“Let’s go, let’s go!” Olivia wailed a few minutes later, flinging open the door and bouncing out, her hair brushed and cleaned, a few strands sticking to her cheek.
“One minute, honey,” grunted Felicity in response. I sat up and watched the two of them coming out of the room. Felicity was dressed in a pair of jeans and wore a red, tattered pea coat. In her arms she carried a large black object – what it was I couldn’t tell. She walked towards me and set down the objects.
“It’s the only other one I have,” she said in an apologetic tone, shrugging. I picked it up and looked at it – a thick, black jacket with a brass zipper and mottled brown fur neck lining. It was ragged and old, torn in a few places, but it was still in good condition. “It’s going to get colder, so I figured you may want one when you start taking Olive training.”
“Thank you,” I responded, pulling the jacket over my hoodie. It was warm and thick – perfect for the cold weather. I wanted to reject the gift, give it back and tell her I didn’t need it as much as she did, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that there was no way she would be taking it back.
I hadn’t even struggled to my feet yet and Olivia had clung onto me, her face bright with excitement. I stared at her for a long moment before I crouched, forcing myself to stay steady despite the pain coursing through me. “Sit on my shoulders.”
“Why?” Olive asked, clambering up over to me and sitting on my shoulders, like I had told her to. I swung her up and she let out a cry of wonderment. “Whoa!”
“Cool, right? My dad used to give me piggy backs all the time when I was little.” I laughed, a brief wave of sadness washing over me. I missed my parents and no matter how hard I tried not to think of them, they were always in the back of my mind. I blinked back tears and turned to Felicity. “Ready?”
“Ready,” she replied with a nod, lips pulling into a smile. She walked towards the biggest door in the house – the entrance – and pulled it open. Wind blew outside, a gust forcing its way into the house and bringing with it the cold of winter. I shivered and stepped outside, ducking to allow Olive room so not to hit her head off of the top.
We didn’t make it far before my legs began to quiver, her additional weight too much of a load for me to handle. I had played with her before and piggy backed her around the cottage multiple times – but not all days were great and it was not always possible for my body up to the use of energy.
Twisting as my legs gave out behind me, I flung Olive around, pressing her against my chest. That brief moment as I fell towards the snow laden ground seemed to take a thousand years, and I caught Felicity’s wide eyed gaze as she reached towards us, attempting to catch me before we fell.
“Oof,” I gasped, landing on my back against the ground, Felicity standing over me and reaching down to pick up Olive. Pain coursed throughout my body and I clenched my hands around Olivia, heaving a heavy sigh. She was shaking. Is she crying?
“Do it again!” she giggled as Felicity swung her into her arms, and I realized that there was no fear in her eyes, only laughter and joy. She didn’t seem to realize how close she had come to getting hurt because of my foolishness.
“We have to get going,” Felicity said as I moved to sit up, shivering against the cold snow. I forced myself up, dusting snow off of my clothing and rubbing my back.
“Ow,” I grumbled. “Sorry about that, Felicity, Olive.”
“It’s alright.” Felicity shrugged, setting Olivia on the ground, still giggling. In an instant, Felicity’s expression changed and she shook her head. “I almost forgot. Arin, can you help me carry a few things?” “Sure,” I said, nodding.
“Olivia, we’ll be right back.” Felicity turned into away and disappeared into the cottage, motioning for me to follow. Glancing back at Olive, I gave her a little wink and headed into the cottage.
“So,” Felicity murmured, striding over to a small cupboard and pulling it open. Inside was a somewhat large red box. Taking it under her arm, she closed the cupboard and turned around to face me, a small smile on her face. “I forgot to show you Olive’s present.”
“She’ll show me when she opens it,” I answered with a shrug.
“No need to worry.”
Felicity gave a slow nod of acknowledgment. “True, but I want your opinion. I want to make sure she’ll want it before I give it to her.”
