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| Link | Quote | Stars | Tags | Author |
| 54961b6 | As we walked, I pulled out the newspaper I'd found. "Getting caught up on current events?" Sam asked. "No," Corey said. "She's doing her research for that essay we have due next week. You know Maya. Escaping a forest fire, helicopter crash, and crazed would-be kidnappers is no reason to ask for an extension." "I'm sure she brought it for fire-starter, guys." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 79c4acb | Moreno to base. Moreno to base." Someone answered. Moreno gave his coordinates, then said, "Still no sign of the Morris girl. She can't have run far, though. I'll keep looking." The ATV started up again. "Hayley escaped," Corey said. "You heard that?" I said. "Um, yeah. We all did." "Because we were supposed to," Daniel said. "He was talking too loud. He even turned off the ATV so his voice would carry better." "Because he's talking into a .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| dd37b0a | Moreno to base. Moreno to base." Someone answered. Moreno gave his coordinates, then said, "Still no sign of the Morris girl. She can't have run far, though. I'll keep looking." The ATV started up again. "Hayley escaped," Corey said. "You heard that?" I said. "Um, yeah. We all did." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d44dc57 | 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?" | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 87921b2 | And Sam? Well, she's not even human, so she doesn't count." "Excuse me?" Sam said. "Face it, you're not one of those bendo-things. You're a robot. A cyborg. Probably an evil one, programmed to murder us all in our sleep." Corey snickered. "Yeah?" Sam lifted a fist to Hayley. "You want to try that one again, blondie?" Hayley looked at Daniel and me. "I rest my case." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| ab4775f | We tramped over, and as we stepped from the thick trees, we all stopped and stared. Then Corey raced forward, arms raised. "It's a road. Oh my God. A road!" He dropped to his knees by the roadside. "Oww." Daniel helped him back to his feet. "The knee is good," I said. "But the knee is not completely healed. Be careful." "It's a road," Corey said, pointing. "A dirt road," Hayley muttered. "So? We've been slogging through the forest for two d.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| bd5749d | After an hour of walking, I started thinking maybe I'd cuddle up with Daniel again, just to make Corey laugh. The morning had started on a light note, but it darkened fast. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 2852c98 | It's a road," Corey said, pointing. "A dirt road," Hayley muttered. "So? We've been slogging through the forest for two days. What do you want? A six-lane highway?" "That'd be nice." "Yeah, until you raced out, screaming for help, and got mowed down by a logging truck." He walked into the middle and turned, waving his arms. "It's a road!" I patted his back. "It's a lovely road." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| eccd26a | We've been slogging through the forest for two days. What do you want? A six-lane highway?" "That'd be nice." "Yeah, until you raced out, screaming for help, and got mowed down by a logging truck." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f0d1a1b | I went in through the side garage door, which Corey said was always open. Ms. Morris's car was parked inside. I hurried to the house door and knocked. No one answered. I knocked again, then tried the knob. The door was locked. Not surprisingly, Corey also knew where they kept the key. I unlocked the door, slipped inside, and called, "Hello?" Silence. "It's, uh, Maya," I said. "Maya Delaney." Like they'd need a last name." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 2237125 | A snarl, louder now, and I glanced over to see the dogs watching us. Two more came running from between the buildings. "Holy hell," Corey whispered. "Can we go now?" Daniel said. Corey nodded and turned to run, but Daniel stopped him. "Slowly," I said. "Don't turn your back on them. Canines are all about dominance. You run, they'll chase. Back away slowly. Stay together." We did that. One of the dogs started toward us. Another took a tenta.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| fded904 | The guys had already cleaned up. Or done the best they could with a quick wash and teeth brushing at Corey's. There hadn't been any spare toothbrushes, so I'd done mine with my finger and tried not to look in the mirror. One glance had told me that no amount of touch-ups was going to help. I needed a twenty-minute shower. "And this clothing is getting burned," I said as I raked a comb through my tangled hair. "There's a fireplace downstairs.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| b0a0c65 | The guys had already cleaned up. Or done the best they could with a quick wash and teeth brushing at Corey's. There hadn't been any spare toothbrushes, so I'd done mine with my finger and tried not to look in the mirror. One glance had told me that no amount of touch-ups was going to help. I needed a twenty-minute shower. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 379f833 | And this clothing is getting burned," I said as I raked a comb through my tangled hair. "There's a fireplace downstairs," Corey said. "I'll take it for you right now." I gave him a look. "Once I have something to wear." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f84c491 | I thought about everything he'd told me about his past, and I wished he'd told me more. I thought of what he'd said to me about his dreams for the future, what he wanted in life, and I realized how little of that I knew. He wanted to fix Annie. Beyond that? I had no idea. Was there a future he'd wanted? One he'd imagined? Or had he just concentrated on the present and getting through it? Only he hadn't gotten through it. He hadn't fixed Ann.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 84e12ad | Rafe," I whispered. I turned. He was walking out of the forest and he was grinning and...and there was no "and" because that was all I could think. My eyes shut. I didn't want them to. I didn't care if it was an illusion, I wanted to see him one more time before the vision disappeared and I was left with that last horrible memory of him falling from the helicopter. "I know I'm looking a little rough," he said. "But I didn't think it was tha.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 4d6163c | Moreno was the first to see me, and he let out a curse as loud as Nicole's shriek. He pulled a gun from his hip. An automatic pistol. Antone knocked it from his hand and pointed his flashlight at my flank. "It's Maya," he said. He started toward me. I was inching back, the branch too thin for me to turn around. "It could be Annie," Penny whispered, her gaze fixed on me. "Come looking for her brother." Antone shook his head. "That's Maya." H.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 45df5f9 | 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." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 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 |