I tossed and turned in the sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable. I was exhausted and cold. The fire was down to smoldering embers. Jo was huddled against Calder, her head barely visible from the sleeping bag.
Tristan was right. Calder liked Jo. And from the way he watched her every move, I’d say he was in love with her.
Something had changed when they returned from the stream. They were different. Calder returned with a net full of fish in one hand and holding Jo’s hand in his other. Calder wore his emotions for all to see, and even with his superiors’ looks of disapproval, he kept her hand in his, as if to announce to world, “This is the person I adore.”
I watched them for a moment. Calder’s wing curled around her body in a protective cocoon, keeping Jo warm. My heart ached at the sight of it. Why? All this sweet angel wanted to do was to take care of my best friend.
So why did it hurt?
You know why.
No. I shoved the voice back and yanked the sleeping bag’s zipper down. Whatever feelings I had for Tristan were purely a physical reaction to an attractive man—who just happened to save my life.
Not man. Angel.
I snatched a few branches and tossed them into the fire. The feelings between Tristan and I weren’t real. From the first moment I’d met Tristan they were fake.
Erga.
I grabbed another branch, poking the kindling, emphasizing each thought.
They’re angels.
They’re here to protect us.
I’m an obligation to a friend.
Jo let out a soft moan. She turned over and nuzzled deeper into Calder’s chest.
I sighed, tossing the stick into the fire. As much as it pained me to think of hurting Jo, I had to tell her what was going on between her and Calder wasn’t a good idea. It had grown past a fun flirtation. When it was time for him to rejoin the angels, she’d be left with nothing but heartache.
Hushed, angry voices sounded through the trees. I scanned the camp, straining as my eyes adjusted to the moonlit night. Zac slept soundly a few feet away. Val and Tristan were gone.
I moved quietly through the woods, following the sound of their voices. Although I knew it would be safer to stay by the fire, I kept going. The moonlight was unusually bright, making it easier for me to see.
I finally came to a small clearing. In the center, there was a small campfire. Val circled the fire, waving her arms as she talked. Tristan lay on his back, propped up on his elbows. I hid behind a nearby tree, careful not to make any noise.
“If it bothers you so much, why did you come?”
“Because friends stick together, no matter how moronic they’re being, moron.” Val kicked his foot.
Tristan groaned. “I don’t understand you sometimes. Why does Karenna bother you so much? She’s been nothing but nice to you.”
I inched closer, dying to hear Val’s answer.
Val paced, her wings furling and unfurling around her body.
“I’m waiting,” Tristan said.
She stopped, her wings disappearing behind her back with a loud snap. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
“So what? I like to look at beautiful women.”
“It’s not the same and you know it.”
Tristan blinked, appearing stunned. After a moment, he schooled his face and gave her an amused smile. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not Calder. You’re seeing things that aren’t there.”
“I don’t think I am.”
He yawned, pushing himself off the ground. “I’m heading back to get some sleep. You can stay up and worry if you want, but it’s a waste of time. There’s nothing going on between Karenna and me.”
I pressed myself into the tree, shaking, as he approached. His words twisted inside of me painfully. All I wanted to do was run, to get as far away from him as possible.
“I don’t believe you,” Val called out after him.
He paused at the edge of the clearing. I held my breath. He was so close. I could see every feature of his handsome face. He kept his back to Val as he answered her.
“You don’t have to. All I know is Karenna and I . . . ” He blinked. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly. “We can never be together.”
Sunlight hit against my face. I stayed in my sleeping bag not wanting to open my eyes. I didn’t want to see Calder holding Jo. I didn’t want to see Val’s longing looks at Tristan when she thought no one was watching. I didn’t want to see Tristan, the real Tristan.
What he said last night was a lie.
He knew it.
Val knew it.
I didn’t know what hurt more—that he pretended his attraction to me was because he was still playing the role of the playboy magician, or that I knew he cared for me, and there was nothing we could do about it.
I sat up, tossing the sleeping bag away. This was ridiculous. There was no time for this nonsense. There was only one thing I should be thinking about and that was getting back home.
Forcing myself to not look at the spot where Tristan had slept, I went over to Jo. She was buried in her sleeping bag alone. I looked over to Zac’s spot. He was still sleeping with Val near him.
“Jo,” I whispered. “Where’s Calder?”
“Is it time to go?”
“Not yet. Everyone’s still sleeping.”
