The cabin in High Wood

Chapter 13

Rob watched on with tears in his eyes, his brother was dead and now Becky was little more than a shell, as broken as Trish. This trip had been a big fucking mistake and everyone else was paying for it.

"What do we do Tom?" He asked, drying his eyes on his shirt sleeve.

"I don't know..." Tommy replied, seeing there was no escape with so many down.

"Were Jason still alive we could've carried the girls... no point dwelling I guess, fuck, this was meant to be a fun last trip together, not literally our last trip" Tommy ranted in frustration, there was little they could do now other than stay put.

Several hours passed without incident, Hannah coming round and sitting up, her face pale from blood loss.

"How're you feeling?" Rob asked, sitting beside her.

"Like someone slashed up my hands, you?"

"Like someone killed my brother, and friend" he replied with a sad smile.

"I'm sorry... if only I'd gotten there sooner, maybe..."

"You'd be dead too, there was nothing you could do for him, I'm sure Han... did you see who did it, who killed Jason and Fran?" He ventured nervously, not really wanting to broach the subject.

"It was a man, he was wearing a hat though... I didn't see his face" she replied, looking at her hands sadly.

"It's fine Han, I'm just glad you're okay."

Tommy woke up suddenly, Rob hadn't even noticed he'd dozed off.

"Han, you're awake. Thank god... you look so pale, you need to eat, let me make you something." He said at a million miles an hour, so relieved she was back.

"It's okay, really, we have to leave though... we're sitting ducks here," Hannah told them firmly, wobbling a little as she stood.

"You aren't up for walking, not the distance we have to cover," Rob told her, pulling her back down gently.

"I wish the others were as strong as you Han, we just have too much dead weight to leave" he continued, pointing to Becky and Trish.

Hannah stood up and tottered over to Trish, squatting in front of her and looking the woman dead in the eyes.

"Let's get with it Trish, can't have you getting us all killed," she said to the woman's vacant face.

She suddenly pulled back her arm and slapped her across the face, leaving a bright red mark that must have stung.

"The fuck Han, jeez that hurts," Trish said, rubbing her cheek.

"Okay, next subject," Hannah said triumphantly, moving over to Becky.

"It's okay Han, we can carry the two of you... can you keep up Trish?" Tommy asked, catching Hannah's arm mid-swing.

"Yeah, I think so... remind me never to leave home again, it's a local college for me now" she replied, having seemingly snapped back into reality.

"Glad to hear it, we have to stick together you know," Hannah told her before her legs went from under her, sprawling on the ground like a rag doll.

"Rob you take Becky, I've got Han... Trish, you lead the way, no one else dies tonight you hear me" Tommy said with a resolve Rob could easily believe.

"Yeah, no one else dies" he repeated, hoisting Becky onto his back.

They embarked out into the night led by Trish, the faint moonlight providing little light. Finally, they were going to be safe.