Fender stepped inside in his typical attire, and his expression was as hard as ice frozen solid. His jawline was covered in thick facial hair like he’d stopped shaving the last time he saw me. It gave him a wilder look, like he was part grizzly. The clothes didn’t come off, he didn’t take a seat, and he seemed to have no intention of staying. “I’m leaving.”
“But it’s dark outside—”
“Change your mind.” With an unblinking gaze, he stared me down like an enemy rather than a lover.
My heart was split in two because of my conflict. Raven was about to run for it, and let’s be real, I wouldn’t be able to help her odds. If she died, I’d die too. I may as well take Fender’s offer. He promised me a beautiful life, but that wasn’t the only reason I wanted to go.
He was the reason I wanted to go.
All I did was give a subtle shake of my head.
His eyes hardened deeper than they ever had.
Even though we’d probably die out there, I’d rather die with her than leave her behind. “How long will you—”
He left. The door locked, and his footsteps faded.
I closed my eyes and hated myself for wishing I could go with him. I hated myself for missing him. I hated myself for the fact that there was even a choice, two things I wanted at the same time.
I looked at the fire and took a breath, unsure what would happen in the next few days or weeks. Whether I’d be alive. Whether I’d be dead. Whether I’d be free—
A knock sounded on the door.
No one ever knocked.
My neck actually ached because I turned my head so quickly. “Raven?”
“Shh.” Raven’s hushed voice was on the other side.
Oh. My. God.
I rushed to the door.
“Come on, don’t be a bastard right now…” She used some kind of tool to pick at the lock. A click sounded, and the lock came free. “Oh, thank god.” She opened it and looked at me, a bow slung over her back with a pack, two flashlights in her hands, her hair pulled back. She was ready to take on the wilds, to leave this camp and run to her freedom…or death.
“Oh my fucking god.” I couldn’t believe my sister had managed to accomplish all this, and while I was terrified in that moment, I was also proud. I was proud that she never gave up. Ever.
Raven kept her voice low even though she was inside the cabin with the door closed. “We’ve got to go. Got to get a head start before the storm hits.”
“I…” I looked around my cabin, feeling the hesitation like chains on my ankles. If I stayed there, I would be warm and comfortable. Fender would come back and take me with him. I wouldn’t be out there in the snow with nearly no chance to survive. And if we got caught, Raven would be killed, and I… I wasn’t sure what would happen to me. There were a million reasons to stay put. But my love for my sister was a stronger reason than all those other ones.
“I’m not sure if this will make you feel better or not, but I’m scared too.” She didn’t look scared, not when she was decked out for the wilderness, not when she broke in to my cabin just minutes after Fender left.
My eyes shifted back and forth as I looked into hers.
She pulled the flashlight out of her pocket and placed it in mine, along with a bottle of water and a plastic bag of nuts. “We can do this.”
“Did you get a horse?”
She shook her head. “It’s bolted.”
“How far can we get on foot?” I whispered even though no one was around.
“We just have to hide from them. They’ll eventually give up, and we can take our time.”
“Raven, we won’t survive long enough to take our time—”
“I’m going. Are you coming with me or not?”
I hesitated again.
“Don’t make me leave you here…but I will.” It wasn’t a bluff. If there was a chance of freedom, she would take it even if I wouldn’t. I watched her look at me like she assumed my answer would be no, like I wouldn’t be brave enough to do this.
I would never be brave. Not in my nature. But she made me brave. “Alright.” I put on my boots, pulled on my jacket, and then opened my drawers to stuff my pockets with