The Unquiet Woods: A Primeval Fan Story

Cabin

"Why don't we just throw him out there?" Ellie's voice was distant yet seemed so close.

Emmanuel creaked his eyes open. He was in one of the dusty beds in the cabin. He didn't know how long he had been out for but his eyes still felt that weighted bagginess feeling that came with sleeplessness. He sat himself up. Only now did he feel the thousands of cuts and scratches all over his body. His skin burned like he had run through razor wire. He rubbed his eyes. The low light of the gun's torch filled the room with a milky white glow. Danny stood over the unconscious Patrick who was now bound to the leg of an old wooden table. Ellie sat in the other bed across from him. She still clutched her side as she rested up against Danny's branch.

"No." Danny sighed. In the harsh light, the lines in his face seemed even more deeply etched into his skin. He sat down on the floor of the cabin across from the rest of them.

"He left us for dead." Ellie spat. She squeezed each word out with painful winces.

"Doesn't mean we have to stoop down to his level." Danny cradled the gun in his lap.

Emmanuel teetered over to the bed with his girlfriend. He felt like his calves were filled with cement. Each step felt like hot glass was inside of him. He groaned and sat himself down. Ellie snuggled up to him. She nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck. Danny stood up and kneeled in front of the couple. His wild blue eyes looked directly into theirs. Emmanuel thought he could see wetness within them but wasn't too sure. Surely a man like Danny couldn't break. The previous threats they faced proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"He's not evil." Danny started. He shifted his gaze to no one in particular. "He's damaged. He's seen things no one should ever have to see in their lifetime."

Emmanuel saw a single tear form at the corner of Danny's crow-footed eye. This time he knew it for sure. The man had broke. Emmanuel wondered how the man who fearlessly pummeled one of those dinosaurs mere moments ago was falling apart. It seemed impossible. Danny leaned back against the bed opposite the teenagers. The frame creaked with the extra weight applied onto it.

"How do you know him?" Emmanuel didn't know why the words slipped out but as soon as they did, he covered his mouth. He knew he messed up the moment Danny's face drained of color. He softly swore to himself and turned away from Danny. Ellie glared at him.

"Sorry." He said under his breath.

Danny forced a smile. "It's alright, mate." The waver in his voice sent ripples of guilt through Emmanuel's body. Danny looked to Patrick. 

"He's." He wiped his eye with the back of his sleeve. "Family." Danny relaxed his shoulders and looked up to the ceiling.

"You can't even say it." Muttered a voice from the corner. Danny shined his light over. Patrick was sitting up against the table with a blank expression on his face. His messy black hair was plastered against his forehead. "You left me for dead Danny." He looked at him whilst making sure their eyes never met. Instead, Patrick stared off into the corner away from everyone. "You're nothing to me."

Danny stretched his mouth across his face. Emmanuel looked away. Opening his mouth again would surely lead to more issues. Emmanuel closed his eyes and nestled up to Ellie. She emitted a pained grunt. He felt her muscles tighten under her dress.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Emmanuel placed a hand lightly on her side. She flinched away again.

"It's fine!" Ellie protested. Each word was perpetually more strained than the last.

"At least let me check." Emmanuel said.

"I'm fine." She laughed a strained gasp before collapsing across Emmanuel's lap.