Red Spider Lilies [TPN]

Chapter 10

It was night but I couldn't fall asleep. The story that Ray told had me thinking a lot about mom and my thoughts of her. I couldn't believe it.

I turned my head and stared at Ray, his chest going up and down as he slept peacefully. He doesn't look like someone who would have had such a life. Well, does anyone really.

My eyes close while I adjust my head in my arms. Maybe I can't sleep because I regret the thoughts I've had on this situation. Maybe I'm just restless from yesterday.

I open my eyes and touch my leg, it feels sore and awful. The thought that it was my best friend who shot me made it feel even worse. The memory of the brief minute of seeing him replays in my head: Ray swung me over my shoulder, I was still in shock, then I saw Norman. What was his face like again?

I sit up and groan, what was his expression? Why is it so hard to remember? I close my eyes as I try to think. Then it came to me.

He knew it was me, he had such a shocked face. He must of been so confused, wondering for a second why I looked familiar. Now that I think about it a bit more, once he realized it was me he looked so horrified. I wonder if he just stood and let the other 2 come after us.

I wonder how he feels. Is he okay?

"I should go to bed now."

—-

"Emma, what are you doing?" Ray asks me.

I roll my sleeves up again, not looking away from the blankets in front of me.

"Well, Ray, I am washing the sheets because these are disgusting. Also it's the only thing I can do for now." I look up, wiping my forehead quickly. "It's a huge way to kill time as you wait to be useful."

"Have you really gotten that bored?" Ray walks next to me, watching closely as I scrub away.

I nod as I transfer the blanket to the next tub where I wash off the soap.

"Ray, could you take this outside to hang with the rest?"

He shoots me a confused look. "The rest?" He glances over to the hay that is ridden of any blankets, either next to me or drying. "God, Emma, is being immobile really that hard? I would love to have an excuse not to do anything."

I groan and stand using the stick that Ray gave me. "It's been absolutely unbearable and it's only been 3 days. How long did you say it would take for me to be back on my feet again?"

"10 days-"

"Oh, god, 10 whole days of doing nothing. Nothing to do but 'house' chores and wait for you to get home. It's been an awful 3 days, absolutely awful."

I rest my shoulder on his and for once he just lets me be, I think he might feel bad for me. Ray gives me his signature awkward pat on the back.

"Well, it can't be that awful. We have more stuff to do here other than... this." He shows the bins of soapy water. "Why don't you read some books or write something, I have pen and paper for you. Maybe draw."

I sigh with defeat before lifting my head up, a look of boredom still on my face. "Maybe I could draw."

"That's the spirit. Now I'm gonna go do some things, like hang this to dry. But, I must warn, it might freeze. The weather is unpredictable."

I giggle and take a seat as I wait for him to bring me paper. As soon as he gives the supplies to me he says a quick 'bye' and leaves. The sound of the leaf's rustling as he leaves softens the further he goes.

Now I'm home alone, like that movie. I push the bins away from me and set out the paper. What do I draw now? I was never really prone to drawing more than stick figures of my family and a doodle here and there around my coursework paper.

I start drawing silly spiral flowers around the paper and try to draw Ray with a flower crown of them. But it doesn't look like what you hoped it would, like a 2nd grader drew it. Even so I still drew my silly little flowers all around the pages, front and back, with my different people in my life with crowns and necklaces of them. It soon becomes mesmerizing and you forget about everything as time goes on.

Now I'm out of paper and it's nearly pitch black outside. I look around and go over to the fire place and light it. Where's Ray? I take a seat on one of the crates as the fire warms up the room. Maybe Ray's lost? I wish I could help him but if I go out and do that he's gonna yell at me.

The only thing you can hear is my breathing and the fire's crinklings' and cracklings', you can't even hear the insects because most of them left the area. I previously thought that their chirping was annoying but now I miss it.

I close my eyes and yawn leaning in on myself with the want to sleep, it's barely dark but I'm tired. There isn't a big reason for me to being tired, but maybe the house shores I did today took it out of me.

Finally, the the door slides open.

"Hey, Ray, you sure made it back here late. Was being out that fun-"

I stopped talking as they stepped closer. This isn't Ray. This guy's walking is heavier than his, heavy boots and heavy body. My heart is racing, who is this?

I slowly make my way to the haystack near me for cover, but I duck quickly as a shot is fired. This is bad. Really, really, really bad.