Chapter 3
Warmth filled my chest as I glanced around at the community I had created. It was supper time, and all of the siblings were gathered around the big campfire in the middle of camp. It was a loud and joyous affair, enough to warm anyone's heart.
Jake sat to my left, Rose to my right. It was always that way, with Jake sticking to me like glue. The only time he would leave me alone was when he was out scouting. But I didn't really mind. And Rose, at just a year younger, was my best friend. She was a bubbly seventeen year old, full of life and happiness. Her survival skills were still at a minimum, but her management was beyond helpful. She had a way of organising people, fitting them into the perfect gaps, a skill that I was definitely lacking in. Both Rose and Jake had arrived on the fourth bus from the city and had quickly become leaders alongside me.
I searched the group for the newbies, checking to see how they were doing. Courtney was chatting with another young girl, the twins sat together, laughing at something that had been said. Mia with some younger children, her baby being gently passed around.
Benji was sitting away from everyone else, on the steps of the main building. He was looking past the fire and the people, and out into the distance.
Excusing myself, I jumped up and wandered over. Taking a seat next to him, I pulled my jacket tighter around me. It was cooler away from the fire.
"How are you settling in?" I asked, watching Jessa stir the pot of soup. We were very lucky to have Jessa with us, her cooking skills being beyond valuable. With a cook as a father and her mother in the catering business, she had learned a fair few skills. I don't think we would have survived without her.
"Fine," Benji replied.
"You know, you're going to need to speak up if you want to achieve anything here," I told him, turning to watch him.
He didn't answer but instead swivelled around on the step to face me. His eyes inspecting me closely, flickering across to every move that I made. His hands lay at his sides, motionless. I sighed.
Finally, I felt him twist away.
"How'd you get water here? I haven't seen a river." His voice was deep, cold even.
I pointed to a boy sat at the far side of the fire. "You see that boy? The one with the long hair?" He nodded his head, squinting his eyes to see clearly. "That's Isaac. He is insanely good at tech. He was in the first group of outcasts with me."
Isaac was whittling away at a piece of wood, his hands expertly moving as he carved.
"He would have made a good leader. But he has never been interested in anything but sticking to the shadows." I smiled at the memory of first meeting him. He was a quiet kid, not really interested in speaking in front of people.
"He hooked us up to the city's water system. The pipes run along our border."
"How did he do that? The city knows exactly the amount everyone uses. Don't they notice it missing?" Benji asked, his face still a blank sheet of emotions.
"Contrary to popular belief, the city doesn't know everything," I replied.
He looked confused.
"I think that they only say that to make people fear what will happen if they do something wrong. But in reality, it isn't really possible to know exactly what is happening with millions of people. Some things are bound to be lost along the way." I said. It had been on my mind for a while, the lies that our leaders had once told us. They really weren't as powerful as everyone thought.
"But they have managed to eradicate any siblings. Surely that shows that they have power?"
I thought for a moment. "I am sure there are still hundreds of siblings, hiding in the city. We only have about a hundred in camp. If you think about the number of families in the city with more than one child, there must have been more siblings." I told him. "Besides, how many of the children here were handed in by their families? I think all of them were."
"So you think they are hiding?" he questioned. I could tell that he was interested.
"Yes, I am sure of it. It wouldn't be too difficult."
I was silent for a moment, just thinking. I had a theory, one that I hadn't shared with anyone else, except Jake. But for some reason, I felt that I could trust Benji.
"I think there might be more siblings out there, outcasted from the city. I don't think the leaders would have wanted us all together. It would be too dangerous. I just don't know if the others have survived."
Benji looked at me in shock, his eyebrows furrowed with concentration. It was the first sign that I wasn't speaking to a brick wall.
"If this group can survive, can't anyone?"
"No. We were incredibly lucky. We've had so many talented people, all with valuable skills." I smiled with pride, thinking about the siblings in our community. We really were fortunate.
"You seem quite certain about this theory." He said, watching me closely.
"I am."
The flames in the fire pit were dancing around, competing over which fame would reach the highest. I had always liked watching the fire. It was odd that something as simple as a fire was a new discovery for me when we left the city. With electric appliances running my life, I had never seen fire before.
"How can you be so sure?" he pushed. It was odd, seeing him change from the quietest person to someone who wouldn't stop asking questions.
"There are some things that it is best not to share with the younger children. They have already been through too much."
He studied my face intensely, waiting for me to continue.
"You have to promise that you won't share this with anybody."
He nodded his head. "I promise. Cross my heart, hope to die."
I looked up him, my eyes narrowed and brow furrowed. "What?"
"Didn't you used to say that when you were a kid?" I shook my head. "It was like the most serious promise if you said that."
He laughed at the memory, and after a few moments, I joined him.
"I have never heard that in my life. The most important promise will forever be the pinkie promise." I teased.
He chuckled louder. It was a warming sound, infectious even.
"Alright then. I pinkie promise." He held out his pinkie finger. I grabbed it with my own, squeezing tightly until he yanked his hand away.
Here I was, joking around with Benji. The boy who didn't have emotions.
"Are you going to tell me now?"
"Oh, right," I replied, taking a deep breath. "A few years ago, Jake and I were out hunting."
His head snapped towards me, eyes wide. "Hunting?"
"I'll have you know, I am a brilliant hunter. Anyway, we saw smoke in the distance, so we went to see what was going on. When we got there, we found a campfire. But the people- the people were dead. It was just their bones left."
He gasped.
"It can't have been long since it happened, the smoke was still there. But not one person remained." I frowned at the memory.
"What do you think did that?" he whispered.
"Must have been some kind of mutated bear. Jake has seen a couple since says they're terrifying. Massive, too. There were only five people around the fire, but the bear must have eaten them all." I told him.
"I bet I could take one," he said, flexing his muscles slightly. I laughed until I realised that he wasn't joking. Of course, he couldn't take one, he was a city snob, much like most of the newbies were.
"That's why we lock everything away each night. And it's why we have people on watch." I trailed off, not knowing what else to say. But it didn't feel like any more words were needed. We just watched the rest of camp, the silence between us no longer a wall.
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