Perhaps it wasn’t the brightest of ideas. I was pretty positive when I returned I was going to get my rear end handed to me by Davis. After he was asleep and in that timeframe when it was safe for everyone to be at ease, I snatched up one of the cars and headed out toward the Salton Sea.
I knew Vala was on horseback. I also knew she’d stop for the night and wouldn’t get going until the morning.
I hoped I wouldn’t miss her.
When I arrived at the holding camp, she had been at and left the bait shop. There was still the aroma of food and I was hopeful I could catch her. By the time I reached the Salton Sea, Vala was a third of the way out, floating on what we called the ‘Braft’.
She was too far out to call and she never looked back. Though I hoped against all hope that she would, she didn’t.
The horse, Sandstorm was still there. He hadn’t run off. It was as if he were waiting for her to return.
“She’s not coming back, boy.” I stroked his mane. “You might as well leave.”
I thought of giving him a swat to get going, but I didn’t. Maybe he’d follow me back.
I stayed there until Vala was no longer in my sight. My heart sunk a little. At least I knew I tried. Inadvertently, that failed trip succeeded in something else; making me realize I was wrong about her.
Davis had explained her reasoning, and before I left the sea, I resolved to accept it and wait for her return or for Vala to contact us.
It was the beginning of the war. One I had waited my lifetime to see, and the first shot would be fired by a lone girl who wandered into our city and into our lives.
Having been up all night, I didn’t realize how tired I was and the feeling of ‘burn’ against my face was what woke me. The sun was beating down on me. I jumped up, looked at my watch, and saw it was two PM. I had been gone eight hours at least. Now, Davis wasn’t going to be mad, he was going to worried.
I rushed back to the car, hoping I had enough fuel, started it, and took off.
The first part of my route was frantic with thoughts on how I would talk my way out of it, maybe even lie. I could tell him I got a vision from Vala and she was in trouble.
Nah. He’d ask why I didn’t wake him and instead just stole the car.
I went through every excuse in the book except for the truth. I didn’t want to tell him that I was being sappy and needed to try one more time to stop her.
I had made it to the cabin and back on the old highway. A single lane had been formed in the growth; the rest of the highway was just as much a part of the forest as the trees.
Just over the slight grade, I saw someone in the middle of the road.
At first I thought it was a Minnie. Maybe he had arrived the day before and was walking in the daytime. Had he run into Vala? More than likely she had told him the way.
I slowed down as I approached him, halting the car maybe fifteen feet from him..
Was I not thinking? Maybe I was tired. How did I not know?
I placed the car in gear, opened the door, stepped out, and called, “Hey, guy.”
He stopped and turned.
A Day Stalker.
Never had there been a Day Stalker in those parts, it was never even a worry. He snarled at me and lunged my way. I quickly jumped back in the car, pulled the door shut, and his hand slammed on the window as I threw the car in gear and sped off.
My heart raced and I struggled to get a breath. I couldn’t believe he was there. I hit my hand against the steering wheel in frustration. Why didn’t I kill him? Why did I run? Lifting my head, I glanced to the rearview mirror to see if he was still there, and not only did my foot instinctively hit the brake, I nearly jumped from my skin when in the reflection of the rearview mirror I saw Nito.
She laughed arrogantly. “Soon, hero boy, soon.” Another laugh.
Even though a part of me know she was an apparition, I grabbed for my crossbow on the passenger seat and spun around.
She was gone.
I heaved out a few breaths, eyed the Day Stalker still on the road and somewhat disoriented, and then I turned back around.
When I did, I knew I was in trouble.
The entire road was lined and packed with Day Stalkers.