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chapter three, enjoy xx |
âI saw you a few days ago, when you ran through this forest. I could tell you werenât used to the outdoors, werenât used to the wilderness. I followed you. Mainly because I was worried for your safety, but also because I was interested. A girl like you wouldnât run through the forest for no reason, not the way you did. I followed you, I watched as you struggled to survive in the cold and the rain. I stayed close, close enough to be there when you ran out of energy, but not enough so you would notice me. I watched you slow down, I watched you collapse. And thatâs when I came to your rescue. I picked you up, carried you to my campsite and warmed you up, stayed with you until you showed signs of life. I could see you watching me, but your eyes didnât quite focus on me, as if you were looking but couldnât register anything. It was scary to watch, I came just in time I guess. Who knows how long you would have lasted?â he sits back on his hands and looks at me, as if he was measuring me up. His words danced, swum, sung inside my head. Anger, confusion, sadness, happiness. I donât know what to feel. Part of me is glad that he saved my life, but I donât know why he waited so long. He could have helped me when I was weak, saved me nearly dying. âJust in time? You had plenty of time. You could have saved me way before I collapsed. You could have helped me, fed me, kept me going. Why wait until I nearly die?â âBut whereâs the fun in life without taking risks?â His forest green eyes twinkle at me, and I find myself getting even angrier. âI could have died!â My voice breaks as I try yell, and I stand up quickly, the woollen blanket falling to the ground. My head aches and I sway, trembling on my feet. âWoah, woah, steady girl. Where are you going? Youâre in no state to run away,â He grabs me by the waist and I canât fight, I have no fight left in me. I sit back down reluctantly, my body throbbing from the movement. He pulls the blanket over me, and reaches into his pocket, handing me a slab of burnt looking meat. âEat,â he says, âYou need itâ I stare at the shrivelled food with disgust. âWhat even is this? Looks like dog foodâ But my stomach rumbles loudly and he just looks at me. I take a bite. Itâs not that bad, just like a badly cooked piece of venison. I smile and finish the rest of the meat in 3 bites. I look to him, expecting more, but he just shakes his head, his eyes full of pity. I wonder where he got the food. Maybe heâs run out. âEat slowly, your stomach will have shrunken lately. Here, have some berries, and a drinkâ he hands them to me, and I finish them off just as quickly. The berries are sour; they leave my mouth feeling dry and raw. âThatâs enough for now. Have some more in a while. But for now, rest. Keep sipping on the waterâ I lie back down, watching Kaia with curiosity. Heâs broad, and tall, but he canât be much older than I am. I wonder how he got into the forest, why he lives here. Where is the rest of his family? I donât know why I trust him in the first place. Back when everything was normal, I never would have trusted a boy like him. But then, I would never have any reason to. I canât compare who I was back then, with who I am now. Just a week, and a person can change so much. Just a week, and the whole world can change so much. I havenât really thought about what happened at home, I donât want to scare myself. I wonder if Kaia knows about it. âYou told me your name, but I never told you mine,â I say to him, and he looks at me with that glint in his eye. âI donât need to know your name. In the forest, weâre all equal; weâre all in this together. We donât need names to divide usâ âBut you gave me your name,â I say, confused. âI never said I was telling the truthâ he smiles at me, a mysterious shadow of a smile that leaves me wanting to know the full story, but something holds me back. I nod, and close my eyes. He goes back to his thoughts, and I go back to mine. |