Eden

by C J Singh

  The rest of the night I lay awake tossing and turning as I wondered what Old Bob had been doing. Hunting? No, that would be stupid.

  When the pink of the sunrise peeked through the trees, I couldn’t contain my curiosity anymore. With the cabin still quiet, Ash and I crept outside, past Tristan still sleeping in the chair. Once outside, we jogged down the small hill toward the boathouse. As the cool air tickled my lungs, I slowed my pace so I didn’t slip on the dew-covered grass. My mind raced with the possibilities of what could be in the boathouse.

  When I reached the wooden door, I moved the bolt slowly and cracked it to peek inside. Taking a minute for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, I breathed in the smell of fresh-cut wood with a hint of sweat and blood that permeated the air. On the far back wall, in front of a pile of cut wood, lay a bruised, dirty, blood-covered body. Long, dark hair covered half of his face, but I still recognized it. He was the boy from the clearing, Jace. His hands were tied behind his back and his ankles tied together in front of him. He was sleeping or passed out, I’m not sure, but his stomach was moving with steady breaths, so he was alive. The sun streamed through the crack of the door, and I quickly shut it and slid the bolt over. I needed to get back inside before the others woke. My heart hurt as I worked my way up the small hill to the cabin.

  Chapter 2

  Eden

  Sitting quietly curled up on the cushy couch, I clutched my tea. Ash was snuggled at my feet, sleeping soundly. My mind raced with every possible reason why Old Bob would have dragged Jace to our boathouse.

  Tristan walked into the room, stretching. “I must have been more tired than I thought.” No one replied as he sat down next to me, disappointment written on his furrowed brow. His bulky arm rubbed mine as he scooted over to leave room for Tate.

  “Me too.” Tate rubbed his tired blue eyes, squishing in next to him. I scooted over to give them both more room. This couch was not meant for three adults and a wolf. Poor Ash jumped off and trotted to his favorite blanket, so I didn’t get squished into the arm of the couch.

  While the boys discussed their confusion, I stared ahead, not moving other than to bring the tea to my lips. I watched Old Bob drink his tea slowly as he read a book. Not a worry showed on his face, no sign of his doings from the night before anywhere on him.

  “You OK?” Tristan asked, pushing a hand through his golden curls. Tate stood and walked over to the table.

  I gave a sad smile, not taking my eyes off Old Bob. “Yeah. Of course.”

  Sucking in his breath, he hesitated for a moment, then with one finger he gently tilted my head toward him. “Eden. You know better than to try and lie. I can read you like a book.”

  I gazed into Tristan’s kind emerald eyes and gulped. Momentarily lost, forgetting about the events from last night, I thought of how pretty they were. My one blue eye never could compare.

  “Eden,” Tristan said, snapping me from my reverie. I glanced over at the table where Old Bob sat with his tea. Tristan noticed my gaze. He furrowed his brow and leaned a little closer, making our conversation more private. “I need you to tell me what’s wrong. I’m getting concerned.”

  I stared down at my tea and whispered, “Last night, I heard something.”

  “What did you hear?”

  I looked up into Tristan’s handsome face. His eyes were fixed on mine and my cheeks warmed. I ducked down at the intensity of his gaze. He was basically my brother, but these looks had become more frequent the past year, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about them.

  “I don’t know, but when I got up to find out what it was, I found you and Tate, out cold. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn’t wake up. Then I saw Old Bob...” I paused and glanced at Old Bob who was now eating some fruit and nuts. “He put something in the boathouse.”

  “Did you see what?”

  I nodded. “I went out after he came inside. I am warning you. You aren’t going to like it.”

  “Eden, I am already pissed that somehow he may have drugged me and Tate. Whatever you have to say isn’t going to make too much difference.”

  I let out a breath. “It was Jace. One of the guys we saw yesterday. The one that got beat on.”

  “You mean he is in the boathouse right now?”

  “Tied up, but yeah. He was unconscious when I saw him.”

