11. Mine
I knew this was a stupid idea the second I stepped onto the hard ground out front, but that didn’t stop me. I kept walking, heading into the woods but avoiding the main road. The chilled night seeped into my bare feet and through the thin blanket that I had wrapped around my body. The T-shirt and sweats I borrowed from Ellie did little to help.
Still, I didn’t slow down. I had nowhere to go and no direction in mind, but away from here was good enough for the time being. It had nothing to do with the people I left behind but what they stood for and their involvement in this shitty time.
I didn’t know what I expected. Actually, I did, but this was further than I thought they’d go. Ruining clothes was one thing, but my pictures… There was no doubt in my mind that they had dug up all the dirt they could on me, so they knew my parents had died when I was only six in a stereotypical car crash. I wasn’t with them. I’d like to say thankfully, but I wouldn’t mean it.
They spoke about their bad luck before it, leaving me with my grandmother to go on an outing just in case something happened. Years after they died, I remembered their words and always wondered if they felt something coming. By then, it was too late to ask my grandmother if there was something I was missing from that day. She died when I was fourteen, once again, after a string of bad luck, but this time, it was surrounding me.
And it never went away.
Now I was here, fleeing like I said I would, but in a much dumber fashion than I had expected of myself, but trauma, tears, and booze would do that to a person.
The ground was mostly dirt and pebbles with some nettles in between, so although it stung a little as each thing dug into my skin, I would live. The cold air zapped me, but the adrenaline fended it off for now.
The puffs of breath in front of me guided my way through the trees as there was little light coming from the moon tonight. I climbed over a log, snagging the blanket in the process. No tugging freed it, and there wasn’t enough light to see where the snag was, so I left it behind, letting my arms greet the cold.
I walked and walked, then stepped on a branch, slicing a gash on the bottom of my foot, but with my foot being so cold, I barely felt it. I kept moving, mindless as to where I was or was going.
Maybe they would notice I was gone and come after me, or maybe they wouldn’t. I wasn’t in the know of what their punishment would be for losing me. Gerard seemed pretty sure they’d never let that happen, but here I was, all alone and about to vanish.
I didn’t have any plans to die. That wasn’t the goal, but I was aware of it as a possibility due to my actions and bad luck.
If they didn’t come after me, what then?
If they did…
I shook my head, ignoring the what ifs as I had always done. They didn’t matter and only brought on anxiety. What would happen would happen, and that was the end of that.
It had to be nearly three in the morning now, but I didn’t really know. There was still no light on the horizon, and it was getting colder by the minute. Maybe I could survive the last few hours until dawn and watch the sun come up, then make a plan from here.
My feet stopped as I came across a clearing, allowing the low light of the moon to shine down. It was a lovely sight, and there was a small patch of grass that I knew would feel amazing on my aching feet. I made my way to it and gripped the blades between my toes as I sighed and looked up. There was a half moon tonight. At least I had chosen half well. It could have been a new moon.
I started walking again, weaving through the trees and enjoying my freedom. I had never done something like this before. I remember going camping once with my parents, but that was so long ago. It wasn’t my grandmother’s thing, so I didn’t go after they died. When I was shipped off to other relatives in a haphazard order for the next two years, they tried their best, but it wasn’t what I wanted, and the bad luck of my parents always followed.
Eventually, I gave up, accepting that I could only be around others for so long before bad things happened. I wondered how long I would have lasted here without messing things up for Odie and Cy. Maybe no one would have to find out.
The air rushed out of my body as I took another step and fell. For a second, I thought I had tripped into a small den, twisting my ankle, but I was wrong. I fell farther, crashing into the ground with a loud thud, knocking the wind out of me and dislocating my shoulder.
Sadly, screaming was not something my family could do, so silence left my mouth as tears billowed from my eyes.
My ankle throbbed, my shoulder felt like it had been ripped from my body, but finally, I gasped in air in time for the sobs to take over. Rolling on to my back, I looked up. I could barely make out the edge of the hole, but it was deep, maybe eight feet. Farther than six feet under like I’d seen on TV but I didn’t think it was quite as deep as a pool. I could stand up to get a better guess, but my body rebelled. It was exhausted and lathered in pain from the tip of my head to my toes.
Shivers started and stopped as my breathing became even and exhaustion took over. Just as I had literally done moments ago, I slipped once again into the dark, wanting nothing more than to see my parents whole again.
Screaming reverberated in my ears, knocking me from unconsciousness, but I couldn”t make out any words if there were any. My eyes creaked open with much effort, and light poured in. Morning came, and I was still here.
My eyelids fluttered, trying to let my eyes adjust to the change in light, as I took stock of my body. Everything was numb or near it. The ache in my ankle and pain in my shoulder were barely there, but I still refused to move, wondering if this was a dream.
Another scream, and this time I recognized my name on someone’s lips, but I couldn’t yell back.
Maybe I could whistle or creepily laugh so they got my location. They seemed close enough. Would they find me if I didn’t? Did I want them to?
The pain in my body was gone, but I was thirsty and hungry, and the fact that I wanted to be served breakfast was enough of a sign for me.
