Taken

Chapter Twenty Two--JEREMIAH

The sun was setting behind me—I was heading east—and my stomach growled.  I hadn’t eaten anything since the morning when I found some edible berries.  Nobody can run on berries, not me not anyone, so I cut through the trees in search of food.

          I went deeper and deeper, knowing it wasn’t a good idea since the forest was covered in the shadows of dusk, but doing it anyway.  I was listening for the sound of animals, barely creeping along so as not to make a sound.

          I climbed a tree and looked around, seeing the outline of a doe not far off.  I silently slid back down and pulled out the shotgun.  It was already loaded, and I held it ready as the doe came into focus.  I put my finger on the trigger, tensed for the kick, and Crack! It wasn’t my gun though and I was startled.  The doe dropped, and out stepped a guy my age.

          I ran out of my hiding place, filled with adrenaline.  “Hey!” I called, shotgun pointed at the sky.  “That was my doe, I was gonna kill it!”

          The boy just gave me an odd look and pulled out his knife to start gutting­ it.  “Hey, what are you doing?” I asked.

          He ignored me and I felt like going over and pushing him over.  He was poised over it, knees bent, like he was in a catcher’s position.  “Do you not speak?” I asked in frustration and finally he paid me some attention.

          “I do, actually.”

          “Then why don’t you answer me?”

          “Because I think that if you’re a big enough idiot to be running around in the woods that you don’t even know at night, not to mention waving a shotgun, it won’t even be worth talking to you.  Plus, we both know you couldn’t have eaten all of this.”

          I was shocked, and a little bit mad.  Even though he was right.  I shook my head.  “I was just trying to get at least something to eat.” I tried to make my voice sound apologetic, and the guy just chuckled.

          “I know.  You gotta name?” he asked, and I felt the tension melt away.

          “Jeremiah,” I said and shook his non-bloody hand.

          “Warner.  Now why don’t you come back to camp with us? We are having a little bit of a feast tonight.  For a special occasion.”  He smirked at me.  “I’ll tell you on the way back. Maybe.”

          “Sounds good.”