Softly Whispering (open)

[Knuckles]

Genesis Reese

The ocean whispers softy
So softly like it's calling me home
The ocean whispers softly
Reminding me where I belong

I sit in my room looking outside at the big, bright moon. It stands out in my room so much that I turn my lights out. It's a moon that symbols a good fishing trip in my mind. I've fought with my father all day long. I haven't trained at all in the past few days, and he's not happy with me about it. I stare at the moon not hearing a knock on my door. The door flies open and my father appears. "Genesis Reese! What do you think you are doing? You should be outside right now training! I hate that you're sitting here being lazy doing nothing. Now, if you want to stay here in my house, you will have to train. Do you understand me?" My father says. I just look up at him without saying anything. I just turn away and look back at the moon.

"Genesis look at me!"

"Do you want to know what I think?" I interrupt. "I think this is dumb. I don't want to live my life training like I've already spent most of my life. I'm done with it all. I just want to be left alone. I've already proved I'm better than you. I've proved that I'm better than everyone around and you know that. I'm better than you!" I stand up and storm out of the room not looking back. I don't want to listen to him right now. I run down the stairs and head outside onto the streets.

I hate him! I really really hate him! I hate that he's my father. I don't want anything to do with him! I don't understand why I have to go through all this crap. Nothing makes sense anymore. I wish he would leave me alone so I could enjoy my life. I guess my life doesn't matter to him. I don't think he cares about me. All he cares about is showing he's better than me when I know I'm better than him and everyone else in this place. I walk down the streets and rub my hands against my arms. I look up at the moon wishing I was able to go fishing right now. It's late, it's cold, and it's dangerous to go fishing at night. I look around the empty streets wondering if I should turn around and head home. Instead, I decide to head down to the lake.

The walk seems to take longer than it usually does, but I really don't care right now. I just want to be alone with my thoughts. I don't think anyone would be out this late. Most should be celebrating they are going to live another year.

Softly calling my name
The water seems to yell
Calling for me to get closer
To softly whisper the tell

I arrive at the lake and stare into the water. The moon reflects pleasantly off the water. I feel at peace. I haven't felt like this in a while. I sit down at the shore line with my knees brought up to my chest. I can't believe my father thinks I'm not the best. I don't even have to try to prove to him I am the best. There's nothing to it. I proved the trainer wrong, and I know I proved my father wrong, but he doesn't think I've done my best. I just wish he would finally see I am better than anyone he can put me against.

I lay down on the beach and look into the sky at the moon. I'm not worried about anything right now. I place my hands behind my head and just relax. Not a thing can bother me. I'm alone by myself. My parents can be happy at home, and I can lay here and relax. I finally feel like I am alive.

[mara0107]

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It was a beautiful night outside. The moon was big and bright in the sky and thousands and thousands of stars shone like sparkling diamonds. Hazel left her parents house and headed towards the beach. During the summer, she would use a night like this to go to the beach and go for a swim in the ocean but now it was just too cold to lunge herself into the bitter cold waves. It felt nice to go for a walk though. Her feet took her down the stairs behind her parent’s house and down to the beach. Even though it was too cold to go for a swim, it was still nice to walk along the beach, the sound of waves crashing softly on the sandy shoe in her ears. As soon as she reached the beach, she took off her shoes. Her mom would freak if she saw her walking barefoot with the temperature outside being so cold, but her mom wasn’t here and Hazel didn’t care. The feeling of sand between her toes was well worth a pair of cold feet. She walked a little bit closer to the water and shivered as the cold waves hit her toes. Immediately, goose bumps appeared all over her body. Goosebumps followed by a bright smile on her face. No matter how cold it was outside, nothing could keep her away from the ocean. The water, the waves, the salty air, for Hazel this was such an important part of her life. Depriving her from the ocean would be like taking away her life.

