As the World Ends
Copyright 2012 by Marian Lanouette
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1480171298
ISBN-13: 9781480171299
Chapter Seven
Rob walked into their cave and quietly called out, “Lauren.”
“Rob,” she ran out of the shadows, startling him. She jumped on him as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, almost taking them both down.
“Lauren, what’s the matter?” She was shaking in his arms, gulping for air.
“I heard all these weird noises that sounded like footsteps. Afraid, I didn’t leave the cave all day. I really have to pee so bad, I can taste it. Can’t wait another damn minute. You need to come into the woods with me,” winded, she commanded him.
“You didn’t leave the cave all day?” He held her tight.
“No, I was more afraid of what was going on out there than being in the cave.”
“Why?” He let go of her when she pushed on his chest then walked away from him.
“I didn’t know who was out there.”
Upset when he noticed her trembling bottom lip. The ghost like paleness of her face, he watched her gather the toilet paper and a sweater. He never realized leaving her alone would scare her so much.
I’m sorry, Lauren. I won’t leave you alone again.”
“Not your fault. I have to grow up. Did you talk to the guy?”
“Yeah.” He frowned.
“What? Is something wrong with him?”
“Yeah, he’s creepy.”
“What did he say?”
“He offered his cave and asked if I was alone. I got the feeling he knew I wasn’t.” His brows knitted together.
“How would he know?”
“I saw his tracks this morning. They stopped about twenty yards before our cave. He must have tried to follow us.”
“He knows where we’re staying,” she shuttered.
“No, I don’t think so. He tried tracking me after I left his cave.”
“He didn’t see you?”
“No, I was up a tree.” He smiled.
“Clever you. What makes you think he knows?”
“The way he kept asking. I think he might have seen both of our tracks last night. Maybe I didn’t wipe them as good as I thought I did. I also noticed this morning that his tracks and the mountain lion’s were on the same path. So from now on we’ll make sure not to use that path. I don’t understand why the guy stopped twenty yards away last night. Could be something in the woods spooked him”
