The Runner

Chapter 6: Exploring and Plotting

After I got done explaining that there was no hope to go in and coming out alive they said that I of all people could help train them. I had no way of knowing what the suits were capable of so at first I told them that we have to put a little wait on everyone before we started to train but still maintain a HEALTHY amount of exercise. So after I told everyone that if we were going to train they had to do EVERYTHING I said no matter what. After everyone agreed to my terms it was lunch time and everyone was “hungry” again.

            So I said I had to go “shopping” again and went and got hotdogs, cheese, meat paddies, A LOT  of burger and hotdog buns, more water and soda, I also got more baby food and formula. I got back in under a half hour. I cooked and passed out food and almost everyone had both a cheese burger and a hotdog or two of one of the chooses. Everyone thanked me with grateful smiles and full bellies.

            We ended up packing EVERYTHING in a backpack so people had something to carry and no one complained that we were walking to the other side of the “castle” which was about a mile if you went through EVRY room on the way to the other side, and we did. As we checked the rooms we came upon a lot of dust, furniture and some valuable yet forgotten jewelry and some old fashion money. I let everyone take whatever they wanted but they had to carry it, I mean come on its not like anyone would want it or it wouldn’t be here. Once we got to the other side we had added about another 40 pounds to what we were already carrying. Each kid under 10 had at least 2 rings and 5 necklaces and a fancy pin on their shirt. And we even found an old nursery with a silver rattle and some stuffed toys that we had to beat the dust out of and a little music box. We also found an old fashion stroller that was perfect for putting Kayla in for our walk through the house.

            Once we got to the other side of the castle everyone was hungry so I passed out granola bars and water bottles. Then walked and found a bath room with only cold water running so I boiled water for warm bathes for everyone. After everyone was clean and dry and dressed I went to get a new air mattress and an air pump to fill them and more blankets so everyone could be warm.

            Kayla slept in the stroller that now had padding from a plush blanket I put in when I got home and everyone else slept on an air mattress and all the younger kids shared a bed because it was cold and dark me and Derek shared one and whispered to each other.

“Avony?”

“Ya Derek.”

“Thank you for saving me and my family.” Just as he said that I saw a tear glisten in the moon light and I giggled and kissed it away.

“I never saved you. You were the one who saved me and gave me a family that I never had before I meet you. You have given me 23 new reasons to keep fighting for life and everyone in my past and present.” This made him smile him smile harder than he was and then he gave me a slow kiss that was meant to make me stop talking and it did and then I feel asleep in his arms.

            The next morning I was up early and I walked over to Kayla’s bed and found her a wake in the dim morning light and I made her a bottle and she fell back to sleep and once the sun was up a little more I started to cook eggs I got this morning and bacon and French toast once every one was up I had I plate of food for everyone and there was smiles all around.

            Then for the first time ever Bethany asked me if she could talk to me and I agreed. So I told her just let me feed Kayla and then we can talk. I got done and I told her we would have more privacy out on the terrace so we stepped out there and then there was a minute of silence before she spoke.

“I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me.”

“I…. well Derek told me how he tried to protect everyone and since he was away that he couldn’t protect people he cared for if he could not reach them…. And I also did it for me…”

“But how did you do it for you we are not you blood and you just meet us we should mean nothing to you. How can you care for a stranger?”

“Well I lost my family and I didn’t have ANYWAY to stop them from being killed and I don’t want that to happen to people who now not only mean the world to the person I love but also the people I love now I never got to know my family and now that I have another chance to have one I won’t let anyone take them and harm them.”

“Oh… I didn’t know your whole family died but all you do is put a greater risk of getting everyone in there killed!”

“And I also give them a WAY better chance to live by protecting them from people who would most likely kill them anyway and that include you!” I was crying now and then she did the one thing I would have never thought she would do. She was hugging me and let my cry on her shoulder.

“Can you tell me about them…? I mean will you tell me about your family did you have any sisters or brothers?”

“Well I use to have an older sister but she was killed in a fire that we couldn’t out run and my mom and dad were shot right in front of me so… ya try to literally watch your whole family get murdered and ALL you can do is watch and run.”

“Wow I just thought you mad those stories up I never thought all that stuff could be real……I….. I…. I don’t know what to say because sorry won’t make it better and actually I do know how you feel because my dad just went to prison for man slaughter… he killed my mom and I walked in while he was trying to hide the body…”

            We both started to cry and hug and cry some more. Then we said sorry for judging each other and hugged again. Then she asked the one thing that I was not sure of and not sure how to answer “How much do you like Derek?” “I… I don’t know how much but I know that he is the only guy that I want to grow old with type thing I guess but I don’t really know how he feels about me because he keeps sending mixed signals and ya.” “Well I can tell by the way he looks at you that he is in love but to “macho” to admit it because he is a GUY and I think he is too scared to say something because he doesn’t know how you feel..” “Well I think we have kissed at least twice but I do remember telling him he is so not my type just to tease him so ya I guess I have also sent mixed signals…” We both started to laugh and then we realized we have been outside for a while so we went back inside. Everyone was smiling and staring at us as we walked in and we smiled to then I walked up to Derek and kissed him full on and there were ewws and awws around the room that made us part and smile.

He said wow I giggled and he kissed my check I said “now you know how I feel and it’s your move” he smiled and said “now you’re stuck with me till I’m struck down and dead or get amnesia” we both laughed and when we realized we were being watched I screamed group hug and everyone was hugging everyone and laughed.

            Then I saw Louise and Blake holding hands and Derek and everyone else fallowed my gaze then more awwwing happened and it was cute and then Blake blushed and then Louise blushed and then everyone laughed. Then it was time to feed then 23 other mouths in the house and Bethany and Louise helped cook and Derek and Blake watched me and Louise as we all cooked and the cooks and the boys who were watching ate last and I had Bethany feed Kayla.