Page 32 of Hunt Me (The Skulls #1)

We don ’ t have the luxury of calendars anymore.

Luna is our timekeeper, though. The irony was not lost on us when she first introduced herself.

A beautiful woman named Luna who happens to be obsessed with the moon and keeping track of time.

But once she got more comfortable, when the group turned from just a group of women that managed to survive and into a family she ’ d confessed two winters ago that her name wasn ’ t Luna.

Since the end, she ’ d wanted to forget the life she had before the outbreak and decided to go by the name her grandmother decided to nickname her.

Others in the group have similar stories of not wanting to remember their lives before. Some because of the abuse that they had suffered at the hands of those who were supposed to be protectors, and others because remembering the happiness they lost is just too painful.

I place my palm flat against Isla ’ s stomach in the centre of where she cradles her belly, seeing the burn scars across her hands and right wrist. She ’ s one of the ones who prefer not to speak about her life before.

The memory of losing a sibling so close to her is too painful for her to be reminded of.

A sort of pain I am lucky to have never experienced.

‘ You hungry? ’ Amelia asks, breaking the silence.

I shake my head, not even considering taking any food from them when I ate not long ago. ‘ I got lucky and found something when I was out, ’ I admit, unable to lie to them about this detail. ‘ How ’ s our supply going? ’

‘ Great, ’ Amelia answers, a proud smile on her face. ‘ Liz went out and found some squirrels, so we ’ ve had plenty for now. ’

Relief washes over me.

‘ That ’ s good, ’ I say more to myself than anyone else.

‘ Common, you need rest. ’ Isla guides me towards the adjoining classroom as I try but fail to suppress a yawn.

Despite her cranky nature, she ’ s always had a mothering side to her. Isla would be the first to notice when I had gone too long without food and the main one to call me out on my bullshit when I would insist I wasn ’ t tired, hungry or just generally uncomfortable.

The girls are strong; I know they are. But the majority of them were teenagers when they lost everything. They were too young to have to fend for themselves entirely and definitely too young to be left without any semblance of a family.

I was lucky. I had a happy life and beautifully caring parents before all of this.

They were older than most of the kids my age ’ s parents when I was growing up.

Them having adopted me after suffering loss when they were younger.

Both my parents said that after several miscarriages, they decided the pain was too much.

They wanted to focus on their grief and recovery.

They ’ d thrown themselves into their work, making successful careers for themselves before deciding that something was missing. Me.

They passed so many beautiful memories onto me, and all I ’ ve wanted to do since then is do the same for these girls.

‘ Despite being all clean and that, you kind of look like shit, ’ Isla states as we sit on top of our makeshift beds.

Picking a school to stay in has had its perks. Full mats from the PE area make great beds, and if it ’ s a primary school, they usually have a selection of blankets and cosy things to create a comfy place to stay.

‘ Thanks, ’ I grimace.

The lack of sleep and lingering effects of my hangover are still with me, making my body sluggish. Not to mention the distinct ache I have between my legs and the bruising I have across my thighs, each fingerprint a reminder of Ruaridh ’ s firm grip as he thrust inside of me.

I groan.

‘ You know you can tell me anything. ’

I give Isla a warm smile as I cosy myself amongst the blankets. ‘ I know, just like you can tell me anything. ’

‘ Yeh, and I told you when I fucked that guy remember. ’

I laugh. ‘ Yeah, you did, but it ’ s not like you would have been able to keep it a secret. It was written all over your face. You were practically glowing, like a big neon sign saying I just had my insides rearranged but in the best sort of way . ’

‘ Exactly, ’ she arches a brow, her lips pursed as if hiding her amusement.

Oh.

Surely, she ’ s not suggesting she knows.

‘ Yes, exactly. Miss, I ’ ve just had my insides rearranged but in the best kind of way. ’

‘ Isla, ’ I start, but she holds up a hand.

‘ I ’ m not judging, Faun. I mean, look at me, ’ she gestures to her slightly swollen stomach.

‘ Yeh, ’ I state, feeling the blood drain from my face.

I ’ m so entirely fucked.

Fuckedy fucked.

Seeing my expression, Isla gasps. ‘ Please tell me you had a few more brain cells than me. I mean, how was I not a cautionary tale for you? ’

‘ Erm… I was a little distracted. ’

‘ Yeh, I bet you were. ’

Amusement fills me along with the warmth of being back with my unconventional family.

‘ Get some rest, and we ’ ll figure it out later. Together. ’ She promises, and the door swings shut behind her as she returns to the others, leaving me with only the morning bird songs as company.