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Isaac hissed in pain, and I turned back toward him. “Heal yourself,” I barked at him, even though I wanted to throw up as I took in the gory wounds that marred his flesh. I crouched down, grabbing a fistful of snow to put on his injuries. “Are you all right?”
"Better than those damn wolves," he grunted, trying to smile through the pain.
The boy I had met on audition day fluttered to life before me, and I smirked.
"Of course," I murmured, my heart racing from the adrenaline surge.
"Damn it," he muttered as the last few wounds healed across his skin. He would be weaker now. I could probably keep pace with him.
The forest seemed to sigh around us, leaves shivering on their branches in the soft breeze as if whispering secrets about the path ahead. Isaac's chest heaved against my back, his breaths ragged and uneven from an hour of relentless running. I could feel the tension in every muscle of his body, so I stepped away.
The world was clearly with some space between our bodies.
We stayed like that for the rest of the day. Distant, and on the lookout for wolves. Unfortunately, the winter made our days short and quiet. Night fell too quickly, and we worked to prepare our weather-proof equipment for the night.
I found myself unable to breathe as memories flooded my quiet mind. I couldn’t hide, couldn’t get retreat into myself like I had growing up. I had to be strong.
But it was cold, and the snow had blanketed Cinturón del Fuego's forest in a white cloak. The frozen air nipped at my face as Isaac and I stumbled through the darkness, our breaths forming small clouds that hung above us like silent witnesses to our exhaustion.
My pack hit the ground with a loud thump, and I walked to a tree to lean on it for support. Isaac set up his tent without problem, then turned to my pack and took out my sleeping bag.
He didn’t ask my permission. I didn’t want him to help me, and I sure as hell didn’t want him to put my sleeping roll next to his.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my teeth chattering. My fingers fumbled with the clasps of my backpack, struggling to free the small one-person tent I'd packed with my gloved hands. My special clothing kept every part of me except my face adequately warm, but shock meant I was still shaking.
He reached out and stopped me. “We need to share body heat. It’s too cold.”
I shook my head, seeing Antonio’s piercing, light brown eyes haunt me. Something was awakening deep within me, something I couldn't quite name. I didn’t want Isaac to ruin it.
“The tent is already set up. I promise we won’t touch. But you’ll be more comfortable if you just… stay near me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’ll cut your hands off if you try to touch me.”
He shook his head. “You don’t have it in you. But I still won’t touch you. Not tonight.”
I hated that he was right, but I was too tired to argue. I huffed irritatedly and crawled into the tent to smooth out the sleeping bag. It was cramped inside, but it already felt warmer. I curled inside of it, only taking off my boots and the most uncomfortable parts of my outer layers.
Isaac followed me inside soon after and, keeping his promise, put as much space between us as possible.
As sleep pulled at the edges of my consciousness, the sound of bones breaking replayed in my mind. I winced, begging my memory to release me from such awful moments.
In the velvety darkness of the tent, I listened to the soft rhythm of Isaac's breathing, my heart pounding in my chest as if trying to escape. My thoughts were a tangled mess of Antonio's warm smile and Isaac's unwavering green eyes. But as we settled in for the night, Isaac did not touch me, and I was grateful for the small space that separated us.
A sudden howl pierced the silence, the haunting cry of a wolf echoing through the forest. My blood turned to ice, and I froze with terror, memories of vicious fangs and crimson snow flooding my mind. My ankle throbbed with phantom pain where I had been bitten, and I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of those ruthless predators lurking just beyond our fragile sanctuary.
“It's okay," Isaac murmured, sensing my fear. He hesitated for a moment before placing his hand on mine, a gesture of comfort that sent warmth radiating through my fear-frozen skin. I should’ve pulled away, but I couldn’t move then.
"We're safe here. They won't find us."
"Are you sure?" I asked as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.
“Yes.”
I fell silent, the weight of Isaac's words settling over me like a blanket. My mind wandered back to that awful day when I had screamed at him, my voice raw with desperation, as he lay dying in my arms. I had begged him not to leave me alone in this life, pleading for him to hold on just a little longer.
The air grew colder, the wind outside our small shelter gaining strength and sending shivers down my spine. The exhaustion from the day's battles weighed heavily on my body, threatening to pull me into the abyss of sleep whether or not I was ready.
"Think we'll be safe in here?" I asked, my words a soft murmur amidst the storm brewing outside.