  “Stay right here.” Tristan stood, but I grabbed his hand to stop him from doing anything rash. He clenched his jaw and fists. Ash woke up and gave his hand a lick for comfort.

  “No, wait. Please, Tristan, don’t make a big deal about this. We don’t know everything.”

  He looked down at me, squeezing my hand. “Eden, he lied to us. He said to leave them, but he obviously didn’t. What is he planning on doing with this guy?”

  I didn’t respond. I had no idea; I don’t think I wanted to know what his plans were.

  “See? I have to confront him.” He pulled his hand from my grip and walked toward Old Bob.

  At least he wasn’t explosive about the situation. I give him props for that. He quietly sat in the chair between Old Bob and Tate, staying silent for a few moments before he addressed Old Bob.

  “Were you planning on telling us that you have a hostage in the boathouse?”

  Old Bob stopped mid-sip of tea, then slowly set it down. He eyed Tristan before he glanced back at me, and I dropped my eyes.

  “Wait. What?” Tate scratched his dirty blond hair, still groggy.

  Old Bob sat back in his chair, eyes locked with Tristan’s. “So, what if I do? There could be many reasons, but I am getting the feeling you are accusing me of something. Are you?”

  My stomach lurched. I hadn’t thought about how this conversation might go, but this definitely wasn’t the way I imagined. This never happened; we didn’t fight. Flashes from the night before streamed through me, the card game, blueberries, and laughter. That was us, not this.

  “I just want you to tell us the truth.”

  Old Bob cleared his throat. “No. I wasn’t planning on telling you.”

  “So, there is a hostage in the boathouse?” Tate asked.

  “Yeah. Old Bob here managed to drug us so we would sleep last night. Then he proceeded to capture one of the three men we told him about.”

  Tate leaned forward. “Why would you do that?”

  Old Bob picked up a blueberry. “To protect all of you.” He popped the blueberry in his mouth.

  “Protect us? From what?” Tristan snapped.

  “Look. I have raised you all since you were very young. I think of you as my own children. When something happens that may threaten my family, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.”

  My heart squeezed at his words. I understood his feelings. I feel the same way; I just didn’t understand why he would lie to us. If we are family, we should be working together.

  “I understand that, but why tell us yesterday not to worry about it, then go out and capture one?” Tate asked.

  Old Bob rubbed a hand over his tired face. “I didn’t want to worry you, and I didn’t want to put you all in danger, so I decided I would deal with it myself. I underestimated them and was only able to capture one safely. I thought I would track the other two today and take care of them.”

  Everyone was silent, letting the words register. Standing, I walked toward the table with Ash following closely at my ankles. “So, why do you foresee them as a threat?”

  Old Bob turned to look at me. He didn’t look as angry as I expected, which I was grateful for. “They are from the city. Anything from the city I see as a threat.”

  I sat down next to my brother. Ash walked out to the porch, curling up on the fuzzy rug in the sun. He loved that rug. “What is so threatening about the city? We haven’t had any issues before.”

  Ellie leaned on the kitchen doorway. “They fear us. When people are scared, they do irration
al things.”

  “Ahhh, right. The virus,” I mocked.

  “Right.” She chuckled. “So, we don’t know what they may try and do.”

  “So my strategy is to take them out before they can hurt us.” Old Bob lifted his mug back to his lips and took a long sip, scanning all our faces before putting his mug back on the table.

  “What did you mean that you will take them out?” Tristan asked.

  “What do you think I mean?” Old Bob shook his head expectantly at Tristan.

  I leaned forward. “Wait. You mean you want to kill them?”

  “Yes, but before you scold me, listen. The virus will most likely kill them if it hasn’t already, now that they are in the woods. So, if we take care of them first, it will be doing them a favor. Trust me. The one in the boathouse—”

  “Jace,” I snapped. “He has a name.”

  Old Bob’s eyes widened. “Jace,” he said carefully. “Yes, well we have limited time with him. He may not last more than a few days.”

