Fishing didn't help at all. It only made my stomach hurt incredibly. It tasted terrible too. I couldn't complain though. At least it was something in my stomach, survival methods right? Patrick I think felt the same way about the fish because he didn't finish his. We didn't say anything about it to each other either. I think bringing it up wouldn't resolve anything, and I didn't want to make him feel bad and like he wasn't helping.
I tried to hide the fact my stomach was hurting, but it was a little hard when I kept gaging. There was one time he asked if I was okay, I just told him I probably a little under the weather. I'm sure he didn't buy it at all, but it's whatever. Not much we could do about it anyways.
We were hiking at this moment. Trying to find warmth and shelter was hard when it was windy and looked like it was about to rain. On top of that we had to watch our backs for anything, the slightest sound made us alert. There was a moment where a branch from a tree fell and Patrick immediately jumped in front of me with his stick ready to fight.
I felt bad for my brother more than myself. He felt like he had to take charge more than anything and protect. After all we did just loose our sister and mother in the same day.. it was probably how we lost our mother that didn't help.
Two nights ago when I was trying to sleep I heard him whisper about how it was his fault and he was praying. I wasn't one for beliefs, but it made my heart ache just hearing him.
"Alright Selena, we need to find shelter fast. Look at those clouds, this isn't going to be pretty at all." He tossed me a stick and then nodded to me with a stern look. "Stay close. I'm sure anyone is desperate for shelter as well. We can't trust anybody. You hear?"
It's funny. He's always been the man of the house, but he's different now. Much more stern, aware, and protective. I could imagine why, I'm not saying it's a good or bad thing. But all we have is each other now. We have to look out.
I just nodded and kept by him. We walked a couple more miles and that's when the storm finally hit. I looked up seeing dark grey cloud and the trees were getting to where they were collapsing from the wind. "Selena! Over there!" My brother shouted over the rain that was pouring down. I looked to where he was pointed to see an old abandoned barn in a field.
I blinked and wiped my face from the rain and followed him to it. When we got up close to it I was about to go straight in. I needed out of this weather and needed to sit down. Trust me, I wasn't fit for survival.
Patrick stopped me before I could go inside though, "Are you nuts?" He whispered harshly.
"What?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"There could be anything in there. Follow me, stay by me, and be quiet as possible." Patrick whispered, bringing his pointy stick up next to him.
He slowly opened the door to the barn and looked inside before waving me to come in. When I did, he pulled me close and shut the door, looking around.
Ever seen an abandoned barn in movies and stuff? Yeah. Not much of a difference, only it looked like someone had recently been here. There was blankets on the hay, and it looked like there was a fire recently burnt out.
Patrick took note of this because he looked at me and then pushed me behind him. We walked over to some steps that lead to the upstairs platform and he slowly creeped up them. "Hello?" He called out lifting his stick.
I felt chills go down my arms from the suspense. I knew someone was either in here still, or would be back soon. I could just feel it. Patrick continued up the stairs and then finally we made it up. There were more blankets, which thrilled me because I was freezing. But what thrilled me more was the cans of food that was next to some more hay.
Food. Oh I love food.
Patrick walked over to the railing at the end of the platform and looked down at entrance. "Okay Sel, I think we're clear." He whispered.
This means I can eat the food, right?
I went over and picked up a blanket, wrapping it around me and then grabbed a can of beans. Just when I did that though, I was not expecting the consequences.
Out of no where an arrow was shot right by my head and into the hay stacks. I yelped which cause Patrick to quickly run over and grab me, pulling me down to the ground. "What the hell?" He shouted.
Another arrow was shot into the hay stacks and it made us both gasp. "Where's that coming from?" I asked and Patrick glanced at me before quickly rolling over behind a bail of hay. He pointed towards some spare wood which was piled up.
I glanced over and saw a shadow behind it. "Show yourself!" I shouted. This made Patrick curse to himself and glare at me as if I did something bad. What? I was just trying to get this over with. Maybe they were friendly?
Another shot.
Or maybe they weren't. I ducked down and sucked in a deep breath. "We won't harm you!" I shouted again.