“Okay. I’ll be up in five minutes.” She buried herself deeper under the cover and began to snore.
I nudged her, repeating my question. “Jo, where’s Calder?”
“What?”
I looked down at her, amazed she could sleep so well in the middle of the forest and the apocalypse.
“Where’s Calder?”
“He went to the salvage yard. Something about a big plow,” she mumbled.
I sighed. She wasn’t making sense. “Okay, get some more sleep. I’m going to wash up in the stream. How far is it?”
“Not far.”
“It’s trash day tomorrow.” She let out a soft snore.
I laughed. I should’ve known not to expect anything coherent from her this early in the morning.
I dug through my backpack, searching for something to wash off with. Jo had mentioned getting some clothes from the last gas station stop, and I was eager to get into something clean.
I pulled out a small washcloth and one of the rolled up t-shirts. It was so big unfurled, it stopped just above my knees. The words ‘Big Al’s Burgers’ was splashed across the front in bright orange. I searched the bag. There was nothing else to wear. I chuckled, shaking my head. “Al’s Burgers it is then.”
That’s when I noticed Tristan wasn’t in his spot. He’d slept slumped against a tree directly across from where I’d slept. Shadows lined under his eyes. Even sleeping he’d looked exhausted. Had he been up all night? Had he been watching over me?
Stop it.
I shook my head. He was watching over the camp. They probably all took turns.
Not wanting to wake anyone, I tiptoed away and made my way through the woods, following the sound of the stream.
It took only a minute to make it out of the trees and onto the stream bank.
The sky gleamed in fiery reds and golds as the night gave way to morning. It reminded me of the Texas sky. I ached to be home. It seemed like we’d been going nonstop, and it still felt like home was so far away.
“Lucy, Mom, Dad. I’m coming. I’ll be there soon. Promise.”
I took a deep cleansing breath. It was so peaceful here. The water gleamed in the sunlight, making a gentle white noise as it rushed over smoothed rocks. Tall grass swayed in the gentle breeze. It was untouched by the chaos around us.
I knelt by the edge of the stream on my knees, dipping my hands in the cool water. Goosebumps ran up my arms. It felt so good. I closed my eyes, and for a moment, I pretended I was on the Sanberly River bank, picnicking with my family.
Over the bubbling of the stream, I could almost hear Mom warning Dad not to put too much lighter fluid on the barbecue pit. The wind carried the sound of Lucy’s laughter. And the birds . . . where were the birds?
My eyes flashed open, searching the trees and the sky.
Not one bird.
The warrior angels must’ve passed by the place earlier and scared all the wildlife away. Was it going to be like this everywhere we went?
It was a new world, and I wasn’t ready for it.
“Well, make yourself ready.” I sighed and took off my dingy blouse. I had to be ready. I had to find Lucy and my parents, and find a way to keep us all safe. That would mean staying with Tristan.
My stomach fluttered when I thought of how close his lips had come to mine last night.
“Stop it.” I snatched the Big Al t-shirt and yanked it over my head. Once Jo and I found our families, I was going to get Tristan to take all us with him to the safe haven and that was that. No stupid lovey-dovey glances or almost kisses. I was going to keep my mind focused on one thing.
Survival.
I dipped the cloth into the stream, pressed it against my face and relaxed. Images of long empty highways and powdery black marks flashed through my mind.
No. Don’t think about it.
I shook, fighting against the anguish trapped in my chest.
Stay strong.
You’re almost home.
Just one more day.
Drive fast.
No more breaks.
I was so deep in thought as I calculated the distance and time to make it home by nightfall, I didn’t hear the rush of water until it was too late.
The white noise grew louder, as if someone had suddenly turned up the volume.
I snatched the cloth off my face. My stomach fell as a massive wave of water roared down the stream. Trees snapped like toothpicks as the wave knocked them down with ease.
I scrambled to my feet. “Tristan! Trist—”
The wave smashed against me. My arms flailed as I struggled to keep my head above water. The violent current swept me down the river, sending me far from our camp. I opened my mouth to scream when something slammed into the back of my head.
Dark spots filled my vision.
I couldn’t see.
I could barely feel my arms and legs. I willed them to keep moving, to keep above water. I wheezed, desperate for air.
My body felt like lead.
I couldn’t lift my arms.
My legs numbed and refused to move.
Water rushed over my head as I went under.