Page 8 of Shattered Home

I wasn’t sure when he showed up, moving as quietly through the woods as Rainer, but I was positive he heard the last statement. Glancing over my shoulder, Murphy frowned at his friend, uncomfortable with the words he spewed.

“We all know it’s true. No one else has the nerve to say anything, but I’m tired of busting my ass to make sure the princess survives.”

Murphy opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “It’s okay, Murphy. He’s right.”

My gaze bounced between the two for one more moment, their eyes locked in a stare, before I spun on my heel and started heading toward the creek. I needed a moment away from Rainer and his cruel, yet true, words. As well as a moment to collect myself from the interaction with the strangers.

Now that the adrenaline was beginning to fade, the startling reality that I could have been killed was at the forefront of my mind. Maybe what Matthew had said was true, we did have it easy out here. Besides the struggle for food, I could convince myself that we were all on a long camping trip. Of course, that would be easier to believe if the nightmares of my father’s death didn’t wake me up each night.

When I reached the creek, I toed off my shoes, sinking my feet into the chilled water. It was only June, so the running water was still crisp, too cold to fully submerge. Tilting my head up toward the sky, I closed my eyes, allowing the sun to soak into my skin.

“Mind if I join you?” A voice said from behind me.

Looking over my shoulder, I spotted Murphy sliding off his shoes, his movements disrupting the flow of the water as he stood beside me.

For a while, the two of us stood in silence, neither of us sure what to say. We simply enjoyed the tranquility of the moment. However, Murphy finally spoke, popping the bubble of quiet.

“He was scared. Worried. He shouldn’t have taken it out on you, though.”

I smiled sadly at him. “You don’t need to apologize for him.”

“Habit. I’ve been apologizing for him since we were ten. He likes to speak and act first, think later.”

Sighing, I debated telling Murphy why Rainer’s words hurt me, digging my toes into the soft mud beneath my feet.

“What he said wasn’t a lie. I’m useless out here. I can’t make a fire, I can’t fish, I can’t hunt. I mean, the twins even do more than me and they’re eight.”

Murphy was silent for so long that if I hadn’t felt his presence at my side, I would have thought he had left me out here. Turning toward him, he wore a pensive look on his face, his lips pursed and brows furrowed, deep in thought.

“Do you want to help?” He finally asked, and I was taken aback by the question.

Is that what they all thought? That I simply didn’t want to help? It’s not like I was oblivious to the work being done around me. But I didn’t know where I could fit in the makeshift community we had here.

“I’d like to stop being on the receiving end of so many glares,” I joked.

It was the best way I could admit that I did want to help without feeling embarrassed. There was no doubt I didn’t know what I was doing out here, but I still had pride in who I was, and anyone would be ashamed to blatantly admit how worthless they were.

“Then you can start coming with me to the radio tower. And on the way back, we can pick up firewood.”

Murphy smiled brightly, the rays of the sun beaming across his face. In that moment, for the first time, I realized how handsome he was. His shaggy brown hair that grew longer each day framed the strong lines of his face, his hazel eyes twinkling.

But even more than the sudden attraction, immense joy coursed through me at his understanding. He wasn’t going to tell me all the ways I could do better around camp, he was solely going to bring me into the fold.

Chapter Six

Over the next week, Murphy and I spent most of our time together. Every other day, we trekked to the radio tower, hoping to hear something. I shared with him what Matthew and Brett told me about the camps, but he wanted some sort of concrete proof before we left the safety of the woods.

On the days we didn’t go to the radio tower, Murphy began teaching me simple survival skills. I learned how to set up kindling and wood for a fire, keep it going, and even some plants that were edible. Unfortunately, although learning how to keep a fire going was practical, it meant nothing when I couldn’t start one.

“Are you sure there’s enough friction? Press harder against the wood,” Murphy said from above me.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes while bumps erupted on my arms from the deep tenor of his voice. In any other circumstance, his words would have a very different meaning. Who knew talking about making fire could be so dirty?

Murphy had been trying to teach me how to get a spark for the past five days, but no matter what I did or how hard I tried, I had no luck. In my defense, this was something most of us had to learn. Our last match from the few packs we had taken from town was used a few days ago.

To no one’s surprise, Rainer had stepped in immediately and started a fire with his bare hands and a few pieces of wood. I was convinced there was nothing the man couldn’t do, except maybe be nice to me.

Twisting the stick in my hands a few more times, sweat dotting at my forehead from the exertion, I finally gave up. Falling onto my back, I threw an arm over my eyes, sighing.

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