Chapter 7
When I started to wake up, I felt alone, and that took me by surprise. As I sat up in a panic and glanced around, I didn't see anyone, so I thought 'Eva? Where are you? Is everything okay?' I slowly got to my feet and noticed it was dawn -or maybe dusk. I couldn't be sure because I couldn't see the sun and didn't know which way was North. I had no idea where I was or where they were, so I couldn't go far. As I stepped outside to glance aroudn for them, I thought 'Why would they leave me here alone? ... I don't think they would if something was wrong, so they must be checking things out.'
I didn't have to wait long, before Malcolm and Eva came into view a few yards away, and Eva called out "Everything's fine. We found something interesting. You want to see?"
"Yeah. Sure." I said and started walking toward them. "What is it?"
"It looks like an abandon house, but we can't get in." Malcolm offered.
"What do mean you can't get in?" I asked as they started to lead the way.
"Someone must still owns it, but they haven't been there in years." Malcolm answered.
"There's a ton of stuff scatter everywhere. From what can we see there's some clothes that look like they'll fit you." Eva added cheerily.
"I'm not wearing some nasty old clothes in an old ass house." I said lightly and pulled at my shirt, adding "These work just fine. Thanks."
"I meant we could take some back with us. They're really nice and really old. Stuff you can't find anymore." Eva offered.
"If someone still owns it, wouldn't that be stealing?" I questioned lightly.
Eva smiled and smugly said "No one's been there in years. I doubt they'd miss anything."
"There's something on the kitchen table I'd like to look at." Malcolm said with a slight sadness in voice.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"I used to know the people that lived there. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like their photo album."
"And you want me to go it." I murmured out loud without meaning to.
"If you wouldn't mind."
"I'd be happy to, Malcolm."
"And, what about the clothes?" Eva said coyly.
Malcolm laughed once and shook his head, and I sarcastically said "If I have to, I'll get them, too, but I'm not wearing any of them."
As we crested a small hill, Malcolm pointed in front us and said "There it is." Forgotten by its owners, in front of us was no more than thirty by thirty, hand built log cabin that had been battered by the weather and lost to time. "It's between 180 and 200 years old, so watch the floorboards, when you're walking around in there."
The front door was already open, so I walked in and asked "So, who lived here?"
"My best friend from when I was kid." Malcolm said quietly.
I could tell that wasn't the whole story, but I didn't want to pry. I walked to the table and picked up the book and flipped through a few pages. "It's not a photo album. It's drawings, and they're really good."
"They're Johnathan's. He used to draw the most detailed pictures. He was really good."
As I walked toward Malcolm to hand him book, I said "They're beautiful. ... Here. I'm sure he'd want you have them."
As he hesitantly took the book from me, he murmured "He never liked showing them to anyone, but I caught a glimpse every now and then."
It was getting brighter outside, and I hadn't seen Damian, Jason or Naomi, so I asked "Where's Damian?"
