Violet

Chapter 9

        I set the last snare and head back to the cave. I go inside to see an eager fern learning how to build a fire. Stacy strikes the match and blows softly on the wood. The flames begin to dance and Fern sits back in wonder. I turn before they see me and walk back outside. I hop across the rocks to the rock you have to climb before seeing the waterfall. I sit down and stare down the stream.

        I left my picture at the compound. I try to memorize my families faces. They're gone forever. I'll never see them again. I wait for the guys to get back. After a while and thirty shredded leaves later I see the splash of their legs. Josh comes around the corner first and he waves at me. I smile and wave back. Jonny walks around the corner a second later followed closely by a girl. Her dark black hair falls flat against her back. She holds a backpack tightly in her hand with her shoes. Brian then turns the corner followed by a man and woman I don't know. Then Brent turns the corner followed by the girl. It's the same girl from back at the compound. I hold back the groan inside but then realize they can't hear me. I let out a silent growl from behind my smile and stand up on the rock. I then realize that the woman with the man, I assume is her husband, is holding a baby.

          When they reach the rock I see that Josh, Jonny, Brent and Brian all have backpacks filled with stuff. I offer my hand to Josh and he takes it. He smiles up at me then pulls himself up onto the rock. He turns and helps other people up. The woman hands him the baby and he passes it to me. I don't know what to do with a baby! I pretend I'm not terrified to be holding it, and watch him help the woman up. I then realize no one knows where to go from here so I hand the woman her baby and jump across the rocks. I motion for them to follow, and they do. One by one follows me into the cave. Stacy and Fern jump up to greet the couple and Stacy takes the baby gently from them. "Aunt Sarah, Uncle George! I'm so glad you made it!" Fern walks over to me and takes my hand. I watch her search the faces as they come in. I sink to my knees and pull her close to me. I know she's looking for her mom.

             Once they all come in Josh takes action. "Girls will be towards the back of the cave. Guys will sleep up closer to the front. We can try to come up with some sort of rooms for everyone if we stay long enough. For now just stay on your side. Um, you two could sleep in the middle I guess." He scratches his head and looks at the couple.

           "Thank you." the woman says. We're gonna need more leaves. The blonde girl looks around the cave quietly. She lets her eyes fall for a long time on Josh before turning to me. She glares at me, but I ignore her.

             "Can I sleep next to you again tonight?" Fern asks.

             "Of course you can." I stand up with her hand in mine, and we walk towards the back of the cave. We help Stacy pull out blankets from the backpacks and lay them out. Fern takes the tiny baby and holds it over on the side. Stacy and Sarah talk quietly to each other and I feel very out of place. There is to many people in here. There actually weren't that many but for someone who lived alone for so long I feel very crowded. After the work is done I excuse myself quietly and make my way outside. I climb the side of the waterfall and head upstream. I walk a ways through the water and find a boulder sitting in the middle of the water. I climb up on top of it and sit. I look down towards the waterfall and let out a sigh.

           It starts getting dark and I wish I had brought my jacket. I see someone walking up the stream towards me. I can't tell who it is but it looks like a guy. I tense a little before seeing it's Josh. He climbs up next to me without saying a word. "Hey." I say. 

           "Hey, I joined the other guys at the compound today. I found your stuff. We couldn't bring it all but I brought your dress and this." He pulls my picture out of his jacket pocket. Excitedly I take it from him and look over the memorized faces. My brother and sister are different now then they were back then. I finger their faces then look up at Josh.