Page 5 of Shattered Love

Was I being naïve? 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.”

Chapter Three

Little blisters split open underneath my arms, the moss withering away after the consistent use over the past three days. Murphy had replaced the moss each morning for me, but by midafternoon, it was always gone; the wood rubbing my underarms raw.

However, I knew it was better than the alternative. The morning we had left the clearing, the sun had barely risen above the horizon, the sky gray as we left. Not wanting to hold everyone back with the slow pace of crutches, I had foregone them. Unfortunately, that lasted about three hours of mostly uphill hiking when the pain had gotten unbearable and my left leg had given out.

Murphy had rushed to my side, the others not far behind. Of course, Warner had simply glared, thrusting the crutches into my arms. Since then, the two sticks had become an extension of me.

“My legs are tired,” Lucas groaned from next to me and the two of shared a kindred smile. You and me both, kid.

At Lucas’ complaint, all the adults turned, taking pity on the three of us lagging behind. Just me and the kids once again, it seemed.

“We should be nearing town, right?” Murphy asked, glancing at Warner and Aiden.

Although I had also been a part of the little group that trekked from the camp back to the others, I wasn’t surprised Murphy hadn’t asked me. I would have loved to say that due to my multiple trips back and forth, my sense of direction had improved, but it truly hadn’t. If anyone asked me where we were right now, I’d have one simple answer. Surrounded by trees.

“I’d guess about a few more hours. It took the five of us almost three days. But we’re walking a little slower right now.” Aiden politely didn’t look my way as he uttered the last sentence and I was thankful he was trying to ignore the fact I was the reason for the slow speed.

“Then let’s take a break. We don’t want to be in town until dark has come,” Rainer said, already dropping his pack and grabbing out the water and food.

Before anyone else could give an opinion, he was walking off into the woods, most likely to grab kindling for a quick fire. He had been silent most of the trip, probably pouting that he hadn’t gotten his way. But I also knew it was more than that. I knew he cared about all of our safety.

As everyone else followed suit, dropping their packs, I hobbled on my crutches after Rainer, hoping to catch him before he got too far. Murphy caught my gaze as I rushed off, raising a brow in question, but I waved him off.

Ever since Warner had brought up his concerns about the cottage, a sense of dread had been traveling up my spine. I didn’t want to think Emmanuel and Elizabeth were purposely leading us into a trap, but I also had seen what kind of desperation a situation like this brought on.

Doing my best to not trip over branches sprawled across the ground, I spotted Rainer’s light hair and called out his name. He turned at my voice, pausing his steps. As I approached, I thought of Warner’s other statement about mountain men. In this moment, Rainer truly fit the bill.

His shaggy hair was nearly to his shoulders and his slightly darker beard was scruffy and long. Dark blue eyes met mine, questioning what I was doing.

“You should be resting with the others. We both know your legs are more tired than even the twins,” he said, his voice gruff with concealed concern.

“Then let’s sit down.” Without waiting for an answer, I dropped the sticks, plopping onto my butt and stretching the sore muscles of my legs.

Letting a deep sigh, Rainer dropped down as well, stretching his legs until the outsides of our thighs were touching.

“I was getting firewood. We need to boil more water.”

“And someone else can do that,” I said, ignoring his excuses to leave this conversation.

We were silent for several minutes, birds chirping around us, before Rainer sighed once more.

“As much as I love trying to guess what you’re thinking, Less, why don’t you tell me what’s going on? I can’t imagine you followed me to ask how my day is.”

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