Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
After running for about forty-five minutes, Rowdy comes to a stop. He gently sits down with Destiny in his lap before fumbling for a bottle of water. I take the break time to do the same, sharing one of my bottles with Kristen and Ronan. While they’re occupied with the water, I slide the backpack off my shoulders to dig around in a pocket for a hard case. Once I locate it, I hand it to Ronan.
His eyes widen as he accepts the case. Then he flips it open and removes one of his spare pairs of glasses. He sets them on his face and then grins at me.
“Thank you,” he whispers, eyes roaming over my face in appreciation.
My heart warms. I’m glad I’m the first thing he sees after this nightmare. Pride fills my chest. I grab hold of the back of his head, pulling his forehead to mine again.
“I fucking missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
Letting go of Ronan, I make my way over to Rowdy. He’s frowning down at Destiny. She’s awake but staring off into space, a vacant expression on her face. I squat beside them and reach into my pack for something to clean her face off with. Once I locate a packaged towelette, I rip it open and start to swipe the blood off her skin.
Rowdy grunts, shooting me a warning glare before snatching the towelette from me. Gently, he cleans her face, murmuring soft assurances to her. She doesn’t flinch or respond.
“We need to get going again,” I say to Rowdy, careful to remain out of arm’s reach. He’s still acting like a cornered animal protecting his young. “It’s not safe.”
He gives a shake of his head as if to clear it and then meets my gaze with a more human stare before nodding. I step back, allowing him his space, as he rises to his feet once more. Destiny’s head lolls toward his chest and stays there. He hugs her tighter to him. It makes me glad that we sent his backpack and tent with Raegan since he’s apparently going to carry Destiny the whole time.
Rowdy nods down to his back pocket. I bend over to see what he needs. As soon as I see the familiar knife hilt sticking out, I can’t help but grin at him. Sure, it’s covered with Jace’s blood, but it’s my knife. Well, the knife I share with Raegan. I take it from him, unable to keep the anticipation of seeing Raegan’s expression when I give it back to her out of my mind, and tuck it away in my pack.
She’ll be so fucking happy.
We start forward again, but Ronan stops me, his hand gripping my wrist. I turn toward him, frowning at the utter look of despair on his face.
“What is it?” I hiss, stepping closer to him as fear clutches my heart. “Are you okay?”
He swallows thickly and then lifts his chin. “Just tell me how they died.”
“Who?”
“Mom and Dad and Dawson.”
I reach up, swiping the tear on his cheek away with my thumb. “They’re alive, Ro. Everyone is alive.”
He launches himself at me for a tight hug, his entire body trembling as he breaks down with emotion. “Thank God.”
“We’re going to be okay. It’s all going to be okay.”
I believe those words a hundred percent. I hope he does too.
* * *
* * *
They’re alive.
While we’ve traveled all day and evening through the woods, it’s all I’ve been able to think about. My parents didn’t die. My baby brother is still here on Earth.
Unlike Michael’s son.
Every time I close my eyes, I see his pale, tiny foot sticking out of those leaves. That baby didn’t deserve to die.
Rowdy whistles at us up ahead, motioning down. I force the previous nauseating image from my mind to trot ahead and investigate. Down a steep incline is a small meadow nearly surrounded by more hills. It’s a perfect place to stop and rest for the night. We could even have a fire without being easily seen. Since my head has been throbbing continuously, I’m eager to crawl into a tent and sleep.
Ryder slides down the hill ahead of Rowdy and holds out his arms, waiting for him to pass Destiny to him. I’m not sure how he’s been able to carry her this entire time. His arms must be about to fall off. Thankfully, Kristen hasn’t made me or Ryder carry her. I can barely put each foot in front of the other, much less take care of someone else.
“You go first,” I tell Kristen. “I’ve got your hand.”
She clutches onto me while reaching for Rowdy with her other. He helps her down the hill and then takes Destiny from Ryder. I gingerly start making my way down. My foot slips and I fall down onto my ass. Hard. It’s jarring and painful.