Ravenous (Book 1, The Ravening Series)

by Erica Stevens

CHAPTER 4

  We slipped through the shadows of the buildings, Cade moving with an easy grace I found astonishing. I wasn't silent or graceful, but at least I wasn't a blundering idiot. Not this time anyway. I followed him as we made our way through the streets. I didn't feel the rumbling approach of those monstrous things, but I kept alert for any sign of their return, or any sign of something else coming for us.

  The streets weren't as cluttered with people now. I didn't know what they did with the bodies when they were done with them, but thankfully they didn't leave them behind. Guilt filled me for feeling relieved about the disappearance of the frozen people, but I couldn't handle seeing their broken remains cluttering the street. Not on top of everything else.

  Cade slipped around a corner; my heart picked up a beat as he disappeared from view. He was waiting for me when I turned the corner, his hand stretched behind him to hold me back.

  I stopped, my breath trapped within me as I strained to hear anything out of the ordinary. It was unnaturally still in the fading light of day. I wondered if the aliens had retreated to their ships for the night, or if they would be returning soon to start collecting the people still within their homes and stores.

  Cade moved forward again. We made our way out of the center of town, slipping into backyards, staying to the woods as we swept through the shadows with more speed. Excitement and trepidation hammered through me as we neared my house. I didn't know what to expect, I tried not to get my hopes up too much, but it was impossible.

  I almost broke into a run when my house finally came into view, but Cade held me back, his arm encircling my waist as he kept a firm grip on me. "Getting yourself killed won't do you or your family any good."

  I nodded, biting on my bottom lip as I ignored the strange sensations his touch aroused in me. Or at least tried to ignore them, but it was impossible. My body tingled with unfamiliar currents of electricity when his fingers brushed over the bare skin exposed by the slight uplifting of my t-shirt. His breath was warm as it increased against my ear.

  I forced myself to focus on something other than him, now was most certainly not the time to be thinking about this stuff. My house looked ominous in the growing night. It appeared empty, cold, and dark. My home was never dark. Abigail was forever turning on lights, but she always forgot to turn them off. It wasn't unusual to come home and find every light in the house spilling from the windows, lighting the night like a homing beacon.

  My mother and Aiden were constantly lecturing Abby to turn the lights back off; I remained silent on the matter. Though I never said it, I secretly liked the welcoming warmth of the lights when I came home. There had been enough darkness in our lives, I wasn't about to tell Abby she should keep the house dark too.

  The complete absence of them now was enough to make my eyes burn.

  "Cade," I croaked, choked by the lump in my throat.

  "They wouldn't turn the lights on Bethany, not tonight." I tried to find solace in his words, but there was none. "Come."

  He entwined his fingers with mine and led me through the trees. We moved quickly across the street before darting around to the back. For the first time I realized just how rundown my home had become. Paint was peeling off in flakes; the back porch sagged beneath the weight of years gone by and the weather.

  I winced as the stairs creaked beneath my feet. My heart hammered as I twisted the knob and cautiously pushed the door open. The hinges squeaked, the kitchen floor groaned as I stepped inside. The familiar scent of my mom's perfume, food, and scented candles washed over me. In the dim illumination, I could make out the tidy kitchen counters and the outline of pictures, report cards, and magnets covering the fridge. Plants hung in the window over the sink, dishes were stacked neatly in the dish drain.

  It was my home, and for the first time it felt cold and lonely. Vacant.

  I carefully made my way through the kitchen. Though there was enough light to guide me, I moved mostly on instinct through the rooms. Cade followed silently as I crept up the stairs. "Mom?" I was afraid to speak too loud in the foreboding silence. "Mom?"

  I heard the choked tears in my voice. I swallowed heavily, forcing myself to speak louder as we reached the top of the steps. "Mom?"

  "Bethany." I jumped a little, startled by the response. I had truly believed I wouldn’t receive one. Cade placed a hand in the small of my back, steadying me before I crashed into the banister. "Bethy?"

  "Abby?"

  There was a faint shuffling noise and then my little sister appeared in the doorway of our mom's bedroom. Relief filled me; a small cry escaped my lips as my knees nearly gave out. And then I was moving, running, fighting back tears of joy as I grasped hold of her. At fifteen, she was only two years younger than me, but she seemed much younger. Maybe it was her petite, and delicate build, but I felt it had more to do with her innocent air. She was nowhere near as jaded as I was.

  Her small arms wrapped around me as she sobbed against my shirt. "Oh Bethy I was so scared! I didn't know what to do, I couldn't leave her," she moaned.

