𝕽𝖚𝖓 𝕽𝖆𝖇𝖇𝖎𝖙 𝕽𝖚𝖓 -Yellow Jackets

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂

"Oh there she is," 
Elizabeth tensed as soon as she walked into the door. 
"Come on in, my sweet, brilliant daughter," 
Elizabeth shakily took a breath as she set her bag down, walking into the kitchen. 
Her parents stood there, angry looks written on their faces. 
"How did your Chemistry test go today, sweetie?" her mother asks, venom dripping from her voice. 
"I- it went fine" 

"We got the most interesting call from your teacher. You know what he said?" 
Elizabeth felt like she swallowed a thousand bricks, her breathing was going faster by the millisecond. 
"He said you got a C on your test. What do you have to say about that?" 
Elizabeth didn't respond, she couldn't, she felt like her throat was closing in, she was using everything in her to not cry in front of her parents. 
Elizabeth flinches back violently when her father slams his hand against the table. 
"Well!?" 
"I-I-" 
"My study. Now."
Elizabeth shook her head "No," , her father's face went red with anger. 
"What did you just say to me?" he stalked closer. 
"I said no," 
"You fucking brat!" her father lunged at her, Elizabeth swiftly turned on her heels, swinging open the front door. 
"Help!" she screams as her father grabs her by the waist, throwing her back inside, cutting her escape plan short. 
"What the fuck do you think you're doing!?" he slams his daughter to the ground. Elizabeth shields her face as her father raises his fist-

Elizabeth shot up with a gasped sob. 
She covers her mouth with her hand, tears rapidly running down her cheeks. 
She tries to control her breathing, but the nightmare floods in her mind like a tsunami. 

"Lizzie?" Natalie groggily sits up, rubbing her eyes. 
"I-I'm sorry I- woke you up," she tries to mask the sobs that are raking through her body. 
"Hey, lets go outside," Natalie gently helps the girl up, grabbing her pack of smokes as she guides her outside. 

Elizabeth sits down on the deck, hyperventilating, bringing her shaky hands up to cover her face. 
"Try to take deep breaths, love.  In and out, you got this,"
Elizabeth shakes her head, "I can't. I can't," 
"Yes you can, do it with me," Natalie puts Elizabeth's hand, rubbing her knuckles soothingly. 
"In... Then out...Good job Liz, you're doing great," Natalie smiles softly, her breath showing as she speaks. 

After a decent amount of time, Elizabeth's breathing got under control, only a few tears remained streaming down her face. 
"Was it a nightmare?" Natalie softly asks, wrapping her arm around the girl, pulling her close. 
Elizabeth enjoyed the warmth that was brought in when her and Natalie made contact. 
"Yeah, yeah it was," 
"Do you, wanna talk about it?" 
Elizabeth sighs, "You know, it's kind of nice not having to see my parents everyday. I know it's glib and awful when everyone else isn't able to see their parents, and might not ever again, I just..." she pauses for a minute, "I just don't understand how parents could hurt their kids," 
Natalie nods understandingly. 

"When my dad died, it was like this weight was lifted off my shoulders. But then, it felt like the weight was replaced with this dreading feeling. It doesn't matter if their gone or not, they still find a way to haunt you," 
Elizabeth reaches into Natalie's lap, grabbing the pack of smokes, lighting it. 
"God, when I run out of these I'm going to be miserable," 
"I don't want to think about no nicotine you, That with the lack of caffeine is a scary sight," 
Elizabeth smiles, passing it to Natalie.
"I love you, you know that?" Elizabeth looks up at the girl.
"I love you too," 

"What are you guys doing?" Taissa asks, her and Van appearing from the forest. 
"What are you guys doing?" Elizabeth tilts her head. 
"We asked out first," 
Elizabeth sighs, "I had a bad dream, woke Natalie up on accident and now I'm having a smoke, you?" 
Taissa and Van look at each other, "Just, just uh going for a walk," Van lies. 
Elizabeth looks at them skeptically, but nods. "Okay," 
"Come on, head back inside, it's late and cold," Taissa says as she walks in the cabin.

~~~

Elizabeth rubbed her temples and Misty and Crystal were very poorly singing. 
"God, and I thought our schools musical was bad," 
Natalie smirks at the comment, but her face drops when Shauna storms in. 

"So, who's the thief?" 
Elizabeth turned around, "What?" 
"Someone stole some bear meat from the shed. I guess they think they deserve more then the rest of us, once at this point is pretty fucked. If anybody, I'm the one who should be taking more, but I'm not because I'm not the fucking worst. So which one of you is?" 
Everyone remained silent, staring at one another. 
"Okay. Right. Whatever," 

"It was probably him, he thinks he's so much better then us," Mari stirs the pot, directing the comment at Coach. 
"Oh my god," Elizabeth mumbles. 
"I didn't take the fucking meat" Coach turns around, a stone cold glare on his face. "Okay? And in case you forgot, not exactly nimble in the snow. But you know what? If it had been me, what exactly would you do about it? Would you eat me?" 

Mari stands up, walking towards the man. 
"Lets all chill, you guys" Natalie quickly stands up. "There is no way Coach would ever-" 
"This is all because of you, you know."
"Excuse me?"
"Why we don't have any meat .Lottie tries to bless you for the hunt but half the time you're MIA. Or when you do show up, it's like you're practically holding your nose," 
Elizabeth stood up, glaring at the girl. 

"Are you joking? You actually think that's why we can't find any game? Because of me? I'm the only one who's even trying! Me and Lizzie! While the rest of you guys are just fucking sitting on your asses," 
"If there isn't any game, then how did Lottie get the birds?" 
"What are you? Her fucking lap dog?" Elizabeth snarls. 
"And, Lottie didn't get the birds," Taissa begins. "They flew into the cabin," 
"Because Lottie told them to," 
"Oh my god," Elizabeth laughs, shaking her head. "Do you realize how fucking insane you sound?"
"It did happen when the blood dripped onto the symbol she made," 

"We're still not really sure that's why," Shauna adds. 
"You see, that's what you call a coincidence. Okay? Those birds were just... like confused or they had a disease or something," Coach replies. 
Misty shakes her head, "No, if they were diseased, we would have gotten sick when we ate them," 
"What about the bear?" Van asks. "I don't think anyone who saw that could say it was a coincidence," 
"Exactly," Mari buds in. "It all goes to show the only food we had in months is thanks to Lottie," 
Elizabeth digs her nails into her palm, the stinging feeling as the nail marks begin to bleed gives her an odd sense of comfort. 

"Then we should have a contest. Yeah? One-on-one. We both go, just her and me, and then at the end of the day, we see who makes it back with more food," 
"Come on Nat, that's not fair," Travis speaks up. "Lottie isn't a hunter," 
"According to them, she's better then a hunter," 

Everyone turns their attention to Lottie, who is clearly uncomfortable. 

~~~

Misty explains the rules while Elizabeth helps Natalie get geared up. 
"As for weapons, we only have one gun. So maybe we can draw card or-" 
"Lottie doesn't need a gun," 
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "How about, you shut the fuck up and actually let Lottie talk for once," 
Mari glares at her as Misty hands Natalie the gun. 

"Be safe, please," 
"I will," Natalie puts her mask over her face, "No need to worry about me," 
Natalie and Lottie then took off, leaving the rest to wait around.