|
5f7ebd9
|
I was dreaming," I said. "Again." "Can't say I blame you." Daniel eased back as I moved away to sit on the ground. "Been having a few anxiety dreams myself."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c6e5c8c
|
You shouldn't be here," I said. "I'm still dreaming, aren't I?" "That depends. Am I better looking?"
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
f96664a
|
Is that...?" I nodded. I tried to explain, but the words wouldn't come. I handed him the paper. He finished reading it. "That's not...?" he murmured when he finished. "How...?" "Okay, what gives?" Corey said. "Personally, I wouldn't care if the U.S. declared war on Canada. Doesn't seem relevant under the circumstances."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
0426832
|
Daniel knelt and held out a bottle. I thought it was pop, then saw the label. "Beer?" I said. "It helps. I knew his meds had dissolved, so I grabbed a few from the store." Corey took it and twisted off the cap. A few gulps. Then a deep breath as he relaxed. Another long drink, then a sidelong glance at me. "Yes, I'm self-medicating with booze and I know that's not smart."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
495d734
|
The puking was new. And the pain was worse. The flashing lights are a recent symptom." He opened one eye. "See, I said I get all the cool powers. Raging migraines cured by booze. I really will be that guy in a bar--"
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
eb4c2c2
|
I was dreaming," I said. "Again." "Can't say I blame you." Daniel eased back as I moved away to sit on the ground. "Been having a few anxiety dreams myself." I looked at him and the events of the last day slowly returned. "You shouldn't be here," I said. "I'm still dreaming, aren't I?" "That depends. Am I better looking?" I gave a soft laugh and shook my head. "Do I at least better than I did yesterday?" "No. Sorry." I rubbed my eyes and ..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b57b444
|
Where are the others?" "Sleeping a couple hundred meters that way." He pointed. "I figured that was far enough from you." "I thought I told you we should separate." "And you expected me to listen?"
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
955a93a
|
I shape-shifted in my sleep. But if you were nearby all night and I'm dressed..." "Your T-shirts on backward. Your socks and shoes are off. Your jeans aren't zipped. And I'm pretty sure those aren't Kenjii's." He pointed to two large cougar tracks in a patch of dew-damp earth. "But how...?" "I stayed downwind so Kenjii couldn't smell us. She probably didn't wake because she was exhausted. As for the clothes, I guess you do more than shape-s..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
d506054
|
It's another trap." Corey looked at me. "It...sounds like it," I said. "But if it's a good trap, then they really let Hayley go. She's out here as bait." "So you think you can outsmart them and rescue her?" Sam said. "No, the thing to do is keep going." We argued about that, of course."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
aaba35d
|
As I made my way through the forest, I'll admit I was also straining for a familiar bark or whine. I hadn't said a word about Kenjii since leaving the store. How could I without making it sound like I put her on the same level as Hayley.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
ec41810
|
We can't take his ride, though. We don't know how far he might need to walk to the nearest town. You two hang back," he said to Corey and Sam. "Maya, make Kenjii stay with them." "Excuse me?" Corey said. "Sam and I aren't going to scare--" "Four teenagers and a dog will scare any old guy," Daniel said. "So will two guys. So will..." He glanced at Sam. "Thanks," she said. "You know what I mean."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
386f92f
|
You two hang back," he said to Corey and Sam. "Maya, make Kenjii stay with them." "Excuse me?" Corey said. "Sam and I aren't going to scare--" "Four teenagers and a dog will scare any old guy," Daniel said. "So will two guys. So will..." He glanced at Sam. "Thanks," she said. "You know what I mean. Maya's friendly. And she can keep her cool." "I'm not sure that's any less insulting," Sam muttered."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c3a5506
|
Can we stop?" Hayley asked. "If I see a sheltered spot, we'll hole up for a while." "Can we look for one? I have a blister--" "We all have blisters," Sam said. "We need to keep going," Daniel said. "We lost a lot of time yesterday." "What? Are we on a schedule?" Hayley said. "Is there a bus waiting to pick us up somewhere?" She sighed, then said, "I hate complaining." "So don't do it," Sam said. Hayley glowered at her. "You think I like bei..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b591314
|
Can we stop?" Hayley asked. "If I see a sheltered spot, we'll hole up for a while." "Can we look for one? I have a blister--" "We all have blisters," Sam said. "We need to keep going," Daniel said. "We lost a lot of time yesterday." "What? Are we on a schedule?" Hayley said. "Is there a bus waiting to pick us up somewhere?" She sighed, then said, "I hate complaining." "So don't do it," Sam said. Hayley glowered at her."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
897acdc
|
Corey--who'd been walking ahead with Sam--let out a whistle. He gestured to a tractor trailer, pulling out of what looked like a parking lot. We jogged up to Corey and Sam. "Please don't be closed for the season," Corey murmured as we picked up speed. "Please don't be staffed by witches and demons, lying in wait for us. Please, please, please, just give us a break." As we approached, we saw the sign. REDWOOD MOTEL AND RESTAURANT. There were..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
