My Light in the Darkness

Camp

"How do you expect us to survive?" Jake hissed, moving a branch from his face.

We were two days into our trip and already running into problems. Jake saw creepers every now and then, forcing us to hide in the bushes.

"By doing this," I answered. When we didn't hear anything again, we crept out from our hiding spots. "It's going to be a long ass trip, Jake. I know where we can get a car, you just have to stick it out for now." He nodded and we went into the open.

It hasn't been difficult with Jake. He's actually been quiet most of the trip. We only talk when we need too communicate and it's not often. I found myself thinking of all the ways I can end this, to negotiate with the government on how to solve whatever problem they have.

It had to do with over population and pollution, that I knew for sure. I just didn't understand why they would go to such extremes to control something like that.

We continued our walk down the highway. It was a pretty abandoned place by the looks of it, so we weren't to careful.

"Why did you leave?" He asked suddenly. I wasn't expecting him to talk to me, especially since I'm dragging him all the way to Washington.

"You know why," I sighed. I didn't want to talk about that specifically.

He kicked a rock in front of him and watched it roll away. "I think it was bullshit."

"What? That it was my uncle that made me? That I couldn't risk them getting hurt?" I pressed. I've told him nothing but the truth-ish.

"Being with me offered them protection. My people wouldn't have touched them." I knew it was true. For the first couple nights we were together he kept reassuring me nothing would happen to me or my family. He told me I was safe every time I stepped foot into camp.

"Your people were hunters, ravengers," I reminded him. "You turned into one of them."

He rolled his eyes. "I did what I had to do," he was persistent, I'll give him that.

"Murdering innocent people who were just trying to survive? Yeah. I'm sure you had to do that," I spat. I walked ahead of him, done with the conversation.

"You know," he kept on. I groaned in annoyance. "I never stopped loving you."

I didn't say anything. What would I say? 'I stopped loving you the day you told me my family meant nothing' or 'you loved my body and stupidity'? They would just hurt him. I needed him to like me enough to help live through this, so I kept my mouth shut.

We walked in silence for a good hour more until the sun started to set.

"We need to set up camp," Jake said, coming up beside me. I nodded in agreement. We stopped walking on the highway and went into the woods to find an opening.

It didn't take long to find small clearing far bigger then what we needed. We dropped our things almost instantly and stretched out our sore limbs.

"I hope," he groaned, "this car place is at least within a days walk." I laughed at him.

"It is," I told him. I rubbed out a kink in my neck, hoping to ease the uncomfortable feeling.

Jake cleared his throat, "I'll get firewood," he insisted. He stood awkwardly for a moment, waiting for me to say something.

"I'll go find some water. I'm gonna wash up while I'm at it," I told him. He nodded and stalked away without another word.

I laid out the sleeping bag I took from camp, then grabbed my water bottle to get water. I remember there being a pond around here when I was little since I always used to go play in it.

That's why I knew where to get the car from. I knew this area. We used to come down here as a family to visit Aunty and Uncle, then we would go camping at my mothers good friends, Andrew, cabin. We were close before this all started. He had an older car for me, I never paid attention to what he called it. All I knew, was that it ran good. Really good.

He was a dealer in the old models, he fixed them and sold them for more money then he could handle. Even if the car I had in mind didn't run, the others would.

When I finally found the pond, I stripped my clothing and walked in slowly. I had a gut feeling I was being watched, but the water was soothing on my skin. My intuition could wait a minute.

I walked into the water till it tickled my neck. My muscles relaxed finally, letting me be at peace for one split second.

I felt a burning gaze on my back. Slowly, I spun around to look. Leaning against a tree, a figure stood with their hands crossed over their chest.

They pushed off the tree and walked towards the light. I slowly pulled myself back towards the waters edge.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Zach laughed. "Going for a swim," he said and started to strip. I gasped lightly and turned around, giving him some privacy.

I heard him jump into the water so I turned. I scanned the surface but couldn't see him anywhere. I spun around, trying to catch a glimpse somewhere.

I was about to call his name when strong arms wrapped around my waist. He broke the surface, lifting me up as he did. I wrapped my arms around his neck for extra support and hugged his body with my legs.

"You shouldn't be here," I breathed, looking at him with disappointment.

"I wasn't going to let you slip away that easily." He smirked. He ghosted my lips once before pressing firmly on them. The kiss was hungry, needy for each other. His tongue swept across my bottom lip, but I denied him. He laughed, breaking the kiss. "One thing you'll have to learn, Abby, is that I fight for what I want."

I shivered against him.

"I don't want you to get hurt." I whispered. He gave me those pleading eyes, begging me to let him stay.

"The boys got my back," he shrugged. I gasped and hit his chest lightly.

"The boys came too!?"

"And the girls.." he added hesitantly. He shuddered away, waiting for another hit to the chest.

Instead, I stared at him bewildered. "Who's watching the camp?" I asked.

"We left a council. The boys's parents, actually."

A council? Huh.

"Plus, it makes more sense then a lousy teenager," he said coldly.

"Hey," I said softly. I grabbed his face to look me in the eyes. He tried his hardest, but I saw he was hurt. "You were a good leader, Zach. Your parents would be proud of you," I kissed him for reassurance. This one wasn't hungry or needy, it was sweet and gentle.

"I hope you don't plan on getting rid of me," he breathed.

"Not particularly," I smiled.

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Sorry it took so long to update😫