Book tidbit
This is a piece from a book I'm writing. I would like to know If it's any good.
The brambles brushed his scrawny arms as he trekked through the undergrowth, his mind becoming weary as he held tight to Marcia's arm. The future seemed bleak, for they had been wandering through the wilderness aimlessly for over a month. Suddenly, the ground broke free before him, sending him and his companion down a three foot drop. Margo sat up, spitting dirt out of his mouth. He soon realized the ledge they had landed on was no bigger than an SUV, and the thickets of undergrowth were up to his eyes. As he prepared to stick his calloused hand into the thorns to see what was beyond, he heard sniffles behind him. He turned to see Maria sitting down and trying desperately to reach her back.
"What's wrong now?" He spat at her, not allowing an ounce of sympathy to exit his chapped lips.
"I scraped my back!" She squealed like a child, her eyes welling with tears.
"Come here." He said, annoyed by the pampered LA princess. She had been a pain throughout their unplanned expedition.
As she approached, he motioned for her to come forward. Margo jumped as he peaked down the back of her shirt, but Marcia jumped even more, as if she had remembered something that she had blocked out of her mind.
"Come back here!" He snapped, his fear turning into anger. He gave another examination to he bruised back, even though it was obvious the wounds were visibly months old.
"What did this to you do?" He murmured, scared to hear the reply. She was silent, which turned his increasing fear into anger. "WHO did this to you?" He bellowed, his voice cracking as he squeezed the blonde girls arm.
He stood up, frustrated, and began to aimlessly rip at the briar barrier separating them from the other side of the cliff. He was surprised to see the prickly wall was was thin. As he peeked through the hole, joy overflowed as he spotted a small town just a few hundred yards ahead!
"We're saved! Look, a town! We'll be home ASAP!" He squealed, for the first time he had felt true happiness- until weeping followed behind him. Marcia seemed to be crying- and not tears of joy.
"I can't go back!" She snuffled.
"Why not?" He growled. 'Will I have to carry her?'he thought.
"He'll-" she shoved her face in her hands and curled up in a ball, the rest of her rant was muffled, inaudible words. Suddenly he understood. She doesn't live in paradise- but quite the opposite. This had been the work of domestic violence, he thought as he put the pieces together in his mind. How had I been so cruel to her? He thought, and without a word he scooped her up in his arms, petting her hair softly. "How many times has a man kissed you and it meant something?" He whispered in her ear, pausing to run his fingers through her hair. "Never!" Her scream penetrating the calm of the forest "no one will ever love me, I am ruined and disgusting" her voice was drowned by her own sobs, and here nose pressed into his chest. "That's not true. Believe me," his calm whisper was so close in her ear, it drowned out all other sounds. "How do YOU know?" Her voice was bitter, but Margo's gaze remained soft. "Because he's already fallen in love with you"