Cabin In The Woods
I came to with a jolt, a grinding noise filling my ears and my head resting on something boney and not at all comfortable. I groaned and the hardness under my head shifted slightly. My head was all stuffy and I needed water badly. My chest ached every time I took in a breath, and there was a foul taste in my mouth.
"Harper?" a voice asked me gently, though it was strained and exhausted.
I recognized that voice. "Wha…" I cleared my throat, trying again. "Toni?" my tongue felt like a piece of sandpaper, rough in my mouth, my throat was raspy, my eyes felt puffy from crying and I knew my breath probably stunk from throwing up. My whole body ached and I was utterly exhausted. I hurt everywhere, no inch of me remained untouched by some sort of pain and I found I didn't even have the energy to move my head from her shoulder, as uncomfortable as it was.
"Yeah, how you feeling?"
I ignored the question because I felt too much to say. I felt more than she really wanted to know. I was all alone in this world now, my sister, my mum, my dad were all dead and their absence killed me. I'd never felt so terribly alone and guilty and in so much pain. I didn't even know you could feel all that at one time. "What happened?"
She shifted again, "We hit you, by accident," she clarified. Then I realized my body was bumping up and down on a seat which wasn't helping with the pain and there was another person beside me, driving. I squinted through the darkness, trying to see who it was without actually having to move my head. Night had fallen already? How long had I been out? How long had I been running before that? It felt like minutes but it must have been hours. My head throbbed as I finally recognized the person beside me.
"Danny?" he was Matt's friend. Oh, God, Mattie. Where was Mattie, Jed and his dad? They weren't in their house, but that didn't mean they weren't dead.
"Good to see your eyes open," he replied, his eyes shadowed even in the dark of the car, his voice exhausted. We'd all been through a lot. To hell and back. And we were all worse for wear.
I groaned, "Did you hit me?"
He winced, "I was hoping you wouldn't bring that up. You're lucky I braked enough so I wasn't going fast when I hit you. You banged your head pretty hard and Toni bandaged your arm, and we think you have bruised ribs," he told me. Then he cleared his throat. "Whose blood is that?"
"What are you talking about?" I frowned.
"Harper," Toni said beside me, her voice serious. "You're covered in blood."
I squeezed my eyes shut as they began to moisten, wishing it would block out the memories that I'd have for the rest of my life. Assuming I lived that long. "Nat's…" my voice cracked, "And mum's."
"What were you doing with so many guns?" She asked quietly.
"Heading for the woods," I sniffed, the tears leaking over now. "Where are we going?"
"Tom told us to head to his cabin. We're almost there." Tom? Thank God he was okay.
"Okay," I said, though I wasn't sure she understood me around the sobbing. My body shook violently, expending energy I didn't have, and my eyes threatened to seal shut even as they filled and spilled over.
I couldn't see through my eyes, they were blurry, and I couldn't stop thinking of their lifeless bodies. We bounced along until there was a bang followed by a clang. My head jerked up in surprise and I blinked, trying to see. I recognized the sound; bullet hitting metal, probably the bonnet of the car. Any higher and one of us could be dead. I couldn't deal with anymore death, there just wasn't enough space in my heart to deal with losing someone else.
Danny stopped quickly and I reached down to the bag at my feet, my fingers fumbling with the pistol sitting on top. Blindly, I climbed over Toni, getting out of the cab, and searching in the dark for something, anything to shoot, because hitting something that was threatening me and my friends was going to go down. It was all I had left to do. I wouldn't shoot through the glass of the car and make it a target too.
"Harper, wait, it's just – " Toni began, but I ignored her.
"Don't fucking mess with me right now," I snapped into the darkness just as my eyes adjusted, blinking rapidly to find a target and take it down before it took me down.
"Harper?"
I froze. "Oh my g – Mattie?"
"Harper," he said, louder this time and I could hear the thick relief in his voice as I finally saw through my tears.
"Mattie, you're okay! Jed! Oh, you're both here, you're both okay," I flung myself at Jed, who was closer and he enveloped me in his strong, muscular arms, and for the moment, for the first time all day, I felt some semblance of safety. Behind me, I heard Matt spot Danny and they embraced. I clutched his shirt in my fists, clinging to him as the tears welled up again. "Thank God," I muttered.
"Harper," he said. "Where's Natalie? Where's your mum?"
A loud, hysterical sob burst from my lips and I shook my head, smearing my tears on his shirt, "They-they're-," I couldn't say, couldn't make it real. His hand brushed down my hair as he shushed me. He knew. He understood.
I felt a hand on my back and I turned, grabbing for Mattie as he pulled me to him, tight. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. I held him so tightly I wondered if he could breathe. I couldn't. My ribs hurt, and I wondered how long it would take for it to go away. I ignored the searing that went through my body when pressure was put on my ribs because at the moment, checking to see if they were real, and hanging onto them for dear life was far more important that any pain I'd ever feel.
"What do you have to be sorry for?" I whispered back.
"I should have checked, I should have got them before we -," I cut him off.
