Surrounds (Bonds) by S.L. Simps Page B

younger now in his annoyance, "I mean those two."
    "Ethan?"
    "I told her it was a bad idea to bring them." Nathan chimes up, "but your sister is an idiot, Ethan."
    "Says you." The other one finally speaks. "Mr. Barkens is waiting on you two. I'm sure he's going to want to meet your guests."
    "Why isn't anyone around?" Hanna asks ignoring Nathan. "Nothing happened right?" The girl's voice cracks with worry.
    "Oh nothing but a demon storm." The annoyed one announces, sarcasm leaking from his lips. "Nothing too big."
    "What in the hell is your problem, Ethan?" Hanna snaps, glaring weakly. Instead of answering the one named Ethan climbs down the container and walks over, his gun is no longer pointed at them, but that hardly makes Henderson and Lacey feel safe. He's at least twenty with blonde hair and blue eyes, with thin, pretty features like Hanna's.
    "Before you go any further, we're going to need your gun." Ethan announces, looking at Henderson with schooled features. "You can keep any blades on you and we'll be happy to give you the gun back when we are certain you can be trusted."
    Lacey's gaze finds Henderson's and both of them share a look.
    "Its alright," Hanna assures.
    Henderson, unclips his gun from his side and lays into onto the ground in front of him slowly.
    "You don't have any others?" Ethan asks, sparing a glance in Lacey's direction.
    "Nothing else," Henderson assures, sweat on his brow despite the quickly lowering sun. "We only need a place to stay until daylight."
    "Of course," he waves Henderson and Lacey forward, falling in step behind.
    (O)
    "I understand your want to help people, Hanna, but you shouldn't bring strangers here."
    Inside is a huge room filled with tables in the upper half, while towards its rear are fifty tents all in greens and browns, beyond it is a small secluded office which Lacey finds herself sitting in, in front of a brown desk, in front of a large, tired looking man, with short black hair and blue eyes.
    "I told her it was stupid." Nathan nods, folding his arms.
    Lacey stares at him, her amusement with the younger boy finally turning into annoyance.
    "I will speak with you later about what you did." Mr. Barkens says barely offering his son a glance. "But as I was saying, your here now and its nothing much we can do about it." He offers both of them a tiny smile.
    "We only want to stay the night if that's alright with you." Henderson speaks up. "We only need a place to sleep and warm up some of our food."
    Mr. Barkens nods. "Its fine. We have a sort of homemade cooking area outside in the back. We unfortunately do not have any free tents nor sleeping bags available."
    "They can use mine," Hanna offers, "I have watch tonight anyway, right?"
    "Its fine, were use to sleeping on the ground." Henderson quickly cuts him off, smiling gently at the girl, "but thank you for you help." Hanna blushes a pretty pink. Lacey mentally scoffs, whispering under her breath about the 'Henderson charm'. Henderson turns his gaze onto the leader of the group. "I also thank you for your hospitality."
    "Thanks..." Lacey offers half-heartedly. She was ready to eat and be off her blistering feet.
    "They are here." A soft voice whispers, seeming out of breath.
    Lacey turns around a few seconds after Henderson, finding herself staring at an old woman breathing haggardly, wrinkled arms holding her up against the open doorway. She was hunched over, with wrinkled light brown skin, snow white hair, and milky unseeing eyes. She was obviously blind but her gaze was focused on Lacey, as if she could see.
    "Mrs. Agatha," Mr.Barkens got onto his feet and quickly made his way to the old woman. "I thought you were taking a nap." He carefully leads her over and settles her in his wooden chair. "Is something wrong?"
    The air inside the office grew tense, as Agatha stares steadily in Lacey's direction while everyone else focuses on the woman. Lacey suddenly feels naked, as if every one of her secrets were on display, even