𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐄! ᶜ ᵍʳⁱᵐᵉˢ

012. 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞

We sit together around a small fire, roasting a rabbit Lincoln successfully trapped just an hour ago. "I wish I could have a pet rabbit," Alya whines, her voice full of innocent longing. I take a sip of water, watching the flames rise up, and toast the meat. Its fragrance filled the air, causing my mouth to water in anticipation. "You wouldn't be able to," Lincoln says, a foolish grin on his face. "Why?" the youngest Birchman pouts, crossing her arms across her chest. "Because," our brother begins, turning the spit. "I'd have to eat it."

Alya's face twists in disgusted annoyance. "They're too tasty!" he exclaims, laughing evilly. I laugh at his theatrics, twisting the cap onto the canteen. "You're no fun, Lincoln," she pouts. "Yeah, yeah." It's the small moments like these that I'm able to imagine we're just a normal family, even though Lincoln's smile doesn't reach his eyes anymore.

Maybe we're just on a camping trip. We'll be going home in a few day's time and telling our parents all about it.

"Where did Eddie go?" Lincoln asks, turning to me. "I think she went to see if there were any berries 'round here," I say, running a brush through my hair. "Ellie, will you braid my hair?" Alya asks, folding her hands together and looking at me sweetly.

I roll my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips. "Fine. C'mere." She squeals excitedly, running around the fire and sitting at my feet. "If I do this, no-"

"Whining, I know, I know. I'll be good, I swear."

"You better," I warn, running the brush through her hair. "Wow," I say, surprised. "No tangles this time." She sits up straighter, announcing, "I brushed my hair before bed last night," proudly. "Good job, squirt," I say, splitting her hair into sections.

"I think our lunch is done," Lincoln announces, pulling the spit out of the fire. "What should be our side today, Alya? Corn or beans?"

She throws her tiny arms out, frustratedly. "Don't fix corn. Please. I don't know why you always do this." Lincoln laughs at her angry statement. Alya has hated corn ever since I could remember. I don't know why. No matter what way my mother would prepare it, she refused it. On the grill, boiled, sautéed. Doesn't matter.

"Well, you're lucky," Lincoln says, pulling a can from our food bag. "We're out of corn." The blond smiles, holding up a silver can with a label reading "Garbanzo Beans" in white lettering. "Yes!" she cheers, pumping a fist into the air. I twist my face at her reaction, confused. "Ellie," she warns. "What?" I ask in defense, twisting the hair tie around the end of her hair.

She turns to me, her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "Garbanzo beans are amazing. They have fiber and protein." I hold up my hands in defense. "Okay, okay, don't shoot, miss." I begin working on the second braid, my fingers working nimbly and quickly through her brushed hair. The sound of the plastic fork scraping against the metal can is music to my ears, signaling that it's almost time to eat.

"Eddie better get back soon," Lincoln warns, licking the plastic fork. "Ew," Alya says with disgust. "What?" Lincoln says with offense, the fork still between his teeth. "This is my fork anyways, Lya."

I begin to wrap the hair tie around her second braid when a scream echoes through the forest. Lincoln and I's heads jerk to the direction it came from. The can clatters out of his grasp and to the forest floor- Alya buries herself into my chest, gripping my shirt with her small fists. Lincoln instantly jumps to his feet, the can in his hand clattering to the ground. He takes off running.

"Stay here," I demand. "Please don't leave me, Ellie," she whispers, her voice wavering, her eyes wide in fear. "Go in the tent," I demand, picking up my axe. "You have your knife. Use it if you have to. Go into the tent and hide and don't come out until I come back." She obeys, running into the tent and burrowing under blankets. I run, branches whipping at my face. My heart thumps in my chest as I race through the forest. I keep my axe ready, as well as myself. No matter what is happening, I need to be ready. Another scream echoed through the trees. This time, it's Lincoln.