Road to Survival

Story Time, Mother Fudgers

The lot of us just stood there, taking in the scene laid out before us. It was a devastating blow for all of us. That's our home that those people are destroying. It made me so upset, fueled me with rage so much that I had to turn away. I stalk away from the cluster and look for the marker. We had set one here when we decided that this would be the place we go in case of trouble. There are many other hills like this but the views from each were different. I know that this is the correct hill just by the horizon. Seeing your salvation for the first time is kind of hard to forget. I pass the two trees that are adjoined by the trunks and dig behind them a few inches into the ground. Right where we had left it was my dad's silver compass. I quickly shove it into my front right pocket and take off my necklace and place it in the hole and quickly cover it back up and then make my way to the group again.

"Base is just down in that valley there," I say and point down the other side of the hill to my left. I make my way towards the edge of the slope and notice that there are no extra steps trailing behind. I let a small sigh and don't even bother to look behind to them as I say, "I'll answer your questions once we are safe. Then you guys can decide whether or not you wish to stay. Deal?"

I don't move until hear shuffling footsteps trudging behind. It takes a good couple of minutes to reach the bottom and when we do we all have broken into a fresh sweat. I turn left and go deeper into the valley whilst making my way to the other hill that makes up the other walk of the valley. Once we are well past the middle of the valley my eyes immediately search and find the hidden cave in the valley's wall. The others would have walked straight past it. That's how I know that it's well hidden.

I move the peeled grass away with minimal difficultly to reveal a dark cave. I nod for them to go and they do but not before they search for the flashlights. Once found they file in, one behind the other, both flashlights shining down the black hole. Sgt brings up the rear and when he passes in is when I take one last look out and follow behind, making sure the grass layer settles properly. I press up against the cave wall and make my way to the front of the line. Their steps were hesitant and unsure.

I take the flashlight from Rose as she was in the front and step in front of her, taking lead now. "Just follow me. It's not that much further," I attempt to encourage them. We soon come across a fork in the road where the cave splits into three different tunnels. Without hesitation I take the one on the right and continue. We walk for about six more minutes before coming across a dead end.

"Seriously, Nicky?" I hear someone, probably Matt, say from behind me. "You lead us to a dead end?! We thought you were taking us to safety, not getting us lost in some dark tunnels!"

I look over my shoulder and give them a smirk that I doubt they can see but I just wanted to do that like in the movies. I then insert a key from my pocket and push hard on to the wall and it gives way, becoming a door, creaking on old, unused hinges. Artificial blue lights flicker on and the place buzzes to life. The cave flooring shows that no one has been here in ages, dust had settled and hadn't been disturbed. My shoulders droop in disappointment. That means my family really hasn't made it here.

I walk in and hold the door open for everyone to come in. All of their faces are in shock and their jaws are agape with awe. I too take in the Base. I haven't been here in a while. It's good to see that nothing has changed. There's the open room we are in now with the "kitchen" to the right complete with a dinning table. To the left was the couch and loveseat to the side of it with a coffee table in the middle on a square rug. The two bookshelves were still there, one filled with books and the other with board games. The paintings are still hung in their spots on the brown/green walks. There's a hall that leads to five separate bedrooms that can fit up to three in each. There was a shower but it was one with limited water that depended on a river from about a mile away.

"Come on guys. I think it's just about to be story time, Mother Fudgers," I say and shut and lock the door before going to sit atop the coffee table. Everyone came and sat on the couches after setting the backpacks down beside the door. Once again, for what felt like the millionth time today, all sixteen eyes were on me. I let out a sigh and run a hand through my hair and prepped myself up for what I was about to do.

"Okay, so, I've never had to tell anyone this before so I don't actually know how to start. Um, I guess I can start by telling y'all that I'm not who or what you think I am, obviously. I've actually been a, uh, fugitive I guess you could say, for, well, since I can remember really. Some things had happened and my parents and I had to leave where we lived. We had been on the run for what had felt like ages. It wasn't until we had come across the top of that hill did we know that we would be safe somewhere. That was in our fifth grade. Ever since then me and my family had this place built for us and potential tagalongs.

" And I know that you guys probably don't really trust me all that much at the moment. I get that. I mean, I did kill a guy in front of y'all and seem like I had known the exact thing to do but I promise, I had no idea all this was going to happen! We had made this place just in case another... Incident happened. And no, I can't tell what I mean by that. Sorry. But if you guys don't want to be here anymore around me, a killer, then I understand. But you all have to know that it is very dangerous out there now. If those people find you out in the woods they will not hesitate to shoot. And if you do decide to stay, then I can keep you safe. That, I can promise. "Another set of silence followed after for so long that it had started to become defining in my ears.

Skylynn was the first to speak, saying her first words since we had left the school. " Well, I know that I am totally freaked out by what is happening and about what you have told us, Nicky. But, you are like one of my best friends and I can't find it possible to not trust you. I can't speak for the others but I'm staying by you through this thing. " She puts a hand on my knee and gives me one of her dazzling smile. Not long after, two more hands join Skylynn's. I look and see that the belong to Kat and Rose. I smile up at the three of them with the overwhelming feeling of love and respect.

"Ah, what the heck. Why not?" I hear Ethan say before he too places a hand on top. We all stare at him in wonder. He never talks! After that all the others put their hands in accompanied with murmurs of agreements.

I beam in pure joy and happiness at the feeling of my friends willing to stick with me, even though I didn't tell them all that they probably what they want to know. But the fact that they will still accept me and trust me nonetheless is the best thing. I'll have to tell them sooner or later though. Later. Let's just enjoy this moment a bit longer.