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He came at once, barrelling through the bushes in an effort to get to me as quickly as possible.
“What is it?” he asked, stopping behind me. “Are you alright?”
I shook my head at him.
“I'm completely fine,” I said, trying not to smile. “But look at this.”
He came forward, slowing when he saw the packs hidden under a blanket and covered by leaves and branches.
“What is that?” he asked slowly.
“Provisions,” I guessed.
“There's no way. Who would leave all this here?”
He bent down and I crouched next to him.
For some time, we went through everything. There was bedding, clothes, tinder to start fires, bottles and pans and pots for cooking and, to my relief, there was food. A lot of it too. An entire box was filled to the brim with canned, jarred and dried goods.
There was enough for a long time.
Once we had gone through it all, I looked at Addy, wondering if he was thinking what I was thinking.
His expression was unreadable, but he was very still, considering the pile of stuff.
“It seems that your friends planned to keep us here for a very long time,” I said gently.
Addy did not get angry or loud or argumentative. He only nodded.
“Yes,” he said, his voice too quiet.
After a long moment, he took the bedding in his hand and pushed to his feet.
“Can you carry one of the boxes?” he asked.
At my nod, he turned and left me there.
My heart went to him. I just couldn't help feeling sorry for him. It would be embarrassing to be so well played by people you had trusted.
Sighing, I picked up the box filled with the dried goods and carried it out from under its hiding spot, bringing it into the open to set it next to the fire pit that Addy had made for us.
I heard shuffling and turned to see that Addy was setting up my bed in the same little hiding spot he had found for me yesterday.
“I don't need that many blankets,” I told him. “Keep some for you.”
“I'll be fine.”
“Addy, those were clearly meant for a group of people. There's no need?—”
“Alil.”
He stood, turning to face me and I fell silent at the turmoil in his eyes.
“I don't deserve any,” he said firmly.
I would have argued but my throat closed up. He turned back to his task, arranging a beautiful, comfortable bed for me and I remained silent, watching until I realized he was done talking to me.
Swallowing, I went back to the supplies and continued to unpack them.
