Cody came back a few hours later, finding nothing. Well, knowing his tactic of ‘looking’ would be barrelling through the forest like a crazed rhino completely tunnel-visioned in a rage. But all the same, I trust his judgement. Not like I have much of a choice here.

Anne believed that it was her fault that they were attacked because she didn’t ‘see’ it. How can it be her fault? Normal people (like myself) don’t even get an inkling as to what may happen in the future. It took a lot to convince her but really, I think she just gave up on me and continues to quietly blame herself.

Markus…went back into his shell. He wouldn’t eat or talk for a few days. He completely refuses to sleep unless I was with him round the clock. Cody has also kept his wondering to around the house, completely on alert. Which is good in a way. I didn’t have to go looking too far for him. But he also refused to breach the subject of him and the overly ‘heroic’ rebels and their stupid plans that they have in store that I just know will end badly. Not to mention that the new moon is fast approaching. There was only one day left.

I stare at him across the table that Anne has forced me to sit at while she’s force feeding me whatever she finds. Which are practically wild vegetables and fruit that are strewn all over the farm. She knows I skip out on meals so that there is more on the table for them, so she gets on my case until I eat something. Though she does try to get ‘creative’…and I’m staring down a plate of mashed potato mixed with carrot, cauliflower and…I think turnip and apple all lumped in together in a gooey mess. It doesn’t exactly look appetizing but the way she’s glaring a hole into my head… I picked up a spoon and take a bite…tastes like baby food but I am hungry and she’s still glaring at me. So to be safe I take another bite and swallow.

Satisfied, my sister sits beside Cody with a cup of water. “When are you planning to go?” She doesn’t look at him but the question is directed at Cody.

“...In the morning.”

“Then we best get some sleep,” she says into her cup.

“Uh-uh. You lot are staying here. That includes you, Kae.”

I glare at him, “I am not going to let you go wondering off with those idiots. If I can’t stop you, then I will come along and make sure you don’t do something completely stupid.”

“They’re not idiots.”

“Oh sorry. Idiots with guns and a pre-dated sense of justice.”

“They’re not idiots,” he repeats.

“What proof do you need?” I mutter more to myself, “They invited you.”

“I heard that!”

“Are you running away?” A small voice said from the doorway. It’s been over two weeks since Markus had opened his mouth and his wide eyes were on Cody.

“No, not running away,” Cody is absolutely taken aback with shock.

“Then why are you leaving us behind?”

“It’s not safe.”

“What? And leaving us here is?” I stare at Cody while motioning for Markus to sit next to me, pushing my plate in front of him and placing the spoon in his hand. He doesn’t hesitate to eat, albeit slowly, but at least he’s eating.

I didn’t want to bring up what happened two weeks ago in front of Markus so I was hoping Mr Thick-Head with hooves across the table catches on. I suck as any kind of protector. Markus and Anne may be filled with mystical voodoo powers but they fluctuate and get unstable so bloody easily. The tree in the house is a good example. …What happened to our original house and the surrounding suburb is another.

Cody bites his lip, gnawing on it as if it was going to bleed forth a comeback but he remains silent, mulling inside his head, at one point shooting a glare at Anne who in turns glares back. I look between them, completely unamused. I was about to order the conversation out but then Cody shoots up from his chair suddenly.

“Fine! Do what you want!” His voice fuming before storming out the kitchen door.

Leaving both Markus and I to stare at our now very smug sister, who simply says, “There we go.”

“What did you say?” I blink as Markus shoves a spoon towards my mouth, another one who is going to force me to eat. But if he’s sharing, that means he will have to eat. So I comply, opening my mouth the let him spoon feed me.

“I simply said that I will always be in his head. Every minute of every day. Every moment he thinks he’s alone, I’ll be there. Even when he’s showering, even when he’s sleeping I will see every thought so that if he even tries to sneak away, I’ll know.”

I think a chill just ran up my spine. This girl is turning into a monster.

“I learn from the best,” she retorts back at me.

“Oi,” I state. “Stay out.”

She shrugs at me and finishes her water. “Markus, you should have a bath. I prepared it a while ago so it should be good now.”

Markus finishes the last spoonful of the mush and hops up, “Ok. But Kae needs something else to eat.”

“I could say the same about you, mister,” I growl as he scuttles away from me, a grin on his face while I attempt to nab him but miss. Thank god I saw it again.

As I watch him make his way up the stairs, I make sure I heard the door shut to the bathroom before realising that Anne is staring at me.

“What?”

She shakes her head as she stands up and goes to the stove, as she touches it, the hotplate comes alive as she moves to take a pot and put it on top. “Cody found a cow. So we have milk.” As she said this, she gets a bucket from beside the door and pours some of the milk in.

