“Good idea,” Shawn said walking over to the closet.
He pulled open the door revealing the clothes still hanging inside. The fabric hung heavily on the hangers. Every article of clothing had the same washed out appearance. I wondered if there was anything usable, maybe I could wash it in the lake once the rain stopped.
Shawn bent down and pulled out a dust-covered duffel bag. “Not ideal but I found this.”
“That’ll work,” I said as Shawn pulled out a pair of beat-up sneakers. He sized them up to his boots and smiled. “Better than boots?”
“I’m not so sure with all that rain,” I said.
“Hmm, you might be right.” He stood, keeping the shoes in hand. “You want to pack up the rice, or should I?”
I chewed my lip for a moment. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on our friend.”
“OK, I’ll be fast,” Shawn said walking out of the room. I leaned back against the wall and stared out of the small space between the curtain and the window.
When the table squeaked against the kitchen floor, I was sure Shawn had woken the others. But after several minutes had gone by and there were no sounds of movement in the other room, I realized just how tired everyone was.
I couldn’t move away from the window. In fact, I couldn’t even look away from the storage building for more than a few seconds. As the minutes ticked by, I started to wonder if what I’d seen had even been real.
I’d been so exhausted, that maybe it had all been in my head. No. That wasn’t possible. It was far too real.
The sounds of Shawn climbing up from the basement rattled through the air. Seconds later, I heard hushed voices, but I was able to pick out a few words. Ready. Rice. Man. Worried.
Shawn was worried about me, or maybe he was worried about the man. I wasn’t certain. It was only a few seconds later before both Shawn and Ryder made their way into the room.
Ryder stepped in front of me and peered out of the window. He put his hands on his hips and turned toward me.
“Has he left?” Ryder asked.
I shook my head.
He raised his brow and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well then, let’s go pay him a visit.”
Chapter 5
Shawn started pacing near the bed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We don’t know anything about him.”
“We know that there is only one of him, and there are six of us,” Ryder said, confidence bursting out of his eyes.
“And if he’s renegade, what will you do then?” Shawn said narrowing his eyes at Shawn. “Will you just let him go so he can tell his buddies all about us and about this place?”
Ryder’s lips parted slightly, but he pressed them back together.
“That’s what I thought,” Shawn said looking away from his without bothering to hide the smug look on his face. “I think for now all we can do is wait.”
Ryder looked at me, and I tilted my head down slightly before meeting his gaze again. He let out a deep sigh.
“OK,” he said releasing the tension that had accumulated in his shoulders. “I’m going to update the others.”
Shawn approached the window cautiously and gazed out across the yard. I watched him, unable to look away.
“Ryder knows,” I said keeping my voice quiet.
“Knows about what?” Shawn said completely oblivious as to what I was referring to. He was too busy thinking about the man in the storage building to realize I was talking about something else.
I glanced at the doorway worried Ryder would step back into the room. “About us.”
Shawn turned sharply and studied my expression. “You told him?”
I nodded and pressed my lips together. There was a lump that had quickly formed in the back of my throat that I couldn’t swallow down.
“When he brought me the rice, he told me he’d figured it out.”
Shawn cocked his head to the side. “You confirmed it?”
“I didn’t deny it.”
“And he was OK with it?”
I shrugged. “He didn’t seem thrilled but was accepting. He’s mad at himself for screwing up.”
“He should be,” Shawn muttered.
Shawn pulled his shoulders back before turning toward the window. It seemed as though he didn’t know what to say now that everything was out in the open. He didn’t look anywhere near as happy about it as I thought he would.
Even though things hadn’t worked out with Ryder, he was a great guy. I would trust him with my life. Of course, I would trust Shawn just the same.
There was no going back to how things had been, not that I wanted to. Ryder had Charlie to worry about and I, well, I just hadn’t been ready. I still wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I was willing to see where things would go with Shawn.
Falling for someone as hard as I fell for Shawn wasn’t sunshine and rainbows. In fact, it was scary as hell. When there is a war going on around, and love finds you, it can almost feel like torture. With all the worry and dread that something could happen, well, it was almost a weight that was too heavy to carry.
Shawn squinted and looked into my eyes. “You OK?”
“Yeah,” I said without hesitation.
“You were staring at me.”
“Sorry.” I forced a smile. “I was deep in thought.”
Shawn looked at me for a split second before shifting his eyes back to the storage building. “Holy shit.”
“What?” I said turning to look out the window.
“There he is,” Shawn said, moving us both out of the way.
For a moment I felt relieved that I hadn’t imagined it, but the feeling quickly washed away and was replaced with dread. I tried to look out the window, but Shawn put his arm up to keep me back.
“He doesn’t have a bottle,” Shawn said. “But he’s definitely not walking straight.”
“He had to try to sleep it off,” I suggested.
Shawn widened his eyes briefly. “If that’s the case he didn’t sleep off enough of it.”
“Can you tell if he’s a native?” I asked feeling a twinge of frustration that Shawn wouldn’t allow me to just look for myself.
