Survive {Book One of the Survival Series}

Part 1.2: The Patch

Chapter Two

"Put your hands up and turn around slowly," I spoke low and threateningly, my eyes glancing over them for a weapon. I was a bit surprised to not see one; not even a bat. The hooded figure complied, letting the bag drop to the floor before raising their hands high above their head and turning slowly to face me. They were small and thin, and I towered over them by a good five inches. The hoodie they had on was four sizes too big, the hood completely covering their face in shadows, and the hem of it came down to their dirty, jean-clad knees.

I reached over with my free hand and yanked the hood down to reveal a young girl who couldn't have been older than twelve. Her face was dirty and streaked with mud, her thin and wild hair an odd shade of a pale purple with dark roots. She looked up at me with glossy brown eyes that were wide with fear. I was taken aback at first and I lowered my axe, reaching my hand out to her.

"It's okay," I said, my voice softer this time as I leaned down to be level with her, "I'm not going to hurt you."

She lowered her arms and picked her other bag up from the ground, holding it behind her back protectively. My eyes narrowed as I instantly recognized the bag.

"Is that Carla's bag?" I asked angrily. I reached for it, taking a step closer, but was quickly met with a fist to the face. Pain shot out from my nose and I could feel the rush of blood pouring through my nostrils. My hands immediately went to my face, cupping my nose as I cried out in pain.

The girl took her chance and raced past me and into the kitchen. I heard Carla's door swing open and she rushed over to the banister, looking down. After seeing me leaning against the wall, she rushed down the stairs shouting, "What the hell happened to you?"

"Kitchen!" was the only thing I managed to say as I waved her away. I grabbed my axe from the floor and pushed myself up against the wall, feeling a few tears brim my waterline. Carla disappeared around the corner only to reappear a few moments later, the girl struggling in her arms.

"Calm down," Carla was growling at her but the girl continued to thrash in her arms, desperate to get away. I made my way over to the dining room, ignoring the fogginess in my head, and pulled a chair out. Carla sat the girl down in the chair and took a quick step back.

The girl sat there, her chest heaving with heavy breaths as her wild eyes darted back and forth between Carla and me. What the fuck was this girl's problem? I took a step back and motioned for Carla to do the same, but instead, she pulled out a chair and sat down across from her.

"What's your name?" she asked but the girl only stared at her from under her long eyelashes. Carla sighed and tried again, her gaze hard, "Who are you?"

Still, the girl didn't reply. I growled and called out to Carla, "Who fucking cares, we should just kill her and leave already. She's obviously psychotic."

The girl's head snapped in my direction, her eyes round with fear at my words. I smirked inwardly and rested my axe against my shoulder, hoping to intimidate her. Carla, however, was not impressed.

"Shut up, Zander, you're not helping," she snapped at me before turning back to the girl, "he's not going to hurt you, okay? We're not here to hurt you, we were just looking for a place to stay for the night. Are you alone? Is there anyone out there waiting for you?"

The girl's eyes never left me and Carla looked over, her eyes lingering on the axe. Carla turned back to her, grabbing her attention, "He'll put away the axe if you promise not to run away, okay? We just want to talk."

She looked at the axe again and Carla gave me a look. I mumbled grumpily to myself as I walked into the living room, tossing the axe onto the couch and picking up the lantern. My dad would kill us if he knew we were doing this. I returned to the kitchen and set the lantern on the table next to the girl before stepping back to lean against the wall, folding my arms across my chest. I held a sour expression on my face as I looked over the girl now bathed in blue light. She was unnaturally skinny, like she hadn't eaten in weeks, and there were dark circles under her eyes; from numerous restless nights, no doubt. Her thin lips were tinted blue and there were hints of red under the layers of dirt on her prominent cheekbones.