Cory was right.

I didn't like him all that much after he started working on my leg.  The pain had been damn near excruciating from the moment he touched it and as a result I had attempted to kick him more than once. After my third attempt he threatened to just cut my leg off and be done with it if I tried to kick him again.

It was safe to say that I didn't try again after that.

The looks he kept throwing my way while he worked weren't helping the situation either. He kept looking at me as if I was a bomb ready to explode at any minute.

It was only after he had bandaged my leg that I finally found my voice.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I questioned.

He took his time stacking all the supplies he had used back on the metal tray before finally answering, not even bothering to turn around and look at me.

"Like what?"

I blew out a frustrated breath. Was he really going to play this game?

"Like I'll bite your head off." I clarified

At that, he quickly turned to look at me, eyes narrowed and the expression on his face cold.

"Why? Do you have the urge to bite me?"

I blinked once. Slowly.

The absurdity of his question and the deadly look on his face clashed together. Was he being serious right now?

I shook my head, silently wondering if maybe he was the one who needed to see a doctor right now.

"Do I look like I munch on humans in my free time?" I asked, the sarcasm practically dripping from my voice.

Cory continued to stare at me with that hard look on his face for a few more second before answering.

"Not yet."

And with that he gathered the tray in his hands and left the bathroom, leaving me staring wide eyed at where he had just been standing.

What the hell had just happened?

I barely had time to think about his crazy behavior before Arden poked her head around the corner and then slowly came into the bathroom holding a bundle of clothing.

She held the clothes out to me.

"I brought you some of my clothes to change into. I thought maybe you'd want to wash up after...well you know."

I looked down at my torn jeans and blood caked shirt.

Yeah, I'd kill for a shower right now.

As if reading my thoughts Arden spoke up. "He said not to get the bandages wet so you'll have to settle for washing up in the sink for now."

I sighed. It'd have to do.

I reached out and took the clothes from her before looking at her gratefully.

"Thank you."

She gave me another one of her bright smiles before nodding to the cabinet below the sink.

"There should be some wash cloths under there. Take your time and when you're done we'll get you something to eat. I'm sure you're hungry."

For some reason, I suddenly had the urge to cry. I'd been through so much in such a short amount of time. We'd probably still be out there in the middle of the road dead had it not been for Arden. Her and her brother, even if he was a little strange, had gone out of their way to help us.

Without really thinking about it I threw my arms around her small frame and thanked her again, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling.

Surprisingly, Arden hugged me back and laughed while patting my back.

"Don't thank me just yet. I can't cook worth a shit."

I pulled back and couldn't help the laugh that tumbled from my lips.

"As long as it's edible."

Arden bit her bottom lip and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Edible huh? I might be able to handle that." She gave me a cheeky smile before turning to leave the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

After washing up as best as I could so at least all the blood was gone from my skin, I changed into the sweat pants and white tank top that Arden had provided. I tried to ignore the fact that the tank top fit a little snug around my breasts and showed off a bit more cleavage than I liked as a result and focused on trying to manage my hair instead.

Without a brush or comb there really wasn't much I could do. So, I simply picked out all the pieces of grass and used my hair tie to put it in the very definition of a messy bun.

I glanced in the mirror and satisfied that I no longer looked like the walking dead, grabbed my old clothes before exiting the bathroom.

I had been so focused on the pain earlier that I didn't really have a chance to look around before I was ushered into the bathroom.

The basement looked as if it were originally used for storage. Racks of unopened camping equipment took up most of the space but a small area had been cleared right in the middle and that's where everyone sat.

Six sleeping bags had been laid out in a small semi circle around various supplies and two small lanterns.

The first two of the sleeping bags were occupied by Cory and Arden who looked to be in a serious conversation if Cory's hand gestures were anything to go by. The third one was taken by an older man who looked like he was in his late forties with short cropped dark hair, brown eyes, and a stern expression. The next two were taken by a woman and small boy who I assumed was her son who sat cuddled up against her side. The last sleeping bag was where my dad lay, his head bandaged and still unconscious.

Noticing my presence Arden turned to look at me and gave a wistful sigh.

"I wish I had boobs like that. You look great in that top."

I felt my face heat as Cory suddenly started coughing.

"Um, thanks?" I said, not really sure how to respond to her suddenly announcing to a room full of strangers that she liked my boobs.

Arden quickly got to her feet and reached over Cory to grab another sleeping bag before rushing over to me.

"This is for you," she said holding out the sleeping bag for me to take. "And I'll take these." She grabbed my dirty clothes out of my hands before I could say anything and quickly disappeared into a room right next to the bathroom.

I turned back to the rest of the room to find three sets of eyes on me and then there was Cory who was looking everywhere but at me.

Face still flaming from Arden's earlier comment and now from the unwanted attention I was getting, I quickly walked over to my dad and laid out my sleeping bag next to his before sitting down.

My butt had just touched the ground when Arden came back in the room , this time her hands were carrying a bowl of something steaming that instantly made my stomach growl and a bottle of water.

"This is for you." She said handing me the bowl and bottled water which I gratefully took.

Arden returned to her spot next to Cory before looking at me expectantly.

After a moment I realized she was waiting for me to try the soup and I quickly ate a spoonful.

"Well?" She promoted with raised eyebrows.

"It's great." I replied going for another bite.

At my reply Arden burst into a fit of giggles.

"I'd hope so. All I did was pour it out of the can and put it in the microwave."

I couldn't help but snort in laughter, almost choking on the soup in progress.

Arden simply smiled in amusement before looking at everyone else around her.

"I guess I'll do introductions then since Cory is being a shitty host." Arden said pointedly.

In response, Cory gave her a dry look. "Does this look like a party to you?"

Arden simply waved him off before pointing to the woman and the young boy.

"That's Marie and her son Danny. Marie and Danny this is Allona."

The woman, whose hair was styled in a cute blonde bob gave me a polite smile while the boy threw me for a loop by suddenly blurting, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Danny!" Marie scolded him but I laughed it off. The boy couldn't have been older than ten.

"No, I don't." I replied with a smile.

Danny nodded and gave a small fist pump.

Arden rolled her eyes and then gestured to the older man.

"That's Gabe, Gabe that's Allona."

It didn't escape my attention that her introduction for Gabe was a lot less enthusiastic.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl." He replied as he stared at me.

And now I knew why.

After that, no one really said much else and I quickly finished my soup and water. I was now feeling bone tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep for twelve hours. Or twenty.

"Everybody should turn in for the night." Cory suddenly announced just as I stifled a yawn.

"I'm sure you have questions and trust me, so do we." This was directed at me. "But we'll answer them in the morning. For now everybody get some rest."

And with that he cut off one of the two lanterns in the center of the floor before crawling under his own sleeping bag and everyone else soon followed.

Before doing the same, I glanced over at my dad. Without the bandage wrapped around his head you'd think he was just sleeping.

Please wake up soon.

I leaned down placed a gentle kiss on his forehead before snuggling down into my sleeping bag and letting the darkness and exhaustion do its job and lull me to sleep.

***