Randy and Neil dug a grave fifty yards to the east of camp while the the girls stayed huddled in the treehouse.
Once they moved the body, Georgi went down and removed as much of the blood as she could. It was amazing how little of it there was. Maybe it just seemed that way since most of her experience was from TV or movies. She swallowed down her nausea. After heating up some water, she scrubbed her hands and arms till they turned pink.
Breathing in shaky breaths, she sat down for a moment before beginning breakfast. Neither Rosemarie nor Alex came down.
Georgi carefully set the pot of oatmeal a basket along with some bowls, spoons, and dried fruits then climbed the stairs. “Here,” she said to Rosemarie as she reached the treehouse.
Rosemarie took the basket from her while she pulled up the stairs.
“You need to eat.” Georgi jerked her chin toward the food.
Rosemarie stared in the basket. “I can’t,”
Georgi let Rosemarie be as she made a bowl for herself and Alex. “Here, honey.”
Alex took her bowl. Her eyes darted around as she tried to eat. “Momma, I gotta go pee,” she said.
“Ok,” Georgi said. “Let’s go to the outhouse.”
“I—I don't wanna go down there.” Her voice had a high pitched tremble.
“Hold on.” Georgi put down her oatmeal and climbed down the stairs.
Digging through the back of the truck, Georgi pulled out a bucket and dumped out it’s contents. Then retrieved the box of sawdust that she scooped up from Levi’s workshop. She brought these into the treehouse and set up a screen using some sheets.
“There’s a layer of sawdust in the bottom, do your business, then put another layer of sawdust. Got it?” Georgi said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Just be careful not to dump the bucket over,” Georgi said after she stepped beyond the screen. “Rosemarie, can I get you anything?”
Rosemarie shook her head.
“Are you sure?”
She shook her head again.
“Momma, where's the paper?”
“Dang...hold on baby. I'll be right back.” Georgi ran back down, grabbed the paper, and some baby wipes. “Sorry,” she said, passing the roll into the screened in area.
Alex came out from behind the makeshift curtain and took a baby wipe from her mother’s outstretched hand.
“Momma, can you get my other book?” she asked.
“Why can’t you get it?” Georgi asked.
“‘Cause the—the monsters might get me,” she said with tears starting to form again.
“There aren’t any here now.”
“I have to go down there?” she asked, taking little panicked breaths.
“No, baby.” Georgi hugged her daughter. “I'll get it. You won't have to go down there.” Georgi looked towards the cabin. An idea was slowly forming in her head.
Halfway down the stairs Alex said frantically, “Momma, are you sure they aren't down there? They won't get you will they?”
“There's nothing down here but Daddy and Neil. I'll be okay, sweetie,” Georgi said. “I'm coming right back. Pull the stairs back up after me.”
The woman scurried into the cabin and retrieved the book along with a few other things.
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