No one answered for a while. The sky was now almost pitch dark as I stood, pulling my pack tight around my shoulders. “You were smart. That’s how.”
I walked away from them, feeling one pair of eyes watching me as I left.
The trees started chirping with life as the sun started spreading its rays. I stretched my legs, shaking my body awake. It was harder than I expected to switch my internal clock to a nocturnal sleeping pattern.
I heard boots on the ladder and poked my head over the ledge of the watchtower. Sarah looked up at me with dark circled eyes. I gave her a hand and pulled her up over the edge. She half tripped as she got to the top. I caught her and helped ease her down to the rough bench.
“You alright?” I asked as I looked at her closely.
“Yes,” she said with a small chuckle. “I just didn’t sleep well last night.” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment.
I looked at her closely, taking in every detail of her. Her eyes were dark. I guessed she hadn’t been sleeping well for a while now. She looked like she had lost a little weight lately as well.
“Are you feeling okay? You don’t look so good.”
She gave a laugh, her eyes opening again. They looked tired. “You could try being a little more tactful.”
“Blame it on the robot in me,” I said with a little bite in my voice. She just smiled up at me and patted the space next to her. I sat and watched as the sun continued to creep up into the sky.
“So are you?” I asked. “Feeling okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said quietly. It didn’t fully feel like the truth. “I just had a seizure this morning. Woke me up.”
I didn’t feel scared often, but this shook me. There was nothing I could do about the seizures, there was no battle I could fight, I could never be strong enough. It wouldn’t matter. “How many a day?”
“It depends. Some days it’s only one. Others it’s five or six.”
I just shook my head as I looked down into my lap.
“I’m fine.” It felt like she was saying it more to herself than to me. “So how are things going with West? Better than with Avian?”
I shook my head, my eyes falling to the boards at my feet. “Feelings are too complicated. How is anyone supposed to deal with it? They just make you crazy.”
“Crazy sounds like a good description,” she laughed.
“Sarah?” I heard the call from the ground beneath us. Avian.
She sighed. “He will hardly let me out of his sight these days.”
I didn’t blame him. He was scared too.
“Coming!” she yelled and headed down the ladder. “Hang in there, Eve. You’ll figure it out eventually.”
I looked over the edge as she went down. Avian’s eyes met mine and he gave me a sad half smile. I wasn’t sure if I managed to return it. It felt like a crack split down my chest.
I waited a few minutes before I climbed down, Tuck, the day watchman, coming to replace me. As I walked toward the kitchen area, I realized I was being followed. I turned to see the child following me.
“Can I help you?” I said awkwardly. I had never been around a child before. How did you talk to one?
He just stared at me with his big green eyes.
“Where’s your mother?” I asked as I stopped walking and turned fully toward him. He stopped suddenly, nearly tripping over himself. It only now struck me how odd it was that Victoria was actually his mother. She was so young.
“She’s working,” he said.
I nodded, still unsure how to interact with Brady. I remembered Victoria had been assigned as seamstress. In fact, I should go to see her soon. I was in dire need of some new clothing.
“Does she know you’re wandering around?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“Maybe you should go back to her.” I was squirming by now, itching to get away from a situation I didn’t know how to handle.
“Can you teach me how to use this?” I hadn’t realized he was holding anything until he held up the slingshot. “He told me you could teach me.” I looked as he pointed, my eyes catching with West’s. He gave me an almost smug smile. I just shook my head at him and turned back to Brady.
“You think you’re big enough to handle that thing?”
He gave a very enthusiastic nod.
“Come on,” I said as I glanced back at West, giving him the smug smile this time. “I’ll give you a few pointers.”
I thought the smile was going to crack Brady’s face as we walked away from the growing crowd.
We walked down to the lake’s edge and stopped at a spot with round stones large enough to use.
“Here,” I said as I picked up a medium sized one and handed it to him. “Show me what you’ve got.”
Brady pursed his lips together and placed the stone in the sling. He closed one eye and pulled it back. Just before he released it, he squeezed his eyes closed. It flew about five feet before it splashed in the water.
“Hmm,” I said as I looked everything over. “Try this and keep your eyes open this time.”
I adjusted his hands, showing how to properly hold the sling. I showed him how to aim it, told him all the tricks I could think of for better accuracy. He was making every target I gave him within an hour.
“How old are you Brady?” I asked as I watched him hit a tree fifteen feet away.
“Four and a half,” he answered as he bent and picked up another stone.
“Brady!” Victoria’s frantic voice floated over the tents at our backs. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”
She rushed over and grabbed onto one of his arms. “I’m sorry if he’s been bothering you, Eve. I thought he was with Leah. I’ve been working all morning.”
“No, he’s been fine. I’ve just been teaching him how to use the slingshot. He’s pretty good actually,” I said with a smile. That brought the smile back to Brady’s face.
“Well, thank you,” she said as she looked down at him.
“Actually, do you have some time? I could really use a few new shirts. Mine are getting a little worn.”
“Ya, sure,” she said with a grin and a nod. “Come on. I’ll measure you right now.”
I returned her smile and followed her.
Why did my face feel so hollow lately?
SIXTEEN
Sleep came all too easily when I finally managed to get into bed. When I woke up that evening though, I felt ready to explode.
“What do you mean they went without me?!” I demanded of Gabriel. “Bill and Graye don’t go on raids without me!”
“They left just before mid-day. We weren’t sure where you were. Supplies are low. They had to go.” Gabriel wouldn’t meet my eyes as he spoke to me.
“You’re lying to me,” I said as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Of course you knew where to find me. I was the same place I always am this time of day. How could you let them go on a raid without me?!”
“Calm down, Eve,” Gabriel said in a low voice. He glanced around to make sure no one was listening to our argument. Or rather, my explosion.
“Clam down?! They could get killed out there without me! Worse, infected! How could you let them go without me?”
Gabriel gave a sigh, again looking around. “Avian asked that they go without you.”
“What?!” I bellowed. “Avian… and you listened to him? You know I’m the best one for the job!”
“Of course, Eve. But, he…” Gabriel struggled for words.
“I’m going now. It’s only been six hours, I can still catch up with them.”
“Eve, we need you here. The three of you are our best scouts and guards. It’s best you stay here.”
I wanted to hit Gabriel. I was furious. I wanted to punch Avian so hard it made his head spin. How could he do this to me? “Is Graye even healed yet?”