Chapter Seven

"When A Fire Starts To Burn"

Anna

A/N Hello! I'm back with another chapter! Most of them will be written from Anna's POV, but there will be one from Luke's every once in a while :) I'm not very fond of this chapter but it does move the story along, so it'll do.

Review time!

The Rose of Hedylogos: I squealed when I saw your review and I know that probably sounds really pathetic but I absolutely love your stories! I'm glad you're enjoying mine, and no, Anna and Nick aren't gonna hit it off, but I do want them to become close friends :) I have another story in mind that includes a love triangle...lets keep it at that. I really appreciate the review. You are so freaking awesome!

enfinity11: Oh, how your reviews make me blush. I read your bio and I would like to say that a) you seem like a really cool person! and b) I'm so flattered when you listed me as one of your favorite fanfiction writers. That definitely made my day! Thank you soooo much.

PeanutFangirl: You might as well be famous because girl, you are amazing! Nuff said.

The first one who greets me when I walk into the cabin is Rebecca with a cold glare. If looks could kill, I would be dead for the twentieth time today. Alvin is standing beside her, stroking her back as if trying to comfort her. Judging by the timid expression on his face, I think he's the one in need of comfort. Carlos and Anthony sit at the table eating what looks to be oatmeal. The doctor looks angry (as usual), but his son looks like he doesn't have a single care in the world. Pete stands by himself in the corner, looking glum as ever.

"What's going on?" Luke asks, reading my thoughts.

They all look down, besides Pete, who decides to take the script himself. "There were bodies down at the river," he states sadly.

"What do you mean?" Nick jumps in.

"What I mean," the older man says, "is there were half a dozen men lying by the river, all with bullets through them." Everyone is silent for a moment. I gulp, wondering who would do such a thing.

Rebecca – whose facial expression didn't change – breaks away from her husband's reach. "It has to be Carver! Who else would it be?"

"Calm down, Rebecca," Carlos says.

"Don't tell me to calm down! I am calm! You calm down!"

Luke strokes his chin with his thumb. "How can you be so sure that it's Carver? We can't just jump to conclusions."

"Yeah," I add. "Remember what happened last time you did that?" They look at me, all of them with guilty expressions except for Rebecca and Carlos. "Are you even going to tell me who Carver is?"

"William Carver is a dangerous man," Carlos explains. "We left his group a few weeks back."

"W-why? What makes him so dangerous?" I came across a few "bad guys" along the way, but no one I would consider too dangerous. The bandits from yesterday (I can't believe that was yesterday) were definitely a threat, however, they weren't blood-thirsty cannibals or control-driven dictators. Just two men trying to survive.

"He had a strict way of running things," Luke says. "It was always his way or the highway. We didn't want to live under the same roof as a psychopath, so we escaped."

I look down. I used to know someone like that.

"I say we leave tomorrow at first light," Nick suggests. "It won't be long until he finds us, and we're the ones lying dead by the river." Majority of the house agrees, but Luke looks doubtful.

"Are you guys sure? I mean, it's so safe here. I don't know if it's a good idea taking our chances out there with the baby on its way and-"

"This place became anything but safe the moment Carver killed those men," Rebecca argues.

"Yeah, you're right," he says with a nod. "I say we head up north. We could try to reach some mountains. Carver wouldn't be expecting to find us up there."

Everyone seems to be in on the plan, except for me. Sure, they have to do what they have to do to get away from this so-called "Carver", but I have no reason to go with them. He doesn't know me so I don't need to run. I can just stick around here by myself. After all, I did want to be alone from the start. I know I told Luke that I would give it some time, but if I decide to go with them, how much time would I be giving?

"What do you say, Anna? Ready for a trek up north?" he asks.

I feel really awkward. I don't like to be put on the spot. Who knows if I'm even wanted? Rebecca and Carlos made it pretty clear that they don't trust me, but I'm not so sure about the others. Nick doesn't act distant around me anymore. On the way back from "Gill's", he even walked with me and Luke. God knows what's going on in Alvin and Anthony's head. And Pete...I don't know, he seems to like me I guess. The only one I'm certain about is Luke, but that might not be enough to win me over.

"I don't know..." I answer hesitantly. No one says anything, making it obvious that I'm unwanted. I don't mind really. This just makes an easy decision even easier. "I'm not coming. Sorry."