His head moved up and down. “Native.”
“Is that good or bad?” I asked suddenly unsure of which I would have preferred.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think it matters.”
“Why is that?”
Shawn leaned to the side slightly to follow the man’s movements. “Because he’s leaving.”
“Of course it matters,” I said narrowing my eyes. “He’ll bring back his friends.”
“Bring them back to what?”
“To this place!”
Shawn didn’t seem the least bit rattled by the thought. “To show them where he passed out?”
“He’ll tell them he found this amazing place,” I said waving my arms around.
“How would he even know how amazing it is? He didn’t set foot inside. For all he knows, this place is like all the others,” Shawn said stepping in front of me. He looked into my eyes, and I instantly calmed. Shawn was right, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t bring them back to show them his find.
I tried to think of something to say, but my mind had gone blank. Damn those eyes.
“Let’s go tell the others,” Shawn said taking my hand into his. “And get you some breakfast.”
I sat at the cleaned table with a bowl of rice in front of me, listening as Shawn told the others what he’d seen. At first they’d been just as panicked as I had been that he’d come back, but it hadn’t taken long for Shawn to calm them.
Charlie hugged herself looking smaller than she had the last time I’d seen her only hours ago.
“We’ll just keep watching. If he comes back, we’ll take care of it,” Shawn said rubbing his hands together. “Now that we know he’s a native there should be no qualms about doing what needs to be done.”
Ryder and Logan both nodded.
“Good.” Shawn walked over to t
he window at the front of the house and peeked out. I could tell by the lack of expression on his face that nothing had changed. The man hadn’t come back. And hopefully, he never would. “Looks like the rain is letting up. Anyone up for some fishing?”
Logan clapped his hands together. “Sounds good to me. I’m pretty sure I felt a bite last time.”
“Yeah, right,” Charlie muttered with a smile on her face.
Shawn opened the door, and everyone followed him outside, everyone except for Ryder and me. “You two coming?”
Ryder looked at me and then over at the sofa. “Why don’t you go on ahead.”
“OK,” I said tempted to ask him why he didn’t want to come along, but it felt weird prying with Shawn watching us. Maybe Ryder was just tired, but either way, I hated leaving him alone inside the house.
By the time Shawn and I stepped off of the porch, Logan was already out of the storage building carrying the fishing poles. Charlie and Abby were tagging along just behind him whispering back and forth.
I knew Shawn had suggested the whole fishing thing because he wanted to keep a three hundred and sixty degree view of our surroundings. Well, it would mostly be a full view except for where the few trees would block the way.
“Are you worried he’s going to run off?” Shawn asked with a slight curl to his lips.
“No,” I said narrowing my eyes at him. “At least I hadn’t been until now.”
“He won’t leave. He’s exhausted. Just like you were yesterday.” Shawn put his hand around my shoulders. “No one can run on empty for long, not even Ryder.”
I blew out a puff of air remembering how we’d found Shawn. He’d been knocking at death’s door. That was what I called running on empty, not what I’d experienced.
“He’s not going to leave,” Shawn said, but he could tell I didn’t fully believe him. “Think about it. He’d never go without telling Logan and Charlie. Never.”
He was absolutely right. After everything, that was one thing that I could believe. Ryder wouldn’t ever do that to them.
“OK maybe he won’t leave, but what if that guy comes back, and this time he goes into the house instead?” I asked.
“As long as he doesn’t bring back an army, I’d put my money on Ryder.” Shawn rubbed his hand up and down on my shoulder. “And if the drunk does bring an army, we’ll see them coming.”
I hugged myself trying to shake away the chill in the air. The days had been warm, but the rain and storms had cooled everything down. Once the gray clouds moved out of the way, the sun would warm everything up again, I was sure of it.
When we reached the lake, Logan was showing Charlie how to fish, while Abby walked back and forth on a narrow wooden pier I hadn’t noticed the last time I’d been at the lake.
“Catch anything yet?” Shawn asked, and Logan waved away his words before showing Charlie how to cast.
A worm wiggled by on the ground near one of the puddles, and I wondered if Logan had picked up one of its friends to use as bait.
“That thing doesn’t look very sturdy,” Shawn said nodding toward Abby.
I watched as she walked out further away from the shore. At the end of the pier, she looked down into the water.
“Hey!” she turned around waving her arms wildly. “I see one!”
“Abby,” Shawn said, his shoulders stiffened. “Come on back.”
“Did you hear me?” she said turning her body sharply. The excited expression slipped off her face when the board beneath her cracked, dropping her into the murky water.
She sank like a rock. Logan dropped the fishing pole and started walking into the lake.
“Abby!” he shouted and just as her head popped up.
Abby gasped for air. She wasn’t swimming. Her arms were flapping around in every direction, and she slowly sank back down.
“She can’t swim,” I said moving forward. Logan was already moving quickly as he splashed deeper into the water. He’d only taken about five steps before the bottoms seemed to drop out from under him.
Chapter 6
The surface of the water rippled aggressively after Logan dove in the same spot Abby had sunk. It felt like too much time had gone by since Logan went under. They both should have been back to the surface by now.
