Chapter Thirteen

I woke up with Nova snuggly tightly into my side. I smiled as I quietly tried to get up. Surprisingly with my level of clumsiness, I didn't wake her.

It was still dark when I stumbled out of the cave. Still no sign of Cade at all. I didn't want to leave Nova alone, but it's not like I could let Cade wander around and possibly get caught.

I sighed and looked at the cave. I couldn't leave her. Cade's a grown man after all. He can take care of himself.

I shuffled back to the cave tiredly. A part of me still wanted to search for Cade, but leaving Nova alone would be like asking the guard to kill her.

I leaned on the entrance of the cave and watched the sunrise. It was beautiful. Or at least it would have been if I didn't see the blood of everybody I knew as the red hues. I squeezed my eyes shut in an attempt not to break down and cry again. 

How could they kill so many people and feel nothing about it?

A rustling in the trees around me forced me out of my thoughts.

"Cade?" I called out hopefully.

I knew it had to be him. Nova was still asleep and the noise sounded to precise to be an animal.

I walked slowly to the edge of the tree line. A man was walking this way, but he was shorter than Cade. He wore clothes of a guard.

I tried to hide before he could see me, but I just wasn't fast enough. I ran as fast as I could go back to the cave. I made it to the entrance before I was forcefully grabbed by the wrist.

"Oh, I am so gonna get a bonus when I tell the boss I found you all by myself," the man said to himself.

I tried hard to wriggle free but his grip was too strong. I kneed him in the stomach, but that only seemed to make him angrier.

"You bitch! You are coming with whether you like it or not!"

The man switched his hold to my hair and pulled out a knife. I screamed and tried everything to get out of his grasp.

"Evie-Weavie are you okay?"

"Get back inside the cave!" I screamed at Nova, but it was too late.

The man dropped me grabbed her instead. He held the knife right against her neck. Nova started to scream.

"I see we forgot one here," he said pushing the knife further into her neck.

Without thinking I charged the man. I jumped on his back and bit down hard on the hand with a knife in it.

He promptly let go of Nova and the knife. He held his hand as kicked him behind his knees making him fall.

"Nova go hide somewhere until I tell you it's safe to come out."

"But Evie-" she started.

"Now!" I shouted.

I grabbed the knife and concealed it as the man stood up. Before I could fully turn around, the man sent a hard blow to my temple sending me falling into a large rock.

I felt blood coming from somewhere, but I ignored it as a struggled to sand. I went to kick him in the liver, but he twisted my leg, making it crack loudly.

I screamed in agony as he forced himself on top of me with a large rock in his hand.

"They'd be even happier if I brought you back dead," he said with a grin on his face.

"He was about to bring the rock down on my head when I stuck the knife into his heart. He gasped and choked as blood flowed from his mouth. I struggle to move his body off of me as I saw the life leave his eyes.

Tears flowed from my eyes as I rolled out from underneath the lifeless man.

I had killed him. I had killed a man.

I fell to my knees and broke down. What was I going to do? I had just killed somebody? That man was dead because of me!

I put my hand in my hair and yanked at it hard. What had I done?

"No, no, no! This can't be real? I couldn't have, k-killed him!"

"Shortie is that-"

Cade stopped and stared. He didn't say anything as he picked me up and carried me to the cave. He placed me gently on the ground.

"Nova! You have to tell her it's safe to come out," I said frantically.

Coda nodded and returned shortly with Nova.

"Evie! Are you okay? I saw the man hurt you and you saved me again."

I wrapped Nova in the tightest hug I could, "I'm fine kid."

Cade looked at me as I let go of Nova, "We to go clean it up."

I nodded and told Nova to stay in the cave. She shouldn't have to see what I did.

Cade and I walked over to the body. He looked pale now, and blood surrounded his corps. I had a hard time looking at him.

"What happened?"

I sighed. I didn't want to tell him, but that the same time he deserved to know.

"I heard a noise in the woods and I thought it was you. So I went and looked. It was him and I tried to run back to the caved, he grabbed me. He tried to take me back to The Town so I tried everything to get away from him. He had a knife. Nova came out and I had to do everything to protect her."

I took a deep breath. What would he think of me?

"Evelyn, I get it. But I need to know the rest so I can help you. I could never hate you. You had to protect her and you and I should have been here. I was a coward and left. I'm such an asshole. I were here you wouldn't have had too-"

Cade trailed off but we both knew what he meant.

"To kill a guy, yeah," I said struggling to continue, "When got him way from Nova he dropped his knife. Nova ran to hide and I picked up the knife. He threw me against a rock and I banged my head."

"Wait, Eve, let me see-"

"Cade let me finish, or I might never be able to tell you," Cade nodded, "I got back up and tried to kick him but he threw me off. He was on top of me, about to smash my head in with a rock and I stabbed him. Cade, I saw the life leave from his eyes. I killed him."