I blinked, listening to her words and reciprocating her nod. “Okay, what is it?” I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t want to know – I was just as excited as Olive, but for different reasons. Seeing her happy was the only thing that kept me going some morning when my legs were sore and all I wanted to do was sleep away the pain. Olive was my reason, along with my parents, for staying alive.
She removed the lid of the box as a loud noise rang outside, the sound leaving as fast as it had come. Felicity and I both glanced at each other, confused expressions matching one another’s.
“Was that a gunshot?” I asked, but no answer came. Felicity pivoted on in foot, throwing the box to the ground and sprinting towards the door. Terror coursed through my body and I ran after her, my heart pounding as if it was trying to leap out of my chest.
As I stepped outside, I saw Olive – a sight that made my heart break and my brain cease to function as it should have. She was lying on her back, hands grabbing her side, blood coating her dress. Without any other thought, I ran over to her, picking her up and cradling her in my arms. Her mother just stared, motionless as a statue.
“Olive, baby,” I whispered, brushing her hair off her face. Her eyes were clenched and her jaw set, small whimpers escaping her. There was not a thought in my mind, her whimper echoing and bouncing – the only sound I could hear aside from the blood roaring in my ears.
I sank to my knees, holding her close. Felicity had disappeared into the house and I could only hope she was searching for whatever we needed to help her daughter. I started humming, rocking Olive back and forth in my arms, sneaking a glance every few seconds at the door. It wasn’t long before Felicity appeared a gun in her hand.
“Felicity!” I cried, holding Olivia a little tighter. Her mother did not respond, however, and proceeded to dash away, out of sight to find whoever had shot her daughter. Returning my attention to the sobbing girl in my arms, I closed my eyes, continuing to walk back and forth, hoping Felicity would return soon. Sweat formed in every place it could, my nerves shot – every sound that wasn’t Olive made me almost jump out of my skin, and my stomach seemed to roll and flip every second, threatening to spew vomit everywhere at any moment.
“It hurts…” gasped Olivia and I felt her shift. I opened my eyes at her words and looked at her face, her eyes searching mine, her pain obvious in her expression.
“Show me, sweetie, where does it hurt?” I breathed, glancing at her blood covered hands. She moved her hands; tears streaming down her face, sticking lose strands of hair to her cheek. I looked at where her hands had been and the hole in her dress was obvious, the fabric around it soaked with crimson blood. Running my fingers through her hair, I bent over to give her a kiss on the forehead, holding my lips there for a few moments.
“Ouch,” she whimpered and I pulled away, staring into her terrified green gaze, her eyes flitting. For a moment, the two of us remained staring into each other eyes, and her ragged breathing came to an end, her eyes closing one final time.
“Olive?” I whispered, giving her a gentle shake. Her hands, once rested on her stomach, fell to her sides at the movement, limp and bloody. Nausea coursed through me and I swallowed hard, biting my lip to try and keep from crying.
“Come on, baby girl. It’s your birthday, remember? We’re going to try all the special treats they have and play games, but you have to stay with me, baby girl,” I croaked, my body beginning to shake.
“Come on…”
Pulling her against my torso, I hugged her tight; unable to keep the tears from flowing down my face. Ringing sounded in my ears as I began to cry, unable to contain my
screams of agony – they ripped free from me, and I no longer controlled my body as it bent over her.
“Olivia!” I cried, leaning against her and running my fingers through her hair, shaking my head. “Olivia, please…” I breathed, pressing my lips to the top of her head, my body beginning to shake with violent, uncontrollable shivers running up my spine. My heart hurt an indescribable sort of hurt that I had never experienced in my life. Not with my mother, nor with my father or Seth. It was a hurt I wished never to feel.
I couldn’t breathe. I gasped for air, sobs racking my body as I lay down against the snow, curling around Olive, rocking back and forth. My head throbbed and my chest heaved with every desperate breath I made in an attempt to breathe. I pressed my cheek against Olive’s head, closing my eyes and holding her tight, waiting for Felicity to come back, to know that she hadn’t even tried to save her.
I don’t know how long I laid there in the snow, but it felt like a lifetime had passed until Felicity returned her face stone cold and eyes just as.
