What They Don't Know

Surviving The Winter

"We Can't Stay Here Forever You Know" Dean tells me.
He's been trying to convince me to leave for weeks now. I won't do it, I can't do it.
I cross my arms. I know that he's probably right, but I don't want to believe it. If Georgia were still here, he wouldn't of been acting so eager to leave.
The heavy winter storms were growing quickly, and our small, unsteady, wooden shack wouldn't survive for that long.
"Says Who?" I mumble in response to his remark.
He doesn't bother to reply, instead, he just huffs and walks away. He normally does that. After a few minutes I hear him outside, kicking spare parts around. He was being so loud, I couldn't risk us being heard.
"Hey, What The Hell Are You Doing Dean. They'll Find Us"
I whisper to him, trying to control my frustration.
"We'll Let Them Hear Me! I Don't Care Riley!"
He shouted angrily at me. His dark grey hair blowing in the harsh winds and as he spoke, his voice sounded so broken.
I shudder. The look on his face was so wild and unrecognisable. This isn't the Dean who would play ponies with me & call me poppet. This was the Dean that couldn't even sleep at night because of the constant fear of being killed.
"Dean, I Know You're Angry But We.."
Before I Could Finish He Cut Me Off.
"Oh Angry. That's What You Think I Am Riley? Angry? I'm Not. I'm Sick. I'm Sick And Tired Of Running And Hiding Okay. I Can't Do This Anymore"
He collapsed into a heap on the thick snowy floor and held his head in his icy hands.
I couldn't comprehend anything at that moment. I couldn't say it would be okay. I couldn't tell him that soon this would all clear up. I couldn't lie to him.
"I'm.. I'm Going To Get More Food Okay"
I smile at him, hoping he'll acknowledge me. Dean just ignores me walked inside.
After climbing the big hill which hid our home I spotted a large galloping deer. It had soft, brown fur, spotted with white specks and thin, long and graceful legs.
"Time For Lunch" I breathe softly.
Gripping tightly onto my hand-crafted sphere, I crouch deep into the snow.
Georgia had taught me how to hunt a few weeks after it all broke out. She knew that if anyone would survive, it had to be me.
As I come closer to my un suspecting prey, I watch as its ears twitch. It surely hadn't of heard me, I was being completely silent the whole time.
The large towering trees swayed, frosted with glittering white snow. The wind howled and shook the leaves causing the last of them to fall lightly on to the ground.
Seeing my chance I pounced onto the deer. It struggled, but I mean, who wouldn't? I had gotten use to the blood and gruesomeness of hunting, but every-time I still apologised. Nothing deserved to be faced with death so suddenly. But sometimes, you have to make sacrifices.
Carrying the lifeless, limp corpse over my shoulder I hurry back to the shack. Expecting Dean to applaud me as I enter, I'm only faced with disappointment.
Dean wasn't in the shack. Nor was he outside of it. I began thinking he had gone hunting himself. But when he didn't return after 4 days, I began thinking differently.