where he is. Plus, the rumours have only been getting wilder and wilder." An idea glinted in his eyes, "Why don't you come with us to check out his room at the Home for Orphaned Ghosts and Ghouls Alike?"

"I live there, so I can get us to his room. We could investigate," Jules smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Maybe you could get a room."

"I -" Cree started, anger flashing in her eyes.

Jules held up a hand, "Give it a try, okay? You can look into Nix's room all the while seeing if that's the place for you. They have heating, food, blankets, and you don't have to have a roomie." His eyes grew soft, "You'll fit right in, I promise."