The Broken Ones

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Serelle for making the amazing cover!!! Make sure to check out all her books! :)

"Come on, it's just over this hill."

I panted, completely out of breath. Grey and Pete had giant packs strapped to their backs that they had been carrying uphill for the last ten minutes, but they weren't even close to breaking a sweat. I thought I was fit after surviving with only Rain for a year, but these two put me to shame. My legs were burning, and every breath I drew in through my throat felt as if I was trying to swallow sandpaper. Neither of them had thought enough to tell me that the way to their camp was straight up a mountain.

Finally, we made it to the peak and I collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily. Seeing me, Pete nudged Grey's arm and nodded his head towards me. "Maybe we should take a break." He said, and I mentally thanked him.

"No time for breaks, we have to get back before they finish with lunch. Just give her the water bottle."

I groaned, exhausted. Pete handed me the metal bottle and I quickly unscrewed the cap. The bottle was full to the top and I greedily chugged half of it, a good portion of it dripping down my cheeks and chin. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and stood up, handing the bottle back to Pete with a grateful look.

He nodded back at me and gestured for me to move forward with his head.

"We have to keep going. We're almost there." He told me.

My legs were still burning, but I continued to trudge on for an extra two minutes before I caught sight of something in the distance. I squinted, trying to make out the distant shape.

Pete clapped his hand down on my shoulder. "That's our camp you're seein' there Girlie." He told me. "It's bigger than it looks from here."

I simply nodded, too tired to do much else.

It occurred to me suddenly that I was walking alongside my kidnappers as if they were my friends. I contemplated running, but after glancing at their packs that were most likely filled with weapons, the idea didn't look so appealing. That, and I was so utterly exhausted I probably would only make it a couple feet before one of them caught me.

"Why did you kidnap me?" I questioned. They hadn't really answered my question the first time I asked.

"I told you, because we wan-"

"Because you looked like you'd be a good addition to our camp." Pete cut in.

Grey glared at him. "It doesn't matter why, anyway."

My mouth dropped open and I stared at Grey in shock. "Of course it matters! I get kidnapped in the middle of the night by two strange men and don't get an explanation? You owe me at least that much."

Grey gave me a look that sent all my anger flying away, only to be replaced by fear.

"I. Don't. Owe. You. Anything. Got that?"

I nodded my head quickly, hoping he would turn around and keep walking. Unfortunately, he leaned in towards my ear. I could feel his warm breath on the side of my face and I shuddered. My eyes fluttered closed, and I clenched my fists.

"I could kill you if I wanted to. You could be laying on the ground dead right now, all alone. And I wouldn't even have a second thought about it. But I won't, because for whatever reason, Patch thinks you'll be helpful. Everybody else at the camp is going to want you dead. But since Patch is my friend, I'm going to keep you alive. So don't you dare tell me I owe you anything."

He pulled his face away from my ear, and walked away fast enough that I couldn't see his expression. I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding, and relaxed my clenched fists.

Pete came up behind me. "He's not as bad as he looks. You just gotta get used to him."

Somehow I doubted I would ever get used to him and his prickly personality.

My thoughts drifted back to the small little shelter I had learned to call home. About now, I'd normally be washing my clothes in the lake, surrounded with the other people in my minuscule village. Then I'd walk home carrying my basket full of clothes, with Rain by my side.

Wait a second.

Rain.

I gasped loudly, frantically looking around for any sign of my beloved companion. I twisted and turned, hoping to see her small golden-furred body sniffing along behind me. But she wasn't there.

"No no no no no. Rain! Rain, where are you?!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the mountains.

Grey turned back to me with a glare. "What's your problem?"

I wasn't scared of him anymore. I was more scared for Rain.

"My dog, Rain. Where is she? Did you see her? I swear, if you killed her I'll-"

"We didn't kill her," Pete interrupted. "There was no dog at your trailer, sorry."

My hands flew up towards my head, covering my face as I dropped down to the ground. I crouched, my toes on the ground and my elbows resting on my knees. My eyes started watering, the tears dripping down into my hands. I visually jerked forward as I sobbed. First my parents, now Rain. I had nobody else left to lose. I was all on my own now.

Pete -who I was quickly learning was the nice one- walked over to me slowly, and awkwardly rubbed my back in a futile attempt to console me. "Look Girlie, I'm sorry, I really am. I know what it's like to lose someone you love. But we have to keep going."

I nodded, trying to pull myself together. Crying wouldn't get me anywhere. I knew that from experience.

We continued trudging on, Pete and Grey up ahead while I stayed behind, staring down at the ground and wiping my tears away. Every couple seconds they would look back, to make sure I didn't make a run for it. But I was too heart-broken to run. My spirit and willpower had been snapped like a dead stick.

Eventually I managed to pull myself together, and looked up just in time to avoid running into Grey's back.

Pete grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of him.

"Well Girlie, we made it. This, is our camp."