  “Is he already sick?”

  “No, but when he does show symptoms, it won’t take long. Two, maybe three days, and trust me, I remember what it was like to be sick with the virus. Killing him would be a mercy.”

  My stomach tightened, and I pushed my tea away. If I drank one more sip, it would just come back up. “These are humans. People’s sons! How can we so easily plan on killing them?” Tate squeezed my shoulder in reassurance, but I shrugged his hand away.

  “You all know we love you so much. We would do nothing to hurt you or put you in danger, but we would do anything to protect you,” Ellie said.

  “Just remember, everything we do is for your safety. But from now on, I will tell you everything needed, even if it is against my better judgment. Deal?” Old Bob held out his hand to shake with us.

  While I watched uneasily to see what Tate and Tristan did, Jace’s words from the day before came to me. Kids in cages, needles in arms. If we just kill him, then we will never know what’s happening in the city. Tate reached out and shook Old Bob’s hand; Tristan followed. When Old Bob reached his hand out toward me, I stared at it, worn and cracked from hard work. I couldn’t shake it.

  I stood. “I’m sorry. I can’t make that deal.”

  “Eden,” Old Bob said quietly.

  “Don’t get me wrong. You’re the only dad I’ve known, and I love you, but you can’t just keep information from us like that. We aren’t kids anymore. I just... need time.”

  Old Bob started to respond, but Ellie’s hand on his arm stopped him. She smiled. “We understand. Please just know that we do love you, Eden. We will always do what we feel is right to protect you.”

  “Yeah, sure.” I took my cup to the kitchen and set it in the sink. I could still feel the tea sloshing in my empty stomach, but I knew eating anything would only make it worse.

  Old Bob leaned closer to the boys speaking quietly, “Can I talk to you both outside a moment?” They stood, brushing past me as they left the cabin, all trying not to meet my gaze. Clenching my jaw, I took a step forward, watching them meet in the yard, the breeze blowing their hair about.

  “Come.” Ellie touched my elbow leading me back to the table.

  She put a plate of fruit and nuts in front of me chatting about the plans for the day, but my mind buzzed with what Old Bob could be saying so that I didn’t hear anything she said. I moved the berries around the plate, but not one made it to my mouth. I pushed my plate away. A heavy stream of footsteps on the porch brought my eyes up as all three men walked back inside.

  “We better leave within the hour. I don’t want them to get much of a head start.” Old Bob leaned on the kitchen counter. “Eden.” I looked at him. “I need you to stay behind with Ellie. I don’t want to leave her alone with the man... um Jace.”

  “What was that?” I motioned to the door.

  “Just planning.” He pushed off the counter and strode into his room.

  I started to say something but stopped when Tate gave me a small head shake. I didn’t want to stay, but if I wasn’t wanted, then I didn’t want to go, especially if they were going to murder two people. My eyes stung as tears of betrayal filled them, but I squeezed them back. “All right. But for the record, Ellie doesn’t need my protection. Don’t insult her with your attempts.”

  Old Bob chuckled. “I agree.”

  I grabbed some first aid supplies from the cupboard. “Speaking of our hostage, I’m going to clean his wounds and offer him food.”

  “No, you’re not,” Tate snapped.

  Grabbing my uneaten plate of food, I turned and glared at him. “If I am strong enough to stay behind to help protect Ellie, then I am strong enough to handle myself while I clean a beaten and tied up man. I don’t think he can do much.”

  “It’s all right,” Old Bob said. “Go on, Eden. If we don’t see you before we leave, then we will tonight or tomorrow for sure.”

  Leaving the cabin, I let the rickety wood porch door slam behind me and stomped toward the boathouse with Ash following closely at my heels.

  Chapter 3

  Eden

  I closed the wood-paneled door behind me and looked at Jace. He was so bruised and cut, I sputtered at the thought that I needed protection from him. I cracked the door to let in some fresh air as the musty, sweat-filled room made me gag. Ash stood at guard next to me, and I smiled down at him. He was the only protection I would ever accept.

