Collide

by Shelly Crane

  Jeff looked for something to use, I assumed, to stab the creature like before. There was nothing, in the wide open field, just grass.

  I saw Jeff changing tactics, flashing around in a circle, confusing the Lighter. His boot connected with the Lighters jaw and he fell back, feet over head.

  Then the hail started.

  Jeff ran over and put his foot on the Lighters hand, crushing it into the ground. They could only hurt each other by touch of the skin then, I realized.

  He knocked Jeff’s feet out from under him with a swift kick to his calf and got back to his feet. I glanced over at Merrick and it was hard to believe all this had happened in just a few seconds.

  The Lighter eyed us three on the ground and made his way over towards us.

  Merrick was moving. He ran and grabbed the Lighters jacket back, slinging him over his head and down, backwards to the ground. It must be equally as painful to Lighters to touch the Keepers because, even though the Lighter could easily reach Jeff’s bare leg now, he didn’t touch him. He looked...scared.

  It was strange to see these human faces so full of hate and loathing and yet so afraid at the same time. But...I thought they couldn’t fear? No emotion. Where Keepers have emotion, Lighters have none.

  “Marissa! Phillip!” I yelled, making sure they were still ok.

  She was holding her ears and couldn’t hear me. Duh. Phillip was too, but his eyes were closed. I began to crawl on my elbows towards Marissa, not easy while cupping my ears. I reached her and bumped her arm with mine, she let out a yelp and looked my direction.

  I wished more than any other moment that I could have the Keeper’s mind talking thing, right then.

  The hail falling wasn’t that big but still didn’t feel good pelting on our open and exposed spines and heads. I was shivering in my tank top.

  I needed to rethink wearing tank tops out of the bunker. It never worked out.

  The Lighter swung up and around in a twist to regain his balance and turned to us once again. I looked up and met his dark hateful gaze. He had the smallest twitch of a smile, I may have even imagined it. Then he blurred towards us and Merrick ran to jump in front of me, us. The Lighter stopped but continued to eye us and Merrick with deadly intent written all over his face.

  He moved closer and more left and back a small bit, then wider left. I studied him and tried to figure out what the dance was for but when he quickly blurs to get past Merrick I saw that it was just a diversion.

  I heard Phillip yell and Merrick looked back to see what was going on as did I.

  When I looked back, Merrick was jumping directly in front of me as the Lighter made a swoop for my arm. He knocked the Lighter back but not before the Lighter did a roundabout up sending Merrick flying through the air at the same time the Lighter flew the opposite direction. The Lighter kicked him in the chest across the field the same time that Merrick hit him in the chest. Merrick landed with a very visible thump and skid that looked extremely painful.

  I lost it and screamed for him, uncovering my ears for just a second before hearing Merrick’s voice in my head.

  Keep your ears covered! I’m fine, honey. I’m fine.

  Lies. Merrick’s breakable body lay on the ground at least twenty feet from us, him barely lifting his head to look at me.

  I glanced at Phillip, still shutting out the world. When I looked back, Marissa was gone that quick.

  Looking up to the Lighter, I saw he had her by the throat and was hanging her up in the air by it.

  “Muse...” I heard the Lighter start to speak, a growl really, and I hummed as loud as I could and tried to think of something to do to help.

  Marissa’s ears were uncovered, trying to keep him from choking her, attempting to swat at his face and scratch at his neck but couldn’t reach. She was barely holding her self up, trying desperately to hold on to his black long sleeves and gloved hands.

  Her feet make contact a few times but it didn’t seem to phase him. Merrick and Jeff both ran over and access, trying to figure out what to do. Merrick had hobbled over, grabbing me and pulling me back behind him again. Marissa finally got a solid slap across the Lighter’s face.

  Then all of a sudden, the Lighter dropped Marissa on her bottom to the ground. She rolled over choking and gasping.

  The Lighter took off running through the field, full speed, a black blur. We all watched as he ran towards the cliff.

