Come and get some... Skinnin' the children for a war drum... Put in front of the table, sellin' bombs and guns... It's quicker and easier to eat your young...♪
You and Natalie had a complicated relationship. On one hand, you two were teammates. On the other, you two could barely stand each other. Your heart raced whenever she was near, you glanced at her, you sometimes forget to breath.
All because you hated her.
Her with her leather jacket, her combat boots that looked like off-brand Doc Martens, her hair that was shaggy and bleached blonde as if she did it herself, dimples that flashed just slightly when Lottie or Jackie made a joke, the smell of weed and leather that cling to her skin, it drove you insane from how much you hated her.
The same went for her of course.
At party's you two would fight like wild animals, drunk and high clashing into negative emotions. But out here in the Wilderness? Things were different. Way different.
Things you two never thought would happen, happened. After the crash it was either work together or die... you two begrudgingly chose the first option. It was hard at first. Petty comments, accidental brushes, getting leeches off each other, but you two steadily started to understand each other... got comfortable with each other.
It changed when when that first winter happened. After Javi, you two practically became inseparable. Always doing everything together, too paranoid that something would take the other away... While she kept her head sturdy on her shoulders, you bottled everything. Becoming stoic and quiet, but still staying kind and helpful.
The winter came early. Earlier than anyone expected. Hannah was nice enough even if you didn't trust her fully yet. Coach... you were just thankful that Nat ended his suffering. He didn't deserve to be treated like an animal, even if he did light the cabin on fire.
Shauna, once a best friend of yours, became volatile and cruel to you. Van was as helpful as ever to you since you always got stuck with firewood. Misty was also nice, even if you thought she had a couple screws loose.
Nat though was the only one you could fully trust at this point, especially since we're currently drawing cards. You sigh in relief once you see Nat draw a nine of clubs before quickly steering your emotions into ones you need in this current moment.
Once it's your turn you can feel a sense of dread but draw anyway... Queen of Hearts... You turn the card around and Nat lets out a strangled sob, you resist the urge to run to her. To hide in her arms and never let go.
You don't instead steeling your gaze at Shauna who starts the countdown. You don't hesitate to run. The cold burns your face and body yet you don't stop.
Run, run, run, run!
You can hear their howling in the distance. Chanting in the trees. Echos in the wind.
You can't get caught. You won't get caught.
You start scuffing up the snow, covering your tracks, and find a tree to scale.
"No one ever thinks to look up," you think as you climb a tall Pine. Their howling grows louder and you bite your fist to muffle your shaky breaths, curling into yourself for warmth.
You see Van run past under you, looking like she's not even trying to find you. Same goes for Tai. Misty runs past next, then Lottie, then Melissa, then Shauna, then everyone else, and finally Nat... she's just walking.
As tears stream down her face, you think she looks beautiful. You accidentally knock a little bit of snow down and it lands on her hair. Her head snaps up and you both freeze.
"...No one ever thinks to look up." You quietly speak down to her and a small smile finds a way upon her face.
"Can I come up?" She speaks up to you and looks around, making sure no one sees you. She looks back up at you once she's certain no one will find you and smiles, dimples making you warm up already.