Survival 101: With Vivian Bell

Chapter 17: Rare

And all the times I stayed and wonder why, are to blame, oh

And all the times that I'm reminded by, I'm ashamed, oh yeah

-Cold Blooded by the Pretty Reckless

The ride to the forest was probably the most excruciating silence I had ever experienced. Luna sat beside me with her head out the window,enjoying the wind with her tongue flapping about. I was stuck in between them, struggling to breathe and avoid even accidently touching Daryl.

He was tense; it was chilling how quiet and agitated he seemed. It was obvious in the way his fingers were wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, gripping it so fiercely that his knuckles were white.

I was sitting beside a ticking time bomb.

I practically jumped out of the pick-up truck the moment it stopped. I had a semi-functional plan in mind. I could go with Daryl into the forests and then abandon him to take a detour back to the pick-up, get my things and head the other way. I could take the back-pack with me to make the job easier, but I was pretty sure Daryl would be able to tell I was up to something.

Is it alright for me to just leave him? What if something happens and he gets in trouble—

He is not your problem, hicks like him. Their natural habitat is sweat and dirt; if anything you would be doing him a favour.

I had to force myself to stop thinking for a moment, before my mother's rants got anymore irate. I was expecting Luna to be standing right beside me like she always did but to my shock she was missing. In a mild panic I looked around to find her swishing tail walking towards the forest, without me and pursuing Daryl.

How long was I immersed in my thoughts? What the hell is she doing following him?

Confused, I followed them. I couldn't just leave Luna with Daryl. Although, she seemed extremely comfortable around him, a little too comfortable.

I mean, I always knew that Daryl and Luna got along but I never stopped to think that maybe... she would want to be with him. It was bitterly perfect, I wasn't that much of a good hunter and Luna was probably getting tired of carrying my weight around. Plus Daryl had liked her from the beginning; I was always the skeptic when I first met Luna. Even when I had saved her life, I wanted nothing to do with a beat up dog.

I guess this is how she repays me. I should have figured. Everyone ends up leaving or betraying me in the end.

This is what happens when you depend on others, you get weak. Haven't I taught you better to never rely on someone, especially a man.

I do not depend on him.

Yes you do, admit it. You are just trying to find excuses to stay. Pulling such a typical Vivian.

I always hated the way she talked to me, like she knew everything, like she was better than me.

"Vivi-anne." Back to name basis huh? Wow he must really hate me.

"Urry yer ass up." Daryl ordered not even bothering to glance back at me. I picked up my pace, staying close and keeping my weapon at the ready.

"Where are you going?" I asked trying not to let the irritation I felt show in my voice. His lack of communication was really bothering me now.

"The traps." He grumbled like he was doing me a favour. Since Daryl and I had been catching so many animals in these woods, we had decided to come back with a few traps, to make life a little easier. I memorized the places we had set up the snares and did the whole marking system on a couple of trees so we wouldn't get lost.