Yonder

Chapter Seven

 Felix found Echo later on in the day. She was sitting with Daniel and some strange old man. The older woman he was with claimed to be married to the mystery person. As the woman ventured on her tangent of young love, Felix zoned out and tried to eavesdrop on Echo’s conversation. He ended up interrupting the old woman.

“What are they talking about?” He asked. He knew she had no idea.

“I have no idea…”

“Does your husband know Echo?”

“Echo?”

Felix pointed.

“Oh you mean An-… Never you mind… yes, her. The both of us know her very well. The last time we saw… Echo… was the day she took off with you! She came to our house first, but didn’t stay very long. Just for the night…” Mrs. Scott seemed as confused as Felix.

Felix tried to pull the old woman in the opposite direction. “Echo said she just grabbed me and left… she didn’t say anything about stopping to see people… She said it was dangerous.”

“Maybe she forgot.”

Felix shook his head. “Echo doesn’t forget.”

Felix and the woman went separate ways. She toward Echo, Daniel, and her husband, and he, the opposite direction. Felix snuck outside, surprised no one heard the heavy bunker door creak open and closed. Felix didn’t know what to think and he didn’t know what to do. He walked a little ways, farther out into the open field. He lay down and for once, felt alive against the cold dirt. He felt the strength of the blades of grass and the wilting flowers, announcing the coming of winter. This would be the first winter that Felix and Echo wouldn’t spend in a cold, empty house. There would be people and life and maybe a real Christmas tree. Echo would tell Felix about Christmas trees all the time, but he had never actually seen one all lit up and pretty-like.

Felix closed his eyes and took a breath of relief. No running, no chasing, no hunting, no starving. Just calm. For the first time in his life, Felix felt calm. He felt at peace. And with that, he fell asleep until night crept upon him.

That night, Felix wandered back into the bunker after a deep voice called out to him. When he reached the big bolted door, a tall dark man stood outside, his arms crossed. Next to him was Echo, looking horrified.

“You can’t just leave me like that, Felix!” She whined. Suddenly a hand appeared on her shoulder. The older man emerged from the bunker door.

“It’s okay, kiddo, he just needed some fresh air, right bud?”

Felix smiled a little bit but Echo just frowned and spun around. “Don’t tell me how to raise my-…” Echo stopped in mid-sentence. Felix knew what she was going to say and it saddened him. It seemed to upset Echo as well.

The older man waited a couple seconds as Felix, Echo, and the guard stood around..

Echo breathed heavily and put her head down.

The older man sighed and started gently rubbing her back. Echo collapsed onto his shoulders and the two hobbled inside, the guard and Felix to follow.

Then and there he decided that he did not like the old man.