“Felicity,” I breathed, unsure of what to say. I didn’t have to tell her about Olive – all she had to do was look.
“Get up,” she ordered, bending down and picking up her lifeless and limp daughter in her arms, coddling her against her chest. I did as told, forcing myself up as my body screamed against it. All I wanted to do, really, was lay in the snow, curled up around Olive, until she woke up. I knew she wouldn’t, but there was nothing wrong with hoping.
“Felicity…” I breathed, watching as she moved towards the house, laying Olive on the doorstep.
“What?” she said, her voice cold, distant. She didn’t even bother to turn and face me.
“I’m sorry.” I took a step towards her and she turned around, her eyes wide and mouth pulled into a smirk.
“You’re sorry? You’re the reason they killed her! And the others! It’s your fault!” she said, her voice high, finger pointing at me with each ‘you’ she said.
“What?” I gasped, stumbling backwards as if she had punched me in the chest.
“My daughter is dead, the people of my village slaughtered, all to find you. So don’t you dare spew your pathetic apologies to me!” Her words were venomous, her gaze full of hatred as she spoke. “And I’m going to make sure it’s not all in vain.”
“What?” I gasped, taking a step backwards. Everything in me screamed to run, but as my gaze swept over Olive’s limp body again, I stayed still, staring as tears threatened to escape me again.
“What’s so hard to understand? You’re going with the Raiders and you are going to do what I asked of you,” she spat, clenching her hands into fists.
“What you asked of me?” I stared at her, searching my brain in an attempt to remember what she had asked me to do. I couldn’t remember, however, for whenever I tried to think all I could see was Olive lying dead in my arms and Felicity, standing before me with anger slithering through every part of her body.
“Kill Lovelock,” she said, taking a step towards me. I hadn’t thought about going to Cobalt in a long time – there had been no news about the Raiders in days, and I had grown so comfortable with Felicity and Olive; but it was obvious that they had still been looking for me, otherwise they wouldn’t have found me.
“I’ll do it,” I breathed, nodding. I had no choice; if I didn’t, they would keep looking for me, keep killing, keep destroying the little peace that was left in the world.
“Good,” Felicity said, turning towards her daughter. “They are waiting for by the tents.”
“Okay,” I murmured, trying to glance at Olive, but my view was blocked by Felicity. I turned away and sighed, clenching my fists and closing my eyes. I have to do this.
“Arin,” called Felicity, walking up behind me and grabbing my hand, shoving something into my palm. Confused, I held it up, wide eyed at the sight of it.
“Olive’s necklace?” I breathed, holding the silver chain in my hand, staring at the heart shaped stone. Tears rimmed my eyes again and I blinked my vision blurring.
“She wanted you to have it.. now go.” Felicity grunted, picking
Olivia up in her arms and staring at me. “Please.”
“Goodbye,” I said as she carried Olivia into the house, closing the door behind her. I looked at the necklace again, holding onto it with a tight grip. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, before putting it in my pocket. “He’ll pay for this. I promise, Olive. I won’t let the bad man hurt anyone again.”
Chapter 13
It didn’t take long before I found the place where the tents were located – or had been located. Most of them were no longer standing, taken down for the winter, but the few that still stood were hard to see, snow piled and crushing them against the ground.
Felicity had been right, however, for when I arrived there was a small group of people standing and waiting for my arrival. One was tall and blonde who looked to have her nose always in the air, one a short and bearded man who was a little pudgy. The third person, however, was a face I couldn’t forget.
“Isaac,” I hissed, walking towards him.
“Arin,” he sighed. “Long time, no see, am I right?” He looked tired and his words didn’t seem to register in his mind; he seemed almost robotic. His voice, however, was like pouring acid on my heart. I had trusted him, a big mistake on my behalf.
“Go to hell,” I spat, balling my hands into fists, fighting back the desire to punch him square in the jaw.
“She’s a charmer,” murmured the blonde, snorting.
