We get downstairs to see West sharpening his dagger. He glances up at us, but quickly returns his gaze to the dagger in his hands. I find it unusual and it makes me a bit uneasy at how he does that weird look. Almost like he hates me.
"Jess, you okay?" Drew asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I reply quickly.
We both walk into the dining room, where Sean packs his bag with weapons, water, and food. He glances up at us, "You have a good sleep?" He asks. We both nod and I quickly realise that my weapons are all upstairs in the room still. At the same time, Buddy trots downstairs with Gabby in tow. She looks a bit uneasy after seeing West give the same look to her that he gave me. Buddy also seems pretty off-put, but he quickly makes his way over to me. He barks up at me and jumps up on me. I smile and giggle as he licks my chin.
"Hey- Uh- Is it okay if I go with you guys instead? I kind of changed my mind." Gabby asks. I look up at her as Buddy jumps down. She quickly brushes her hair out of her eyes with an uneasy look on her face. I already know it's about West.
Before the guys can answer, I already do, "Sure. We could use the extra help." She gives me a small, thankful smile as I send her a knowing look.
We all finish packing the bags. We only bring two and leave the other two. I walk into the lounge room, why West now loads bullets into the chamber of his pistol. He looks up at me with his head tilted to the side to see through his messy, black hair. "Gabby's coming with us, so you'll be here alone." I tell him. He nods and looks back down at his gun, successfully getting a bullet to slide into place in the chamber.
It's almost like he has two different personas. His natural side, and his 'hating everyone' side.
I then place my bag on the ground against the stair railing. I tell Buddy to stay with Drew, before I go upstairs to my room.
I walk into the room, the door creaks as I open it, and I see the fire still smoking, but it's mostly burnt out. On a wooden chair beside the fire is my weapons.
Suddenly, I hear the creak of floorboards from just outside of my room. Straight after I quickly grab my machete, I immediately spin around and see West standing in the doorway. I make sure to keep my hand behind my back so he can't see that I have my machete. Without a word for a while, he simply, slightly tilts his head to the side. I stand, frozen to the spot. "You're afraid of me," He says in a quiet, intimidating voice. I step back as he steps inside the room and shuts the door behind himself, turning the lock. "Aren't you?" He sounds so calm, but that's the part that scares me the most.
"West-" I begin, but I'm immediately cut off.
"You think I don't know that you are," He continues to come closer, whilst I continue to step back each time he steps closer, "I can tell you're afraid," I quickly notice the hand being held at his side is clasped around a dagger. He holds it so tight that his knuckles are white. "You don't have to be, Jessica." I feel a lead catch on my ankle as I step back once more. The delicate-looking lamp from the small bedside table smashes on the wooden floor, causing me to jump. Although, he seems unfazed by it, keeping his eyes on me.
"West, you don't have to do this," I reason with him, just as my back hits the wall, "Just put the dagger down."
My grip tightens on the machete as he reaches the dagger up to my cheek. I feel the sharp point of the blade as he traces the blade down to my chin. He chuckles quietly, "Everyone's always so afraid. But, they just don't truly know what fear is," He brings the dagger to my neck, making sure I can't move, "I experienced fear, Jess, I've experienced way more than fear, but-"
