Chapter 11
A/N – Hmmm, another filler chapter. Don't worry guys, next one is more exciting. It's already written :) What can I say? I was on a roll! Happy reading!
"Would you like to take a shower?" Aunt Rose asked after showing me the guest room.
I nodded.
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I let the hot water run over my body, washing away a week's worth of extremely unpleasant memories. Hiding in our cellar at Mom and Tim's during the plane crash, being held at gunpoint when our vehicle was stolen, being separated from Rachael and Ray, John's death, the Tripods' attack at the restaurant, the decapitated man. Now this. After all that had happened, the prospect of being alone again absolutely terrified me. I knew that I would most likely not find another person to travel with now.
I was still worried….What if something happened to me, like if I broke my leg and I was in the middle of a forest, where there were no people for miles around? What then? Or, what if I met up with another little gang like the three I'd met with John? I shuddered a little. I didn't even want to think about that. My mind made up more and more horrible scenarios of what could happen to me when I traveled on alone; when it couldn't think of new ones it elaborated others. A vicious cycle.
I finally forced myself to think of other things as I stepped out of the shower. I toweled off and slipped into the clothes that Aunt Rose had left out for me.
I found the hallway dark and quiet. Tiptoeing my way into the spare bedroom, I finally sank into the soft mattress and covered myself with the thick duvet. I turned over onto my side and smiled into the quilts. I was comfortable and warm. Something that I hadn't been for quite a while. Slowly, I drifted off into welcome slumber.
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I didn't know where I was. All I knew was that it was very foggy and damp; I could see the outlines of shadowy figures milling about in the mist. I stepped forward hesitantly, waving a hand in front of me. I could barely see it.
"Hello?" I called.
Then I was at the battlefield. Ray and Rachael sprinted down the hill, unaware that I was right behind them. Then the explosion.
"No!" I screamed. They were swallowed up by a wall of red hot flames.
I was in the restaurant. A bloodied hand lay unmoving under a pile of rubble. I gasped and stumbled backward.
Then I was in the forest with John and the three men. I watched helplessly as John was shot in front of me. Again. I screamed.
I'd lost them. All of them.
The faces of the three men loomed in front of me, cackling and sneering. The gun was raised to my forehead and I heard a clicking sound as the trigger was pulled.
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I awoke in a cold sweat, panting and shivering. The blankets had been thrown off the bed sometime during my unrestful sleep. I looked around myself, recognized my surroundings, and sighed. My heartbeat slowed, and I exhaled slowly. It had been a dream. Just a dream. It had been so real….I turned over again, my eyelids slowly closing. I was asleep once again in minutes.
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The sunlight shone through the window, displaying its brilliance over everything in the bedroom. I opened my eyes and squinted through the brightness. Yawning, I reached down to pull the covers over my body, but found that they were still on the floor. I sighed and dangled my legs off of the edge of the bed, pondering.
I didn't think I was that far from Boston right now. If I borrowed a map from Aunt Rose, I wouldn't lose my way. I could follow the highway until I got there. I wouldn't walk right on the road, but on the side where I would be less conspicuous. I was almost sure that I would likely be supplied with provisions for my trip (probably more than I could comfortably carry); given the person that Aunt Rose seemed to be.
I smiled to myself and slid off the bed. I had a feeling that this was going to be a good day.
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After eating breakfast, the family gathered to bid me farewell. Aunt Rose gave another bone-crushing hug. Petra thanked me for helping her. She kissed my cheek quickly and hurried into the house, tears glistening in her eyes. Even Mona came out to say goodbye. She shook my hand and told me; "It was nice traveling with you." I was amazed. I didn't think I had ever heard her pay a compliment to anyone.
I'd decided to leave the bicycle behind. I thought that I would be less likely to be noticed if I was walking.
I had been given a backpack full of food and water, including a first aid kit and a thick blanket for the quickly cooling nights. I slung it over my shoulder and waved at the people standing in front of the house, before turning away and swiftly striding down the street.
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Around noon, I stopped beside a tree to eat lunch. My watch had stopped sometime during my walk; it had been working when I'd woken in the morning. I hated not knowing the time. It made me uneasy.
I pulled the map out of my backpack and examined it thoughtfully. If I stayed on the highway, it would take me a few more days to arrive in Boston. But if I went through this forest, I would arrive in about a day's time. A tremor of fear shook my thin frame. I didn't know if I was ready to face another forest.
Rachael's face appeared involuntarily in my mind. I smiled. I would walk through a thousand forests to get to her. My little sister. I wished that I hadn't been so reckless before. I might have still been with her, been able to protect her when she needed me. I hoped that Ray had taken good care of her until they had reached Boston.
If they had reached Boston.
I pushed that thought away. Of course they were in Boston. They had to be.
I finished my sandwich and folded up the map. Getting to my feet, I picked up my backpack and stared into the forest. Taking a deep breath, I took my first step into the trees.