"No!" Anthony insists. It's the first time I heard him speak since last night. "I want you to come with us. You're nice and so are we, and nice people should stick together. Please. Just give us a chance."

I scan the room with caprice. Everyone's faces are blank, that is for Anthony, whose eyes are wide and hopeful. Every part of me is telling myself to say no. But when I look at the little boy, I can feel my heart speed up, as if saying, Yes, this is what you want. I've waited in the shadows for too long. I want to get to know them. I want to share laughs with another person besides myself. I want to live again. What's the point of being alive if you have no one with you? I know I'm going to regret this the minute I say it, but for now, the right answer is yes.

"Are y'all actually nice?" I direct the question towards everyone in the room.

Luke smiles. "The nicest."

…

Later that evening, I sit on the back porch gazing at the sunset. Luke meets me outside wearing a pair of dark jeans and a black windbreaker. I haven't spoken much to him since the little meeting we had earlier.

"Hey," he says as he sits beside me on the bench swing. "Thanks for agreeing to come with us. I know it may not seem like it, but we're all very happy to have you."

"You're right," I tell him. "It doesn't seem like it." I look down at my shoes, (Because we all know how interesting they become once shit goes down PeanutFangirl) unsure of where I'm going with this.

"I know, I know. But we are nice people, and I think Anthony put it nicely back there when he said that nice people should stick together."

I smile at the thought. "Yeah, that was cute." Anthony is actually the reason I'm staying with the group. His words convinced me out of my fear for about thirty seconds, before I went back to being afraid. Now that I told them I would stick around, I can't take that back. I have to take the chance and hope that this good opportunity doesn't come to an end too soon. "But for the record, I'm not even that nice."

Luke chuckles. "Is that the cue that right now is a good time to get to know you?"

I sigh and roll my eyes. "What do you want to know?"

"What's your favorite color?" he asks.

"That's what you want to know? My favorite color?" I reply with a laugh.

"Are you gonna tell me or not?"

"Purple. What's yours?"

"Orange."

"I like orange."

"What about your favorite movie?"

"Pride and Prejudice. But I like the book better."

"Are you serious?" Luke's face advertises fake disgust.

"Oh yeah, well what's yours?"

"The Terminator."

"Okay, you can not give me shit about Pride and Prejudice! That movie is awful and cliché."

"Cliche my ass! Pride and Prejudice is just another Romeo and Juliet type thing."

"Have you even see Pride and Prejudice?"

He stutters. "Well, uh no, but-"

"Next question!"

We talked for hours about our interests and hobbies, but my past didn't come up once. I learned that he likes art (which I kind of already knew), that he never left the United States, but really wanted to visit Fiji, and that when he was little, he used to call one of the cows on his father's farm "Titty". I told him about my trip to Europe, and how I traveled on train to an abundance of countries. It's crazy how you can go from benets and flamiche in France to sculptures and gelato in Italy all in the matter of one short ride. When he asked me about my interests, I told him that I used to sing (but sucked at it) and that nowadays, I find amusement in climbing trees. I'm such a bore.

When it was time to turn in, I said goodnight to everyone. Carlos even allowed me to say so to Anthony, who happily returned the farewell. Luke and I went upstairs to his bedroom to get some shut-eye, which brings us to right now.

"You good?" he asks from his spot on the floor. He blew up the air mattress earlier.

"Good as gold," I reply with a giggle. God, I'm being awfully ditzy today.

"Enjoy it," he says. "Who knows how long it's gonna be before we find a safe place to stay."

"I waited before, I can wait again."

The room grows silent, our words lingering in the air.

"Goodnight, Luke," I whisper.

"You too, Anna."

As hard as I try, sleep doesn't pass over me. I stare blankly at the darkness, trying to come up with a method to fall asleep. I hear movements coming from Luke, and figure that he's probably just stirring in his sleep. But that's not the case. I can make out his shadow coming my way. He gets under the covers and scoots closer to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. Eventually, I fall asleep to his warm breaths and the sound of his heartbeat.

A/N As I said, not the best chapter, but the next one should be better. At least I got some cute Anna and Luke stuff in there. What should their ship name be? Lanna? (If you pronounce that backwards it will sound like anal hehe) Anyway, leave me a review and tell me what you think. Thanks and peeeace