Step, Step, Run

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All of us stepped out of the RV.

Maeve didn't bother taking a look at the flat tire. She immediately began walking around in circles, holding her phone up towards the sky in hopes of catching a signal. Mallory kneeled down and touched the flat tire, before giving me a 'we're-so-screwed' look. I placed my hands on my hips and glanced around at the surrounding forest. There was nothing but trees for miles. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen another vehicle.

Our father walked back to us after searching the RV for a spare tire. He didn't need to say anything. I saw it in his expression. "We don't have a spare."

"Are you kidding me?" Maeve blurted, having heard him. She stomped back towards us, her flip-flops clacking against the bottoms of her feet. She swatted away a bug as she said, "What are we going to do, Dad? I can't survive out here!"

"None of us can survive out here," I responded, rolling my eyes.

Maeve glared at me. "Shut up, Madrina!"

"It's Mads."

"Gah, you're so stupid!" she cried out, turning away and throwing her hands into the air in exasperation.

The lack of confidence in our father's figure was concerning. He scratched his chin, then looked both ways down the street, saying, "Well, I suppose we wait here for someone to drive by. It shouldn't be long."

I blew out a tired breath.

"We're lost," Mallory stated, straightening to her feet. "Isn't that right, Dad?"

Our father didn't respond.

Maeve twisted on her heel, returning to us. "What do you mean 'we're lost'? Is that true, Dad? I thought you knew the way to the cabin like the back of your hand?"

"He missed the turn on purpose," I answered her, choosing to be the bad guy. I was always the one delivering bad news. Maeve was too slow to comprehend situations, Mallory was too sensitive, and our father had a habit of becoming quiet when it came to his faults, like he was now. I was the only one capable of being honest, even when the truth sucked. "I'm sure we can figure out where we are if we pull out a map."

"You dragged me on this stupid vacation and you missed the turn on purpose?" Maeve spoke, infuriated. "I can't believe this!"

He dropped his head.

"Come on, he feels bad enough," Mallory said, shaking her head. "Don't be so hard on him."

"He should feel bad," Maeve argued with her. "Look at where we are!"

I leaned back into the RV. "Stop being so dramatic."

"Excuse me?"

"Like Dad said, someone will surely drive by soon," I responded, calmly. "We just have to wait."

"Then I'm waiting in the RV," Maeve declared, stomping around to the other side. The RV shook against my back as she climbed inside, her feet heavy. Her voice could be heard in murmurs. She was undoubtedly complaining about the situation to herself. From the corner of my eye, I watched my father squat down and peer closely at the flat tire. Mallory shrugged her shoulders, not sure what he was doing.

"This is strange," he said, frowning. "It looks like something cut it."

"Cut it?" I repeated, then approached them. "How's that possible?"

"Did you run over an animal?" Mallory asked. "Maybe that could have done it."

"I don't remember seeing an animal," our father said, running his fingers down the tire. I quickly noticed why he believed the tire had been cut. There were two deep slashes in the rubber. An eerie feeling washed over me and I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Everything did happen so fast, so maybe there was an animal or a branch in the road..."