When her toes started to tingle from the cold water, Hazel decided it was time to move on. She turned her back to the ocean and walked, still barefoot, across the beach. The sand stuck to her wet feet, but that didn’t bother the red haired girl. She slipped into her shoes once she reached the tarred roads that lead to the center of town. During the day, the streets are filled with people but as soon as darkness falls over District Four, the streets are deserted. It was nice and quiet outside. As she reached the first intersection, Hazel stopped and looked down the streets in front of her. She could keep walking straight ahead and go to one of the cafés in town. Maybe she would even meet some of her friends from school there. It would for sure be fun to hang out with them and gossip about the other classmates. But she didn’t feel like going to town. She felt more like being alone with her thoughts. So she turned left and walked down the street that lead to the lake that lay just a little bit outside of town.

Hazel walked along the side of the lake. She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn’t see the boy sitting on she lakeside staring at the water. When she did see him, the red-haired girl stopped walking and tilted her head a little bit. “Are you all right?” , she asked with a soft voice, careful not to scare him.

[Knuckles]

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Genesis Reese

The ocean whispers softly
So softly like it's calling me home
The ocean whispers softly
Reminding me where I belong

I stare into the lake. I've lost track of the time, but I know it's getting late. I don't bother to rush home as I know what awaits me. I'm not ready to talk to my parents yet. I really don't want to see my father. I take a deep breath and continue to stare at the moon's reflection in the lake. I feel alive here. If it wasn't cold right now, I would be trying to fish. Fishing makes me feel alive. I have nothing to worry about here. I'm an excellent swimmer. I don't want to jump in the lake when it's extremely cold, but I know I would if I have to. I wonder what it would be like right now back home. I wonder what my father is telling my mother, and my sister. It's not like my sister can understand any of this anyway.

I sit up and move closer to the lake. I'm amazed. I really feel like the lake is whispering to me. I really feel like the lake could be calling to me. I shake my head. I can't sit here pretending to hear the lake. I don't want others to think I am crazy. I wish I didn't have to prove I'm better than anyone. I know my father thinks I'm not, but I know I am. I stare into the lake. I don't think about anything. I just clear my mind. For the first time in a long time, I feel happy. I'm not worrying about life. I know it'll turn out to be alright. I take another deep breath. "Are you alright?" I would jump and run away, but the voice seems so calm.

I turn around and notice a girl standing there next to me. When did she get here? Was I so lost in thought that I was unaware? I wonder what all she saw. I look up at her. At first, I'm not sure what to say. I'm not alright, but I don't want her knowing this. "I'm not sure." I answer. It's the truth.

[mara0107]

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Even though she spoke with a quiet voice, Hazel noticed the boy jumping ever so slightly. She couldn’t blame him. If someone had walked up to her in the middle of the night while she was lost in thought, she would have jumped. She would have jumped and ran away so really it was amazing that he stayed as calm as he did. Maybe this was because he was a boy and for sure a couple of years older and a good deal stronger than she was. Or maybe it was because she didn’t give the impression of being a threat. Whatever it was, Hazel still just stood there, looking at him with her head still tilted to one side. When he turned his face and looked at her, it didn’t seem like everything was fine. In face, he looked like nothing was fine at all. She knew the look on his face. It was the same look that crossed her face when she started thinking about Cade. When she dared to think about the boy she thought she had been in love with. He had just about disappeared, vanished from her life as fast and as sudden as he had appeared. Hazel hadn’t been to the secret beach that used to be their meeting point and the place where they first met ever since. She dreaded going there out of numerous reasons. For one, she feared meeting him there. And for two and even more so because of all the memories she connected with that little piece of beach on the shores of District Four: Him playing the guitar. His soft voice singing…

Hazel had to push those thoughts aside and swallow hard. She didn’t want to start crying. Not again. She had already shed too many tears for him. Her thoughts returned to the boy just in time to hear him answering. Hazel wasn’t surprised by his answer because the look an his face had already given away that nothing was ok really. She was surprised though that he so openly admitted that he didn’t feel well. Well at least he said that he wasn't sure if everything was ok. Most people would just say they were fine to avoid any kind of conversation.

