Underground

51

Estelle
"What are you on about?" I ask, holding onto the wall.
Leeciy was right, my legs were quite numb.
"You're cheating on me with Leeciy." August accuses, pointing at me.
"No." I say. "I'm not."
"It is 3 AM, and now you waltz in, not even able to walk straight!" He says.
I furrow my brows. "I fell asleep on my feet while talking tactics. Stop jumping to conclusions."
"As good of an excuse that is, I don't believe you." He says. "You just got carried home because how sore you are from doing whatever with him."
"Are you calling me a slag?" I ask. "My God, August all I've done is be loyal to you!"
"Yeah, sure. Because spending all day out with another guy, who is my age is completely loyal." He sneers.
I throw my hands up. "How could you even say that?"
"Because, I am not stupid." He says.
I fume. "You are such a jerk!"
"I may be a jerk, but at least I am loyal." He says.
I glare at him. "Why are you so jealous!?" I ask.
"I'm not jealous." He says.
I shake my head. "You're so jealous, you're practically green."
"I'm not jealous!" He raises his voice.
"Oh, if you're not jealous, I'm just going to go to Leeciy's." I say.
"No! Don't!" He says, walking toward me.
"So you are jealous." I say. "Why?"
"I dunno." He says.
I sigh. "Do you still think I'm cheating on you?"
He shakes his head. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Leeciy says this whole war thing has everyone on edge. Now I know, everyone includes you." I say.
He nods. "I guess so."
"Can you carry me to bed? I'm exhausted." I ask.
He offers a fake smile and nods.
***
"Honestly, how can someone be so bad at shooting a bow." Luca asks, taking his bow from me.
I shrug. "I guess it's not what I'm made for."
"That's alright, I probably couldn't swing that hatchet as nice as you can." He grins.
"Why does your mom want squirrel again?" I ask, walking taking a step through the trees.
"She wants to make squirrel stew." He says. "But I don't think we can kill any squirrels when you scare them away with your god awful shooting."
I elbow him in his bony ribs.
Luca's always been skinny, he eats but he just can't gain weight.
"Seriously, I have never seen anyone miss a crippled squirrel." He laughs, holding up the poor squirrel with the broken leg.
I laugh. "Not everyone is the God of Hunting, Luca!"
"I like that, it's got a nice ring." Luca says. "Everyone should replace Luca the Lizard with the God of Hunting."
"I don't know if they will." I say.
He laughs. "You hold the corpses, I'll shoot."
"Fine." I say.
He hands me all the squirrels, their tails hastily tied together with twine. "I am Luca! God of Hunting! Squirrels fear me!"
"Um... Maybe not the last part, squirrels fear everything." I say.
"Yeah, I probably jus--" He stops abruptly and shoots a squirrel climbing a tree to our left.
"Once again, Luca Abernathy, God of Hunting." I say, walking over to the tree base.
Luca grabs the squirrel by its tail, ripping the arrow our of its eye. "M'lady."
He offers it to me like a bouquet.
I sigh lovingly and take it. "My hero!"
Luca and I crack up, giggling and laughing for a couple of minutes.
"Hey Luca?" I say.
He wipes a fake tear from his face, as if he was crying from laughing. "Yeah."
I look at my mud caked, wet boots. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
"Hey, no biggie. I want my revenge for thirteen years in that Hellhole." He says, elbowing me softly.
"Yeah, I want revenge too." I say. "I'm glad I'm taking it."
"Yeah, and every time you feel like you're doing this for no reason, remember the water tank."
***
Training wasn't how I like to spend everyday, but some days it just feels necessary.
Like today, which is exactly why my fists were wrapped in athletic tape. I was preparing to beat the bead out of the punching bag that I had found in the physical therapy unit of the hospital.
I walk into the room, which smelt musty and sweaty yet weirdly sterile.
Grunts fill the air, usually there was never anyone else who used the hospital.
It reminded August of death. Leeciy could barely walk in without complaining about the smell, and the one time Luca came in here he had a really bad panic attack because it reminded him somuch of the labs, but for some reason I don't mind it.
I turn the corner and see Yeeva, or Neeva.
She cut her hair, it was jagged and split ended. Probably done with one of the kitchen knives hesitantly given to her by Leeciy.
She turns to me after finishing her set. "What do you want?"
"I was going to train actually." I say. "But you can finish."
Sometimes I forget Yeeva's only fourteen, she acts so much older.
"Whatever, go now." She says, stepping aside.
"Thanks." I murmur, shuffling forward.
Her judging eyes stay on the back of my head while I train. "What do you feel about survival?"
"Necessary." I shrug. "Not to be put over the people you care about."
"Is that supposed to mean something, Red?" She says.
"No, it's just what I feel." I say.
"Quick random question, who in this town has been there for you, all through everything?" She asks.
I tap my chin. "I don't really know actually, that's a really good question."
"Who means the most?" She asks.
I bite my lip, thinking for a second. "August probably."
"How sweet." She says.
I turn to her. "I'm sorry about your brother."
"You've told me." She says, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Anyway, I should get going."
"Yeah, you've got quite a walk home." I say, smiling at her.
She nods and walks toward the door.