How did Cody find a cow? …Birds of a feather…or cows of a paddock in this case…

“Something like that,” she answers out loud.

I suddenly thought of something, “How come you can talk to Markus and Cody in your head but you can’t with me?”

“You already know the answer to that,” she says simply.

Yeah I do. Whenever she communicate and I happen to be in the loop …well that pain I felt when she was screaming for Cody…

She nods as I remember, “I think your mind is really sensitive.”

Gee thanks.

“I’m not trying to insult you, you know.”

“Yeah but it points out that I’m the biggest burden though.” Not like we need add any more to the list. Ah I shouldn’t be complaining, she has enough on her mind as it is.

“Not really, it’s just Cody repeating song lyrics in his head over and over to try and block me out.”

“Which song?”

“…Something about some guy called Cotton Eye Joe?”

A smirk appears on my lips. “Oh well. I should check on Markus.”

I managed to wake early enough to watch Anne staring at Cody who was look rather uncomfortable under her intense gaze.

“I said I won’t already!” he cries out after a time after we all manage to get dressed.

“Good!” she states before marching out of the bedroom with Markus in tow, “We’ll be downstairs.”

Cody lets out a sigh, “Seriously.”

“Why are you meeting up in Deadside?” I ask, folding my arms.

He looks up at me, “To check something.”

“And that is?”

“Find out when we get there.”

Cody is the master of pissing me off.

It took a good walk down the highway and onto a main drag before we reach a bridge that was the city’s old limit. Deadside was in the middle of an old business district that was a mix of Chinatown thrown in. Those who were locked out manage to always find themselves in Deadside eventually. There is a small community but Cody and I thought it better to keep wondering. Of course that meant we barely made contact with others like us and when we did they were either crazy, scared, spiteful or just downright rude. Then there was Jack.

Eventually, while we walked, Markus tired of doing just that and proceeded to use me as his personal beast of burden. Coming into the street there is a large bonfire roaring smack bang in the middle with people strewn through it. Some together in whispers that pause conversation to stare at us, others inside abandoned shops and houses with fires of their own, minding their own business and those who by themselves warming up by the fire as the sun finally set. But they all lost interest just as quickly.

We move towards one man in particular with a rather overly serious look on his face while talking to some hooded person all hushed and shit. Probably ordering to do something insane. As always. Noticing us with a mere flick of the eyes, Jack grunts, “Cody.”

Cody smiles as he walks up to the man in his mid-twenties. He wasn’t a particularly tall and a little scruffy with scars accumulating over the years. But he was a man with character. And it seemed to lure Cody in like a fly to bullshit.

When Jack’s eyes fell on me, his tone went to sarcasm, “My, my and you even brought Oddball.”

“Jack the ass,” I reply back. “Still as bent on your suicidal schemes and dragging everyone along with it since the last time I checked?”

“You still have that sharp tongue, I see.” He then did a once over on my two younger siblings. “And these two…”

I frown at him but he didn’t finish the sentence.

Cody knows that this guy winds me up quicker than he does and opens his mouth, “I have come here to exchange information.”

“Of course you have. Why else would you have answered my call?” Folding his arms, Jack turns back to Cody, “There is something I want you to see. It’s best if you leave your siblings behind.”

“Like hell I’m leaving you with him without direct supervision.”

“You really should buy the Mother Hen a leash. And muzzle.” He then thought on it. “Whatever. It’s your skin, Oddball.”

I bite my lip, I can’t drag Markus or Anne along.

“I can look after them if you want?” A small woman comes up to me, motioning to take Markus from my back. “My name is Yvette. I just made fresh bread and muffins if you don’t mind?” She looks at Markus with kind eyes. Markus perks up at ‘muffins’. Yep trust his cake and muffin tooth to spin him out of being shy.

Anne has been busy looking into the distance for a while before her gaze switches to me as if snapped from a dream, “It’s ok if you stick to the eastern ridge. None of the military are there for the moment. We can stay behind. I trust that he isn’t planning on taking you far.”

“Interesting…” Jack mulls over at my sister. “You’re very interesting, little girl.”

Oh so help me-

“And you’re dangerous,” Anne retorts.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

It wasn’t compliment. It was a warning. And I hope like fuck Cody heard it.

“Follow me.” He simply state before walking off into an old, decaying and rather decrepit alleyway, Cody not far behind. I pull Markus from my back, “Uh thank you, Yvette. Markus, I’ll be right back.”

He nods, probably more interested in the muffins at the moment. I look at Anne before quickly going after them.