Page 107 of Deviant

We continue to walk through the dense forest, break for a thirty-minute lunch, and restart again. With the weather changing for the worse, threatening rain showers, the air becomes thick with fog as we all push through the dense underbrush of the mountain terrain. The rhythmic patter of light drizzle tapping against the leaves mingles with the low murmur of exhaustion and discontent from the pack. I can see it etched on their faces how their humor has deteriorated with the grayish weather. What once felt like an adventure has turned into a grueling punishment.

The trail turns darker as we navigate the uneven terrain, slippery roots and mud making each step feel like a gamble. I glance up at the group, their expressions a mix of irritation and resignation, yet we move on, the mist wrapping around us like a shroud, a reminder of our shared misery. When night starts to fall, shadows begin to swallow our path, yet we continue marching forward into the unknown, no one wanting to be the first to show signs of weakness. It’s only when I throw a glance over my shoulder to check on Rowen and see that she’s limping that I call everyone to a loud halt.

“That’s far enough for today,” I announce, throwing my backpack to the ground.

“Who says?” David, the guy Andy said was a class-A douche, challenges.

“By all means, if you’re so eager to continue on without us, have at it. I’m sure whoever is behindThe Scourgewill be all too happy to greet you when you arrive.”

His annoyed scowl quickly fades at the reminder.

“Elias is right. We’ve been walking nonstop for almost thirteen hours, and soon it will be too dark for us to see where we are going anyway,” the guy named Lucas interjects, taking the heavy backpack from his girlfriend’s back before attending to his own. “We’re all exhausted.”

“And don’t forget hungry,” Harper, Andy’s crush, chimes in, looking all too happy to follow Lucas’s orders instead of David’s.

“Let’s just make camp for the night and start fresh in the morning. I don’t know about you, but I’m in no hurry to get where we are supposed to go. Are you?” Lucas says, his gaze locked with David’s.

“Bunch of whiney pussies you all turned out to be, but whatever. If you all want to make camp, fine by me.”

“Geez, thanks,” I hear Rowen mumble under her breath sarcastically.

I don’t dare look in her direction, but I can’t help the little smirk that crests my lips at her defiance.

“Did you say something, Hawthorne?” David says intimidatingly, coaxing a tick to my jaw and my hands to curl into tight fists.

Andy eyes my clenched fists and smiles, giving my shoulder a little squeeze before whispering, “Easy there, tiger. I got this one.” He then steps in front of me and smiles at the bastard trying to bully Rowen. “Oh, shit, my bad. Didn’t you hear me the first time?” Andy says more loudly, taking the blame for Rowen’s not-so-hushed remark. “Let me repeat it then. I said, ‘Geez, thanks, asshole. So glad we have your approval to make camp. Who appointed you lord and commander anyway?”

“I should have known it was you, Scott. This isn’t high school anymore, and you’re not as funny as you think you are,” David rebukes with a smug smirk. “In fact, your whole class clown act was pathetic even then.”

Andy clasps his heart, faking a heart attack before pretending to go to his knees on the ground. “You wound me, sir. How will I ever be able to live down the shame?”

I don’t care what that other jackass says, the kid is fucking hilarious.

“I think you’re funny, Andy,” Harper interrupts, while batting her long eyelashes at him.

“You… umm… do, huh?” the kid stammers, looking like he’s two seconds away from having a real heart attack at the sight of his crush giving him googly eyes.

“I’ve always thought so. Even back in school. And I’ve always been a sucker for a man who can make me laugh at the drop of a hat,” she says and then does that thing all girls do to drive us red-blooded men crazy—nibbles on her bottom lip suggestively.

“Then how about you come with me to fetch some dry firewood, and I can tell you a few more jokes?”

“I’m game.” She giggles.

But before Andy gets a chance to run off with the woman of his dreams, I grab hold of his arm.

“Don’t go off too far. Stay where we can see you. There are bears, wolves, and all sorts of other creatures that would love nothing more than to snack on puppy bones. You feel me?”

“Ah, you’re worried about me. I’m touched,” he teases, his brown eyes sparkling. “I knew I’d grow on you,” he adds before skipping over to Harper with a broad smile on his face.

Fuck. I think the kid is right.

When the fuck did that happen?

Not wanting to think about that too much, I go and find a quiet place to pitch my tent. I doubt I’ll get much sleep tonight since someone should stay up and keep a watchful eye out, but I need a place to at least change, even if only my socks for a pair of dry ones to prevent blisters from showing up. I’m about to do just that when I see Abigail is having difficulty setting hers up.

It’s not your problem.

It is not your problem.

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