"love" at first sight

Chapter 7

~Colton's Pov~

We near the first building and slowly slide off our donkeys. I tip toe to the door and crack it open. Empty. We continue checking all the buildings we cross. At the fifth building I see a small figure curled up in the corner. I open the door wider, letting some sunlight in. I can make out the body of a small child.
"Hello?" I say. All I get back is a small whimper from the corner, "Are you okay?"
"Don't worry we won't hurt you," Alisa says in a soothing voice,"We want to help you, come on out."
The kid turns its head and I see the dirtied and worried face of a little girl. I take a step towards her and she curls up again. Alisa turns to me and her eyes are begging me to let us help her.
"We're short on food as it is," I whisper to Alisa.
"She's a kid, we can't let her die here!" Alisa whispers to me.
"Oh alright."
Alisa walks over towards the little girl and sets her hand gently on her back. The little girl turns around and looks her in the face, clearly wondering whether to trust us or not.
"It's okay, we'll protect you," Alisa tells her. The little girl hesitantly gets up and Alisa helps her. She can't be more than five years old and she looks like she hasn't eaten a meal in awhile. Right then her stomach rumbles loudly and she clutches it in pain.
"We have some food for you, I'll show you," The little girl eagerly takes Alisa's hand when she says that and they walk towards the donkeys.

~Alisa's Pov~

I guess you could say I have a thing with kids. Before the war I used to volunteer at camps and such over the summer. I just really like little kids and when I saw that little girl I knew I couldn't leave her. I gave her a chunk of stale bread and some beaf jerky. She gobbled it up so quickly and smiled with satisfaction.
"My name is Alisa and the boy over there is Colton," I say pointing to me than towards Colton,"What's your name?"
She made a motion of a line over her throat.
"Oh so you can't speak?" At this she nodded then took my hand and dragged me over to a patch of dirt. She took a twig and spelled out the name "Hazel."
"Hazel," I read aloud,"That's a very pretty name." At this she smiles up at me.
"Okay well we better get going if we want to find shelter before sunset," Colton says.
"Alright," I tell him, then I say to Hazel,"Why don't you ride on my donkey with me." She nods her head. She is very light and I pick her up and place her on the donkey. Then, I jump on behind her.
"Ready?" Colton asks.
"Yep," I reply.

It is almost sunset and we decide to make camp. We have chosen a building similar to the one we found Hazel in. Except this one has a bed, a torn up blanket, and a working bathroom. We all use the restroom one at a time then get ready for bed. We let Hazel have the bed and blanket while Colton and I share the sleeping bag. We lay side by side in silence for a while until we hear Hazel's even breathing.
"I'm scared Colton," I whisper.
"Of what?" He asks.
"Of everything. What if we don't get the antidote in time. What if we-" I'm cut off as Colton plants his lips on mine. It's short, but sweet and we look at each other for a long moment.
"Alisa don't worry everything's gonna be all right, trust me?" Colton says.
"I trust you."
"Good."
And with that I fade into a deep slumber with Colton by my side.