The Risen

Chapter Forty

Never Forget!
Cassi

I was on my morning hunting trip, just wandering through the woods, I haven't managed to find any game quite yet, and Shadow hasn't noticed anything yet either.

It wasn't good.

I kept worrying about Dante and Ace, they left yesterday, and although they said they wouldn't be returning until tomorrow, I have a gut feeling that something went wrong. Maya went missing yesterday as well. Kiera and I talked about where she could be, and it's likely she went with Dante and Ace, or even Damon and Shane. 

We gave Shane and Damon a long range radio, which should help us stay in touch with them, we agreed to save battery that we'd turn it on for five minutes every morning at 6:00am, we decided to only give them the radio as they would be gone for at least a week, if not two.

I felt guilty, that I didn't go with them, I have feeling for Dante, and I knew he had feelings for me.

...

I thought back to the morning after Ryder's death, Jayce was clawing his way through the ruins and rubble of the bell tower looking for a body. Maya was wrapped in a blanket, as Jerry was checking her vitals, and he was stitching her head for a cut along her forehead.

I remember being sad, but I never cried. Even after Patrick died, and my parents, I ran but I never cried. This world already broke me, until I was with him.

I remember walking into my tent, Shadow sat on my lap, and Dante appeared, he walked into the tent and stood in the doorway.

"How are you?" he asked.

I smirked and looked at him.

"My brother is probably dead, and the other one is asking to be killed. How do you think I'm doing?" I spoke sarcastically.

Dante nodded and walked further into the tent, he let the cloth of the entrance fall to the floor behind him.

"Sorry that I asked" He said.

"Its fine, I get it, hows the bullet wound?" I asked hoping to change the topic

He grabbed the side of his chest. 

"Still stings, but its dull, I'm surprised that I've healed so fast" Dante said.

"Well that's good, just make sure to get Jerry to look at you, make sure it doesn't get infected" I ordered him.

"yeah, I'll check up with Jerry once everything dies down with the whole Ryder thing. Hey, I know this is a bad time but, I wanted to talk to you about, well..." Dante trailed off, he seemed unsure whether or not to tell me whatever it was.

I moved over and patted the side of the cot for him to sit next to me, He hesitated, and glanced at the exit, but then walked over and sat down next to me.   

"Whats wrong?" I asked, Dante looked down to the floor of the tent, he didn't look at me as he spoke.

"You remember my wife? Betty? and my daughter Beatrice right?" He asked, then looked up to me for my answer.

I nodded my head.

"Ever since they died, I've been having nightmares about them, reliving the moment where I lost them, then the moment I watched my best friend Rielly be brutally murdered in front of me, I know you've been having similar nightmares about your parents, and your fiance Patrick, so I wanted to ask, have they stopped?"

I was confused by the question at first, I didn't recall telling him about my nightmares, But I assume that it's a common thing in this world.

"No" I answered immanently, but then changed my answer.