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My two sisters, so innocent in every way imaginable, lives were stolen in such a brutal way that it brought nightmares to me even when I was awake.
CHAPTER 13
My mind flashed back to the events, so clear in my mind, the blackness just covering my vision, the smoke thick in my throat, and the high pitched screams ringing in my ears as my sisters begged for their lives and screamed in complete horror. Thick crimson blood caressed our parents; it tangled in my hair, stuck to the side of my face, was an intensely unwelcome taste between my lips, and it pierced the scent of the air heavily, leaving the gagging odor of death. Rotting skin, clotted blood, blankets of intestines…death was everywhere and we had been so unprepared. Skin and dirt dug underneath my fingernails and a heavy weight lifted from my back then attacked my sisters…their shrieks of mercy ended quickly. Their deaths, at least, had been quick.
“I’m sorry,” Josh said, seeming to have read my expression and I quickly disguised it with a smile, the hurt still lurking just beneath the surface. For all they knew, I was feeling homesick. They probably supposed my sisters were at home, their cheeks pink, their eyes glowing, their knees skinned, their smiles full and crooked, waiting for their older sister to return home and argue with her parents about having left in the first place. I realized, eventually, they would discover what I was hiding. I couldn’t possibly hide it forever from them that I was an orphan. And I couldn’t possibly hide the fact from Al and Drake that I had been with wolves. They would know.
It almost scared me into never going back so I could hide both secrets from both sides.
“It’s okay,” I assured. We reached the beach and the second that Pup’s feet touched the sandy surface, she took off running and Kenna laughed again, her amusement pulling me from another round of thoughts that I would be best to stray away from.
“Here, I’m going to set some things up for you Josh. Erin, stay here and help him the rest of the way back,” she instructed, her tone back to worried and it was saturated in authority. She slipped out from underneath his arm then broke into a steady run after Pup.
I squeaked from the sudden mass of a guy twice my own weight and he leaned off a bit, chuckling ever so slightly, “Like I said, I can walk myself.”
“No,” I said with the same stubbornness I had expressed earlier.
He shook his head, “I’m going to be fine.” I could hear the pain in his voice, although he did well in hiding it. I was good at detecting it. I was daughter of a hunter, cousin to the best hunters…they’ve tried to hide their pain plenty of times, and I had to learn to hear deeper than their words, otherwise death would roam nearer.
“Well, that’s good. But right now…,” I said and he groaned with frustration and tire.
“I know, I know…,” he hissed, the pain back in his tone, “Why did you come?’
“Didn’t we already go over this?” I asked.
“Really though,” he said.
“You don’t believe I want to help Garion?” I questioned with a growing frown.
“He’s a wolf,” he confirmed and I flushed in guilt, looking away. Was it so obvious? What hints had I given?
“And?” I asked with a dry throat and looked to the cottage in hopes it would come closer and assist me.
He shook his head, “Nothing.”
I finally got him to the cottage after a long stretch of silence that nerved me and Kenna quickly helped get him onto the couch, “Now sleep or I’ll force you.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted with a groan and tried sitting up but Kenna pressed him down a bit too forcefully, and he winced.
“I said stay, Josh!”
He groaned but obeyed, “I hate couches.”
“Whatever, Josh. I said lie down and get some rest. Please,” her voice came out softer this time and a whirlwind of worry drenched her pleading words. He looked persistent then broke and went limp.
“Fine, I’ll rest,” he sighed and Kenna came to a stand and gave me a heavy stare before exiting the room and I casted a quick glance to Josh then chased after her.
“Are you okay?” I questioned Kenna and she smiled softly and entered the kitchen and sat down.
“I will be, thank you,” was her short answer.
“Do you need to talk about it?” I questioned her and her eyes landed on me, analyzing and she quickly smiled.
“I’m fine, just worried about Josh. I need to go talk with Alejandro, stay here, okay?” and with those simple spoken words, she stood and left me alone in the kitchen.
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The Girl with the Red Hood
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