Ray10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mXdp1Fowo
I pop a mint into my mouth, listening to the chirping of crickets and birds, and the soft hum from machinery. I can still hear some faint music from the festival, but it grows quieter with every step.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxAtqzlMLx
As I walk up the dirt path to my house I notice a dark shadow. I slip my peppermints into my pocket and tiptoe over to the side of the house, surprised when I see a girl --- she has beautiful long brown hair, and looks to be about my age.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5UXltHlMb
Her eyes flutter open and she looks up, her eyes instantly filling with fear.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qqe5p0f82
"What ... are you doing here?" I ask curiously.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2njGyQnxp
She presses herself against the side of the house. "U-uh, I just needed somewhere to rest, b-but it looks like I lost track of time," she lies.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHit4zDGNX
I study her for a moment, but I can't even figure one thing out about her. Usually I'm able to read a person just by the way they move their eyes, but her ...10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGniKb0yW8
"Come inside. You look hungry," I say, nodding towards the house.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMdBd4wDoH
She stares at me for a long minute before nodding. "O-okay."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkIzsA5Ip0
Her soft footsteps follow behind me as I lead her up the dirt path.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YiAQ7AH6a
Gwen10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84UsTUZHq3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBpz8iOyB2
I can't believe how lucky I am that I managed to escape that group of thieves and find shelter. I'll have to repay this girl in some way.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf8go2tl9V
She doesn't look like most of the girls I've seen. She's got short blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a sharp jawline. If I hadn't seen the way she were dressed, I might've thought she were a boy. But I suppose if you're going to be working on a farm it'd be more convenient to have short hair.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRnaCkr4Wu
"What's your name?" she asks, holding the door open. A cool gust of air sends a shiver down my spine. It was excrutiatingly hot today.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Tk3uSPgP
"Uh, Gwen. You?"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqQtqo9hI4
"Ray." She slips out of her mud caked boots and waits for me to take my own, worn down shoes off.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60qUhYEmYj
She leads me to a kitchen with a small circular table in the middle and sits me down. A few minutes later she sets a steaming plate of chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli down. My eyes practically pop out of my head as she sits down across from me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp58A1MP8R
"Go ahead," Ray says, smiling softly.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LyfQkyFJt
After the food, she leads me upstairs to a small bedroom. The bed has a floral quilt and light blue curtains hang in front of the window.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IeHPK4Qrd
"You can sleep here. And I'll get you some clothes so you can bathe."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjqcu3XJdX
She comes back with a loose white blouse and brown trousers.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PAJmu2Ikx
"You don't have anywhere to go, right?" she asks, setting the clothing on my new bed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB3I1WU8S4
I shake my head, my cheeks warming slightly. "Then you can stay here for as long as you need. I've been wanting some help on the farm."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxCr1EsZXi
I take a bath and feel clean for the first time in months. I've had a lot of firsts tonight. First time wearing pants, eating such a huge meal, and taking a bath all to myself.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtpzPtFG8c
Ray10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYpaw6Bfhq
It's been almost a year.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiDyBg1WKV
The weather is starting to warm up again after a harsh winter. Gwen has made for great company. Honestly, I forgot what it was like to live with someone else.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSVxo7Ikfh
It was hard working with her at first --- she had absolutely no idea what she was doing. Though I suppose that makes sense since she grew up in a larger town for a few years before she was kidnapped by a group of criminals. But she's improved significantly, and I'm honestly really proud of her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLFrBaUvKy
I can tell this isn't her favorite job --- working on the fields --- but she seems to enjoy it more when we're doing it together. I do too.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w4J3TiIoZ
I stand up from the row of crops I was just picking, shielding my eyes from the bright sun. A drop of sweat trickles down my neck as I pick up my basket.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv3gFTW2kO
"I'm gonna head inside and make some food, Gwen," I say.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CMXrBQPCp
She looks up, her low pony tail blowing in the gentle breeze. She smiles softly. "Alright."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrLlIKxz13
I smile back and make my way towards the house. It's later in the day, around 4 I think. Dinner should be ready by 6:30, and I'm sure Gwen will be starving by then.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJMslHXQbv
I load the freshly picked vegetables into a small bin and stick that into the storage room.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIQGBuPs4i
Flakes of mud fall onto the ground as I take my boots off and head to the kitchen.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnz3GyZXqL
Maybe I'll make something special.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmZrXa0Kcq
A peach pie? Yes, that'll do. I can't wait to see the smile it brings to her face. I still clearly remember the day she first tried a peach. Her eyes lit up and she declared on the spot that that was her new favorite fruit. And also one of the only she's ever had.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfk1OPqbaj
Gwen10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHTg1bbrot
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHHGAUQxPQ
I wipe a river of sweat from my forehead. Ray said she'd buy me some new clothing because the blouse she gave me almost a year ago is now stained with mud and dirt and plant juices.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZYlSFkdjp
And the way she walked to the house ... I think she's going to make something special.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HgidI9HJS
Another hour or so passes by, and I decide to call it quits. The sun is starting to set, which is unusual. We usually have dinner earlier, but maybe whatever she's making just takes longer. 10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBikmYyVA7
I drop of the fruits I picked in the storage room and walk in through the back door this time, hoping I can surprise her. I slip out of my shoes and walk down the dimly lit hallway that leads to the kitchen.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IKczlCnRR
It smells like something is burning.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPEW0cEc3Z
I round the corner, my hands like claws.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VR9ktO7V7
My grin drops and my stomach twists at the sight of Ray on the ground. Her eyes instantly catch mine as I kneel beside her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMjWbtKYyN
"Get out," she mouths.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6nWERRRYW
I shake my head, fighting the tears in my eyes.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFf8QscbBc
I wipe a drop of blood from her cheek.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYUbKc1nkn
The smell of smoke is now indefinite. Objects in the kitchen are scattered around, almost as if there was a fight.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOBtyRv1Az
Her own eyes begin to fill with tears. "Please," she whispers.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOHbr72j0b
"What happened?" I croak.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OK8aTRWAr
Suddenly I hear heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Ray's eyes widen and she tries with all her might to push me towards the door, but I don't budge.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSKf5k7EFp
"Go," she begs.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEMMyw2igu
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into my chest. I don't even care that her blood is staining it red, or that I'm crying in front of her, or that she probably hates me for staying, or that I'm going to die.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWwNF8CCnR
Three men enter the kitchen and I immediately recognize them. They're the ones who took me away from the people I loved. The monsters who took me away. And I won't let them do it again.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1BrbTYgYZ
I look back down at Ray. "I love you," I sob, pressing a kiss to her temple.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGs6u7smRI
The world soon fades to nothingness before the men can stop me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKMqcTQOj0
and then Add to home screen.