We ran like the wind was on our side.
It was day four in the wild and Ever and Mila suggested we run again. We packed up everything, leaving nothing behind for anyone to trace. Well, not that I had much anyway.
I felt guilty. I should do something, anything to let them know I was here, but what could I do? I should’ve tried harder to escape but now it was too late. Why didn’t I do something? I’m useless and helpless.
The only thing I could do now was wait.
I hugged my deer skin tighter against my shoulders. Bruce taught me how to skin the deer, which was disgusting and messy but oddly calming. He also saved the antlers and fashioned them into some sort of headband crown thing. He called them souvenirs.
I felt a snowflake melt on my nose and I looked up at the stormy clouds.
“It’s a good thing the snow will hide our footsteps.” Austin was my walking buddy. I couldn’t even see the others, they were already farther ahead.
We stopped by a river and I cupped my hands to drink. The water was freezing but thankfully not frozen, like all the lakes we’ve passed by. Meanwhile, Austin was digging up mud and slathering it on his face.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Making sure our scents are covered. Plus, it looks cool. Now come over here.” I hesitated, unsure of whether or not I wanted to hide my scent. It was the only thing I had left that would help them find me.
Regardless, I bent down next to him and put some mud all over my face, careful not to get it in my eyes. If anyone saw me now they’d think I was some barbaric monster.
Dirt was stuck in my chipped nails and my hair was a tangled web. My feet were calloused and numb but what really bothered me was that the hairs on my legs were starting to grow.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were one of us.” He said and stood up, continuing on our way. I didn’t know if I should take that as a compliment or not.
We carried on, trekking through the light snow sprinkling my hair.
“Wait here, I need to pee.” Austin told me suddenly and ran back into the wilderness, leaving me. I couldn’t believe my luck.
I was alone. Completely alone. . .
I looked at the land behind me. I could run, I could just run.
I could see my life change back to the way it was before. Wake up, go to school, go home, do homework, go to sleep. So normal, so easy.
But. . .
Did I want to see Aria? Did I want to see my parents? Go back to a place where I obviously didn’t fit in?
I couldn’t decide. It should’ve been easy but for some reason, I really was torn.
My head yelled at me to move and run as fast as my legs would carry me. I didn’t belong here either, they treated me like some thing they wanted to get rid of, like dead weight. My head told me that this was not my life and I needed to go home. Everything else would just fade away, like a confused dream I once had many days ago.
But did I truly want to return back to my painful, pathetic life?
No. My heart said no.
“Human?” Austin called out, his voice lost in the trees. He finally appeared from the trees, running to stand beside me.
I cleared my throat, “I’m here.” My head cursed my heart and my heart let go.
*****
The frozen land was almost completely inhabitable; except for some birds flying overhead, everything was silent.
Austin and I caught up to the others, who were walking beside a frozen lake. All except for Sofia.
“What are you doing?” Bruce asked as she casually ambled on the ice. It looked dangerous, like the ice was just brittle glass that could break in any moment.
“Walking, what does it look like I’m doing?” Sofia asked.
“You know if the ice breaks, you’re dead, right?”
Sofia started to skip on the solid ice and I held my breath, scared she was going to fall through and drown. I’d read stories about people who fell through the ice and were too heavy to stay afloat so they sank deep below the surface.
“That’s not going to happen.” To make her point, she jumped.
“Who knows, you know you’re not the lightest thing in the world.”
“Shut up, stupid!” Sofia hissed, her mood soured.
“That was a joke!” He exclaimed, “And you’re the one that’s stupid, stupid.”
“Whatever.”
“Bean, I was just kidding.” His tone was sincere but she turned away from him.
Sofia didn’t say anything, only looked down so her hair covered her face.
Bruce sighed and walked beside her on the ice. “You know I didn’t mean that, I’m sorry,”
In a blur, I watched as Sofia stuck her foot out, only for Bruce to trip and fall on his face. I covered my mouth to stop from laughing.