It went quiet and all of a sudden I heard laughter. It sounded like a girl's laugh, but firm.
Me and Patrick both shared a confused look and then glanced back at the wood.
"Of course you won't," Yeah, it was a female. "You can't. I pretty much have you beat. You have sticks, I have arrows and a loaded gun. Try me honey." She then stepped out from behind the wood and my jaw instantly dropped.
She was beautiful. Of course she was filthy and her clothes were torn up, but damn. She looked like a warrior straight out of a movie. The girl was tan and was dressed in a brown shirt with a leather jacket. Her black skinny jeans were tore up, but still looked good. Her hair was fallen down around her shoulders too. And to complete the warrior look her face was stern. To be honestly, her stance was very imitating as well.
"Stand up you fools." She motioned with her fingers for us to get up.
I looked to Patrick who was shaking his head not to, but I couldn't help it. It's like she had control over me. I got to my feet and swallowed, crossing my arms.
The girl looked over me and then shot her eyes to the bail of hay my brother was still behind. "You scared or something champ?"
Patrick slowly got up and kept his gaze on her while holding his stick firmly. "No." He said keeping his angrily look.
"Looks like you are." She places her hands on her hips now and put one foot on the wood in front of her.
"I'm not." He growled.
She smirked at this. "Keep telling yourself that." Her smirk instantly fell and she got back into her stern phase. "Okay, so tell me why you think it's okay to trespass and help yourself to my belongings?" The girl asked looking between us. "Because I sure as hell didn't offer you my food, blankets, or shelter." Her eyes now landed on me.
I realized I still had the blanket around my shoulders and quickly pulled it off, laying it back down on the floor. "I'm sorry."
"Mhm." She then walked over to me and got a good look at my face like she was inspecting it.
"Hey! Back away from her!" Patrick quickly said running over to me and pushing her away harshly.
The girl growled and grabbed a knife out of her boot, and like it was nothing put a hand on his shoulder, spinning him towards her as fast as she could, holding it in front of his neck.
Patrick gasped putting his hands up. I stood there shocked, and afraid to move. All I could do was force out some words that came out more like stutters. "No, no, please don't! He's all I have left!"
The girl raised an eyebrow at me, but kept her eyes on him. "Oh?" She pushed the knife up against his neck now. "Well if he wants to live, he should think before attacking. See how easy that was for me to overpower him?" She then pulled the knife away and shoved him to the ground by pushing her hand on his face.
Patrick grabbed his throat and let out quick breathes. I ran over to him and helped him back up, checking his neck. It was fine, just a little red.
"Now, what I was doing was making sure you guys don't have the virus. You don't." She picked up the blanket I had earlier and yanked it to make sure all the dirt was off it, before folding it. "What brings you this way?"
"We're trying to get to the city." I said standing up fully now, as well as Patrick.
"Hm. The city? Why?"
"Well were from Silverton, it's just a small town and-"
"I know what it is. I asked why the city?"
"We were hoping there was some survivors there. We need shelter and food." Patrick said.
She looked at us for a bit and then shook her head chuckling. "You guys aren't going to find shit."
"Excuse me?" Patrick asked getting stern again.
"Look, bud, you'll end up dead in a matter of seconds. All there is are duds and if there are survivors they want you dead." She walked up onto the pile of hay and sat down on the top one. "I've been there. I came from there. The city was the first one that got hit by the virus."
The city was the first one that got hit? I didn't know that. Then again I didn't know much of anything yet considering we've been alone in the woods. She was the first person we've saw in days.
"Duds?" Patrick got interested now and sat down on the wood.
"Yeah, it's what they're calling the people with the virus. Duds." She sighed and then put her hair up in a pony tail she had around her wrist. "You guys don't know anything yet do you?"
We were silent and I sat down next to Patrick.
"Okay. How long have you been traveling?"
"Four days now." I chimed in.
"What have you eaten so far?"
"Nothing."
The girl looked between us and then at her cans of food and she shook her head sighing. She jumped down from the hay and then grabbed the beans I was going after earlier. "Let's eat then. I'll tell you everything you need to know. I could use some company anyways."