-One-
"Little girl, you won't get far without me." She watched quietly as her father snuffed out his cigarette on the solid oak table's fine finish. He bent forward, putting his weight on his elbows, as he pointed a meaty digit in her face. "You'd be best to 'member that."
Lake jerked awake and lashed out into empty air with her blade. Scanning the dark cell, she lowered her hunting knife and fell back onto the cot.
It has been more than a year since everything went to shit and still she is plagued with thoughts of the past. Below, she can hear the stirrings of the others waking. Most likely the dirty redneck, as he always wakes first, if he even sleeps.
She's been following this group for at least two weeks. It's not that she's a scavenger or anything, she just likes the company. Maybe one day soon she'll get the courage to reveal herself.
Silently as possible, she slipped from the prison and into the woods. The morning birds sang their annoying song and she fought the urge not to shoot them from the trees. Most of Lake's days were spent hunting, because she'll be damned if she takes one handout from anyone. She was painfully aware the day the group found the stock of food. There was a lot she'd give to come across that kind of luck. Instead, tonight she'll dine on roasted squirrel or rabbit if she was lucky.
Lake swung around to the sound of twigs snapping. She narrowed her eyes at the stranger holding his bow level to her head. Fucking redneck. She raised hands before taking cautious steps back.
"Where ya think yer goin?" His accent both angered and revolted Lake but she pushed down the rising emotions as she watched the man's unwavering arm.
Glancing back up into unforgiving baby blues, Lake grinned. His eyes hardened to steel. "Look, I won't cause any trouble. I wouldn't stand a chance unarmed. Let me leave."
"I know who ya are." He stated. Lake raised an eyebrow and he adjusted his grip on the crossbow. "I know you've been livin' in the prison."
Lake wouldn't lie and say that she wasn't caught off guard. She quickly adjusted the surprise on her face, however, and replaced it with indifference. "You knew that did you? And why exactly did you not turn me in to your little friends?"
Her tone obviously pissed him off; he stepped closer. Lake began to search around for a way to run. As if he could sense her thoughts, "You best not run or I'll shoot ya dead 'fore you make it a step."
Lake whistled. "Damn. You'd shoot a gal in the back?" She looped her thumbs into the waistband of her cargos and rocked back on her heels. Taking his silence as a yes, "Figures." She muttered.
"Whatcha say girl?" He was now feet away. If Lake wanted, she could reach out and touch the arrow sitting ready. Shit, if she was going to die, she'd damn well go out with her pride intact.
"Well," She made sure to stare him directly in the eyes. "I said that it figures that you'd shoot me in the back." Her eyes fell to his bending finger and her heart pounded as if it would explode. "You see," Lake cleared her throat of its nervous edge. "You redneck bastards aren't good for much at all… unless it's drinking too much and beating the shit out of women."
A twig snapped and he pulled the trigger. His eyes never left hers.