Cole Campbell

" You were bit by a snake. You were almost dead. I kinda saved you."

"Oh... wow... How did you save me?" I asked quietly.

"It is not important. What is important is who knows you came here?"

"No one knows. I didn't tell anyone, I didn't even leave a note. And trust me, no one will be looking for me. No one gives a shit about me anyway."

I could hear the defiance in her voice, but deeper down was something else. "So you came what? Looking for your sister, is that correct."

"Yes," I said, looking down at her still asleep on the bed beside me. "She's... she's all I have left. And even that's a long shot. I just... I had to try."

"Well there are a few people here who aren't your fans either. Your sisters best friend, her brother and your sisters boyfriend, I think he was anyways"

"Anyone who's here that knows me is far from a fan of mine. I... I've made... so many mistakes," I whispered and shook my head. "I've done... so many horrible things."

I looked at her and saw her tears were genuine and I softened a bit. "Well she came here to take care of you, so maybe there's hope."

"I hope so," I whispered and wiped at my eyes. "She really is all I have left."

" Only you can make things better. If you truly are genuine, then she'll see it." I said and then stood. " storms bad. We are gonna be stuck here a few days. Are you hungry?"

I nodded a little. "I'm starving."

I told her I'd be back. I went and sat some food out and came back. "I'm gonna move you in by the fire. Let her sleep. Her friend went for a walk. Hope she's ok."

"Me too. You don't have to carry me if you don't want to. Just... maybe help me. I don't think I can use my leg yet."

"I don't want you walkin on that leg quite yet. Carrying you is not a big deal." I said and scooped her up effortlessly and took her in and placed her on the couch.

"Thank you," I said and took the blanket he handed me, draping it over my lap. "It's nice and warm in here. I didn't... exactly prepare as well as I should've to come out here this time of year. I just didn't know what to expect. And I left in a hurry."

"Wanna tell me what happened?" I asked as I made some hot tea.

"It's kind of a long story."

"We are stuck in a cabin during a white out. We have time."

"It's... hard to know where to start," I said quietly and thanked him as I took the mug he handed me. I took a slow sip and sighed a little, then started to talk. I told him about life growing up. How Dad treated mom. How we always had to be careful and walk on eggshells around him.

"Yet you became what you feared, I swear the whole peacekeeper program is crap."

"I became what I did... for survival," I said softly. "I had to do what he said... do what he wanted... or I was punished," I said and bit my lip a little.

"No, i get it. Really, more than you know. Now eat, youll need your strength."

I nodded and looked down at my plate, eating slowly. "It's quiet out here," I said softly. "Back there... everything is so crazy. Loud. All the time."

"I remember, well. I love this. It's not always this quiet. The snow has everyone hiding right now."