The Survivors

Chapter 8

Three days tops. That’s all it would take for me to reach my destination, if I wasn’t weighed down by five other people. That night, we made a fire and Ashton, Ryder, and I discussed our plan after the kids had fallen asleep. No when knew how to get to my hut without me leading them, and I wasn’t about to tell them, so I would be bringing them there. 

Once we got there, Ryder, Ronnie, TJ, and Cara would stay, and Ashton and I would follow the map. Ashton insisted on coming with me, but I wanted him to stay with the others. Ryder wasn’t a very good hunter since the Reconstruction supplied him with food in exchange for women and children, so he had no need to hunt. Ashton told me if I left without him he’d just follow me. I had no doubt about that, so I grudgingly gave in. 

A couple of hours later we reached my hut, and Cara and TJ collapsed onto my pile of animal furs, rubbing their faces in the soft fur. I smiled and proceeded to pull out some of my sun dried fruit. I kept it for when I came back from a trip to replenish my strength. Everyone took a handful and I tossed the bag back into its beaten up crate. As everyone settled onto a fur and relaxed, I left quietly and made my way to my river cemetery carrying the box had given me and a broken shovel that was missing half of its handle. I reached an empty plot of land near the back corner and began to dig a hole about a foot deep. Another set of hands began to dig with me, but I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Ashton and I continued to dig until I gestured for him to stop. Opening the box, I carefully pulled out a photo album and a shiny wedding ring with a large diamond. Intrigued, I flipped through the album. I smiled sadly as I saw Therry and what seemed to be her husband and kids. I remember she always would say that he’d come back to her, that he always did. I guess she finally gave up. Ignoring that heavy feeling in my heart, I placed both items in the hole and pushed the soil on top. I smoothed it out then grabbed two sticks about the same size and searched the box for the little bit of twine she always sent, but found a beautifully carved wooden cross instead. It had deep red roses painted on it, and a name carved into the center. Arthur McVeigh. I once told Therry about my little cemetery, and since then she’s been sending me things that people would like to be buried, as they can’t find they’re bodies and can’t have a proper funeral anymore. She calls me the Caretaker. She knows I don’t mind doing it, so she doesn’t pay me, but she does make her customers pay for the supplies to have it done. Some pay to have a little cross carved, but never as intricately done as the one now marking Arthur’s grave. 

When I finished I wiped my hands on the wet grass and Ashton did the same. He took a long look around and then slowly stood up. I followed his gaze and stayed where I was. He stood in front of the two stone crosses solemnly as he read the names. Joyanna Kempton. Nick Kempton. Tears formed in my eyes as I thought about my parents, how much my mom loved to read and my dad’s wheezing laugh. The next thing I knew I was in Ashton’s arms and we were both crying. Crying for our parents, for the people we had lost and the memories that remained. A little bit after he stopped crying, I finally stopped too and then I was hiccupping out things I didn’t even know were bothering me. I told him about my family, about my mom and dad, about my brothers, who I used to think were so annoying but just wished were with me now. When I was done we just sat there for a while, not saying anything. Eventually I got up and ambled over to my parents’ graves. I picked a couple irises and Queen’s lace and placed it on the graves. After a few moments I turned to Ashton and saw him fiddling with some things in his hands, and the sun glinted off of something metallic. “Whatcha got there?” I asked, already guessing his reason for suddenly bringing them out. “I, uh, wanted to know if you could do that- for my family. I can pay you, I’ve got a bunch of stuff like jewelry from my mom and I could hunt all thi-” 

“Don’t worry about it. Can it wait til we gat back though? I’d like to carve them a cross too. I bet they were amazing people.”

“They were,” he murmured. “Now lets go get your brothers from that hellhole.”

sorry theyve been so short lately! ive got writers block, but i promise i'll write more next time(: in case you didnt get it, that paper Therry sent is a map to find her brothers. YAY olive and her brothers are gonna be reunited! or are they.....?!?!?!?!?!