We See the Same Sunset

9

The first thing Soren says, as Percy has left the room is, "You trust him?"

His pale face is taunt with worry, but the lines look less stern on his face, as he looks at Nikola. He settles into the chair next to the cot, hair oddly flattened on one side.

"I met him once."

Soren's brow crinkles, as he leans forward in his seat. "And that's...better?"

"No," Nikola sighs, but she leads his head onto her lap and ruffles his hair. "We're going to keep an eye on him, but as of the moment, it looks like he's helping us. He did help us get away from the scavengers when we found him."

"I guess..."

"Though, there's one rule I want you to follow from now on."

Soren perks up, turning to face her, as his eyes focus with a steely grimness. "What is it?"

"I don't want you alone with him. Always stay by my side or in the same room with me. He hasn't done anything wrong, but we can't afford to get soft out here."

"Do you want to pack an extra bag, in case we need to get out of here quickly?"

Nikola opens her mouth, but then falls silent. Somehow this boy was already catching onto her plan and she swears that she almost recognizes Kit's face on him. Is it from the skeptical scowl on his face that reminded her? Or is it the disappearing light in his eyes? Or worse, is his thin face resembling a sunken corpse that seemed so familiar?

Ignoring her unsettled feeling, she fights down any more doubts.

"We should do that. Get whatever necessary."

"He took the gun from me when I was trying to store it," Soren leans his head into her hand, with a frustrated sigh. "Sorry, I couldn't get one right away for you."

That's the moment when fear truly spikes in her heart and Nikola hurries to reassure him. "No, it's fine. You shouldn't handle that yet, before I've taught you the basics. The rifle was too heavy, but maybe the handgun will be a better fit."

He blinks wide at her. "You're going to let me use one?"

An icy wave washes over her and in the back of her mind, Nikola hears Charlotte saying, "What are you doing, Nik? A kid like him shouldn't even need to learn that."

But another louder voice roars over her voice, Kit says, "Ignore your sister and teach him how to shoot. Kid needs some chance at surviving in this godforsaken place."

Charlotte, the fighter Nikola never was, argues back, "What if he gets hurt? Could you live with yourself, if he does kill someone? Death is permanent. That changes a kid for life."

"He's a liability if he doesn't know how to use a weapon!" Kit growls back. "You might as well protect him from himself!"

"Nikola?" Soren peers into her face, worry etched onto his features. "Are you okay?"

She blinks blankly at him for a few seconds, before she regains her senses. Get ahold of yourself. Nikola shouldn't stop and pretend that her family is still alive. Searching for that familiar blond head or those calloused hands had led her astray one too many times, before Soren had came along.

"Everything is fine," She forces a smile, as she strokes his hair. "I was thinking of a way for you to practice. After today..." Her stomach drops as the past events ran through her mind. It was too close. Both of them had almost died there, if Percy hadn't been there to help. If she had been slower or she had been any less careful, this could've been a very different story. "I want you to be able to protect yourself."