94670eb
|
Corey--who'd been walking ahead with Sam--let out a whistle. He gestured to a tractor trailer, pulling out of what looked like a parking lot. We jogged up to Corey and Sam. "Please don't be closed for the season," Corey murmured as we picked up speed. "Please don't be staffed by witches and demons, lying in wait for us. Please, please, please, just give us a break."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
a273983
|
I kissed him until I couldn't breathe, and then I kissed him a little more, until I had to pull back, gasping. "I have to die more often," he said. And he grinned, that incredible blaze of a grin that made me kiss him again." --
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
f4dacbb
|
You shouldn't be here," I said. "I'm still dreaming, aren't I?" "That depends. Am I better looking?" I gave a soft laugh and shook my head. "Do I at least better than I did yesterday?" "No. Sorry."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
4528684
|
It was still morning when we found a paved road. Actual vehicles traveling that road would be even better, but apparently, too much to hope for. We walked about fifteen minutes before we heard an oncoming car. Corey stepped into the middle of the road. A pickup whipped around the curve. Corey waved his arms. The guy in the pickup laid on his horn and veered past, sending Corey stumbling as his bad knee gave way. Daniel and I helped him up. ..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
fce11a6
|
It was still morning when we found a paved road. Actual vehicles traveling that road would be even better, but apparently, too much to hope for. We walked about fifteen minutes before we heard an oncoming car. Corey stepped into the middle of the road. A pickup whipped around the curve. Corey waved his arms. The guy in the pickup laid on his horn and veered past, sending Corey stumbling as his bad knee gave way. Daniel and I helped him up. ..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
ad02f10
|
We walked about fifteen minutes before we heard an oncoming car. Corey stepped into the middle of the road. A pickup whipped around the curve. Corey waved his arms. The guy in the pickup laid on his horn and veered past, sending Corey stumbling as his bad knee gave way. Daniel and I helped him up. "Oww...," he said. "There'd have been a bigger if he hadn't swerved," I said."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b39050a
|
Daniel and I helped him up. "Oww...," he said. "There'd have been a bigger if he hadn't swerved," I said. "That would not look good on your obituary. Survived a helicopter crash, armed kidnappers, and three days in the woods, only to get mowed down by a passing redneck."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
d664a06
|
Corey came out from behind the bushes as we walked back. "Next time, we consider my plan?" "I think so," Daniel mumbled. "At least he told us there's a town along this road," I said. "Same way we're heading." "How far?" Corey asked. "He didn't say," I lied. "But it can't be too far." Daniel glanced at me, then nodded."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
10e2d92
|
Twenty kilometers is indeed "too far" when you're ready to drop already. "I should have listened to Corey," Daniel said. "I was so sure I could convince that guy. It's worked until now." "Not on Moreno," I said. "Sure it did." "At the store, yes, but we couldn't get him talking earlier. Obviously it's not going to be a foolproof power or you'd have the ability to make anyone do anything. My guess is that they have to want to already. The w..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
77e02ca
|
In other words, don't rely on special powers." "Same way I'm not going to let you run in front of a moving van even if I have healing abilities."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c547136
|
We'll...be inside," Daniel said. "Uh-uh," Corey said. "Romantic reunions are officially on hold, even for guys who've returned from the dead."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b47c1cb
|
How did Rafe make it back so fast? Same way we did. He stole a ride. A motorcycle. In his case, though, he skipped all the steps between. No tortuous trek through the woods--he'd landed relatively close to a town. No attempts to get help, because Rafe wasn't like us.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
58fa7cc
|
Annie used to have a motorcycle, he said, and she'd taught him to ride it. He also knew how to hot-wire one. I wasn't asking how. Like I said, his life experience wasn't ours.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c04852d
|
I opened the paper to an inner page where the piece continued. There were photos of two missing kids. Rafe and Nicole. "How the hell did they get Rafe's picture?" Sam muttered. "Those aren't us," I said. "Convenient," the server muttered. It wasn't convenient. It was intentional. Submit photos of the kids they knew weren't wandering around the forest. There was a class picture at the bottom of the article. It was tiny and blurred, although..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
4a99cd0
|
I led Daniel to the master bedroom and closed the door behind us. "What's up?" I whispered. "Hmm?" "You've barely said a word since Rafe showed up. You don't trust him." "What? No. Of course I trust him. The guy fell out of a helicopter so we wouldn't."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
87cfba1
|
You've barely said a word since Rafe showed up. You don't trust him." "What? No. Of course I trust him. The guy fell out of a helicopter so we wouldn't." "But something's bugging you. Is it his story?" "No. It's a miracle he survived, but like you said, he's part cat. They always land on their feet."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