"Don't," I warned. "It's not your fault. You didn't know. You couldn't have known," my throat killed as it tried to close, cutting me off.
I took deep, steadying breaths and the tears stopped flowing. I guess I ran out. And I pulled back from him, out of the safe, warm circle of his arms, pulling myself together. I had to be stronger.
I swiped at my eyes. "Holy crap, Harp, all that blood –."
"It's not mine. Well, some of it is."
"She does have a nasty wound on her arm, I'd say from a bullet," Toni said behind me. I glared at her; she was ratting me. She knew how protective Matt and Jed could get, and I didn't feel like being babied. Not now, not when it reminded me of mum and Nat, of family. "Bruised ribs and a lump on her head."
"Because you hit me with your car!" I shouted, defending myself. Jed closed in, trying to get a look at the cut under the bandage but I pulled away.
"Let me see," he commanded and I sighed, offering him my arm. He unwrapped the bandage carefully, his fingers probing slightly, "It's already starting to scab. Lucky," the last bit was directed at Danny who had climbed out of the drivers seat.
"Can we just go inside," I gestured at the cabin. "I'm so tired."
"Yeah, come on, I need to see those ribs," Jed said. "Everybody inside," he ordered, and they complied. Honestly, who'd question Jed? He was intimidating. Behind me I heard Toni ask about Erica. I didn't hear the reply. I grabbed the duffle bag from Danny, taking it inside and dumping it on the kitchen table. I set the two AK's down, and my pistol before pulling out part of the disassembled rifle and the handgun; both were in the way of getting to the clean clothes and soap.
Matt let out a dry chuckle as he looked at the guns, "You know, you sure do know how to make an entrance."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"You know, 'Don't fucking mess with me right now'." This was probably his attempt to try to forget everything, because that's all anyone wanted to do; forget and pretend it wasn't real.
I frowned, "Did I say that?"
"Yeah," he attempted a grin, but it was too hard. His eyes kept flicking to my stained red shirt and shorts and skin. I must look like a monster.
"Huh."
"Lift up your shirt," Jed said, his voice the epitome of 'don't give me shit right now'.
I sighed, pulling it up to expose my stomach and rib area, stopping short of my bra. I winced as pain shot through my side and I forced myself to breathe normally through clenched teeth. Good lord it hurt. Jed ran his fingers over where my ribs were, probing the skin and checking for abnormalities. I guess if a rib was cracked or broken, I'd be in a whole lot more trouble.
"I'm so sorry Harper," Danny grimaced and I opened my eyes, not even remembering squeezing them shut.
"It's ok-OW!" I shouted as Jed pressed slightly on the painful area. "What the hell did you do that for?!"
"Well, the good thing is it seems to be only this one rib here," his fingers brushed much more gently over it this time, but I still winced. I have no idea how I managed to climb over Toni and pull out a gun when just breathing was hurting so bad. Must have been the adrenaline; it takes away pain after all.
"But there's bad news, right?" I asked. "Just tell it to me straight, doc," I said, attempting a joke; it's what I would have said under normal circumstances, but right now it felt all wrong. I looked down at the exposed skin and frowned. Molted shades of red were painted on my skin, only just visible from all the dry blood on my body that had soaked through my shirt. I was a mess.
"It'll take a couple weeks to heal properly," he said. I sighed. "Go clean yourself up so we can ice the area. That should've been done straight after it happened."
"Your right," I said, the look on my face making him frown. "Toni," I called. "Danny. Why didn't you think to stop and get some ice before savin' my life and gettin' us the hell outta dodge?" I asked sarcastically, throwing Jed a glare and pulling my shirt back down.
"That's not what I meant," he sighed, shaking his head.
I closed my eyes, pressing on the bridge of my nose. "I know. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Harper," he said quietly.
I looked around, seeing who else was with us. I recognized Pete, Robert, and Darryl from school, and another boy from my school, whose name I think was Eric, but there were two other people, a girl and a boy who looked related. They looked like they were having the worst day of their lives. Fear; it's what I saw on everyone's faces, everyone but Jed. We were afraid, and we didn't know what was going on. I swallowed thickly and headed for the bathroom to clean up.
I couldn't believe how much blood I had on me and I scrubbed at my skin, being only a little gentler in the bruised area, trying to get rid of it all. I wanted to throw up again. Even when I couldn't visibly see any more blood on me, I could feel it on my skin still. I pulled on a rusty coloured long-sleeved, fitted cotton top that buttoned at the front, khaki coloured cargo pants, and a dark green hoodie. The cold was sneaking up on me, and I slipped into my dad's old bomber jacket. It was way too big on me, and it didn't smell like him anymore, but it would keep me warm.
When I came back out, we were bunkering down for the night, it seemed. And my stomach let out a loud growl. I hadn't eaten all day and I certainly couldn't stomach any food even if I'd wanted to. Jed threw some bars at me before coming over and telling me to press a bag full of freezing cold water against my side. We didn't have any ice. Goose bumps rose on my skin and I shivered. Then he seemed to remember Toni telling him about the bump on my head, because he started running his fingers over my scalp. I sighed and tried not to get annoyed at him. He informed me that I did, indeed, have a nasty lump on my head. I could've told him that. And he went to get another bag of cold water.