Hazel stepped forward and sat down on the ground next to the boy. She still kept a safe distance but it was a lot more comfortable to be able to talk to him when they were both sitting. The ground was cold and Hazel shivered a little. “Do you want to talk about it?” , she asked in her same soft voice. She didn’t know if she wanted to talk at all, let alone with her, because after all, she was a complete stranger to him. But she wanted to make him the offer and maybe he would feel better if he talked about what was bothering him.

[Jack Lexington]

Nick Travis

It's been a long day out on the boat but today I caught more fish than usually during the winter time. It's a pleasant surprise to have my nets full for a change, which gives me a chance to go home early and lay in bed to sleep off the nasty cold that I caught out on the open water two days ago. I'm really just dragging my bones to the fishing hall and drop off my catch before I make my way home.

The way seems twice as far today even though I'm taking the short cut through the woods that leads by the lake.
The moon is bright enough and together with the snow lightens up the landscape enough to find my way without a flashlight.
Just when I think my walk will never end I spot a few people down near the water. What on earth are they doing here in the middle of the night? Dropping a dead body in? or just making out? No matter what, my interest is sparked so I circle around the water on their side just to see that they both a in their late teens if I should guess...so the making out seems more likely.

In order not to startle them I whistle as I get closer and then stop within a short distance. From underneath my hooded coat I can see them well but they can't tell who I am especially now that my face is covered by a beard, which I kind of like. With my large backpack and the fishing knife in my belt I must scare the hell out of them, which almost makes me chuckle.
A few coughs escape my lungs in the cold air while I look at them.
"Are you two lost?" I wonder because it does happen.

OOC: Hey fellow German. Since this is an open thread I figured I'd join you.

[Knuckles]

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Genesis Reese

I look back into the lake. I'm amazed. I can't believe I spoke honestly to her. I don't even know who she is. I don't think I've seen her before either. I sigh and slowly look around. I've never spoken openly to anyone before. I want to know the person. Most people don't like me, but honestly, I don't care. I look back up at the girl. Who is this girl? Why does she want to talk to me? I don't know what to say to her. I know that I was perfectly fine sitting here in my thoughts, but I'm not in the best mood. I don't know what else to do. I could always use a friend. I can have a person to talk to, but I would have to be honest. I've already started being honest.

I watch as she sits down. She sits slightly close, but she's maintaining a distance. I guess for fear of me. I would be afraid too if I found a random person just sitting at the lake in the middle of the night. I guess she has a reason t be afraid. I'm not sure what to say when she speaks. I almost talk before she does, but when she starts talking, I let her talk. It will stop me from saying something stupid, or something I will regret. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asks in the same calm voice as she did earlier. I don't know why, but I trust her for some reason.

"I-I'm not good at talking, but it'll probably help." I answer quietly. I start searching my brain to figure out the best way to respond to this. I know talking would help. I look back at the lake and lower my head down. What's the best way to start this? Will she think I'm stupid for not thinking I'm the best? Will she walk away? Will she stay and be my friend? I'm just going to be honest. I'll explain what I can. I hope she'll stay and listen and not run away like most people. "I'll talk if y-" I begin, but I'm interrupted by someone coughing.

I look up at the person that coughed. He's kinda of freaky looking, but I remain still. I don't jump because no good will come if I run away. Oh great another person to laugh at me. I wonder what he's been doing. He appears rather strange. I wonder what he thinks seeing me and this girl sitting here. I'm wishing I would have just left when I had the chance. "Are you two lost?" He asks. I look up at him curiously. "Why would I be lost?" I question. "I'm not lost. I'm just resting." A half smile appears on my face as I turn back to the girl.

[mara0107]

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Hesitantly, the boy sitting across from her started talking. He said that he wasn’t really good at talking but that it would probably help to talk about what was bugging him and a soft smile appeared on Hazels face. She wasn’t good at talking about problems, too, especially if it were her own problems. Waiting for him to continue talking, she looked at him more closely. His face was not familiar at all. She might have seen him in school or in town but she couldn’t recall having met him before. Hazel didn’t say anything to make him talk faster. She just said there, giving him all the time he needed to find the right words. He was just about to start talking when something else distracted the two of them.

