The Wind And Rain

...Deion...

...****************...

Now that I’m looking at the room it is very moose themed. The walls have moose art and shelves of sculptures. There’s a picture frame of a man holding a moose head by the antlers and an antler mount right above the picture belonging to the moose. I saw the same guy in pictures lining the hallway and going up the stairs. I should ask Nick… no I should ask Layla. Nick and Rox are obviously hiding something and I’m not one to poke a bear. That and I like talking to Layla, she’s honest and easy to read.

Even though I should really tour the room I’m too happy to see a bed. It’s the first bed I’ve seen in 6 months and it’ll probably be the last bed I see for another month. I plop onto the bed with my arm stretched out. “Ahhh I miss this feeling.” I like the outdoors but I think a 6 month survival video might have been too much.

Before I know it I’m wake up to the evening light beaming through the window. I roll onto my back and look at my watch. “It’s 4:59 in the evening.” Now that I’m looking at the ceiling I see a skylight window directly over the bed. I think I picked a good room. I hop out of bed and stretch my sore muscles before making my way downstairs.

“Good evening sleeping beauty.” Rox says from the couch. “Did you enjoy your beauty rest?”

“I did, the beds are really comfy.” I scan the room for Nick and Layla. “Where’s everyone else?” I’m pretty sure she went for berries more than 5 hours ago.

“Oh, Nick and I begged Layla to not feed us fish anymore so she’s gone out to hunt, Nicks joining her for learning reasons.” Her smile is so genuine, it’s almost hard to believe she was just complaining about Layla.

“So how long have you guys been here?” Nick told me 2 months but I just want the she how she replies.

The smile she’s been maintaining fades and she crafts it in a sorrowful look, a pouty frown and sad blue eyes. “We’ve been here for two months now, waiting for our pilot to answer.”

“Your pilot?” The person on the other end of the radio should be one of the emergency team members not the pilot specifically.

“Yeah Nick is a flight paramedic, I’m a nurse. We were dropped off here in case of emergencies.” Her voice sounds panicked as she avoids my question.

“So they left first responders in a cabin for experienced hikers with no experience?” Now that really isn’t making sense, wouldn’t the pilot and chopper need to stay too ‘In case of emergency’.

From all my hiking experience they’ve never left flight personnel in the middle of nowhere. Usually the keepers of the cabin are first aid trained but not actually learned in the field.

“Well…” she draws out, “me and Nick are supposed to be temporary.” She leans forward and crosses her arms. “The person stationed wanted to visit family and a position opened up.” She smiles, “We were wanting to experience cabin life so we excepted the position” She’s lying, I know now.

I don’t know what they’re really doing out here. There’s only one Flight team at port, they wouldn’t just leave their doctor and nurse in the middle of the forest. Plus there are much better options for a little cabin life, this area is for people who are looking to get away from something. It’s not exactly popular to be this far into the woods there are much better options on the outskirts of the forest.

I smile back. “Well that makes sense, this is such a lovely cabin. I myself came out here for the scenery.” I came out here for danger and adventure, not a pleasant experience. “Have you guys figured out when we’ll start heading to port?”

“No.” She looks away. “We’re not ready yet, Layla said we don’t know what we’re doing.” She grits her teeth. “We’re so worried, we’ll get hurt out there. We think we should stay.” The nervousness in her voice makes me want to believe her, but I know better, she’s not nervous she’s avoiding going back and wants us to stay too because they don’t know how to survive. No wonder Layla’s hiding a map.

“You guys are right, there’s no point wondering into the unknown.” I chuckle lightly. “When do you think they’ll get back, I’m getting hungry.” I need to leave as soon as possible.

“They should be back soon, they’ve been out for two hours now.” She gets up and head to the door, “I’ll go check on them.” She shuts the door behind her.

They don’t send search parties for hikers unless it’s reported. My my mom won’t report me missing for three months. I can’t be stuck here with these people until then.

I pick the cleanest of my clothes in my bag and head to the shower room. It’s been a while since I’ve actually cleaned myself. The shower room is between the trophy room and the staircase. There’s one shower a sink a toilet and a cabinet full of towels. Inside the shower there’s already a Shampoo bodywash combo. I turn the water on hot, I need to wash 6 months of adventure off, a stream just doesn’t clean like a shower does.

When I exit the shower room I’m greeted by Nick covered in blood.

“Excuse me.” He runs past me into the shower room shutting the door behind him.

...Layla...

...****************...

After I did all the tracking and shooting he thought I’d carry the damn thing back too? That’s ridiculous! I spot Roxy on my way back to the cabin.

“Where’s Nick?” She asks

“I left him in the woods covered in blood.”

“There are wolves and bears in these woods!” She yells.

