Chapter Two
“ I f it starts to hurt, tell me and I’ll stop,” Aiden said, holding the hunting knife against my right arm.
Nodding, I motioned for him to continue, waiting to feel the tug of pressure. I had removed plenty of stitches in the past few years, but I only had gotten them removed once. However, Aiden knew what he was doing and even without proper tools, I trusted him to not hurt me.
The tug of the strand pulled against my arm and I knew Aiden was pulling them out when a hand found mine. Turning to the right, Murphy gave me a grim smile, purposefully looking away from my arm.
Holding up our intertwined fingers, I asked, “Is this for me or for you?”
“You can tease me all you want, but how this doesn’t make you queasy I’ll never know.”
Laughing at his slightly ashen face, I squeezed his hand tighter in mine. “I’ve seen you gut plenty of animals. This is much less bloody.”
“Maybe so, but I grew up hunting animals. I’ve never stepped foot inside a hospital.”
Aiden finished removing the stitches on my right arm and switched places with Murphy to start on my left, Murphy grasping my opposite hand in his.
Turning back toward him while Aiden got started, I tilted my head. “If it makes you queasy, why are you over here?”
Murphy didn’t answer for a moment, staring intently into my eyes. Emotions coursed through me as his gaze deepened. The feelings of comfort and friendship that had blossomed before our kidnapping, the relief when I had seen him again, and something else. Something that had started to bloom after his lips had touched mine.
Finally, Murphy spoke, whispering low so Aiden couldn’t hear, “You know why.”
Swallowing roughly, I nodded. I did know why. It was for the exact same reason that if he was harmed, I’d be holding his hand as well. There was a tether tying us together, whether it be from the experiences we had been through or something more, and with each day, it was only becoming stronger.
“All done.” Aiden’s voice broke our connection and I turned toward my brother, who gave me a knowing look. “I suggest leaving the stitches in your legs until we can figure the infection out. But I’m sure you’ve already realized that.”
“That I did.” Staring down at my thighs, the red streaks seemed brighter.
Maybe it was because of the worry from everyone about how they were healing. Or maybe because I knew soon we would be heading back toward the source of the injury. Either way, the skin continued to throb, reminding me that if I didn’t get medicine soon, the infection would start to spread and infect the rest of my body.
“Alright, well, I’m going to go help fill up the waters. Do you need any help with the hunting?” Aiden asked, aiming the question at Murphy.
“Rainer and I have it handled. Thanks, man.” Aiden nodded at us both before strolling off to grab the water containers and head to the stream.
Once he left the clearing, I realized Murphy and I were alone for the first time since before the kidnapping. And although the calm I was used to with him washed over me, there was also a nervous energy, like the feeling I had gotten when I was thirteen with my first crush.
Nervous to meet his eyes, I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, staring at our hands. However, Murphy was having none of that and he bent his head down, searching for my gaze. When our eyes finally met, he smiled softly.
“You’ll be okay, you know that, right? We’ll get into town and find you some medicine.”
He looked so sincere, so confident in his words, that I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Brushing the same loose strand of hair behind my ear, he cupped my cheek.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. Not again.” His eyes darkened with his words, and I knew he was thinking of the night he had fallen asleep during his watch. No matter what Rainer or I said, he wouldn’t forgive himself.
“I know, Murphy. I know.”
Even as I reassured him, the darkness didn’t fade, and my heart ached for the sweet man who had brought me out of my darkness. We had all lost so much already, but I couldn’t handle if Murphy lost the soul of who he was.
Not sure what else to say, I leaned forward, gently pressing my lips against his. Neither of us moved, simply savoring the soft pressure of my mouth against his. After a swift moment, I moved back, Murphy’s hand never leaving my cheek.
“Go hunt with Rainer. I’m going to gather some other things with Mina and Sasha.”
Helping me to a standing position, Murphy finally released my hand, walking away into the woods to find his best friend. And as I walked in the opposite direction to search out Mina and Sasha, I held onto his words. I’d be okay. We all would.
The smell of roasting hazelnuts and seared meat permeated the air, tendrils of smoke blowing into my face. The day had been busy for all of us, trampling around the area to scavenge enough food and water to make the week long trek to Elizabeth and Emmanuel’s cottage.
Aiden and Elizabeth had filled all the water containers to the brim, Emmanuel had caught seven fish, while Rainer and Murphy had managed to take down two large deer. Mina, Sasha, and I had gathered enough hazelnuts to last a lifetime and the few bags we had were laden down with the weight of supplies.
Warner had disappeared for the entire day as he had been doing and I wondered what he was up to. I didn’t have to wonder for long when his long body dropped down next to me, his legs spreading out before us.
“You’re going to burn the soles of your shoes,” I told him, nodding toward the bottom of his feet that were dangerously close to the licking flames.
“Then I’d have to go barefoot. Become a real mountain man. Isn’t that what you’re into?”