I pursed my lips, trying to whistle, but nothing came out. I licked them, coating the dried husks in saliva and hoping it would be enough. I tried again, and the whistle was weak but there.
Footsteps marched forward, and when I whistled louder, they stopped.
“Mine?” Odie yelled into the forest, panic lacing her words.
“Whistle again!” Cy cried out. If I didn’t know any better, her voice wobbled.
I did as she said, and they took off. Their footsteps hit the ground hard and grew louder each second.
“Don’t stop!” Cy was nearly above me, and in the next second, her head popped over the edge, and some dirt fell from the ledge. “Thank fuck.”
I tried to wave but forgot about my shoulder, so instead, I twinged and gasped.
Cy’s nostrils flared as Odie knelt over the edge, eyeing me.
“What the fuck, Mine?” She was angry. Scratch that. Odie was livid. Her hazel eyes were wide with ire, and I was surprised her teeth weren’t shattering with how tight her jaw was. “You could have—” She paused, stepping back so her face wasn’t in my view.
Cy pulled away for a second, chastising Odie, which was unexpected. “We will yell at her later. Let’s get her home.”
To their home, not mine. I didn’t have one. Not really.
Cy hopped down with ease, and I was jealous of her height and strength. I glared at her, unable to sign at the moment.
“This was stupid.” I nodded. “Really stupid.” I nodded again as she looked me over. “What did you hurt?”
I used my good arm to point to my shoulder and my foot. Cy sighed before helping me sit up. I was so cold and didn’t have full control of anything. I hissed and slumped into her.
Something slapped the dirt wall behind her, but I couldn’t see what it was thanks to her shielding me.
“We will have a look when we get back to the house. Ellie is terrified.”
I quirked a brow at her. Or I hoped I did.
“It took a lot of convincing to get her to stay behind. You may owe her too.” She chuckled, but it was dark and half-assed.
One arm wound around my back, and the other slid under my knees, jostling my ankle. I groaned and buried my face into the crook of Cy’s neck without thinking. I wasn’t going to move it though, and she didn’t seem to mind.
Once she was standing with me in her arms, she turned toward whatever Odie dropped in here. It looked like a rope tied to some cloth.
“This is going to hurt.” No I’m sorry or anything. Granted, I probably didn’t deserve that level of kindness right now after what I did.
Cy situated me in the hammock seat thing, which pressed horribly into my dislocated shoulder. Given that I still couldn’t move it, I didn’t know if it was going to be permanently damaged or anything like that.
She made sure my good shoulder was facing the wall and yelled to Odie, “Good to go!”
Odie heaved and pulled until I was within arm’s reach. She had set up a contraption, so I wasn’t sliding against the wall, but that didn’t stop me from banging into it. Cy did what she could by holding onto my good ankle and ass, but it didn’t prevent everything.
Odie pinned down the rope and hoisted me the rest of the way up by gripping the rough cloth. She unwrapped me without saying a word. Although her movements were sharp, nothing she did caused any more pain.
“Stay right there.” She gave me a pointed look and didn’t move away until I nodded in submission.
Odie knelt by the edge again and reached out her hand. Somehow, their strength and agility were still shocking. I knew they were guards and in fantastic shape and everything, but it was different seeing them in action.
It sounded like Cy did a small run and jump, kicked up the wall once, then clasped hands with Odie, who pulled her out thanks to the small amount of momentum she had created. It was insanity, and I would never be able to do something like that even without the injuries.
Odie grabbed a pack that was sitting to the side with two others and pulled out some clothes, which I assumed were for me while Cy brought over another one, bringing out a first aid kit and a sling. How prepared they were for someone falling into a hole was sketchy.
Cy slinged up my arm, and taking the pressure off my shoulder did wonders.
Next up was Odie, and I didn’t think my luck would continue.
“I’ll do my best to not hurt you, but you need to get warm.” They were both in relatively warm clothing. Sweats, hoodies, and hiking boots from the looks of it.
I motioned to her with an exasperated look.
“I haven’t been freezing in a hole for hours,” she gritted out.
First, she shoved a large and soft sweatshirt over my head, keeping my arms inside the body, even my not hurt one. Then Cy wrapped up the cut on the bottom of my foot enough so it wouldn’t stick to whatever Odie was going to shove me into next. They happened to be thick wool socks with the most horrific texture, but they were really warm.
Lastly, I was wrapped like a burrito in an emergency blanket and slung up into Odie’s arms. Cy grabbed the bags and led the way at a much faster pace than I had used to get out here.
In thirty minutes, we were coming out of the trees and spotted Ellie standing on the front porch with tears streaming down her face. She lit up the second she saw us and bolted to us. Cy caught her, tossing the bags to the side.
“She’s hurt, Ellie. Let’s get her inside, then you can pester her. She deserves it.” Cy side-eyed me, and I hid my head again, using Odie’s broad shoulder as a pillow.
I really didn’t want to leave this spot. Between the clothes, blanket, and Odie’s body heat, I was a happy camper. If this was what running away got me, I wasn’t too mad at myself for making that rash decision, but the thought of the ruined photo and what it symbolized was an ache that would never leave.