  In one single bound he threw himself up in the air with his arms spread wide, like a high dive, and plunged into the ravine below from the cliffs edge.

  I gasped in disbelief.

  Why on earth would he do that? He couldn’t fly can he like a Marker?

  Then one bright flash and thunder of lightning broke through the sky right through the ravine. What in the world was that?

  I looked at Phillip and he too was stunned, having opened his eyes. Glancing at Marissa, I saw her holding her throat, rolling on the ground, coughing and gasping still. Jeff was checking on her, trying to examine her throat. Merrick was beside me, kneeling on the ground. I dropped down too.

  “What was that? Lightning?”

  I thought back and I hadn’t seen lightning since the moon disappeared.

  “Yes. It was something that would look like lightning to you. When they die, the light from within them is dispelled. “Are you ok?” he asked me, but he didn’t look so good himself.

  “Yes. Why did he do that?”

  “Marissa,” he breathed painfully.

  Then it hit me why she was swatting at him, more than just trying to connect a hit to release her, she was trying to touch him to will him to jump. The Muse’s wrath.

  Then the hail stopped, it just sprinkled a light cold rain on my already wet and freezing body.

  “Oh. Wait. Are you ok?” I remembered the kick Merrick had received and immediately ran my hands over him in search of injuries.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Liar.”

  Pulling up his shirt I saw the huge boot size print and red purple mark over his ribs. I sucked in a breath through my teeth in agony for him. I touched it and he winced and groaned, but quickly stopped. He was a bad actor too.

  “Oh! Merrick. Oh no. I think he broke your ribs. Does it hurt bad?” Stupid question I asked.

  “I’m fine, honey.” He grabbed my face with a palm, reassuring me, but his face was not lying to me like his lips were.

  I could see the unfamiliar-to-a-Keeper pain all over it. How much worse did pain feel to them, to someone who had never experienced it?

  And then I remembered it was my fault.

  “You did this for me, to protect me. Look at you.” I ran my hand ever so slightly and softly over his bruise. “You took this for me.”

  “I told you I would do anything for you,” he said firmly, looking right at me. “It’s fine, really. Don’t worry about me. Let’s get you up and back in the car. You’re freezing.”

  Glancing around I saw Phillip, still sitting. He hadn’t moved but had uncovered his ears and he was looking at us in disgust but I couldn’t conjure up any annoyance right then.

  Marissa was breathing a little better. Jeff was helping her up and she was standing, leaning on her knees.

  “Marissa? You ok?” I asked her, but I couldn’t leave Merrick’s side to physically check on her.

  “I’m...ok...” she said between strained breaths.

  She wasn’t though. You could see the bruises on her neck forming already. Those were definitely gonna be purple and yellow and not pretty.

  Maybe that would get her some sympathy, and maybe everyone would stop being so cross with her about what happened with me.

  Merrick’s breathing was strained. He tried to get up but could barely get to his knees, let alone to his feet. I realized there was no way I could lift him by myself.

  Jeff was already walking back to the Jeep with Marissa, carrying her in his arms. She must’ve not been able to walk well. Looking at Phillip, I could tell he knew what I was abou
t to ask. He waited, staring bemused. He was going to make me ask for his help, out loud.

  “Phillip, can you help me with him please,” I asked, meeting his gaze, trying to not show the anger I felt for him.

  “I guess I don’t really have a choice, do I?” he said softly, surprising me when I expected sarcasm.

  He came over getting on the opposite side of Merrick. We lifted and Merrick yelped. I looked and saw that Phillip was grabbing around Merrick’s side to lift him.

  Lifting him by his ribs.

  We were standing and I was furious. This was stupid! Why intentionally hurt Merrick just because he was mad at me?

  Jerk!

  Buffoon!

  As soon I saw Merrick was standing steadily, I released his shoulder and held his arm to steady him and shoved Phillip’s shoulder as hard as I could, stunning him with my gesture more than actually moving him. Of course no real damage was done. I think I moved back even farther than he did, with my puny excuse for a body.