  I closed my eyes, my heart breaking as Abby confirmed our mother hadn't been as lucky as us. I could barely breathe, but holding Abby gave me a sense of strength I hadn't experienced until right now. I had to be strong for her; I had to keep her safe. No matter what, I had to make sure she survived. "Aiden?"

  Her coffee colored hair fell about her shoulders in a tumbling mass of long curls as she shook her head. "I don't know, he went to see Bret earlier but he hasn't come back."

  My hands clenched on her shoulders as I took solace in the fact she was still moving, still ok. If Aiden was able to move he would come back here as soon as he could. Bret's house was farther away than the antique store though. If he wasn't still moving then I would find him at Bret's, but I was in no hurry to rush out of here. Not until I saw my mom.

  "Where is she?"

  Abby nodded toward our mother's bedroom, but it was obvious she wasn't ready to go back into it. She was shaking, and unlike me there were tears rapidly coursing down her face. I ached for her, she had probably spent the entire day standing guard over our mother, terrified and confused, and completely alone. I didn't blame her for not wanting to return, she'd done enough already.

  "Stay here," I said as I squeezed her shoulder.

  I moved past her as I crept into my mom's room. The room was dark, but I saw her instantly. She was sitting on the bed with her head bowed over the papers spread out before her. Her reading glasses were in place, a pen was clasped between her lips. Her chocolate hair had been pulled into a lose bun that hung against her slender neck. The resemblance between her and Abby was unmistakable. They both had elfin features, dark hair, and a petite physique. Abby and my mother had always reminded me of delicate faeries. I often felt awkward and out of place around them due to my clumsiness and slightly larger build, a part of me was convinced I would accidentally knock them over one day. I was slender like them, but taller and my skin was fairer. Aiden and I had inherited our dad's height and honey blond hair.

  "Mom," I whispered, even though I knew it wouldn't do any good. She didn't respond, didn't even blink. I moved closer to her, shoving aside the papers as I slid onto the bed. I had seen her in this exact same position many times before, but this was the first time I'd ever felt out of place and frightened. I touched her cheek lightly, her skin was still warm, but it was cooler than it should have been. That man had still been alive, she had to be also, I hoped. "Oh, mom."

  I bowed my head to hers, resting my forehead against her bent head. I was struggling not to lose complete control, not to turn into a sobbing mess, but I wasn't sure I could keep my sanity through this whole catastrophe. I felt Cade's presence in the room, sensed his gaze upon me before I saw him.

  My hand lingered upon my mother's cheek as I turned to him. "What do we do?" I asked.

  "We survive." They were cold words, and yet the tone accompanying them wasn’t. It was understanding and sympathetic. It was also resilient and unwaverin
g. "Because we have to, because it is what she would want you to do."

  "I can't leave her here."

  "I know." I turned away from him, unable to form words or opinions right now. "We won't. I have to go somewhere right now though."

  My head snapped around, my mouth dropped open in shock. I released my mom's still hand as I limply slid off the bed and took a step toward him. "Where?" I managed to choke out.

  "I have to go to my house. There are some things I have to do."

  I was confused by this sudden turn of events. I hadn't expected him to leave us here, but of course there would be things he’d have to do, things he’d have to check on at his own home. I didn't know where he lived anymore, or who he lived with, if anyone. He was most likely on his own now; he was eighteen after all. "Of course."

  "I'll be back." I barely managed a nod. "Soon."

  "We... we could come with you."

  He shook his head. "No, I'll move faster by myself and Aiden could still return. You have to stay here."

  "But..."

  He broke off my protest. "You have to stay with your mother Bethany, and you have to see if your brother returns. You'll never forgive yourself if you don't. My place is only half a mile from here. I'll be safe in the woods."

  I was surprised to learn he lived so close. Cade had bounced around so much over the years that it had been difficult to keep track of where he was living at any given time. "What if you don't come back?" I whispered. "What if something happens to you and I could have helped to stop it? Abby can wait for Aiden." Even as I said the words, I knew I couldn't leave her again.

  "There are more of those things out there than there is of us now Bethany. Their technology is better, they planned this, and they have the upper hand. I don't think there's anything either of us could do to stop them right now. Besides, you don't want to leave your sister again."

  "You're not safe out there Cade, you can't go alone."

  He’d moved steadily closer throughout the conversation and was before me now. I had to tilt my head back to take all of him in. His eyes and hair blended in with the night around us, giving the sinister impression he was a part of the darkness and far more at home in it than any other person would be. His handsome features were half hidden in shadow, his full mouth pinched. I was breathless as he pushed the hair back from my shoulders. His fingers stroked over my cheek, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. My mouth parted in amazement, my face tilted instinctively into his caress. I didn't know what was going on, what he had in mind, until his lips pressed against mine.

  And then, I just didn't care anymore.