Tears started pricking my eyes again and Cade pulled me into a hug.

"I love you shortie, and nothing you will ever do will make me stop loving you," Cade said pulling me apart to look in his eyes.

It was like I could see the pure admiration in his eyes. I was going to be okay.

"I'll never leave you again. You, me, and Nova- we're going to get out of here together. We're gonna live a happy life."

"I love you too, Cade."

He grinned at me, "We're going to be okay Shortie, I promise."

I prayed he was right. Well at least he was right about me not being like them, I killed him to save us. I wasn't like the people in The Town at all. I did what I did to save people.

Cade and I swiftly cleaned up the body. We dropped it in a river near-by and cleaned the blood with water from the river as well. We were going to be okay.

Although that didn't mean they wouldn't notice the guy was missing. They would, and when the did, we would be found.

"Cade, how long do you think it'll take for them to notice he's gone?" I asked hopeful that maybe he'd have an idea.

"I'm not sure shortie. What I want to do right now is check out your head, and then make something to eat, all right? One step at a time."

I nodded and we made our way back to the cave. Cad checked out my head and put some healing salve on it. I told him about my leg, but it didn't seem to be so bad.

We all munched on some protein bars as we talked. 

"So Evie-Weavie can we play a game?" asked Nova.

I didn't want to play a game at the moment, but at the same time, I knew Nova was bored.

Cade beat me to the punch with, "Eve isn't feeling well right now Nova."

I gave Cade a look for speaking for me and said, "I'll certainly play a game with you Nova. How about Evie says?"

I figured that meant I wouldn't have to move too much.

"How do you play?" Nova asked excitedly.

"Well, I'm going to say something like: Evie says touch your nose. So then you touch your nose. But if I don't say, Evie says, you don't do what I say got it?"

"I've got it! Cadie you have to play too!"

Cade groaned, "I am so not playing."

I giggled and said, "Cadie you have to play!"

Nova grabbed his arm, "Come on Cadie!"

Cade gave in and stood up. Nova smiled and stood up straight.

"I'll play, but I'm going easy on you Nova," he said grinding.

God that grin made my heart flutter. I took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in my stomach before I said the first command.

"Ummm, Evie says to stand on one foot."

Both Cade and Nova balanced themselves on one of their feet. They looked pretty unbalanced.

"Evie says flap your arms like wings."

They both began to flap and tetter on their one foot. I laughed at their poses. I was having way too much fun with this.

"Evie says stand back on both feet and pretend you're a monkey," I said barely containing myself.

"Eve this is ridiculous," Cade said.

"'Well, I guess I'm going to win then!" Nova shouted.

"The hell you will," Cade said starting to hoot like a monkey.

I laughed uncontrollably as they scratch themselves and howled. It was almost like I could forget everything that was going on. Almost. My mood started to lower and I didn't feel like playing so much anymore.

"Stop."

Cade immediately stopped what he was doing and Nova continued.

"I win! You didn't say Evie says!"

Cade sighed, but I knew he could see that I didn't feel the same anymore. He gave me a sad smile.

"Nova, I think it's bath time," Cade exclaimed picking Nova up, "let's get you cleaned up in the river!"

Nova giggled as Cade carried her away to the river. I sighed and placed my head in my hands. At least he knew I needed some time alone though.

I walked into the cave a laid down across the sleeping bags. I just laid there. Not thinking about anything, just enjoying the silence that surrounded me. It was nice just to have peace for a minute, even if I knew it was short-lived.

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Once Nova and Cade were back from the river, he told Nova to go change into clean clothes. Nova obliged and ran into the cave.

"I know this isn't going to be easy for you shortie," Cade said pulling me into a hug.

"It's not, but for now, I'm just going to push all of the bad thoughts out of my head and be strong for you and Nova."

"You don't have to be strong for me shortie. I told you, I'm here for you no matter what."

Cade pulled me into another kiss. His lips showing me just how much he cared. It took me a second, but I kissed back just a passionately.

"Ewwwwwwwwww," Nova whined, "That's disgusting Evie and Cadie. No kissing!"

Cade and I pulled apart and laughed at Nova. We gave each other a look and Cade grabbed Nova picked her up. At the same time, we both hugged her and kissed both of her cheeks.

"No, put me down," she whined, "I don't like this."

We both laugh again before Cade placed Nova back on the ground. She folded her arms over her chest and pouted.

"That wasn't very nice," she said, "I said no and you still did it. Mommy said if somebody says no you stop."

Cade and I looked at each other, impressed by her wisdom.

"Well, your mommy is right," Cade said, "Evie and I are very sorry."

I nodded sincerely giving Nova a smile.

"I forgive you Evie-Weavie and Cadie!" she exclaimed hugging us both.

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Oof IDK about this one lol. What do you think peeps? Thanks for reading! Adios!