Hazel startled when she heard whistling coming from the woods surrounding the lake. She started looking around and after a few seconds saw the man, the incredibly huge man, walking towards her and the stranger sitting next to her. Hazel immediately regretted to even have come here. It wasn’t safe to walk the streets of District Four at night and it was even more dangerous to linger outside the town’s premises just like she was doing now. Still, it was no good to run away now. She was a fast and good swimmer but she was absolutely no good in running and the stranger, whoever he was, would easily outrun her if he wanted to. As he came closer it seemed like Hazel’s worst fears were coming true. To her, especially from her point of view, sitting on the ground and looking up, he looked huge. He wore a hooded coat that covered his face and a thick beard covered the little that was to be seen from his chin. A huge knife hung from his belt and Hazel had to swallow hard. She was scared, no doubt, and she couldn’t refrain from shivering. The stranger coughed and Hazel jumped at the loud noise that cut through the silence.

“Are you lost?” , the stranger wanted to know and Hazel shook her head, still looking at him with wide eyes. What did this guy want from them? (Well actually she didn’t really want to think about all the different possibilities. She was scared enough already…) Her eyes wandered from the stranger to the other boy sitting next to her who raised his voice and started talking. “Why would I be lost? I’m not lost. I’m just resting.” Resting? Well if he wanted to put it that way… She would have used another word for it but okay, maybe he didn’t want to tell the stranger. Hazel couldn’t blame him. Than he looked at her and for the first time, a small smile appeared on his face. She just looked at him with a questioning look on her face. Did he know the stranger? What was going on here? She turned her head and looked up to the stranger whose face was still hidden beneath his hood. “Who are you?” , she asked and was surprised by how steady her voice sounded.

Ooc: Hey fellow German! Always wanted to thread with you so it’s great you joined!

[Jack Lexington]

Even though I tried not to spook them their body language, especially the girls tells me she is afraid. Now wonder. Here I am, about twice her size with a knife that might still have some fish blood on it on my belt and a hood over my head. The girl is coping well with her fear and actually demands to know my name while the boy claims he's resting.
"Resting out here in the middle of the night might cost you your life..." I have fun scaring them a little more although I'm not referring to myself but the weather conditions.
"There's a storm moving in from the north." I cough again because my sore throat makes it hard to speak and my blocked nose makes my voice sound strange and nasal.
"If you stay here you'll get in trouble. It's hail and snow."

I choose to neglect to tell them my name but I'm willing to remove my hood and show them my face and the grin on it to let them know I'm no hazard.

Again another coughing fit shakes me but I know it's only going to get worse. I need some tea or herbs or something to cure my cold. "Do you happen to have some cough drops on you?" I know that some people use sugar and herbs to make candy and you can buy them at the store. They taste great and are often used by kids for their enjoyment.
"A sip of strong whiskey would do as well." I joke but guess that none of them are carrying around bottle of liquor since they seem so young.

A strong gust of wind ruffles my hair and creates small ripples on the lakes surface. It's icy cold and smells like snow. Quickly I put my hood back on and tell them.
"There's an old barn not too far away if you two don't want to go home." Having run away from home at a very early stage in my life I know what it's like not to want to go back to your parents or not to have a solid roof over my head.

Finally I turn my eyes on the girl and give her a smile while I motion for my knife. "Don't worry. I'm a fisherman, no mass murderer."

[Knuckles]

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Genesis Reese

The girl looks surprised by my reply. I don't want to talk in front of this guy. He seems slightly creepy. I might be able to stand a chance if I had a trident with me, but right now I have nothing. He has a knife with him. I doubt I can do any good with that. I just shrug my shoulders. I don't know who he is. I should have just gone back home, but I don't know why I'm still standing here. "Resting out here might cost you you're life..." He says. I just look up at him confused. Does he want to kill us? Why else would he be saying that? I don't know. I can always out run him if I need to, but I can't leave the girl here if it came down to that. I would have to try to fight him.

