There's Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 8

"Where's ya brother stayin'?" I ask

"Didn't know he was still 'ere honestly. Don't know, but it ain't 'ere"

"Good"

He laughs.

"What?"

"You met 'em once n ya already hate 'em"

"Never said I hated 'em"

"Sure act like ya do"

I sit on the log and smile, he soon sits next to me. From where we sit, it over looks the rest of the group and the house. He snakes his arm around my waist, I lay my head on his shoulder.

His brother comes out of nowhere snickering, "I knew it"

"Knew what" He stand his ground

"Ya two were together"

"We ain't"

"Like the birds and the bees lil brotha"

"Will ya get the hell outta 'ere. I'm just tired, God damn" I spit at him

"Well somebody's got an attitude" His brother says

"Nobody 'ere got an attitude but yaself" He says to his brother

"Ha, yeah alright" His brother storms off, probably going off to spread rumors.

He kisses the top of my head, "Don't listen to 'em"

"I know, but gettin' teased pisses me off"

"Feel my pain sunshine" He sighs

By looking at the sun, it's about 6 in the afternoon

"When can ya take me huntin'" I ask

"When the old man says ya can"

"But he ain't gon let me for awhile"

"He don't want ya hurtin' yaself. I don't want ya to either"

"Nobody does but I can't stand just sittin' 'round all day not doin' anyhin'"

"I know I know" He pulls me onto his lap.

"Ya makin' it real obvious ya know" I smile.

"No one's 'round" He holds me close and smiles.

"Keep thinkin' that" Douchebag comes from behind the tree.

"Why can't y'all jus' leave me 'lone. Is it that hard?" He says to him, annoyed.

"I know what's goin' on here. What your brother told ya is true, she's gotta go" Douchebag points to me

"If she goes, I go too"

He pauses for a second, it's obvious they need him.

"Talk to 'em about it then. Sheriff wants ta send her on her way tomorrow afternoon" Douchebag walks back to his tent.

"Don' worry. If they really wanna send ya 'way, ya ain't goin' alone"

"Thank ya" I hug him

"They are loosin' their sanity. This group is fallin' apart. I'm the only one sane left from 'em"

"I sorry, but that's really sad"

"It is ain't it. Don't be sorry either, not ya fault"

As night falls, he carries me out to the middle of the field, away from everyone else. He sets me down, and we watch the stars. I lay close to him, the nights are getting colder every night.

"It's so beautiful" I stare at the stars in amazement.

"It is ain't it" He looks over at me and smiles.

"Look ya can even see a galaxy" I point to it

"Ya know lot 'bout the sky don't ya"

"Favorite thing I studied besides weaponry"

"You're somethin' else girl"

I smiles happily, "I know I am"

He leans in to kiss me when a branch snaps. He sighs, quickly gets up and grabs his crossbow.

"Stay 'ere"

I sit up, "But..."

"Just stay 'ere, I'll be right back" He hands me my knife

"Be careful..." I sit up and hold my knife.

"Always" He walks towards the woods.

I watch him disappear. An uneasy feeling comes over me. I slowly stand up and check my surroundings. Nothing is around me.

I stand there for a few minutes with my knife ready. I feel a presence come from behind me. Before I could strike them, they grab my arms and pull them behind my back, they knock my knife out of my hand. My hands get tied and an arm wraps around my neck. I begin to panic, but something tells me not to. I try to break free from my attacker, but their grip is so tight. They start pulling me towards the barn, I try to scream for help but I can't breath.

"'EY LET 'ER GO" I hear him yell, he is running towards me.

They don't stop, they don't loosen their grip, it only becomes tighter.

"I said let 'er go!" He is now a few feet from me.

"I don't think sa. She has ta go" It's his brother.

The last thing I see before everything goes black, is him getting ready to throw a punch.

I wake up, wrapped in his arms, closer than before, in our tent. He sleeps soundly, I snuggle closer to him. He kisses my forehead.

"Y'alright... Mornin' sunshine" His eyes are a blue like I've never seen them before, a dark ocean blue.

"I know I am 'cause I'm with you" I smile sweetly.

He smiles and kisses me passionately, I happily return the kiss.

"I'm sorry for what happened..." He says to me, he feels really bad.

"It wasn't ya fault"

"I shouldn'ta left ya..."

"You was only protectin' me. Sunshine it's fine"

"That's my line" He smiles

"It's our line" I giggle

"That's so adorable"

"Thanks" I smile and try not to blush.

He pecks me on the lips and pulls me close.

"Ya can go back ta sleep. It's early yet"

"I ain't tired"

"Fine then, we snuggle" He smiles and holds me close. He never seemed to be a cuddle kinda guy.

"Of course" I snuggle close to him, he holds me like a teddy bear.

We lay there and chat for awhile, when we hear people yelling.

"I'll go see what's goin' on" He kisses my cheek and sits up.

"They probably want me, I'll go. Just stay in here but keep an eye on me"

"Don't, I'll tell 'em ya sleepin'"

"Then they gonna come over 'ere..."

He sighs, "True. But please be careful..."

"Always" I put my knife in boot and walk towards the commotion.