This Small Act

Three 💛

The next day we suit up. I pull on my new shoes. I wonder if Molly wants them back. She probably hates me. I walk behind the group just like last time, except the group is larger now. Damian and Knox decided that we would be better traveling together. I can see Molly shifting around talking to various people in the new group. My eyes are attracted to her. She’s just so bright and beautiful.

With daylight also comes the sound of rain beating down. Damian leads his group to the edge of the crater. Knox doesn’t even try to get us out and instructs us to set up camp. There is one old looking tent in the cave entrance and we set it up on a rocky ledge.

Damian's Group gives up eventually. They set up their camp on the opposite side of the crater. Their camp is much larger than ours and they have a proper medical and food tent. They also have separate sleeping tents.

We just have one large communal tent with our beds and food. Hayden is back in bed. We changed his dressing early this morning but all the walking has tired him out. Drew’s lying next to him. I don’t think he’s asleep yet but he can’t be far off.

Sam and Knox are making something for us all to eat. I don’t know where Molly is. I’m not sure I want to.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Hours later the tent door opens letting in a thin stream of light. Someone slips in. The movement and light wakes Knox who grabs the figure and drags them out of the tent.

"Where the hell have you been?" Yells Knox.

"Over at the other camp with my new friends." A feminine voice says. It's Molly. She replaced me.

I'm hurt. I knew she was angry at me but I didn't think she would just make new friends. They were right. People really do hate me.

I don't sleep at all that night. A couple of minutes after my realisation Knox storms back in. He's alone, so Molly must've gone back to the other camp. For some reason this makes me cry. I had hoped that Molly forgave me and was coming back but she left me, they all leave me eventually.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Days turn into weeks of non stop rain. Molly does not come back it's just Sam, Hayden, Knox, Drew and me. We each have a job which isn't too bad, not like at home. Mines cooking, I do breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'm also in charge of snacks, I have to ration everything except water because we only have the food that we bought plus the extra food Knox left with the tent. The others clean the tent and the kitchen.

Knox announced that we will make another attempt at the wall if the rain doesn't let up in the next week. The other group seems to have a similar idea as they are setting up to climb tomorrow if all goes well we might all be out by the end of the week.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next morning screaming and yelling pull me out of a trance. The rain stopped but, the screams have me worried. Especially when half appear to have been cut off.

I race outside. Part of the cliff collapsed the rain must've loosened the rocks. There are people screaming and running everywhere. But there's only one person on my mind. Molly. I can't see her but as I make my way closer I can make out her figure. She looks frozen, as if the shock hasn't worn off and she doesn't realise people are dead.

I can't face her right now. I turn abruptly and make my way to the cave entrance. I remember seeing a side cave not too far in and hide there.

I stay there until my tears run dry and my sobs quieten down. A small puddle formed near the cave entrance and I use it to rinse off the tears. This small act clears my head and allows me to think clearly. Molly’s okay, that's one good thing. Another is that the attempt obviously failed so I don’t have to go back to Them yet.

I think I’ll give Molly some space. From the small look I gave her she seemed pretty devastated. Someone she knew must’ve been hurt or killed.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Some hours passed and the daylight fades. My stomach is rumbling and I should’ve been back hours ago to cook lunch. I can’t find the energy to move, the rain started back up a minute ago. It was almost like it was teasing us. Killing our own and then grieving with us but still, not letting us go.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The next time I wake I’m back in my bed. The soft music and talking tell me that it’s my own tent and not the other groups. My eyes crack open. The boys are sitting around the makeshift table Knox made. They appear to be playing cards and from the looks of it Drew is losing. He notices me watching him and looks over at me. “Hey guys! She’s up.”

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Hayden asks. He looks much better than before. How long have I been out? Before I can voice my query Knox cuts in.

“You’ve been sleeping for almost a week Cait.”

Wow. Blunt and to the point, that’s Knox for you. But a week I wonder if Molly has tried to contact me. She probably hasn’t. I shouldn’t’ve got so attached. My next step is to sit up. Then to stand. I decide that I can’t hide any longer. I need to go see Molly. Before I can do anything, Drew grabs my arm and marches me over to the table. You are going to eat before you go anywhere. I don’t want to, I just want to see Molly but, he forces me to eat. Geez that man is stronger than he looks.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The other groups tents are intimidating. I haven’t had much of a chance to look at them because the rain prevented me from walking around outside. They have flags strung between tents and fairy lights everywhere. Their main tent is open and airy, that’s where I start. I wander around looking for her shock of blue hair. I ask people along the way but nobody has seen her. I eventually take to peering into tents. The left side, I discover is the boys side so I keep right. I eventually came across a tent with a girl in it. She isn’t what stops me, the smell is. I edge my way into the tent.

“Hi I’m Tracy, How can I help?”

“I’m Cait, I’m just uh, looking for Molly. Have you seen her?”

“Yeah actually, she’s my tentmate. I think she was headed to the wall.”