"There's a storm moving in from the north. If you chose to stay here you'll be in trouble. It's hail and snow." He says while coughing. I just look at him then I turn back and look at the girl. "Who are you?" The girl asks. The guy does't answer; however, he removes his hood. He seems to be different with his hood off, but it's probably not the best thing to do. I just look away from both of them wondering if I should leave. The guy asks if we have a cough drop. "A cough drop? I don't have any cough drops. I didn't bring anything here but myself." I reply.

I look into the lake again. Part of me wants to stand up and go jump in, but I know that would only end in trouble. I bring my knees to my chest and lay my head down on them. I'm starting to get cold. I know I'm going to have to move soon. He says something about whiskey, but I'm not paying much attention and don't really care. "There's nothing wrong with resting here. I feel like I'm finally alive." I manage to say. It's the truth. I feel alive. I feel like I don't have to worry about anything. I was perfectly fine when I was here by myself.

I slowly stand up and walk over to the edge of the lake. A cool breeze sends chills down my spine. I turn around and look back at the girl. It would be nice if I could talk to her alone right now. I would rather be by myself, but I can use the company. I sigh and look down. I'm still amazed at how the moon reflects off the lake. It's absolutely beautiful. When the guy says something about a barn if I didn't want to go home, I really start thinking. I don't want to go home, and I probably won't go back home for a while. It might give me a place to stay warm through the storm. I look back up at both of them. "A place to stay seems to be ok. I doubt I'm going to die here by the lake tonight. I'm just resting away from home." I say quietly. "Can we introduce ourselves now?"

[mara0107]

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„Resting out here in the middle oft he night might cost you your life…” , the stranger said. He was right and thinking about it again, she knew that it had been careless and even stupid to go out at night all on her own. There probably was no safe place in Panem at night outside one’s home. But right now it was too late to think about the possible consequences and the only thing she could do was hoping that the stranger wasn’t as scary as he looked. He kept talking about a storm moving in. A storm coming and bringing hail and snow. Not good. Hazel had lived in District Four long enough to know how fast the weather could change. In the summer you could sit at the beach in bright sunlight and an hour later the sky turned pitch black and it seemed like hell broke loose. Winter storms usually didn’t move in from the sea but from the north but they were as bad as the summer storms and sometimes even worse. Sitting by the lake with no shelter at all wasn’t a good idea.

Hazel shook her head at his next question. “Sorry, I don’t have any cough drops and neither do I have whiskey.” , she said and patted her pockets to emphasize her statement. The stranger was, well, strange. The people of Panem didn’t just carry alcohol around in their pockets. Alcohol was some kind of luxury good and whoever was able to afford the good stuff, and whiskey certainly was part of the good stuff, kept it in his house and savored it all on his own. Plus, Hazel was too young to be allowed to consume and, or buy liquor.

“There’s nothing wrong with resting here. I feel like I’m finally alive .” , the boy next to Hazel said and she raised an eyebrow. Something really bad must have happened that it took the middle of the night and a deserted lake for him to feel alive. But Hazel understood that he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He might have talked about it while he was still alone with her but with the strange strangers company she didn’t blame him for not saying anything about it anymore. “There’s and old barn not too far away it you two don’t want to go home.” The boy didn’t answer directly to the implied question. Still it was obvious that he didn’t want to go home. Hazel wouldn’t mind going home and if she stayed away the whole night her parents would probably be worried but she didn’t want to leave the boy alone with this weird stranger. And her parents would understand if she told them that she had needed to find shelter from the storm. “A shelter sounds good to me.” , she said and got up. She didn’t feel like being surprised by snow and hail outside and if the storm was moving in as fast as the summer storms usually did, it would be better to find a place with a roof above their heads. And now that the stranger had removed his hood and flashed a bright smile at the two of them he didn’t seem too scary anymore.