My head whipped up at his question and the fire lit the teasing glint in his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m an observer, babe. And you’re about as transparent as a window.”
Rolling my eyes, I sassed back, “I’m not sure what you’re observing when you’re never around.”
Warner’s lips quirked up into a devilish smirked and he leaned closer, dropping his mouth toward my ear. “Missing me?”
Backing away slightly, I fought back a shiver as his deep voice rolled over me. “Not quite. Just wondering where you go when we’re doing work around here. You know, to keep us all alive, including you.”
Warner raised his brows. “Have I not been pulling my weight?”
I paused before answering, realizing that although he was rarely around during the day, he had been pulling his weight. He always came back in the evenings with water and either a small animal or some nuts. And he religiously kept watch each night.
“Okay, you’ve been helping. Except for today.”
“I was busy today.”
“Doing what?” I couldn’t help the curiosity. I wouldn’t say that I missed him when he was gone, but a ball of anxiety formed in my stomach each day until he reappeared at night.
“If you can leave the fire for a few minutes, I’ll show you.”
My curiosity piqued even more. Noticing that everyone was around and could easily take over the cooking, I nodded, struggling to stand up. Warner immediately reached under my arms, pulling me tight against his chest. The man knew nothing of personal space.
Pushing against the firm planes of his chest, I stepped back, mumbling a thanks. Warner didn’t grab me again, but he hovered close as we walked out of the clearing, darkness encompassing us as the fire grew further from us.
After several minutes of walking, Warner finally stopped beside a large tree. My eyes were still adjusting to the dark as he reached for two things leaning against the tree, and when he brought them into view, my eyes widened.
“You made me crutches?” My voice was bewildered, and I didn’t know what to think about the sentiment.
Warner spent so much time alone. Barely interacting with the rest of us and he had made it clear more than once that he was looking out for himself and no one else. But then he did things like follow me into a locked building instead of escaping and spending an entire day making crutches.
“Don’t be thinking I’m like one of your mountain men. I’ve seen you struggling to walk and it’s going to get worse after a week straight of hiking. And we don’t have enough food for more than a week.”
“So, it’s entirely practical?” I asked, taking in the crutches. He must have used a knife to smooth down two branches, making them smooth for where my hands would grab. The tops were fitted with bunches of moss tied to the sticks with vines.
“Exactly. Practical and nothing else.” The sky was too dark to make out his expression, but no matter what he said, it seemed like there was something else behind the gesture.
“Well, thank you. I’m quite impressed with the design.”
Warner grinned cockily at the compliment and I rolled my eyes. Fitting the crutches beneath my arms, I tested them out, realizing they weren’t entirely uncomfortable. It’d still be a pain to hike miles with them, but much better than my legs giving out on me.
Using the crutches as support, I started to head back toward the clearing, but Warner stopped me with a hand to my shoulder. Gripping firmly but gently, he turned my body. The cocky grin was gone and in its place was a concerned frown.
“Is there something else?” I asked, a little impatiently. He disappeared all day, not allowing for much conversation, and right now I was hungry.
“Don’t you find it a little odd?” He asked, dropping his hand from my shoulder once he realized I wasn’t leaving.
“Find what odd?” I had no clue what he was talking about.
“Let’s say you had a cottage that was basically off grid. Well water, wood burning appliances, and no one was living there. Why would you choose to go into the woods with two small kids instead of the safety of a home?”
My back went straight at the accusation in his statement. “What are you implying?” I gritted out, uncomfortable with the way this conversation seemed to be headed.
“I’m not implying anything. I’m simply observing. It seems a little odd to me. And let’s not forget, you’ve been out here for nearly five months. Why only bring it up now?”
I hated that his questions were getting to me. I had implicitly trusted Elizabeth and Emmanuel. Even when I was skeptical of Rainer and his motives, I had never questioned the others. Elizabeth was a mother who treated all of us like her children. And Emmanuel was the man who had taught me how to fish, the man who had worked with my father.
Was I being na?ve? I thought that part of me had vanished after months of struggling to survive. After night after night of torture. But here I was again, simply believing everyone had my best interest at heart.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head. I’m not saying to go against the plan. We can’t stay out here and a roof over our heads won’t be a bad thing. All I’m saying is that we need to be careful. You can’t trust everyone.”
“Are you saying I should trust you?” I finally managed to get out, struggling with the numerous thoughts now rushing through my head.
Warner stepped forward, bending down until our eyes were level, his dark eyes glinting. “Not at all, Alessia.”
Brushing past me, he started to head in the opposite direction of the clearing, blending in with the night. Before he could get too far ahead, I called out one more time.
“Why tell me to be careful? You could have kept an eye on things for yourself. Left when you thought something was wrong.”
Warner didn’t turn at my question, his body languid, as if he expected the question. “I figure it can’t hurt to keep someone skilled in the medical field around. It’s practical.”
Striding further into the darkness, he disappeared completely, and I finished his sentence for him. “Nothing else.”