Inhabited

Chapter 18

"But my sister," Grayson's complaining voice reaches my ears as I hit the edge of the camp. "Why does it have to be my sister, Sully?"

I linger back, edging to a tree to stand behind in the event they suddenly come my way and spot me. I don't need Grayson getting even pissier because I'm eavesdropping too.

"You don't understand, Gray - look, it wasn't intentional, I swear--"

"You told me a couple of months ago that the girl you've been seeing is the love of your life and you want to marry her. You were talking about my sister for fuck's sake." Grayson cuts him off, anger seething in his voice. "You want to make a whole life with her. You couldn't even fucking bother telling me the woman you want to settle with is my little sister of all fucking people."

There's a pause and I can just practically see the gears in Sully's head turning as he tries to think over what to say. He's always been one for peace, not confrontation. That's another reason we didn't tell Grayson right away, because it would've only caused issues. Though, we both knew it was coming. Guilt curls in my stomach and I close my eyes as I lean against the trunk of the tree, gripping it tightly.

I knew we should've told him in the beginning. But I wasn't even sure how to at that. Because the two of them have been inseparable since elementary school. Learning your best friend is screwing your little sister has got to be one of the hardest things in the world. It's probably worse now because we hid it from him.

"She's my sister," Grayson repeats with more venom in his words. "This is bullshit. You have to break up with her."

"No." Sully says flatly. "I get you don't like this and I am sorry for not telling you sooner. But the way you're acting right now is why I didn't tell you. Fawn is an adult, allowed to make her own decisions and so am I. We're together because we want to be and we love each other. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is."

There's another moment of silence, the two either whispering or simply not talking. I strain my ears to try and pick up on any low voices they don't want carrying through the air.

"Fine, then I'm done. You want to fuck my sister, you can't be my friend."

"Dude, seriously?" Sully huffs. "That's fucked up."

Twigs and leaves crunch as Grayson stomps back toward the camp and my hiding spot. I duck further into the trees, slipping behind another. Peeking out just in time to see him pass and Sully follow, disgruntled, I drop my head against the bark. I feel like this should be one of those musical movie things where right now I start bursting into sad songs about how sorry I am. About how I love both of them and please don't make me choose. But this is fucking reality and I'm not singing. Plus, I can't even sing so that wouldn't really work out well.

They disappear through the smoke tendrils floating around, leaving me alone once more. Footsteps behind me turn me away from the camp and peering into the darkness. Glowing yellow eyes stare back at me. They don't move despite my heart pounding erratically. My hands shake and I curl them into fists to calm myself. But the ragged breaths follow, panic searing through me. I take a step back and a twig snaps beneath my foot. The yellow eyes blink, extinguishing and I open my mouth to scream. Nothing happens though. No animal or creature of any sort lunges at me through the air, so the scream lodges itself in my throat and I sputter.

My heart thunders in my ears and I stagger back, hitting the tree behind me before tumbling to the ground. Shaking my head, I scramble to my feet and hurry out of the darkness, letting the light of the fires wash over me. But I can still feel the glaze of cold sweeping over my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

A growl sounds in my ears and I turn back around, bracing myself for whatever there is. The eyes light back up, but they're in the same spot as before. Unmoving, not threatening. I swallow and take another step back, putting more distance between me and the eyes and the growl, though the sound doesn't have again.

Blinking rapidly, I turn my head, pulling my gaze away from the eyes. When I glance back, unable to help myself, they're gone now. And I have the twisted feeling that they aren't coming back right now.

Turning, I hurry back into the depths of the camp, searching fervently until I find just any of my siblings. Nate is the first I spot and I hurry to him, practically running but I know better. I don't need another asthma attack right now. Getting to the oldest of our family, I tap on his shoulder and wait until he turns around before latching my arms around him.

"Oh," he huffs and hugs me back quickly, holding me tightly. "You alright?"

I bury my face into his chest, trying to not start crying. "I just wanna go home."

Nate lays his chin on my head, exhaling slowly. "I know, I know. But we're going to be alright. It might just be a couple of days before anyone gets here to save us. We just have to make due until then, yeah?"

I nod into him and pull back, my eyes tearing up. "Grayson hates me."

He shakes his head. "Just give him space, he'll be fine."

I snivel and pull back from my brother, glancing around. "What can I help with?"

"I don't need--"

"I'm perfectly fine to help," I say quickly, wiping at my eyes. "Just give me something to work with."

Nate sighs heavily. "Fine, just tend to the fires as best you can. Stay out of the smoke."