  “You did that on purpose you jerk! Just go back to the car, Phillip! I’ve got him,” I shouted.

  “Whatever you say, sugar.”

  “Ah! Go!” I yelled through my clenched teeth.

  I put Merrick’s arm around my shoulders again and helped him as we walked. Phillip sprinted his way and sat in the back seat, watching us hobble back.

  “Wow. That was so...sexy,” Merrick managed to get out through his heavy breaths, he was even smiling a little.

  “What?” I ask puzzled.

  What is he talking about? Did I miss something?

  “You trying to defend me.” He chuckled but winced.

  Aha. The human male in him finally made an appearance.

  “Yeah, well, I wish I could have done more damage. He’s such a jerk! He knew what he was doing.”

  “Yes, he did. He’s just angry at me for winning. He thought you would pick him.”

  “What? What are you talking about?” I stopped him and looked up at him.

  “He told me,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “He did? When?”

  “He had a ‘talk’ with me, more than once actually, and he explained why you should be with him instead of me. That he would be better for you and he was gonna make you see that,” he said, his voice strained.

  “What?! That’s the...dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “It was all worth it to watch you just now.”

  The smile on his face was that of pure elation, no mockery.

  “Shut up. You’re delirious,” I said smiling.

  I couldn’t help but smile at his enjoyment of the situation.

  Jeff ran back to help us, reaching to grab under Merrick’s other arm, as Phillip should have, to help steady the weight.

  “Is Marissa ok?” I asked him not looking so we wouldn’t get off balance.

  “Yeah. She will be. I’ll get Phillip to drive home so you’re not stuck with him in the back. What in the worlds was that about? I’ve never seen you hit anybody, Sherry.”

  “He deserved it,” I said flatly.

  I glanced over and saw he was looking into Merrick’s mind, seeing what he wanted, he smiled and started laughing.

  “I see. Well, it’s nice to know that if I’m not here, at least Merrick’s got a bodyguard.” Jeff kept trying to stifle his laugh but, it just was not working.

  “Ha ha. I can’t even protect my own puny existence, let alone anyone else,” I sulked.

  “Worked didn’t it? What is it they say? It’s not the size of the fighter in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in-” he started with a very mocking playful tone so I ended it.

  “Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Jeff! Don’t you dare,” I yelled playfully. He still hadn’t stopped laughing. “I’m glad to see you finally got the humor thing down. Real funny.”

  We were all laughing out loud. It was the very first time since meeting them, we all had a laugh about something together. Though, it was at my expense, and Merrick was making it worse by trying not to laugh because of the pain, and that in turn made Jeff laugh even harder, I was more than ok with it.

  Those two were my family now and families laughed at each other.

  I was amazed at the love pouring out of me for them, considering the strange string of today’s events. Amazed and overflowing.

  Phillip was in the driver seat, looking at us like were nuts and Marissa’s face was not far from that, as we climbed in the back and headed home. Considering the events that had just transpired, I didn’t blame them for thinking we were strange, but I wasn’t about to explain myself to Phillip.

  Marissa seemed like she didn’t care much anyway. She kept holding her throat and looking out the window the whole way home. I caught Phillip’s glare in the rearview mirror a couple times but looked away quickly and tried to focus on making Merrick comfortable for the ride home.

  We didn’t stop for anything, no one tried to call any more Keepers. No one was sure of what a lone Lighter was doing out in the field either or why the Taker would be out there hunting, leaving the Markers skeleton for us to find. The mysteries kept piling up and it seemed to me, more day by day, that this was unprecedented.

  Merrick, Jeff and the rest of the Keepers seemed to be just as puzzled as the rest of us lately.

  Maybe things wouldn’t go like they thought, be different. Maybe things would work out, for our benefit. For now, I was gonna dream that just that could be possible.