“Can we introduce ourselves now?” , the boy whose name Hazel still didn’t know asked and she nodded. Since the stranger didn’t answer to basically the same question before when she asked, she figured it was hers to make a start. “I’m Hazel.” , she said and smiled at the two of them.

[Jack Lexington]

Unfortunately they don't have any sort of remedies on them so I sigh. The kid tells me how perfectly fine sitting out in the cold and staring at a lake was, which I fin more than a little odd. But people are different and the things they need for their own happiness are different so i let him be and refrain from commenting on it. It's none of my business anyway.
The guy walks over to the edge of the lake and for a moment makes me wonder whether it's part of his personal feel good plan to dive into it through the almost frozen surface.
A shiver runs down my back at the thought and makes me draw my jacket closer around myself and the girl looks a little worried for a moment. She should be.

He doesn't dive in but want to know my name so I shrug and tell him. "I'm Nick."
I reply to both of them and return Hazel's smile, who seems much friendlier than her companion even though I scared her.
"Suits you." i tell her to be friendly.
Snowflakes are dancing around us as I point them in the right direction. But the snow makes it hard to see where exactly the building is so I decide to show them.

"The shack or barn is over on the other side of that patch of trees. C'mon, I'll show you."
Since both of them find it a good idea to 'rest' in the dry shelter I walk ahead and wait for them to follow me around the lake and through the trees to what used to be a small barn for hay but since I don't have any animals it's useless now. It sits just on the edge of the property that I made mine without asking a while ago.

[Knuckles]

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Genesis Reese

I look away from the lake. As fun as it would be to jump in right now, I really don't want to freeze to death tonight. The idea of a shelter sounds good. I slowly look at both of them although I am still slightly afraid of the guy. I don't feel comfortable with him, but my only option is to trust him right now. The girl introduced herself as Hazel. I nod at her and look up at the guy. I'm surprised when he introduces himself as Nick. I nod at him as well. Well at least I know who they are now. "I'm Genesis." I whisper softly. "Nice to meet you both."

Part of me feels like running away right now, but the other part wants me to follow him. I don't think I would be falling in a trap. I watch as the snowflakes start to fall steadily. It's a beautiful sight watching the snow fall onto the frozen lake. I smile. I still feel alive. I suddenly feel like I'm a child again. I start to shiver a little bit, and I know that the shelter is going to be the best option. Nick starts talking about the barn. The thought of the barn makes me slightly happier. I smile a little. I haven't smiled this much in a long time. Anything is better than going home right now. I know my mother will be worried, but right now I honestly don't care. I just want to get out of that place. I'm old enough to be on my own. I doubt I'll ever return.

"The shack or barn is on the other side of that patch of trees. C'mon, I'll show you." Nick says as he walks away. I start to follow him. I don't want to get lost in the weather, and I have no idea where he's taking me. I stay behind a little bit, but close enough to see him. "Do you think this place will be safe?" I ask Hazel quietly. I walk through the trees looking at my surroundings. I don't want to shout ahead to Nick, so I remain quiet. I've never been here before. It's hard to see what's around me with all the trees. I have to speed up my pace to keep sight of Nick who's leading the way.

[mara0107]

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Even though she didn’t want to, a hint of red appeared on Hazel’s cheeks at Nicks compliment. She felt the heat flood through the tiny vessels underneath her skin and it wasn’t hard for her to picture what she looked like: A tomato on legs. Hopefully Nick didn’t see her blush or, if he did see it, mistook it for her reaction to the cold wind that started to pick up. “Thanks.” , she managed to say but her voice sounded a little squeaky. To cover it up, she coughed a little and turned her eyes away from him and towards Genesis, who returned from the lakes shore.