I rubbed my hands together and took another step toward the water. Charlie was sobbing quietly next to me, but all I could think about was whether or not I should go in after them.
I was about to say something when Logan broke through the surface gasping hungrily for air. He didn’t have Abby with him.
“Oh, God!” Charlie moaned.
Logan filled his lungs with air and went back under. I started to walk into the water, but I hadn’t made it more than a half of a step before Shawn pulled me back.
“Not going to happen,” Shawn said, between quick breaths.
“He needs help,” I said unable to take my eyes off of the surface of the water.
“Then I’ll go. You stay with Charlie,” Shawn said ripping off his shirt.
My heart clenched at the idea of him going into the dark water. Just when he unbuttoned his pants, Logan broke through the surface again, this time he wasn’t alone. He was holding what looked like an under-stuffed doll in his arms.
“Abby!” Charlie said.
Shawn stepped into the water carefully as if he was afraid of being sucked under. He reached out to help Logan and Abby out of the lake. Logan and Shawn eased Abby’s limp body down onto the muddy ground inches away from a puddle.
“She’s not breathing,” Charlie screeched, as she dropped down to her knees next to Abby’s unmoving body.
Logan was down on one knee working to bring back enough oxygen into his lungs. Shawn placed his palms over one another and rapidly pumped Abby’s chest.
She didn’t move.
Shawn tilted her head back and took in a deep breath before blowing the air into Abby’s mouth. He paused to suck in more oxygen before blowing a second time.
Still, nothing happened.
“Oh my God!” Charlie said covering her mouth with her shaking hands as Shawn started pumping Abby’s chest again.
Logan was at my side when Abby suddenly coughed up a mouth full of water and gurgled it in the back of her throat. Shawn rolled her onto her side, and murky water poured out of her mouth onto the ground. She was choking and struggling to get air, but she was moving.
“Help!” she said with panicked eyes. Abby started moving her body as if she was trying to get away.
“I’m trying,” Shawn said as he patted her back gently. Logan moved closer and help Shawn hold her in place. It was like her body was still trying to swim to the surface, and that she hadn’t fully grasped the fact that she was out of the water.
When the water stopped leaking out of the corner of her mouth, she sucked in several sharp breaths that looked as though they were causing her immense pain.
“You’re going to be OK,” Shawn murmured several times before sucking a deep breath to refill his own lungs.
Beads of sweat dripped down from the sides of Shawn’s face while tears streamed down Charlie’s cheeks. I stared at them on the ground not knowing exactly how to process the events.
“I can’t,” Abby said gasping for air, “swim.”
“You’re on land, now,” Logan said brushing several loose strands of hair out of her face. “We should get her inside.”
Logan scooped her up and carried her toward the house. Charlie followed along, clasping her hands tightly in front of her chest.
I stretched out my hand for Shawn to help him up, but he shook his head. He was still working to calm himself.
“Are you OK?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said tilting his head down as he ran his hand through his hair slowly.
“Where did you learn how to do that?” I asked. If Shawn hadn’t been at the lake, Abby would have probably died. I wouldn’t have known the first thing about how to save her, and I was pretty sure by the looks they’
d worn on their faces that neither had Logan nor Charlie.
“The Evolved.” He held up his palm as he stood, placing his hands on his hips. “I saw someone do it one time. I honestly can’t believe it worked.”
“You saved her life,” I said, looking at him. It didn’t seem as though he had fully grasped what he’d done.
He let out a heavy breath only to take in one that was even bigger. Shawn was struggling to catch his breath. “I saved her and now she has to live another day in this world.”
“I’m sure she’s thankful that you did.”
“Let’s get back,” Shawn said walking toward the house. It was obvious that he didn’t want to talk about it any longer.
I was sure he was glad he’d saved her too, but I could understand where he was coming from. It wasn’t like we had an easy life. Death perhaps would have been easier.
When we got back to the house, Logan and Ryder were making sure Abby was comfortable in the bedroom that was next to the master bedroom. Shawn sat down in the living room chair, resting his head on his palms as he slowly rocked back and forth.
Ryder was asking if there was anything he could get for Abby while Logan fussed over the blanket. Apparently, he just couldn’t get it straight enough. Charlie stood there holding Abby’s wet clothes staring at Logan.
“Um, I’m going to go hang these out to dry,” Charlie said, and quickly backed out of the room.
“Let me come with you,” I said, but Ryder was shaking his head.
“Stay. I’ll go with her,” Ryder said glancing back at Abby. “Keep an eye on her.”
Abby looked tired, pale, and cold, but she seemed to think all the fussing and worrying was a bit much. It also looked as though she may have been enjoying some of it.
“Look at what they found for me to wear,” Abby said pulling the blanket back slightly. It was a faded lavender colored nightgown that was about three sizes too big for her.
“It’s lovely,” I said flashing her a big grin.
“It’s dry,” Abby said smiling back.
Ravaged Land: Divided Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Books 1-3 Page 31