"That's Greg and Julie," Matt pointed to the two I didn't know. Julie only had a thin jumper on, so I pulled out the duffle coat I had packed. I barely remember grabbing it, it was all just a blur. I handed it to her.
"Here."
She looked me up and down before shaking her head, "It won't fit me."
"It will," I nodded and she took it from me.
"Thanks." I went back and searched through what other clothing I packed. A pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, what I was wearing and the jacket Julie now had. At least I had a change of clothes. I'd be throwing my running gear out. Even if I could wash all the blood out, I'd never be able to wear it without thinking of them.
Jed handed me the next bag and I pressed it to my head, wincing. He handed me some ibuprofen and water. I swallowed them quickly. "Thanks."
Matt pointed to a sleeping bag set up next to his on the ground and I crawled into it. We were all haphazardly laying about; Roberts head was pointing towards my stomach, and Darryl's head was near mine.
"Lights out," Jed warned, and then we were immersed in darkness. I was so tired, so exhausted, I thought I'd fall asleep easily, right away. But being in the dark just made the memories and pain clearer. Being in silence just gave me the chance to dwell on it. I had to lay on the opposite side to my bruised rib, and I tried to ignore the pain and breathe normally. It wasn't hard; the emotional pain was overruling the physical.
And again I was crying. I couldn't believe I had so many tears in me. It didn't seem possible. My body quivered as I tried to stay quiet, to not wake anyone else up and alert them to my crying. My nose and eyes ran, and I had to sniff to stop it from dripping down my face. A tissue would have been better.
There was movement next to me, the sound of material sliding across material, and a hand tentatively rested on my arm. When I didn't move away, the long, rough fingers, which I remembered from the blackout, slid down my arm and entwined themselves with my fingers. I swallowed, hot tears sliding down my face. He squeezed, his thumb gently brushing along the top of my hand, rubbing calming circles.
I didn't know until then how much I needed that, to feel someone else's skin against mine. To know I wasn't all alone in this darkness.
Slowly, the tears dried up again, and the silent wracking sobs subsided and I drifted into an uneasy sleep. But I didn't let go of his fingers.
Reviewer Replies:
Holy Crapola Batman! I was not expecting so much support from you guys; it's so touching! Seriously you guys, I'm like floating on air here! Thank you!
bookcrazy24: Yay! I'm so glad you thought Harper was awesome in the previous chapter and that you thought my story was interesting! Hopefully, you thought she was awesome in this chapter as well ;P
CyanMaterialGirl: Great! It's so encouraging to know that you loved it and were waiting for the next chapter, so thank you!
hellraiserphoenix: Hopefully, this chapter was updated fast enough and is to your liking as well ;D Thanks so much for reviewing!
dreamer4life1011: Oh, wow, thank you so much! I'm so glad you like my writing and my story! It makes me ridiculously happy to know that someone likes the way I write, especially when half the time I read over it again and think it sucks!
Dawn: Sooo happy you think so! Hope you like this chapter too :D
Leila Davis: So glad you 'LOVE' this story! Haha, yeah, I wanted her to retain some sort of feminine persona while also really being into camping/hiking and being a kick-ass shooter :D She had to be a fighter, for sure. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Beba78: Oh, my God, really? On the edge of your seat? Wow, I'm so happy my writing could elicit that kind of response! I really wanted people to feel for Harper, and to want to know what happens next to her, so hopefully the upcoming chapters can keep you hooked! So glad you liked that chapter, and hopefully you liked this one too and that it wasn't too anticlimactic! :D
patcoghlan: Thank you so much! Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait :D
kaitlyn. : Aw, thank you! Most of the time I really doubt that my writing sounds good or works well, or if it even makes sense, so seriously, you made my day, thank you so much for that! Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter too and that it flowed just as well :D
smile654: I'm glad you liked it! I plan to keep writing so long as people keep wanting to read it (even if they didn't, I'd probably still post it for myself, haha ;P ).
Guest: It's a great thing to know that people want to read more of what you write, so I'm hoping this pleased you :D
Wolfluver67: Yes, I was so disappointed when I saw how small this archive was that I went and wrote this little story to add to it, which I'm ecstatic to find out is enjoyed by a lot of people, yourself included! I'm pleased as punch (I never really understood that saying, but I like the way it sounds) that you are loving my story so much already, thank you so much!
iNevermore: Thank you!
KelseyBl: Thank you! Yeah, her survival instincts her dad taught her kicked in when she went into shock. Thank you, I'm delighted that you thought it was more realistic! I didn't think anyone would be able to just move on from seeing a dead body, especially one of a loved one, but there was this part of her that reacted for her; the part her dad ingrained in her, a part that didn't have to think, just do, just react. She's a tough cookie :D So, hopefully you liked this 3rd chapter too!
