Ray70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80OzEKM0WS
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpZASAO6Po
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yb5k3DjL8
Her eyes flutter open and she looks up, her eyes instantly filling with fear.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8vUCNogM8
"What ... are you doing here?" I ask curiously.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPceObfXnWt
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtBGfRTN9N
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 ...70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc5Ublcmeh
"Come inside. You look hungry," I say, nodding towards the house.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw4XbHCxaq
She stares at me for a long minute before nodding. "O-okay."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagcQfe7f11
Her soft footsteps follow behind me as I lead her up the dirt path.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN5JGegZfn
Gwen70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeca7nKZOO
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zQeshQa7W
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17ahQYG57k
"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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt0DagIw0c
"Uh, Gwen. You?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2Slda8y5z
"Ray." She slips out of her mud caked boots and waits for me to take my own, worn down shoes off.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDhouKcmCf
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UvhIsMBL4
"Go ahead," Ray says, smiling softly.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5PgCkpuM2
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSPh54Ogn0
"You can sleep here. And I'll get you some clothes so you can bathe."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7ydMenO0R
She comes back with a loose white blouse and brown trousers.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhMI2aWJeS
"You don't have anywhere to go, right?" she asks, setting the clothing on my new bed.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspRdJXv61c
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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hiAqCXnGy
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVmjrtJkoP
Ray70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3u1SCNQKE
It's been almost a year.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjZIGgYnsx
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr2CTTDmLq
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpzepBrUpx
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVnVt7Sf8T
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBpJHYqMcb
"I'm gonna head inside and make some food, Gwen," I say.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoANcdebDpA
She looks up, her low pony tail blowing in the gentle breeze. She smiles softly. "Alright."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjv5U9MSht
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jBikGLV4b
I load the freshly picked vegetables into a small bin and stick that into the storage room.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhsHRaA99j
Flakes of mud fall onto the ground as I take my boots off and head to the kitchen.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEn6TiBASn
Maybe I'll make something special.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPprzqPcofA
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw9PPAXz3E
Gwen70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymaXDiTnY4
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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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0rMdejoWY
And the way she walked to the house ... I think she's going to make something special.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwCQen2y1U
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. 70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH1GZ6Tp72
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFPDi4opaV
It smells like something is burning.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DKO1uC1HF
I round the corner, my hands like claws.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngio6CPOAP
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQImrD94Yo2
"Get out," she mouths.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEPGTwlaBL
I shake my head, fighting the tears in my eyes.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU79ct8mf65
I wipe a drop of blood from her cheek.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykuubFKCkk
The smell of smoke is now indefinite. Objects in the kitchen are scattered around, almost as if there was a fight.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CQOkzC4vR
Her own eyes begin to fill with tears. "Please," she whispers.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5FlCuB8EE
"What happened?" I croak.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg82MXfDDY
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXL2UPMXUH
"Go," she begs.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlBSKnuzVD
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq4KCBBk40
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHr9K8zjaF
I look back down at Ray. "I love you," I sob, pressing a kiss to her temple.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeH35mEDB4
The world soon fades to nothingness before the men can stop me.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjsF08zmFw
and then Add to home screen.