“And you’re a cow,” I said in retaliation, glowering at her. “So, which one of you shot the kid?” I asked, trying to keep the emotion from my voice. It was hard and I hated referring to her that way, but I had to try and make it seem like they hadn’t hurt me.
“Probably Jim, he’s a lousy shot,” responded the blonde with a shrug. “That is, unless you meant to shoot her, hm?”
“I did,” he said, glaring at her. “And I’m a better shot than you,
Kate.”
“You’re a dead man,” I whispered beneath my breath, swinging my fist. It connected hard with the man’s jaw, the bristle of his beard rubbing against my knuckles, his jaw cracking upon impact.
“Ow! What the…” Jim began, but his words were covered by his hand as he grabbed his jaw, his face reddened with pain.
“Evil,” I hissed, spitting on him, “that’s all you are.” I moved forwards, intending to kick him, but Isaac grabbed my and pulled me against him, pinning my arms to my sides and stepping on my foot.
“Play nice,” he said.
“Now, here’s the run down. We’re going to shove you in the car and you’re going to come with us up to Cobalt, got it?” the blonde, Kate, said with a wry smile.
“Got it,” I grunted, trying to free myself from Isaac’s arms.
“Good, great! The Prophet will be so pleased!” Kate said, clapping her hands together.
“I’ll get the car,” grumbled Jim, spitting blood as he shot a glare at me.
It wasn’t long before Jim returned with a beige vehicle, somewhat square and large, labeled as a Jeep Wrangler. It was somewhat beaten up and it wasn’t silent in any way, but it looked like it would be able to do its job.
“Come on, the sooner we can get home the better,” Kate said, climbing into the passenger's side of the car, right beside Jim. Isaac dragged me, refusing to let me walk, to the back seat. He closed the door behind us and looked at me, smiling.
“Let’s go, Jim,” he said, and the car began to move faster and faster with each minute.
“Hey, Jim?” Kate said as we drove through a forest past, the vehicle bouncing in a violent manner.
“Yes?” Jim kept his hands, and eyes, on the bumpy road.
“When things are back to normal, are you going to shave that horrid thing on your face?” she chuckled, leaning back to give Isaac a high five.
“It is not horrid! It’s awesome!” Jim protested, sounding quite offended.
We drove in silence for a while, aside from the occasional banter, but otherwise it was silent aside from the roar of the engine. After a while, Kate broke the silence again.
“Arin, you know it’s your fault, right?” she inquired, looking back at me from the car.
“What is?” I asked, staring out the window.
“That little girl, she’s dead because of you,” she sneered and I felt Isaac’s hand brush my leg.
“I know,” I whispered, pulling Olive’s necklace from my pocket and twirling it between my fingers. It was at that moment that I realized I had left all of my things at Felicity’s cottage – not that I had much. But I had left my bow, my mother’s bow.
“What’s wrong?” Isaac whispered, and I jumped.
“Nothing,” I lied, glowering at him.
“Look,” Isaac said, glancing at Kate and Jim. “You can trust me.
I know I messed up before, but… just trust me.”
“I’d sooner trust your silly Prophet.” I put my finger against his chest, pushing against him. He pulled away, opening his mouth a few times as if trying to think of a way to respond, but he said nothing and instead remained silent. Instead, he snatched Olive’s necklace out of my hands.
“Hey -” I cried, reaching for it.
“Here,” he said, moving towards my neck. I glared at him as he pulled the chain around my neck, latching the necklace on and pulling my hair out from underneath it. It was a little snug, but the cold silver against my neck would be a constant reminder of Olive and so I didn’t mind.
“Thanks,” I grumbled.
“Yeah.” He turned away, putting his hands in his lap and staring ahead, watching as the car bumped along the path. My gaze hovered on him for a moment, staring at the side of his face that faced me. There was a frown on his lips that was quite similar to my own. I wanted to say a thousand things, yell a thousand words and make him feel like he was no better than a bug; I wanted him to hurt more than Olive did. I wanted him to suffer.
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