Free The Deepest Red by Miriam Bell Page B

out at him in a silly big eyed way.
    “Jealous?” she questions in a sing song voice.
    Connor rolls his eyes as a smirk lifts the side of his mouth.
    “Alright, enough of this,” he huffs as he brushes more dirt off of his camouflage pants.
    The gesture doesn’t do any good, we’re all covered in dirt and mud.
    Connor reaches down and grabs my hat off the ground. I had all but forgotten it’s concealing fabric.
    “Here, you’re going to need this.”
    He hands me the hat, briefly staring at my wild hair. He cuts his eyes away as if nervous. That doesn’t make sense . I sweep my hair up and tuck the strands away- hiding the stark color under my fishermen hat.
    “We all have had a rough twenty four hours; I vote we find a place to make camp, take today as a rest day.” Connor urges while peering back and forth between Clover and I for agreement.
    Clover nods.
    “As I was searching for a campsite I came across a tree house beside a small stream. The place would be perfect to stay awhile.”
    I glance at Clover.
    “Why not a house?” I ask.
    Connor’s voice grabs my attention.
    “Staying in a house can be noticed, a once broken window, now being boarded up,” he continues. “For example, someone shutting a door you realized was open earlier in the day.”
    He eyes me knowingly.
    “It’s not hard to recognize these things to anyone paying attention,” Connor taunts as I scowl at his amused face. “Not to mention, a house is the first place someone might go looking for supplies. If you can find some place like a barn, tree house, or even a one room shack, it’s better.”
    “I see my survivor lessons have begun,” I sneer at him while shifting the weight of my supply bag still on my back.
    “Not yet, just giving you some good ole fashion advice.” Connor chirps with a grin.
    Clover lets out a giggle.
    “Oh, great,” she says as she starts to walk down the path she had come from. “He’s about to shrink down, turn green, grow funky long ears and talk in riddles.”
    My eyebrows crinkle in confusion.
    “What?” I ask, confused.
    Connor smiles as he walks past me and shrugs.
    “I can’t even begin to explain that one.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The walk so far to the tree house is uneventful. We take our time searching the woods for anything threatening but nothing comes oozing out of the trees. I use the mundane hike to practice on keeping the sound of my walking quiet. The skill is one thing, I hate to admit, I admire of Connor. I must be doing a pretty good job of the exercise because every once in awhile Connor turns around as if to check on me. I take revenge on his sarcasticness from knowing that my lack of noise seems to be getting on his nerves. I smile.
    The growing presence of my two new companions cause me to become a little more comfortable around them. I study the manner of their steps- Clover’s hopping grace and the curve of Connor’s back side as they continue to walk in front of me. I study the lines of Connor’s broad shoulders and the easy grip he keeps on his knife. His narrow hips seem to catch my attention repeatedly. Connor travels with an air of confidence and the threat of something lethal. The danger in his mannerisms only adds to his appeal. A part of myself tells the other not to gawk but the other replies with a warning, keeping my thoughts busy with Connor is better than the alternative.
    I strive to replicate his deadly beauty with each move I make. In my mind, I pretend I’m a ferocious leopard, the beautiful animal I studied in one of our library’s books back home. She is sneaking up closely behind her prey, waiting for the right moment to jump and sink her teeth into it’s flesh. The images help to keep my brain off of other thoughts, the ones where Tom’s lifeless face is staring off into the