Running With the Wave

Chapter 12

Hunter:

My jaw hurt like crazy where my father had slapped me and I can already feel the bruise forming there, but I'm not going to show Era how much it actually hurts. Or how scared I am of lying to my father. I don't want to think about what he'll do to me tonight but I can't push it out of my mind. Era sits down on my bed and burys her face in my hand.

"Are you okay?" I ask gently, slipping onto the bed beside her.

"What? Yeah, yeah I am." she looks up, but I can see the blooming fear in her.

I let my gaze drop away from her, anger at my father bubbling inside of me. How dare he scare Era, make her afraid that she'll dies because of him? I know it's a stupid question, but I can't help it popping into my mind. I stare at her, her head once again buried in those pale, beautiful hands of hers. I can't tell her how I feel. The chances that she'd feel the same are close to zero, and even if she did feel the same way I can't bring her any closer to my father than she is already. Sighing, I get up off the bed and it creaks beneath me.

"Come on, let's get you washed up and I'll set up the cot."

I teach Era how to use the shower the close the door. I can practically feel her smiling as the warm water rushes down her shoulders and rinses the grime and blood off of her body.

"We'll put a new bandage on later." I had said, carefully unwrapping the one wound around her arm before she had went into the shower.

I look back at the closed bathroom door, relieved that the hoodie had hidden her bullet wound. I could have come up with an excuse, but it would have made him suspicious.

That's something we certainly don't need.

I walk down a few halls until I get to the closet where all the linens and cots are kept.

"Hunter?"

I whip around, my mouth opening as if to say something when I see my father's silhouette.

"Close your mouth, boy. You look like an idiot, and no son of mine will look like that." he sighs, running his hand through dark tousled hair.

I turn beet red and shut my mouth, embarrassed.

"I am sorry, father." I answer sensibly.

He looks at me with that look that makes me feel so small for awhile, but his eyes are not unkind for a change.

"Did you manage to gather some food from Outside?" he asks quietly.

"Yes."

He nods slowly, still looking at me.

"Did you find Erad Outside?"

My stomach tightens at the mention of Era's fake name and I shake my head.

"No, I took the long way through the lower part of the City and found him begging an old man for food."

He purses his lips, looking me up and down.

"Why do you lie to me?"

My heart drops into my stomach and fear threatens to strangle me. He can't know, could he? Era and I will be dead by the morning if he does. I stare into the eyes of the man I am terrified of and hope that my emotions aren't playing on my face.

"Father, I-"

He holds up one hand to silence me.

"Do not continue to lie, please. It's tiring."

I close my eyes, waiting for the first blow. Maybe the last I'll ever have to endure.

"I know that he was Outside, it's easy to tell from the mud that covered the boy from head to toe."