“You better go get him then.” I side step as she runs into the forest. Knowing she’ll be in the woods for 10 minutes tops I sprint back to the cabin. After the door closes I run upstairs and go into their room. There’s no medical equipment or books just food in piles. I go to the closet where the old man kept his guns, more food. I grab the Winchester Rifle and Colt Pistol from the hidden cupboard and both boxes of bullets, I notice a box with my name on it and take that too. I hear the door downstairs slam open, too soon. I close the closet door and run to my room with the gun and ammo. I hear Rox stomping up the stairs.

“Layla!” She’s pissed.

I shove the loot under my bed and pull out my pistol and aim at the door.

“Layla, what in the world is wrong with you!” The door slams open. “How could you just leave Nick in the middle-“ Her eyes widen finally noticing the gun. “Layla what are you doing.”

“First of all, watch your tone.” I pull back the safety. “Second, back out of my room.“

“Oh-okay, you can put the gun down Layla.” Terrified she back steps into the hallway.

“I’m tired so I suggest you clean the deer yourself.” I nod towards the stairs. “Go.” She turn and runs down the stairs. I must be crazy because if she so much as stepped towards me I was ready to shoot her.

Now that I have everything packed and ready to go I open the box with my name on it,

Dear Layla, it’s been two weeks since we last spoke.

That was around the time Nick and Roxy would have shown up.

I know you will be back soon but things aren’t looking good right now so I’m going to write this letter before I call in the helicopter. Apparently a lab blew up in the state of Geortion, people have been going crazy ever since. I’m going to go to port for a few weeks to see what’s going on, I should be back before you. If I’m not you should know what’s going on. Apparently they’ve been quarantining states one after another. The sickness going around is contagious, through contact, not skin to skin, but through contact through the wounds they infect. I know you’ll need the gun if worse comes to worse and you have to travel by trails to port. Good luck youngin, I hope you don’t need this letter

Sincerely yours, Old man

Ps. I left you a gift in the box it might help when crossing.

So he really did leave… they’ve known there’s something happening on mainland no wonder they keep stopping me from leaving. I lift the letter from that box to uncover bear spray. I set the box and letter aside and put the spray in my bag.

I hear someone walk up stairs and then to the room beside me. I get up and peek my head out. “Deion.”

I think I startled him he looks a little taken aback. “Come in here.” He walks towards me and I open the door for him.

“What’s up Layla?” He smells good, he must’ve taken a shower.

“Did you know?”

He looks at me confused “Know what?” Then he looks like he came to a realization. “Is it because Rox and Nick aren’t who they said they are?” He says like it’s some huge secret.

I can’t help but smile. “No not that. I don’t really care who they are. I’m talking about what’s happening on mainland.” He looks even more confused. “How long have you been out here?”

“Six months, how long have you been out here?” The way Deion talks makes me want too tell him everything.

“One year.”

His dark grey eyes was widen in surprise. “One year? One year straight? Do you have another cabin out here?” He looks too surprised.

“I told you earlier today I’ve been coming here for a year.”

“I thought you meant four or five weeks throughout the year, not a whole year in the forest.”

“Why would I wait my time going back and forth when I could just stay.”

“Well, besides that what happening on mainland?” He tilts his head to look at my pack full and ready to go. “Are you fixing to leave?”

I nod, then grab the note sitting on the bed. “The old man left this for me. It appears a lab in my home state blew up I, have to see if my dads okay.”

“Okay, when are you going?” He scratches at his head like it’s covered in ants.

“As soon as Roxy and Nick pass out.” Maybe I should go now I did just burn those bridges. “Actually I think I I’ll go right now.”

“Why now?”

“I got tired of taking care of picky children.” I shrug. “I have a low tolerance for fake niceties.”

He laughs a deep laugh. “Are you the reason Nicks covered in blood!?” Still laughing Deion clutches his stomach.

Bewildered I answer. “They asked for the deer, I tracked it shot it tracked it and shot it again. And he still expects me to do the rest.” I throw my hands up. “I like fish, the only reason I make them fish too is to be nice! I’m no their mother!” I cross my arms. “You’d think they’d at least at thank me but no!” Finally done I’m left huffing.

At this point Deion is crying. “I’m glad- you didn’t take it laying down.” He breathes his laughter out. “Hoo, sorry I thought he’d killed you or something he seemed so solemn.”

“I just made him gut a deer and carry it back… I did point a gun at Roxy though. So I really should leave right now.”

Hes done laughing. “Why’d you have to do that?”

“She busted into my room angry, I’m pretty territorial.” I say matter of factly. It’s not the fist time I’d threatened her. When I first came back I threw a knife at the door when she barged in. I didn’t even think it just landed by her head.

“If you’re leaving right now I’m guessing you have everything you need.”

I nod

He smiles “I was going to leave too, give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready.”

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