Love Restrained | Yellowjackets

chapter twenty seven

XXVII

After the almost unanimous decision of having to get food no matter what, regardless if sacrificing someone was the solution, Hayden found herself in the attic, lost in her own mind, preparing for whatever it was to come.

"Hey," a voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Natalie stood beside her. She noticed the tension in Hayden's face, staring out the window. "How are you feeling?"

"Please, tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this is total madness." Hayden replied, not taking her eyes off the window, her eyes wide with anxiety.

Natalie sighed, her expression a mixture of understanding and resignation. "I know it sounds crazy, but-"

"There's no but Nat. I can't do it." Hayden shook her head, her voice rising with desperation as she faced Natalie, "There has to be another way."

"The winter won't be over so soon." Nat said, her eyes darting between Hayden and the snow falling outside.

Hayden swallowed hard. "This isn't right."

Nat grabbed her hand, hoping to give her some comfort. "Look, I'm with you on this one okay, but we don't have a choice."

"No." Hayden violently shook her head, trying her best not to cry.

"It's necessary. We need to eat."

"I won't." she instantly replied, feeling sick just at the thought of doing what she swore not to do again.

"Hayden, if you don't, you'll die." Natalie told her in a serious tone, looking deep into her eyes while holding both of her hands.

Hayden's eyes filled with tears, her hands trembling. "So, what? We just go along with it?" her voice was shaking, "This is sick, Nat. Sick."

"I'm not okay with it either."

"I just can't do this. Why do we have to participate?" Hayden's voice cracked, she didn't want to give in, "Why don't we just refuse to be a part of it?"

Natalie's expression darkened, "No, Hayden, I think something bad will happen to you if you neglect them." she immediately disagreed.

Hayden stared at her. "What? How?"

"I think they'll go for you."

The fact that what Natalie was suggesting was likely possible, made the girl's eyes wide even more.

It was sick.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." having noticed the scared look on her face, Natalie pulled her for a hug, "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Hayden said whispered in her ear, holding on tight to Natalie.

"We're gonna be fine." Nat said, grabbing the girl's face and giving her a kiss.

"We are about to start." Taissa appeared on the ladder, interrupting their moment.

Natalie gave a quick nod, letting her know they would be down right away, and took Hayden's hand to guide her downstairs.

In the middle of the room they were all gathered around a circle with some random objects representing gifts for the wilderness placed in the centre.

Hayden let go of Nat's hand, taking a place between Javi and Gen as Natalie stood by Taissa. Everyone remained silent while Lottie lit a candle in the middle of the circle and then grabbed an old deck of cards.

"So, this is how this is gonna work," Lottie announced, "Whoever picks this card is the chosen one."

Raising the first card on the deck, a queen of hearts, Lottie showed it to everyone, making sure they could all see it before putting it back.