fa0345d
|
I opened the paper to an inner page where the piece continued. There were photos of two missing kids. Rafe and Nicole. "How the hell did they get Rafe's picture?" Sam muttered. "Those aren't us," I said. "Convenient," the server muttered. It wasn't convenient. It was intentional. Submit photos of the kids they knew weren't wandering around the forest. There was a class picture at the bottom of the article. It was tiny and blurred, although..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
a996d60
|
We're in this one." I pointed to the class shot. "That's me, and that's Sam over there." "I think that's Bryan," Sam said. "Is it?" I squinted. "Maybe..." It was impossible to tell, really."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
4ffc49e
|
Our pictures might not be recognizable, but come on. Why would we lie about it?" "Same reason my own kids lie," the server said. "To get attention." "Seriously?" Sam said. "We're going to hatch this elaborate scheme, and launch it in your crappy little--?" I stepped on Sam's foot."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
2f679f9
|
It's official," Sam said as we walked out. "We're screwed. The universe is conspiring to destroy us." "If it was, I think it could have managed that a few times by now." "Ah, but that's the trick. You cheat death, it keeps trying. Didn't you see that movie?" "All of them, actually. Serena loved--" A brief pause. "She loved horror movies." "Did she? I'd have thought her more the romance type."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
7e99315
|
It's official," Sam said as we walked out. "We're screwed. The universe is conspiring to destroy us." "If it was, I think it could have managed that a few times by now."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
8267b62
|
It's official," Sam said as we walked out. "We're screwed. The universe is conspiring to destroy us." "If it was, I think it could have managed that a few times by now." "Ah, but that's the trick. You cheat death, it keeps trying. Didn't you see that movie?" "All of them, actually."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
96e712b
|
And you knew we were alive?" I said as we approached the outskirts of town. "I knew were alive." That made me feel...I don't know. There was a flutter of happiness at the thought, but some guilt, too, because I'd had the same experience. I'd known that he was alive. Yet I hadn't trusted it. "Are you going to even ask who else survived?" Corey said. Did I imagine the touch of sarcasm in his voice? "Well, obviously you guys and Samantha," R..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
a6b1b56
|
Look, Corey, I know you don't like me. Daniel doesn't either, but he's being nice about it for Maya's sake." "I'm not--" Daniel protested. "It's okay. I didn't go out of my way to make friends in Salmon Creek. I know that. I acted like an ass, and as Maya may have told you, I had a reason, one that probably still makes me an ass."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
2d53379
|
Look, Corey, I know you don't like me. Daniel doesn't either, but he's being nice about it for Maya's sake." "I'm not--" Daniel protested. "It's okay. I didn't go out of my way to make friends in Salmon Creek. I know that. I acted like an ass, and as Maya may have told you, I had a reason, one that probably still makes me an ass. I'm glad to hear Hayley's okay. Of everyone in Salmon Creek, I treated her the worst, so I'm hoping I get the ch..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
8a36535
|
No one expects you to care about Nic and Hayley as much as we do," Daniel said. "But I am glad to see you're okay." "For Maya's sake. I know." He waved off Daniel's denials. "I don't expect more. And, chances are, I'll turn out to be an ass after all." He said it jokingly, but he broke eye contact, and didn't look my way either, just nudged me toward the house. I wondered if it did kind of hurt him, getting a cool reception from the guys. T..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
f6618f6
|
That reception didn't improve once we got in the house. Rafe was happy to see Sam was okay. Whether you like a person or not, you don't wish them a horrible death. Sam, though...Well, I'd spent long enough with her now to realize she was lacking certain filters most of us have. "So, I guess you'll be moving on, then?" she said. "Got things to do? Places to be?" Daniel winced. Corey lifted his brows. Rafe only sputtered a laugh. "Well, at le..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
3032d7f
|
I'm worried, too. I know it doesn't seem like it, because Rafe's back and obviously I'm happy about that, so maybe I'm not as focused as I should be. I'll snap out of it." He gave me a quick hug. "Don't. Something in this whole mess has gone right for you. You're allowed to be happy." He met my gaze. "Okay?" I nodded. "Go have a shower and try to relax," he said. "You're going to need your energy, and I'm going to need my co-captain."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
e25ceed
|
That reception didn't improve once we got in the house. Rafe was happy to see Sam was okay. Whether you like a person or not, you don't wish them a horrible death. Sam, though...Well, I'd spent long enough with her now to realize she was lacking certain filters most of us have. "So, I guess you'll be moving on, then?" she said. "Got things to do? Places to be?" Daniel winced. Corey lifted his brows. Rafe only sputtered a laugh. "Well, at le..
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |