No place like home

chapter 8

Cora

I don't know I belong. It's not like I actually had anywhere to go to. So when I walked away I had no idea where I was going to until I found a small quiet spot around the wall.

I sit with my knees pulled up to my chest and my head buried in my knees.

I want to belong.

"CURFEW!" Somebody yells out loud enough for the entire camp to hear. I sigh and sit still. Not like I have a bed or a tent to go to.

I hear a few footsteps and lift my head up. It's pitch black accept the small glow of a light coming towards me. "Cora" He announces. I look up and it's my dad.

He smiles and holds out his hand to help me get up. I reluctantly take his hand and he pulls me effortlessly of the floor.

He leads me through the camp to some larger tents. Like the ones I saw when I first got here. We go inside and Dan, Harry, Tom and Frost are standing around a table. I find it appropriate to pull down my mask.

"Talk" He says sternly to us all once I fall in line next to frost. "We're leaving in the morning to find Harrison" Tom announced in a timid way.

"No" My father replies and looks to us all but his gaze stops on me. "We have to" Dan pushes hardening his gaze, "I said no... Why can't you just listen and follow instructions?! You are going to stay here inside the walls, like normal teenagers!" He raises. It seems like this isn't the first time they've talked to him.

Normal!

"Normal?!" I raise back earning all the attention. I look to the others who are giving me a shut-up look but I don't listen.

"We are not normal teenagers! You know what normal teenagers do... They worry about exams, not walkers. They worry about drama with their friends, no about weather or not their friend is dead! They worry about if they'll ever get asked to prom. If they'll ever get a successful job!" I yell. They all give guilty looks accept my father who burns holes in my skull with his gaze.

"Normal teens don't spend two years of their life running. With no destination. Nobody to turn to. No shoulder to cry on" At this his gaze softens and pure guilt replaces it.

"So I'm sorry father dear but nothing you say will stop me from leaving those gates to find Harrison. Nothing he could have done deserves that" I finish, he looks up and the boys finally show some signs of confidence.

"Fine you have five days. That's when the winter season starts... I'll have your truck packed by morning but for now go and rest" He says waving a hand for us to leaving.

"Can I help keep watch?" I ask when they're barely out of the tent, "why?" He questioned, "it's not like I have a place to sleep and-"

"Bunk with Dan" He says turning around and waiting for us to leave, "your still the same" I mumble but he hears, "what was that" He asks turning with anger in his eyes, "I said your the same... You never listened to me you always preferred the boys!" I said with a colder tone and a dark look.

I didn't wait for a reply I just stormed out of the tent and didn't look back. I want to go back to my place at the wall but Dan grabs my wrist and yanks me to his tent.

We get inside and he finds his lantern while I quickly dry my eyes from the tears I didn't know fell.

He turns back not a moment later and places the light on a small wooden surface. "What's wrong?" He asks walking towards me, "nothing"  He sighs.

"Don't give me that..." He mummers, "I  don't want to talk about it" I admit looking to the floor, "ok" He whispers.

"There" He says softly pointing to the bed I had before. I make my way over and just sit on it while he searches for something.

Not a moment later he blows out the candle lantern and pushes his bed so it's next to mine and he lays down.

It's not long before he falls asleep and small snores escape his mouth. I guess I'm happy to have found him... And everyone else. I find it slightly suspicious that everyone I once loved just happens to be here.

Why dies at matter everyone is here now

The minutes slowly turned to hours and the sun will be rising soon. I fiddle with the cloth under me but a small frustrated sigh makes me freeze.

"You didn't sleep" He states in a husky voice sitting up. I shake my head while he yawns and stretched upwards revealing his stomach.

"Get dressed we're leaving in less then an hour" He says standing and walking over to a box, "well I'm done then if you haven't noticed I dont have anything else-" With out getting up he throws some clothes at me, which hit me in the face.

He only changes his top and throws on a pair of boots while I just stare at the things he's given me, "20 minutes" He says flipping the curtain and leaving the tent.

Ripped jeans, black vest type top and a leather jacket... Damn he knows me.
I pull of my mask and tie my up my hair the best I can in a high ponytail.

I throw on the boots he left beside me and walk out the tent to find the others.

They're all standing around the car and deciding the best route to take to get us to the inn faster then to the city.

"Finally..." Frost trails of looking me up and down. Dan notices and coughs to grab out attention, "took you long enough now come on we have to get going before everyone wakes up.

They all get in the back and Dan motions for me to get in next but Frost grabs my rist, " She can ride passenger side" He says with a smirk and dragging me to the passenger side.

What is with them two.