Glad I Found You

Chapter 2

FIRST DAY

The night was calm, no clicker noise, no runner cry, no gunshots, no stealing. Nothing. And I barrly heard our guest/ threat. No noise heard, and I was up all night. Is now 7am, and the sun is rising. The light of a new day, a new fight and a new survival challange.
I walk slowly to Ellie's room. Empty. She ran away. No. How could she? We had a contract!

I hear a noise downstairs and I rush to the noise! Just to found Ellie with her depressed and tired eyes, cooking some eggs.

Ellie: "Good morning. Why is the rush?"

I look at her. Unbelievable. She is still here. And cooking breakfast! What the hell! Stop being so suspicious, Lili.

"Morning. Ahm. I was hungry." — I sit at the table seeing the green-eyed woman cook. Ellie is always with that depressed eyes. I don't know if it was cause she went through a lot, or if she is like that since she was born. She looks young. Younger than me, to be honest. She serves me the breakfast and I look at her surprised that she is so comfortable in the first day she's here. — "How old are you, Ellie?"

Ellie: "I am 19 years old. Why? You're filling up a file about me?"

She laughs. I don't care how much she jokes. She is a kid I am older than her. I smile proud, she must respect me. I drink from the coffee she served me, and Lord, it is good! So young and so depressed..

"I see, I am older than you. I am 21." — Yap. I am much older than her, she will respect me.

Ellie: "That's why you are smiling so proud? You are just two years older than me. That's nothing."

She doesn't even smile when she says that. She is so cruel and naked for a 19 year old kid. Well... Kid. She is right, she is not a kid, and she is almost my age. I was just trying to make her, at least, smile. See someone so depressed as her. Is so hard.

"Yes, you are right!" — I take a bite of the prepared egg and a sip of coffee and watch the day outside through the gap in the window. The little gap that lets me see out, without anyone being able to see in. The sunrise is beautiful! Lots of orange and the meadow is calm. I see a deer and a few chickens, the usual ones. It all seems so... routine, apart from the fact that I have a stranger eating at the same table as me. It would have been totally normal 30 years ago, but now? It's abnormal. — "Look, we have things to do here. And when I say "we" I say "Me". You should rest because your wound can open at any moment, I don't even know how is she still okay. I will go hunt today! We need food, and now that I am not alone, we need more food, and I saw a deer, I am pretty sure they are close. So you stay and protect the house, okay?" — she looks at me apathetically and shakes her head. She has no reactions, no emotions. She's been through so much. She's killed so many people, but did she wanted to kill so many? Maybe she didn't. In my eyes, I don't think so. — "I'm trusting you. I'm trusting you with my shelter, my provisions and a gun. Don't fuck up and don't let me down, because when I find you... I'll kill you. Are we clear?"

Ellie: "I can't run, Lili. I can barely walk, you see that, so quit telling me you will kill me. If I wanted to run away, I would've been already gone. So, I will keep the house safe and you just go get food."

I eat silently after hearing her voice. So cold, yet so calm. Ellie is a very pretty girl, I'm not going to lie, she really is very pretty. She always looks depressed and sad. A countenance full of loss and regret. 19 years old and already carrying a weight so heavy on her back that it doesn't let her rest, or smile, or anything like that. It's very complicated.

I watch the green-eyed girl devour her egg and then I get up, leaving my plate and mug in the sink. I'll wash up when I get back from the hunt.

"I'll get ready and go out. I'm sure you can stop anyone getting in. And try to be careful not to strain your stomach. Just sit back and relax. If you want to go away for the weekend, you have to be responsible with your wounds."