The Survivors

Chapter 10

ASHTON'S POV

I held back a smile at the look on Olive's face. She looked so happy and relieved. It kind if pissed me off to see her so stressed all the time and not being able to help. She was so used to being alone, it was nearly impossible to get her to let me do anything. It reminded me of that one song, Miss Independent by... ugh. I can't remember. I put down the sleeping Patrick on a bed in one of the rooms, and followed Olive into the kitchen. She was shuffling through the food supply, most likely rationing it all out. I put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Hey. Olive, there's enough food here to last a lifetime. We don't even need to ration!" She frowned as she surveyed the packed to the max shelves and sighed. I tried not to laugh when I noticed her eyeing a pack of skittles sitting on one of the top shelves. I snatched it, ripped open the package, and shoved about a dozen into my mouth. Her mouth opened in indignation and she went to grab the remaining skittles out of my hand but I dodged her and ran down a set of stairs near the front door. This place seemed the have at least three floors, because I noticed another staircase leading deeper down into the earth. It was a little colder down here, and I quickly darted into a room to my right. I flicked the switch on and stopped in my tracks, which caused Olive to slam into me from behind, knocking us both over with her warm body on top of mine, and all my delicious skittles flew across the room. Breathe, Ashton, breathe. Be cool. I smiled up at her and winked and I felt her heart speed up. I chuckled and felt relieved knowing I wasn't the only nervous one in the room. She got up quickly then noticed her surroundings and froze like I had. God, I love her eyes. Shut up, brain. I shook my head and looked around the room, avoiding the dark haired girl in front of me. She was examining a rifle, so I picked up a set of throwing knives from the table closest to me. She was muttering to herself in wonder and I couldn't stay in the room any longer, it was getting hot. Or maybe it was just me. I investigated the other rooms and found two bedrooms with connecting bathrooms. I claimed one as my own and tossed my bag into the bed before descending down the next staircase to keep looking around. Olive just wouldn't get off of my mind, and it was driving me crazy.

OLIVE'S POV

Ashton left the room after a few minutes, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I knew Ashton was worshipping the land this cabin sat on, but I was still cautious. There was no dust on any of the surfaces, half empty container of crackers sat on one of the counters upstairs, and a gun was missing from its place on the wall. Someone had been here recently, and I was hoping they wouldn't return tonight, because I could really use a good night's sleep. I had been tossing and turning last night, worried about my brothers and planning the journey ahead of us. And now, to top it off, I had yet ANOTHER kid to take care of. I would definitely be leaving him at the next town, which should be Shorewood. We were on the edge of Joliet right now, and we had a long time til we reached Chicago. I had estimated wrong, thinking we were closer, but it turned out we were about twice as far as I thought. As soon as we passed the sign saying, WELCOME TO JOLIET, my heart dropped to my feet.

*a couple hours later*

"Okay, okay! I give up!" I tossed my pillow to the ground, laughing and he smacked me in the head with the pillow.

"I win!" he said with a laugh. I pretended to pout and flopped onto the couch. "Aw, don't be such a sore loser, Liv."

"Liv?"

"It's something I'm trying out, give me a break! Olive is a mouthful," he tried to explain.

"Oh, I'm sorry, two syllables is a lot for little ASH, huh?"

"Aw man no don't call me Ash, that's such a chick name!" I laughed at the desperation in his voice and he just frowned jokingly. I glanced over to the stairs and saw Patrick climbing down the stairs carefully and rubbing his eyes sleepily. I smiled at him unwittingly, I don't think I'll be able to leave him in Shorewood. God, I'm such a pushover. By this time next year I'll run an orphanage. I noticed Ashton watching me and I cocked a brow at him and he looked away quickly, trying to seem like he hadn't been staring. I smiled and gathered the tiny little boy in front if me into my arms and left the room to wash off all the dirt and grime.

ASHTON'S POV

She left me down here all alone! How am I supposed to entertain myself? I huffed and grabbed a ball that was sitting in a basket on the table next to me. I threw it up in the air for a couple minutes but got bored quickly. I got up to check on Olive and Patrick and found them both asleep on the couch. I pried Patrick out of Olive's arms and tucked him into bed in his room. I went back to Olive and picked her up bridal style, then picked my way down the stairs carefully, trying not to wake her up. She looks so peaceful when she's sleeping. Okay, shut up Ashton. You sound like a creep. I laid her onto her bed and was about to leave when I noticed a big chunk of rock on the table next to her door. I picked it up and examined it. The corners were chipped and I realized it was the grave marker I had asked her to make for my parents and... and Leo. Anger rushed through me and I put the grave marker down before clenching my fists. That guy, that Snatcher, was not my brother. I don't know who that man is. the guy I knew would have never taken advantage of women like that, never would have betrayed his brother. He used to have respect, but I guess that was long gone. Once, a couple months ago, I had gotten captured by a group of Snatchers and they forced me to join. I saw first hand what happened at those camps, and it wasn't pretty. The men did what they wanted, when they wanted, to who they wanted. After all, the Reconstruction didn't care what condition the women and kids arrived in, they just wanted them there. But when I had escaped... I hadn't saved anyone like Olive had. I was cowardly, and fled at my first chance. The guilt ate me up inside everyday. I knew I could've helped someone, but I didn't. I was selfish. I crept out of Olive's room quietly, to get the sleep I knew I wouldn't get.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

hey guys! so I did Ashton's POV...yes or no? and I tried to explain the snatchers more in this chapter, but if your still confused. just comment and I'll tell you in the next chapter what you need to know. love you all! VOTE AND COMMENT

-Bekah