She laughed, “I can’t believe you fell for that, stupid.”
“Very funny, that’s the last time I apologize to you.” Bruce groaned as he slowly got up.
I heard a slow cracking sound a split second before I saw the ice crack beneath their feet and engulf them.
Bruce and Sofia sank into cold water, thrashing around to breathe. It covered their heads, already dragging them under it’s heavy spell.
“Ever! Mila!” Austin yelled from behind me, running to get help. But I knew they’d never get here in time.
Panic invaded my brain as I frantically tried to gather my thoughts.
I got on my knees and crawled to where the ice was still solid. I reached towards Bruce, stretching as far as I could for his arm.
“Save. Her.” He sputtered, water flooding his mouth.
I shifted closer to Sofia, whose blond hair was black and unrecognizable. Her head fell under for three, four, five seconds.
My fingers barely touched the water, I was too far away. I gulped and crawled on the edge, careful to avoid the cracked ice. Sofia held out her arm, her animal furs weighing her down, and at one point, I thought she was going to give up. But she kept fighting.
“Sofia! Grab my hand!” I yelled, my voice hoarse from not speaking. I stretched and my fingers finally found her hand. Using all my strength, I pulled her out of the water and dragged her onto safe ice.
I returned to Bruce next. He was strong enough to hoist himself out of the water and desperately claw for land. I grabbed his hand and helped him out of the water, breathing hard to catch my breath.
“What just happened?” All three of us turned to see Ever, Mila, Austin and the rest of the rogues looking down at us.
“One. . . minute. . .” Sofia huffed, lungs exhausted.
“Please tell me you weren’t walking on the ice again.” Ever crossed her arms.
Bruce grinned sheepishly, “Maybe?”
Ever gave us a hard stare with her piercing eyes and pivoted on her heel. Bruce, Sofia and I just looked at each other, exhausted.
You’re welcome. . . for saving their lives.
*****
I furiously rubbed my hands together, watching as Ever came over with firewood.
“That was a kind thing you did.” She told me as she grabbed two rocks and pressed them together so forcefully that a spark caught on the twigs.
“I couldn’t just watch them drown,” I shook my head, “Anyone would’ve done it.”
“I lost many wolves under the ice. It traps them and takes their lives when they least expect it.”
She got up and walked away, leaving me to enjoy the fire’s warmth. I shivered and tried to think of warm memories.
“Thanks,” I was surprised to see Sofia behind me; I was even more surprised to hear that she was actually talking to me in a non-hostile way. “Thanks, hu- Hazel.” Sofia nodded at me and though she didn’t say much, I couldn’t miss the olive branch extended between us.
“Do me a favor, don’t walk on ice anymore.”
“Trust me, I won’t.”
After I warmed up by the fire, I walked back to the tent I set up on my own.
My head hit the ground and I closed my eyes, feeling a little peaceful and relieved.
Maybe they wouldn’t kill me after all.
*****
Wake up.
Wake up.
Wake up.
Droplets. I felt droplets on my cheeks.
“Hazel, wake up!” I gasped sharply and my eyes snapped open, shocked to see Ever and a girl with silver braids in my tent.
I wiped at my cheek and realized that the droplets were my tears.
“Are you okay, you were screaming in your sleep.” Ever told me and I furrowed my eyebrows. Nightmares were common but I never actually screamed during them.
I sat up and wiped my eyes, “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”
Ever nodded and let the young girl look at me, “That’s North, she goes through nightmares, too.” North didn’t say anything.
“I usually take pills to make me sleep but. . .” I trailed off. The pills made me sleep like a baby without dreaming at all.
Ever looked at North and she opened her palm, revealing a small plant.
“It’ll help you sleep.” Ever said as North dropped the herb in my hand. Both of them stood to go back to sleep.
I twirled it between my fingers, “Are you sure this’ll work?”
“Everyone has demons, Hazel, but they don’t go away so easily.” Ever explained before leaving me in the dark.