  Foe’s Folly

  Chapter 22

  The past couple of days had been spent with me tending to Merrick and his bruised and broken ribs after our fight with the Lighter in the field. Merrick made out like I was fussing over him but I could tell he loved every minute of it. And I loved doing it. I loved taking care of him.

  We didn’t have anything but over the counter pain medicine for him, but he seemed to not be too bad off. I massaged his shoulders and neck and arms daily, trying to relax him so he’d rest and sleep better, to which he moaned and sighed appropriately over. Even he couldn’t resist my massaging charms. Couldn’t really touch his ribs too much but I did what I could.

  He was getting awfully pampered.

  Between Mrs. Trudy making him peanut brittle, Jeff and everybody else checking on him constantly and my massages, which it seemed he’d grown rather fond of, he was getting entirely spoiled. I was grateful that he, even though it was pretty much forced on him, was accepting something for himself.

  We spent a lot of time ‘resting’ in our closet of a room. Merrick said he needed the rest and I needed to be there to nurse him back to health.

  I didn’t mind, of course I didn’t.

  It was awfully hard though, trying to fit kissing embraces around his sore ribs but it made going too far impossible. Good for him because he didn’t have the strength to fight off my advances.

  “You’re killing me, Sherry,” he would say as I kissed him none too easily and I’d apologize emphatically, which he’d brush off, laughing and pull me closer. Or, he’d say, “Honey, I think you’re seriously misunderstanding the duties of a nurse,” and then we’d chuckle.

  Kay and Trudy had examined him and we all determined a couple of the ribs were broken but there wasn’t anything to do but wait for them to heal and rest with icepacks.

  We talked about the Lighter with everyone else in a meeting and the fact that Marissa saved us. Jeff explained we were unprepared and there was nothing to be used to run the Lighter through with, as that was the only way to kill one, and was wondering what we were going to do. Some were still skeptical, saying Marissa was only saving her own skin. They were right, that was true, but I didn’t buy it.

  Yes, it was dangerous to have a Muse around, she could have just as easily touched any of us and made us jump off that ravine but I had to believe she wanted to be here and help us.

  Jeff explained that Lighters didn’t have the same brains as humans and they instantly react to a Muse’s wrath. They don’t fight it because they don�
��t know how to they just do it, whatever it is, without question, without hesitation.

  Thankfully, Jeff didn’t feel the need to disclose everything and left my embarrassing temper tantrum with Phillip out of it.

  Phillip no longer attended any of the meetings, nor sat in the commons room with us. He spent most of his time in the store, pouting. I wondered why he had been so adamant on us staying with them in the beginning.

  He wasn’t making any friends here and didn’t seem interested in talking to anyone or trying, even with Trudy anymore.

  Maybe he regretted us coming and invading all their tiny space. I kinda felt bad, thinking about it like that, but he invited us, sought us out and this was the end of the normal world, no time to be stingy with the underground bunkers.

  After about a week and a half, Merrick was moving around and walking almost normally again. Sad to say that I kind of missed him bed ridden, me tending to him instead of him to me, per the usual. Because he was better, so were the make out sessions, though, he still was standing his ground, a stone, unmovable.

  I thought it was silly, but I had to admit, it was awfully sweet, his whole bit to protect me from myself and my lack of will power. Shouldn’t this situation be in reverse?

  The store run had came through without a hitch, no Lighters were spotted and they had returned safely so we would continue on with that route until we no longer could, forcing our hand into another avenue. I didn’t want to think about what that might be.

  Sitting in the commons room on the couch, Jeff and Merrick talked some about what happened in the field that day.

  “I’ve never seen a Marker skeleton. The only reason that that Lighter was there, was to wait for someone to come. He wouldn’t have been out there alone otherwise. The Taker absorbed that Marker, so he’s hunting for himself. Hmm. But why was... Hmmm,” Jeff prodded himself and Merrick for a theory, while we sat on the smaller but newer couch the newbie’s brought with them.