Red Spider Lilies [TPN]

Chapter 4

"How was the meeting with your new dad... well, your only dad." Ray asks, leaning on the door frame.

I sigh and push myself away from my desk. "I think I blew it. It's bad enough I'm basically aged out of the system but I spilled hot tea on his lap..."

Ray chuckles ever so lightly, a smile sticking to his face. "You spilled scorching hot tea on his lap? I'm sure the guy wanted an older kid 'cause they should be old enough to carry hot tea without spilling. What a mess he's picked out." He laughs.

I slump over my desk as a sigh leaves my mouth, I've been like that lately. What a disaster.

The floor creaks as Ray comes closer.

"Hey, Emma, you know I'm just joking around, right? You probably charmed the hell outta him. Think about it, what screams personality more than still being clumsy enough to do that."

Ray pats my back in what feels the most awkward way to do so. You can tell he isn't one to show affection of any sorts.

"Maybe, I still think I blew it and he won't want me." I lift my head. "But that would be okay, because I have you and Norman. I also have Don and Gilda and all the other kids."

"See? That's the spirit, Emma. You be positive and hope this works out well."

"Alright, goodnight, Ray."

"Night, dumb dumb. Don't stay up and worry about it." He stops before turning around. "And before that, I heard some news about the war and such. To keep it short, there's going to be a protest thing in about 2 weeks. Keep this on the DL and hey, maybe this could serve as some good dad and daughter time. What's a better way to bond than at a protest to resist our tyrannical government."

"Haha very funny but, he's not my dad. And also thanks for telling me I will make sure to be out on the streets on the 22nd. Be sure to clear up your schedule that day, protesting is better when you know the people around you." I pause. "And try to get Norman to join in. He never really joins protests, better at writing essays against the government but I still want him to join us."

Ray nods. "I should be able to do that... well, goodnight then."

I flash a smile. "Night."

---

"Hello there." I whisper. "Come on, just hop into my trap."

The brown rabbit sniffs around the air, checking for danger. It's sad that it can't sense my trap.

Finally the rabbit hops and the thin rope ties its legs and hangs it upside down. It struggles to get free.

"Yes, I've done again. After an hour of searching and 40 minutes of waiting for you, I have you in my grasp." The poor creature wiggles around some more. "Now I have to do the killing thing... the yucky part."

I grab the rope and hold it by the ears as it tries to get free. Holding it down I can feel it's little heart race faster than lightening, like it's heart will burst and kill him itself.

With a deep breath I quickly slice the jugular veins and wait a minute. It squirms and looks at its surroundings. This goes on for a minute or 2 before it finally goes out like a flame.

I take a knee and stare at it, a moment of silence for the creature. This is not much for any religious reasons but for respect of the rabbit.

"Alright, what a way to spend my first day as an adult."

I tie the rabbit in a rag I brought and walk down the steep hill, using the tree's around me as means not to slip.

"Alright, so Ray shouldn't be up for a little more. He doesnt usually get up early unless he has something important to do." I hop down to the rock below. "Is making sure I don't do anything dangerous an important reason to get up?"

I skip down on the hill, I can see the hen house from here. The wind blows gently, which feels like a first since forever ago. Today feels a little more like summertime, though it is still chilly with questionable air quality. Just less.

"You know what sounds fun, rabbit? Doing a cartwheel. That's very summertime of me." I feel myself get a surge of excitement. "What if I cartwheeled down the hill? No wait, that's not very safe. I have to be careful."

Finally, without cartwheeling, I slide down and step onto the gravel. The rabbit is kept safe from the ground.

"Do you think Ray will be happy to see you? On one hand we have food, but on the other he specifically said it wasn't safe for me to go outside." I grunt as I reach for the door. "Why does this door get stiffer everytime I try to open it?"

Suddenly the door opens and I go with it, landing on my side.

"Owww!" I look up. "Oh, hi."

Ray scratches his head, his face cringing. "Get in, it's cold as hell." He yawns.

I stand up and run inside, setting the rabbit on the counter. "I brought breakfast, lunch, and dinner by the way."

"Great, now we have 2 menu items: Hawk soup and a bloody rabbit. Thanks."

I smile as I take off a layer of jacket. "Way to sound thankful, Ray. Not sarcastic at all."

He walks in to the main part of the barn with me, rabbit in hand. "I didn't notice I said it in that tone." He stops. "Thanks for the rabbit, Emma. Though I'm most likely going to have to do the gross stuff of prepping it, right?"

"That's nothing, I had to do all the dirty work." Giving him a quick slap on the back. "I mean you could assume that, hence the dead rabbit."

He nodded. "Yeah I get it. Anyway, there's another thing I need to say to you. That is, it isn't very safe for you to be leaving the barn alone, Emma."

I freeze and start sweating. "Ah, yes that." I turn around and face him, his arms are crossed and his face is the same intimidating thing it's always been. "But, Ray, its broad daylight. And I don't think soldiers are miles away from the city looking for people that might be there."

Ray scunches his eyebrows in disapproval, that's all he does when he gets angry. Unless it chips away at his patience you won't get much of anger out of him other than his glares of frustration.

"Emma, you never know what could be out there. Who knows, there could have been soldiers out there, waiting for some civilians to take away to god knows where."

I open my mouth, nothing leaving it but my breath. I hate that's he's right.

"I'm going to the 2nd floor." I change the subject. "Call me when you want to eat."