Tai feels a small kick of a canvas shoe hit her folded leg and glancing backwards she finds Akilah standing above her cradling that freakin’ duck.
“Why have we stopped looking for Mari?” the tone in her voice sounds little and accusatory. As if all the decision making was up to her.
Like hell it was.
“We haven’t given up,” Tai tries her best not to burst with anger at the sight of the beady-eye animal Akilah has grown attached to.
Heck, if she had the chance, she’d kill it the second Akilah wasn’t looking and serve delicious duck soup for the rest of them.
“You’re just sitting there! We have to look for her! We have to keep looking for Mari!” Akilah was becoming hysterical now, causing the duck to flutter and flap with slight alarm.
“-Hey-!” Van approaches them with a mug of some earthy concoction. She stares at Akilah directly.
“You need to calm down unless you want Daffy there to be our next meal!”
“His name is Mortimer,” Akilah snaps. She now leaves with the bird nestled in her arms; safely far away from the two soccer teammates.
“She’s right,” Tai palms her face with total defeat. “We should keep looking for Mari…”
“The only reason Keelah badgers you about it is the fact she’s too damn scared of Shauna. She won’t get her throat slit with you.”
Tai musters a smile that satisfies Van, but she couldn’t help feel guilty for not putting more effort. Mari could be long gone by now and Shauna was becoming more and more nasty and intense. Who knows what Lottie was doing with Travis and what ever happened to Coach Scott?