When You Came

Chapter 3

"I'm not going back. I will never go back there."

"But why? It's not that bad of a place."

I burst into laughter. "It's not a bad place? Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"Do you know how many kids they take from their parents? Do you know how many kids they kill if they won't go? Do you know what happens to their parents?" 

He hesitates before replying. "No."

"They take too many, they kill too many, and god know what happens to the parents."

"But they feed us and protect us," he points out. 

"Where do you think they get the supplies from? The houses they raid, from the kids they steal." 

        He's silent the rest of the way back. He goes to the bathroom and I stay in the kitchen in search of food. I throw some meat in the pan and set it on high. By the time it's done, Dylan is out and sitting on the couch. I grab the meat and head out to the swing. I'm pulling some meat off when Dylan walks out. He sits down next to me and I hand him the rest of the meat. 

"Are you ready to go back yet?" I ask him. 

"I don't know. Sometimes I'm ready to walk out the door, but other times.... I just don't know."

"Don't let me hold you back. I would prefer it if you left, but I doubt you will anytime soon."

"Why?"

"Because you have two weeks of freedom left, do you really want to end that?"

He shrugs. "It's not like there's much freedom out here, you're just on your own."

"Yeah, but you get to make the rules, you don't have anyone to listen to."

"Well, I'm still under orders to bring you back," he says glancing at me. 

"Good luck with that, I'm not going back," I look up to the sky. "Do you know when the last time it rained here?"

"No." 

"Last month. We need rain soon."

I rise and grab his plate before heading inside. I head to the kitchen and set it in the sink. I hear Dylan stand and make his way inside. 

"What do you have to do today?" He asks entering the kitchen.

"Nothing today. Why?"

"Just wondering. So how was it dating Mr. Deraci?"

"Are you really asking? It was the worst week of my life, ok?"

"How old is he anyways? Isn't he like 40?" He asks leaning against the counter. 

I stare at him in horror. "That's disgusting, I would never! He's 19!"

I see the corners of his mouth twitch. He's enjoying this. "He seems older."

"It's his job, it makes you have to act older," I grumble. 

I leave the kitchen and head upstairs with Dylan at my heels. 

"But you had to have liked him to date him, unless you were using him."

"I didn't like him, he liked me and I lost a bet with my friend. I was forced to date him. Why are you so curious about my love life? What about yours?" I ask entering my room. 

"I have dated only one girl and she dumped me."

"I wish I could dump you in the street," I mutter.