AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Describe what’s around,” he says. “Like, if you walk out the front door, what do you see?”
“Erm, a gravel road. We’re close to the main road into town. There are lots of trees, mostly pines and oaks.” My voice shakes.None of that is going to help.There are gravel roads and trees everywhere.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he says. “We’ll figure it out.” He reaches out but jerks back before touching me. “What else do you remember? Concentrate. What about your house?”
I blink away tears. “Wraparound porch, red door.Oh,it’s near where Pops works.”
“Okay, well, where does Pops work?”
“Erm, the ranger station?”
“Oh, I know where that is,” Nathaniel says, a pleased smile spreading across his face. “Follow me.”
We head out, but he doesn’t stay on the trail. Instead, he’s walking ahead, snapping branches. I could fool myself into thinking he actually lives in the woods. I can’t help but be a little nervous still, and he seems to notice. He starts asking me questions, and soon we’re talking about our families. I tell him about Nana and Pops, while he talks about his older brother Gabe.
“So how come I’ve never seen you around here before?” he asks, kicking a rock off the path. He’s got both hands in the pockets of his pants.I’m digging the Flynn Rider vibe he has going, his shaggy brown hair falling as he stares at the ground instead of me.
“Normally, I stay in town with Nana, but her sister is sick, so she went to care for her. She lives in a care home a few hours’ drive away. I wanted to go, but Nana said it’s no place for children.”
“Oh, that’s nice of her,” Nathaniel says, sounding surprised.
“Yeah, she’s the nicest person I know,” I gush. “But now I’m stuck with my smelly, gross, and boring cousins all week.”
He doesn’t respond, and we fall into a comfortable silence. I’ve never been so instantly at ease with a person before.
An old, run down cabin comes into view. It’s the one with the vines and thorns climbing the walls I saw earlier. “We’re almost there,” I say.
He nods. “Told ya.”
“Thank you so much,” I say, reaching out and squeezing his arm. “I thought I was going to have to live in the woods forever,” I joke.
He lets out a small chuckle before it morphs into a smile.
“You're funny.” He says more to himself than to me.
We walk a bit further, so I can show him where Pop’s cabin is, and we chat on the porch for a while, playing games likeI spyuntil Nathaniel’s name erupts from down the road.
A red faced, scowling boy comes running toward us, pounding the gravel, and I can’t help but shudder.
“Nathaniel! What are you doing? I’ve been.. looking… all over.” He pulls to a stop, panting, a little less scary now that I see how tired he is. “Man, are you lucky it’s me and not Dad who came looking for ya.”
The boy, who I assume is Gabe, sounds equal parts frustrated and scared. When I glance at Nathaniel, I see his eyes rounding a bit. Before I can introduce myself to Gabe, Nathaniel bolts, leaping over the oak railing and grabbing his brother’s arm.
They argue in hushed tones, but both look angry. Gabe has his fists balled at his sides. I step down and make my way over to them, but they are so focused on their heated discussion, neither notices me. Gabe is only a few years older than us, but he just oozes an air of authority.
“And who the fuck is she?”
I want to speak, but Nate pushes me behind him. “Leave her out of it, please.” I can see Nathaniel's eyes fixated on his brother and silently pleading with him.
I peer out from behind the safety of Nathaniel’s back, instantly regretting my stubbornness as I stand like a deer in headlights as Gabe impales me with his angry eyes. If Disney movies taught me anything, it’s that those deep green eyes mean danger, especially when they pierce your soul like they mean to set you alight.
The hair on my arms and neck bristles. “Who is she?” Gabe repeats.
“I-I’m,” I say, attempting to answer despite the massive lump in my throat.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Gabe snaps.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Nathaniel erupts, shoving Gabe. “She’s nice! It’s not her fault I’m late. We were just playing. She’s my… my friend.”
