The story

The next morning was bright with the sun shining on my face. I opened my eyes and realized I fell asleep outside the cave in front of the big peach tree. Even though sleeping here outside could be dangerous but It felt good to sleep in nature after so long.

Usually, mom and dad would never let me sleep outside thinking the night sky could be dangerous.....Oh! I miss them...

I got up and wiped my clothes. My pink sweatshirt was now full of mud and leaves all over and so was my denim jean. I had no clothes to change into and so they had to do for now.

I suddenly remembered about Ray. I was about to go inside the cave when I thought about Elian. If I went in there and Elian saw me, I am sure he will get furious.

But this was no time to get furious and I was no longer able to leave Ray and Sarah. I will help them, even if it is against what Elian wants.

The cave was now a little brighter, but blue sky still felt far away for a person who stays inside there.

I saw Elian sleeping in a sitting position. His left hand rested on his knee and his left leg stood up. On his right leg was Ray's head. He was asleep too. I sat down to see Ray's wound. No more blood was dripping down and the belt was taken off. The belt was kept aside, full of blood and not capable of any more use. Ray's wound now seemed much better.

The cave was freezing and cold was not too good for a sick person. I went outside to gather up some firewood so I could light up a fire and it would keep Ray warm.

Finding wood in there was not easy. I looked for a single branch but I couldn't find any.

"Are you looking for something"

I turned my head towards the cave. Ray was there, he wasn't even able to stand properly due to his injury and so he was using the wall for support.

"you... You should be resting Ray" I walked towards him and hold his arm so he could stand without having to clutch on the wall.

I helped him sit beside the same peach tree. I felt that spot was a little better and a little more comfy then any other ground on that scary place.

I joined Ray since finding wood was not that easy.

Ray looked disappointed and kind of sad.

"I won't be able to forgive my self if something happened to her" his voice was low

I knew he was talking about Sarah.

"What exactly happened to her...Ray?" I didn't want to make him feel upset but in order to find Sarah I was suppose to know what happened to her.

"We were heading towards this place, me and Sarah, she was really excited that Elian would get you back..." he wiped his eye and continued "Just in the way, a van stopped a little far away but it wasn't that clear so we ignored it.They probably spotted us. If only we ran at that time...." Ray was getting furious over himself "They started running after us. I thought Sarah knew we had to run, I... I thought she was just behind me, but little did I know, that silly girl got herself caught. When I looked back, she was gone. I saw a man carrying her. She wasn't saying a word, she was unconscious" After this, Ray broke down "I went to save her but they shooted me and ran after me. I don't know how I saved my self, maybe they never thought I could hide in a cave" his voice was all teared up now and it made my heart heavy.

"Its not your fault" I tried to calm him down.

***

I tried to ignore Elian's stare, continuously telling me why was I still there.... He never said that but it felt like his eyes did.

Just when Ray fell asleep for a little while I went up to Elian. He was gathering up some peaches from the peach tree. Sometimes it felt, as if behind those cold eyes lived a boy who is still warm at heart but he is afraid to show it to the world or maybe he just never got the chance to do so...

"I won't leave this time" I said and picked up the peach that fell on the green grass. I tried to sound polite despite how he treated me yesterday.

To my utmost surprise, Elian chuckled but this sure was not to make me feel good.

"I don't care" he snatched the peach from my hand "I thought you had a little Shame left that won't let you hurt my friends anymore... But clearly you don't. So trust me... It means nothing to me if you leave or stay" I thought he was finished but on top of this he added "Just...keep your distance from me for your own good"

I felt bad, for the first time in my life someone hated me this much and trust me it didn't feel good. People usually wanted to be my friend just like Ray and Sarah but Elian was clearly the first to treat me this way.

It doesn't matter what he thinks, he is no one. This time I will make things right, I will get Sarah back, find my parents and unfreeze the whole town.