“The shack or barn is over on the other side of that patch of trees. C’mon, I’ll show you.” , Nick said and started walking in the direction he just pointed out. Falling a couple of steps behind, Hazel and Genesis followed along. “Do you think this place will be safe?” , Genesis asked Hazel and she just shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t know. I’ve never been to this part of District Four before. But everything will be better and safer than sitting outside when a storm is moving in.” , she replied in a hushed voice so Genesis would be the only one to hear her. Any kind of shelter would be better than sitting in the open unless of course Nick didn’t prove to be as friendly as he seemed. But Hazel didn’t allow herself to think like that. She usually had a good sense for people and she didn’t have a bad feeling about Nick. He seemed to be friendly even though he still was looking a little scary with his beard and the huge knife dangling from his belt.

Following Nick, they had to walk along the lake’s shore, further away from where they came from and from the city. Even though she trusted Nick to the point, that he wouldn’t stab the two of them in the back and eat them for breakfast the next day, it still was a weird feeling that crept through her guts. But with every step towards the promised shelter, the wind picked up and Hazel realized that they wouldn’t have made it back to town before this storm hit. She pulled her coat closer around herself and sped up to catch up with Nick. “Is it far yet? ‘Cause it’s getting a little uncomfortable here.” She winked, but she wasn’t sure if he saw it, huddled in her coat as she was.

[Jack Lexington]

I'm glad the two of them picked up the pace because the wind did the same thing and I'm already sick enough as it is. With both of them in tow I march through the small forest and then out in the open where not too far away a small shack is barely standing upright. It's on the side of a hill so it doesn't get as much and snow as other places.
From here it looks as if the wind could simply blow it over.

"Over there." I holler over the storm but have to cough up a lung because my voice is getting hoarser by the minute. "Damn." I comment when I'm done coughing.
"It looks bad but it's a sturdy old place. If you want to you can grab a blanket from my place."

My gaze shifts further over where in the distance the old cabin that I call my home can be seen. It's a little bigger but also very old. Parts of the roof are caving in but it still has a good living room and a bathroom that I use because I really don't need more than that.

I wait for both of them to make up their mind while we're getting covered in snow and my nose is running. At first I sniff but then fumble around for a tissue or peice of fabric but can't find anything. For a lack of better options I wipe it away with my glove. Out here I don't care about etiquette. I hardly ever do to be honest. Only when rich girls invite me into their noble homes I brush up my act and behave a little better.

"What's it gonna be, girls. I don't have all night." I tell them shivering my ass off.

They both don't look very comfortable. Especially the boy looks very out of place. For a moment I wonder whether these two are really lovers. What an odd couple. Again I have to remind myself that it's really none of my business.

[Knuckles]

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Genesis Reese

I start shivering a little more. I can feel the wind getting colder. My face is burning from the cold weather. I hope the barn isn't much farther away. I look around at all the snow that's falling now. I still stand amazed. I hate not knowing where I'm going. I hate not knowing how safe it is, but I know right now I'm going to be an interesting night. I look over at Hazel. She said she doesn't know where we are going. It slightly aggravates me because I would really like to know where this place is. I just shrug my shoulders and lower my head.

"Is it far yet? 'Cause it's getting a little uncomfortable here." Hazel said. I just look around or a while. "Over there." I find myself dodging tree branches. I'm not paying attention to where I put my feet, and I trip. I place my arms in front of myself to catch me. I feel my left wrist pop, but I don't make a sound. I've been trained to take pain. I roll myself over and slowly stand back up.

At first, I don't see anything, but as I get closer I see the barn. It looks like a gust of wind could blow it down. I shrug at it. It's better than nothing. It's going to be better than freezing to death tonight. I slowly knock the snow off my jacket. My hands are very cold. My fingers are red and hurting. It feels like a thousand needles are poking my finger at once. "If you want you can grab a blanket at my place." Nick says. A blanket sounds good. I'm going to need a blanket. This jacket isn't going to do much good keeping me warm. "A blanket sounds nice." I say as calm as I can. I don't know if I should trust him, but right now I don't care. I can easily run away if something happens. I look closer at the barn. I look down at my left wrist. I don't notice anything off, so I cover it back up with my jacket. I look up and ask "Anything we can start a small fire with?"