The Last Hunter

Chapter 11- The Inside

I woke up, not having had a single dream, and not having had a single connection that night with Devan. It was almost unsettling. I was so used to a vivid, horrifying dream always following me around for the day, but today, there was just a strange emptiness.

I sat up, shaking my head. I couldn't decide what was worse: vivid dreams all the time, or a blank emptiness.

I got out of bed, stretched, and changed into, well, the same clothes I'd been wearing this whole week. I'd just been washing the same two, almost identical outfits for... a month? I shook my head, sighing. I'd get some new clothes later....hopefully.

After changing, I realized Zabrina wasn't asleep. She wasn't even in the room. Maybe she's taking a shower? I thought. I listened. Silence greeted me. No water running, so no shower. I started to panic. Where could she be?!

I ran upstairs, quietly as I could, listening for Ryan, Zabrina, or any noise at all. Nothing.

My heart was beating fast. I ran to look in the kitchen, and, out of nowhere, figures jumped out.

"SURPRISE!" They shouted in unison.

I yelped, jumping back. "Oh my goodness, you almost gave me a heart attack! What are you doing?!"

I then realized Ryan was holding something. What was that? It had a cylindrical shape, and looked like it had a brownish color. It looked like poop. Or maybe it was brown mashed potatoes?

I made a face. "What is that thing?"

Ryan looked down. "Oh, this? This is called a chocolate cackle, I think."

Zabrina giggled then nudged him. "That's a cake."

"Oh, right. Whatever. Anyways, happy birthday, Artemis!"

"Wait, it is?" I thought back. I hadn't celebrated a birthday since I was ten, when no one came. I hadn't kept track since; I just added a year on every January first. What day was it? The 13th of March, duh! I felt like hitting myself. "Wow, thanks for remembering. How old am I now, 20?"

Zabrina grinned. "Yup! Happy 20th, Artemis!" She hugged me.

I felt completely out of place. Birthdays were celebratory time when people have no worries, socialize, and have all the time in the world. I was stressed over what I'd found out about the government, had very little time, and definitely did not have no worries.

We ate the cake for our breakfast. It was like a sweet, soft bread with a sweet, chocolate, creamy topping, called frosting. I had completely forgotten what sugar tasted like, especially in this amount. The only time I'd had cake before this, as I just remembered, was at one of my rich friend's birthday parties. I was maybe four or five, but the memory surfaced while eating the piece of cake I had.

"Oh, right!" Zabrina exclaimed, palm on her head. "I forgot! One second." She ran out.

Ryan and I shared raised eyebrows. Zabrina came back with a package, and set it in my lap.

"Here you go! It's a birthday present."

I gazed at the box, wondering what could be inside. I used the butter knife that was on the table and cut open the box. Inside was a...  bunch of fabric? No, clothes. I pulled the clothing out.

It was a camo, water repellent shirt with removable sleeves. I looked in the box to see a second shirt. There was a thin, warm jean jacket, along with two pairs of jeans. There was a set of foot-fitted hiking boots.

My jaw hung open. "How...?" I was at a loss for words. I needed clothes, but how on earth did she get them?

"I got them mailed to us by a private line, so no one could track the package. I figured you might need them since you left most of your clothes at camp."