The Lost and the Forgotten

Chapter Two

"Okay so for the plan of today is hunting." My father acknowledges us while we gag down the beans. "Our goal is to find enough for at least four days. So John and Christina, you'll be heading out after this." We exchange looks. I don't want to be around John for awhile, or at least until he blows off some steam.

When we're all done, Mom collected the cans and washes the out with some water. I grab my knife John left in my tent and place it neatly in my belt loop. I count six knives, and two magazines in the belt pouch ready to install in the chamber of my hand gun. I spot a bucket on the way out of the camping grounds, and snatch it up. My theory is we need somewhere to put the squirrels. After about fifty yards, the sounds of talking fade away, leaving just my breathing and crunching leaves the only sound around.

"Why the bucket?" John asks. I don't respond. Instead I stare straight in front of me and walk.

"Are you seriously going to give me the silent treatment?" He chuckles.

"Are you seriously going to gripe at me for purposely screaming? I'm not stupid! I know screaming can get us caught, but leave it you to actually think I'd purposely do that!" I get it all out with one breath. He's quite for a while.

"I panicked okay? I hear you screaming, I think something is seriously wrong, Christina," he pauses,"what was your dream about anyways?" He looks at me. I stare for a bit, then look away. "They found us. You grabbed me and we shot at them, then you disappeared and they shot me." I walk slower. He thinks for what seems like the longest time. I draw my attention to the noises of the wind and the leaves, instead of the silence that hangs between us.

+++

We reach back to the camp. My bucket is full of squirrels and John carries a hog on his shoulders. Everyone gathers around us anxiously. Dad steps through the crowd and his eyes light up. Apparently we did exceptionally well for it only being our first time. My back hurts from sitting still for so long. John didn't say anything else after I confessed my dream to him. My mind goes a million miles an hour when it's quiet and I can think. I have plans about what we should do next, but I don't think it would go over smoothly..

Dad grabs the squirrel bucket from my cold hands. The men go off into the distance to skin our food. I sit down by the fire and draw my knees to my chest. How do I tell them what my plan is to do? They'd think I've lost it. But I haven't, they just don't understand my level of thinking. Look at Albert Einstein, they thought he was worthless yet he turned out to be one of the most extraordinary people this world has ever known. I don't think it's time to discuss my theory, so I drop it.

"Hey girl!" Molly plops down next to me. I half smile and she goes on,"I think I'm falling for your brother." She whisper in my ear and my eyes grow wide.

"Ew." Is all I can say. What is there to like about John? Besides him being muscular and somewhat handsome, smart, and a sharp shooter, what is there? Unexpectedly I understand. He is the complete package, and perfect for Molly. In times like these he could defend her. Now I understand why he yelled at me-he cares. My mouth hangs open and I stare at her. She smiles, but this time it's a real, honest to God smile. Her eyes glimmer with that familiar twinkle they once had.

"You two would be so-"

"Cute?" I nod. She winks at me then looks above me, suddenly that spark is gone. I look up and see Beth. She drops down between us giggling.

"Who's cute?" She asks Molly. She looks a me, then back to her. "Oh this guy from school named Dan." She lies and scans her face.

"Molly and Danny sitting in a tree-" I clamp my hand over her mouth, but it's useless. She continues, singing high with a mumble.

"What are you girls doing?" Mom sits down in front of me. Molly murmurs nothing and jumps up, taking off for out tent. Mom looks at me with an odd face.

"A boy," I whisper. She mouths 'John' and I nod. She laughs lightly. Who would've thought that something so smile as liking something would make everything seem better?

I stand up, kiss my mother good night, and go to bed, even if it is only 5 o'clock. Beth comes with me and we lay there on the floor side by side. I throw the blanket over my head and stay still, imagining I'm in another world. Maybe a better world, without masked killers dominating the face of the earth. For a moment, I think Beth is thinking the same thing.