  Jace’s eyes fluttered open and he scooted back to the wall of piled logs. His hands and feet were still tied, and he didn’t look comfortable.

  “Who are you?” he rasped.

  He looked thirsty, his lips were chapped, and I heard his belly grumble when his eyes flicked to the plate in my hand. Without responding, I stepped forward, but he jerked back, making Ash give a quiet growl.

  “Don’t come near me. Don’t think about touching me.” His eyes darted between my large furry companion and me.

  I stopped, surprised. “What?”

  “You do speak then. I said, ‘Don’t come near me.’”

  I studied him. His thick, black hair was matted with blood and dirt as it framed his strong jaw. His eye that wasn’t swollen shut was bright blue, which had a striking contrast from his dark hair. He didn’t seem much older than me, nineteen maybe. I am not sure how someone got the better of him since he looked like he could handle himself with that muscular built body.

  “Why don’t you want me to come near you exactly?” I crouched and slid the plate of food toward him. A peace offering. He just stared at it, but he licked his lips at the sight of the berries.

  “Because I don’t want to get infected, duh.”

  “Infected?”

  He furrowed his brows. “Yeah. Infected with the Fever.”

  “Fever? I don’t have the Fever. If I did, I wouldn’t be here, right? All I want to do is clean you up.”

  “You mean you don’t have the Fever... the Ferine Fever? The virus?” He pronounced the name like I didn’t know what it was and shook his head with confusion.

  I put down the bag and held up my hands, turning in a circle. “Do I look like I have the Fever or the virus?”

  He scanned me from top to bottom. “Well, no.” He paused a moment calculating his next question. Trying to lean away from me again, he licked his chapped lips. “How is it you live here? I was told no one lived outside the walls.”

  “Seriously? How hard did your head get hit?”

  “No, really.” He turned his neck, and I heard it crack. “I mean, you have a home here. I can smell firewood burning. How many are there with you?”

  Scanning his eyes, I thought of Old Bob’s words about not trusting anyone from the city. “None of your business. Where does it hurt?” I started shuffling through my supplies.

  “The crazy guy who tried to kill us all can throw
a punch, that’s for sure. Is he your dad?”

  “Sort of.” The fear from before must have passed since he didn’t protest when I kneeled next to him. Before he could ask another question, I said, “If you are so chatty, then answer this. Why did you leave the city?”

  The skin around his eyes tightened, and he set his mouth in a line. “It wasn’t my choice.”

  I sat, quiet for a moment, watching him look everywhere but at me; his heart beat rapidly in my ears. “So, you were... banished?” I used the word that he said the day before.

  His wide eyes shot to mine. “Something like that.” I started to dab a cool cloth on his face. “So, your family is letting you in here alone, with me? A strange guy? What if I hurt you?”

  “Hurt me?” I laughed. “They’re probably more worried about you than me. I am fully capable of taking care of myself.”

  He smiled. “I’m sure you are.” He flinched away when the cloth touched his arm. “Ow... Careful.”

  I smirk. “Plus, I have a wolf.”

  He glanced at Ash, leaning away slightly. “That you do.”

  Grabbing a bottle of water and a cloth from the bag, I said, “Put your head back.” I wet the cloth more and blotted his cut eyebrow and lip. His one eye was so puffy and dark I couldn’t do anything with it.

  I felt his eyes on mine, and he cleared his throat. “So... how long have you lived out here?”

  I put salve on his cuts. “My whole life.”

  He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “You’re telling me that you have lived out here for what, sixteen years?”

  “Sixteen? You think I’m sixteen? I’m eighteen!” I stood and his laugh filled the small room, but he stopped and coughed.

  “OK, eighteen. But, you’re alive. How have you not gotten sick and died?”

  I paused at his words. I was only a baby when we escaped the city, a group of fifty. Tate, Tristan, Old Bob, Ellie, and I were all that had survived.