My Light in the Darkness

You.

Zach was fuming.

We left the camp fire after Ryan told us the news and immediately went to Zachs tent. Everything was trashed. It was a shock the tent still stood even.

"What are we gonna do?" Jonah asked, pacing the tent. "Who took her?"

Zach slammed his fist down on a table. "It was the ravengers. They've been eyeing this place for weeks." I held my head down shamefully. Everything was going so good today, but of course nothing good ever lasts long anymore.

I worried for Reese. She was just a little girl and ravengers were savages. I had to get myself away from the tent before I said anything stupid because I wanted too and Zach doesn't need that right now. I slipped out quietly and unnoticed before I made my way to Corbyns tent. I had my stuff in there and it's what I needed.

I had to leave. I knew it would hurt Zach, but I couldn't stand around and wait for a plan when Reese was out there probably scared shitless. I was just throwing my backpack over my shoulder when someone cleared their throat behind me.

"What are you doing?" Corbyn asked behind me. I turned to face him, backing away slowly so I could slip out the other side.

"I have to go find her. I've dealt with Ravengers before, Corbyn. I'm not risking you guys getting hurt because when I come back, I'm going to need all of you on stand by." He was about to retaliate when I pressed a finger to my lips, silencing him. "Please. I have to do this."

He huffed but let me go quietly. When I reached the border of camp, I took on last look. I'd be back, I had to be and it had to be with Reese.

* * *

I ran for a good three miles before I slowed to a jog. I knew exactly where I was going and it still scared me. I smelt it before I saw it. Burning rubber, weed and alcohol. I remember a time I used to love that smell, now it made me sick to my stomach.

I started to walk so I didn't look like a threat. The front gates opened instantly for me. As I walked in, I was circled by guards.

"You shouldn't have come back here." One stepped forward, his gun almost pressed against my forehead.

I took a step closer, closing the gap between my head and the barrel. "It's almost like you missed me, Jake." I smiled innocently.

He chuckled. "Damn Abby. You always know how to make me swoon," he winked and lowered the gun. "What do you want?" He asked.

"Not what, who."

He raised a brow at me like I was crazy. "I don't know what you're talking about," he answered.

I saw the gleam in his eyes and knew he was lying. "Bullshit. Where's the girl?"

He stalked around me, taking in what he hasn't had for years. "Why? Do you care about her?" I stiffened. He wanted to torment me like I did him.

"I know people who do." I said truthfully. I wasn't lying, but I couldn't tell him I did too.

"Ahh, you're little boyfriend?" He snickered in my ear.

"He's not my boyfriend. You know all to well that I don't do that lovey dovey shit," I spat. "I'm using him for protection." I lied. I had to lie. It was the only way to keep Zach and the others safe.

He seemed to consider this but I knew it wouldn't take long for him to know the truth. It was true though, I never used to do the whole love thing. Not until Zach. With Jake it was all fun in games, a way to get what he wanted.

I thought of the old days, the days when I first arrived in the shit town. I wanted to tear them out of my brain and stomp on them till they were nothing but dust.

I was out one night, a few years back, running from my nightmares. I made it to a place I didn't recognize but I saw fire and I was scared. I came to their camp and knocked on the gate to which it opened. Jake was on night patrol that day. He was 15, I was 13. He took me in for the night, fed me, gave me water and a warm blanket.

We talked for hours on end. He told me his story and I told him mine. We got close, just watching the stars while he watched the gate for intruders. I don't know what happened, but I was young. I thought that if they world went to shit, my morals would too. So when he kissed me, I let it happen. I let it go further then it should have. When Alex came to take over, Jake told me to hide and he would come get me. I did as told and when Jake finally found me, he took me back to his tent. Anything for a stress relief right?

We met every other night from that day forward for a solid year. I got hooked on some bad stuff, did some stuff even worse. When Uncle followed me one day, he found out what I was doing all those nights. When I was heading back home, he was sitting on the porch with his head in his hands.

I walked up to him slowly, not knowing if I heard him weeping or laughing. "Where did I go wrong?" He asked when I stood in front of him. The look in his eyes, the most broken eyes I've ever seen before, made me regret ever sneaking out. "Did I not take good enough care?"

I didn't mean to hurt him but I did. I never wanted to hurt anyone close to me not since I lost mom and dad. "You are enough, I- I'm sorry." I cried. Truth is, I fell in love. I fell in love with Jake, with the feeling he gave me, the sensation. I was 14 and had no fucking clue what love was. It wasn't love, it was 'fun'.

The next night I sent word out to Jake to meet me at the gates. When he did, I knew this wouldn't end well.

"What?" He asked, shifting his gun behind him so he could use both his hands to grab me. "Are you hurt?" Her grabbed my chin, turning my head both ways to get a better look.

"No," I said, grabbing his hands, "not yet." He took his touch away from me because he knew what was happening. "This can't keep happening. My uncle found out, Jake. He saw it. He saw you and me together. It broke him."

"Well then let him break," Jake chuckled. "You don't need him."

I backed away from him. "He's the only family I have left. I'm not going to abandon him."

"Baby," he said, his tone soft. "I love you." I saw the gleam in his eyes that told me he was lying. He loved the lying, the killing, the hunt for goods. He was just like me.

"You don't." I corrected, "you love the fun we have." That's when he turned dark. He gripped my chin in his fingers, holding my face towards his.

"I never want to see you around here again." He spat in my face before throwing me down.

I chuckled, "that would be a problem."

I never saw him after that. I knew he still watched after me though. He learned my routine, my strategies, anything he could use. One day he just stopped. The strange things I once saw didn't catch my eye anymore. Or maybe I just stopped caring?

I cleared my throat, looking at him expectantly. "Well? Where is she." I demanded.

"First," he said in my ear, "give me what I want." I shuddered away from him.

"And what's that?"

"You."