No Childhood

You're Right

Nausea washed over me, as I stared one of my fears worse in the face. Heights. The only way down was a patch of vines and climbing plants that had grown along the neglected building's exterior walls.

"No better time to face it than now I guess," I muttered to myself. I gulped and grabbed onto a vine close by. Before trusting it with my life, I yanked it a few times, testing its sturdiness. "Please don't kill me." I quietly begged the plant. After one last tug, I pulled myself out of the vent and held onto the plants for dear life. I cautiously guided myself down the wall, trying to keep the weight off my injured arm. Once I was a little over half way down, I heard a weird noise. The noise seemed to be coming from above me, so I glanced up. To my surprise, the thin vine was tearing. I reached out, in pursue of a new, stronger one plant. It was almost in my grasp, when I heard a 'snap.'

I groaned, when my body hit the rough ground. A shooting pain erupted in my leg. I slowly lowered my head, afraid to inspect the damage. A shard of broken glass penetrated my left shin, eliminating my ability to get up and run. I wanted to give up, but then I thought about my family; more specifically, my brothers and sister.

They have no one. Their mother abandoned them and I've disappeared. Their life has been full of disappointment and struggle, but this is probably more than they can take. Losing our mother, even with the way she is, hurts. She wasn't the best, but we've had our unforgettable moments. Before my grandmother died, we were inseparable. They needed that again. As much as it will hurt me to do so, I needed to get back to them; to comfort them, give them hope, make them laugh. They're my motivation, and the reason why I needed to pick myself up and run.

I grunted, as I got off the ground and stood best as I could. The glass seemed like it was pretty deep, so I was afraid to remove it. I closed my eyes and took a step. It made the pain even worse, but I couldn't let that stop me.

With every step I took, I groaned and grunted in pain. A wood was not far in front of me. I decided it would be best to stay hidden and headed towards it. I needed find a place to hide, in case they came looking for me.

After hiking for a while, I found a hollow tree, with a hole just big enough for me to fit, in the base of the trunk. I carefully slid myself inside and covered the hole with surrounding leaves. Once my whole body was in, I sat in there in silence, until I dozed off.

The crunching of leaves pulled me out of my slumber.

"The blood ends here," a deep voice pointed out.

"So where'd she go?" Another one asked, with an country accent. I covered my mouth, afraid that a sound might escape.

"I don't know, your the tracker," the first one stated.

"She's hurt. She couldn't have gotten that far," the man with the accent said.

"Well things don't just disappear, Henry," the first man said. They're footsteps neared the tree. Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to stay quiet and still.

"There's no way she climbed that Kevin," Henry said.

"Do you have any other theories?" Kevin asked sarcastically.

"If you wouldn't have let her get away in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess would we? All you had to do was take the shot when I told you too," Henry retorted. A whimper escaped my mouth and their steps stopped. I mentally cursed.

"Did you hear that Henry," Kevin asked.

"Hear what?" Henry asked.

"It sounded like a...whimper," Kevin said.

"Told you she'd be close," Henry said. I heard a gun cock. "Where'd it come from?"

"No, no it didn't sound like an animal," Kevin said.

"Who in there right mind would be out here?" Henry asked.

"We are," Kevin pointed out.

"I said 'in their right mind'," Henry repeated, playfully.

"Shut up Henry, they could be hurt," Kevin said concerned.

"Anyone out there?" Kevin yelled.

"Sh, you'll scare all the prey away. I still want to hunt," Henry scolded.

"God, are you always this selfish?" Kevin asked annoyed.

"Fine, if your right, I'll take the fall for the doe you lost," Henry said, playfully. Silence fell over the woods. The men stayed completely still and I did the same. It stayed this way for a few minutes, until my stomach did a low growl. I hadn't noticed how hungry I'd been.

"Show yourself!" Henry commanded.

"Stop Henry!" Kevin ordered, "you're going to scare them."

"What if they're a threat?" Henry asked.

"Don't you think they would've already attacked then?" Kevin replied.

"Then why are they staying hidden then?"Henry asked.

"They're probably scared of all you yappin'," Kevin said. They began walking closer to the tree. "Come out now, we won't hurt ya," Kevin said. I stayed quiet and still.

"Come on now, we don't have time for this," Henry said. "Mom wants us back for supper." The words 'supper' made my stomach rumble again. I contemplated on revealing my position, in fear that it might be a trap.

"They're by the tree," Henry said. "Show yourself, or I'm shootin'." He commanded. He let out a warning shot close to the tree. I flinched and made some leaves fall from the hole.

"Henry!" Kevin yelled.

"What, its just a little motivation," Henry said, shrugging it off.

"We know you're in there. Just come on out," Kevin said in a soft voice. I knew doing this could be a risk, but they could be my only chance of surviving. I sighed softly and kicked away some leaves covering the small entry way. I slid myself out, starting with my injured leg.

"Told you they were hurt," Kevin whispered to Henry. Henry nudged him in the side.

"Shut up," Henry said. Once I was all the way out, I sat near the tree, staring at the two young men in front of me.

"Looks like you were right brother."