The Warrior

by Rebecca Royce

  Darren continued to talk. “We can’t push the whole group to Genesis tonight. Your sisters will never make it but, actually, I contemplated taking her on ahead. Walking all night.”

  I sighed. “You’ll never make it, Superman. Sorry to burst your bubble but you’re human just like the rest of us.”

  Deacon stared at me. “What did you say?”

  “It’s ‘Superman.’ A comic book character and movie character and TV character you’ve never seen. Sorry for the confusion.”

  He waved his hand in the air. “I actually know who Superman is.

  When I was reprogrammed, Icahn gave me some pop culture. I don’t miss every reference anymore.”

  “Then what was your question?” My head ached. I wanted to close my eyes and sleep for a year. He had to be more specific if he expected answers. Unless I’d lost touch with reality altogether.

  “It was something you said. Darren is just human. He can’t carry you all night.”

  “Right.” I yawned. “And you didn’t understand why?”

  “Oh I got it all right.” He grinned. “Stay here with her, Darren. No sticks used for fighting Vamps tonight. I have an idea. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  Deacon scampered off. I looked at Darren. “Do you have any idea what he’s about?”

  “No.” He shrugged. “I could be Superman tonight if you need it.”

  “You rest.” I patted his leg. I was going to sleep whether I wanted to or not. My eyes closed.

  ***

  Deacon shook me awake. I opened my eye to glare at him. “I was sleeping. Can’t you let me die in peace?”

  “No.” He grinned. “Because I have managed quite a feat.”

  “What?”

  Darren moved into my view. “Well, Deacon did the hard work, but we all worked on the end result together.”

  “Guys, my muddled brain is not following what you said.” I really just wanted to go back to sleep. That was when my Werewolf signal went off. I doubled over. Goose bumps everywhere. Man, it sucked.

  “There are Wolves nearby.”

  Deacon nodded. “I know. I brought two of them here.”

  “I….” Really, I had no idea what I would have said. His words stunned me. “Why?”

  Did they think to spare me more pain? Was I to be finished off by the Wolf? Were they…? I shook my head. Those thoughts didn’t feel like my own. They were unreasonable panic, manifesting itself where it shouldn’t be. I controlled what I thought about, not the other way around.

  My friends wouldn’t hurt me.

  “Because they are going to take you back to Genesis. On their backs.”

  I had ridden on Werewolves before but they were all monsters, I knew. Deacon wanted me to climb on one and just trust it to do as I asked?

  Darren picked me up and brought me to where the two Wolves were chained to a tree. They had both been harnessed—well, a makeshift version to the say the least—using rope and cloth. Two of Deacon’s sisters held machetes up against the monsters’ necks.

  “They gave us no trouble.”

  “Because they know what’s going to happen if they don’t play along. Right, you disgusting beast?”

  My heart thudded hard. “I don’t know if I can get on it.” My hands shook. “The last time I encountered one, it nearly ate me alive.”

  Darren shook his head. “You’re going with me. You’re going to hang on my back. I’m going to control the Wolfie. You can do it.”

  His confidence in me outweighed my belief in myself. I gulped. “I don’t know.”

  Darren patted me on the back. “You can, Rachel. This is how we get you help in time to save you. To see Chad again, you can do this.”

  He was right. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for one more glance or conversation with Chad Lyons. One more view of Genesis. The chance to go home.

  ***

  I gripped Darren, who leaned forward, holding his machete against the Werewolf’s throat. Behind us, Deacon’s mount growled. If there was such a thing as a more tame version of the two, Darren and I had it. Deacon’s liked to vocalize. Briefly, I wondered what they’d look like as humans, if they shifted.

  I turned to look at Deacon. He grinned at me. I had to admit, this ranked as a pretty good idea. Plus, it felt good to be getting the best of a pair of Wolves, even if they weren’t the ones who’d abused me. Given the chance, they would have.

  How Deacon had managed this would have to be told. I coughed into my sleeve, shocked, when I looked down, to see I’d spit up blood. I lowered my arm and wiped at my face.

  I didn’t want them to know. Not yet. I really didn’t want to die on the back of the Werewolf when I was so close to Genesis. Not yet.

  My head pounded.

  I closed my eyes and rested my head on Darren’s back. Somehow, I had to make it.

  ***

  “Rachel.”

  I tried to open my lids but I couldn’t. Darren said my name more forcefully. My arm had gone from horrible pain to completely numb.

  “We’re here. Deacon went down to get help.”

  That was good.

  ***

  I don’t know how long I was sick. I’m not even entirely clear how they healed me. They had medicine from Icahn’s supplies. I know that now. Then, I knew nothing at all. I didn’t visit Jason, Keith, and the high school in my dreams. I just had nothing but blackness.

  Occasionally, I would hear something, but like an echo it passed through me and disappeared. Then one day the light came back. It hurt my lids.

  “Rachel.” I knew that voice. I’d craved hearing it again. “Wake up. Come back to me.”

  There was nothing I wouldn’t do for Chad. Opening my eyes proved easy even though I couldn’t have attempted it before then.

  I stared at him. At first all I could see was a blob of various colors that didn’t seem to want to form a shape. But eventually Chad’s features appeared before me. An exhausted, haggard Chad.

  He blinked rapidly. “Are you here?”

  I reached out to touch the side of his face. “Are you?”

  He closed his eyes for a second and then opened them. Reaching out, he grabbed my hand. With a speed that surprised me, he planted kisses on my fingers.

  “I really didn’t think you’d be waking up again. No one was sure. It was like torture but I knew you wouldn’t be returned to me only to die. I just knew life could not be so cruel.”

  It could be but I wasn’t going to argue. I felt so good being able to look at him.

  My throat scratched. Talking wouldn’t be as easy as adoring him with my gaze. He looked to his left and picked up a water glass sitting there. The brown container held a straw he placed on my lips.

  I sipped and my voice returned. “I wanted to get home. So badly.”

  “Deacon filled us in on what happened to you.” He gripped my hand so tight his knuckles turned white. I would have complained but I liked the contact. I’d take it any way I could get it.

  “Yeah…it was a time.” I really didn’t know what to say about it. How could I describe what it had felt like to live in hell?

  “You know, I thought you were dead, that they had killed you right away, or I would have come looking for you. I never would have left you alone. I would have found you somehow.”

  “Chad.” I pulled my hand out. At this point, it was painful. He looked down, and realization dawned across his face. He took my fingers back, kissing them again.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  “It’s okay.” I smiled. “You didn’t. Not really.”

  “Rachel.” He shook his head. “I thought you were dead.”

  “I almost was.”

  We stared at one another. There was so much to say and yet I couldn’t find the words to utter even one sentence. Finally, emotion poured out. “I love you.”

  A tear slipped from his eyes. “I never understood it, not really. How you could have bargained with Icahn for my life. It was awesome but I
thought, hell, I’m not worth so much effort. And then you were dead. I couldn’t do anything about it.”

  I sucked in my breath. “Chad—”

  “I understood. I would have done anything, used any means available to me, to cheat your death. You’re here. I feel like I won some kind of lottery. One-in-a-billion chance and you’re here.”

  “I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have made any deal with Andon.” I’d wanted to say this and I had to before the universe took away my chance. “I made a mistake. You’re right. I don’t get to play with my life anymore like it’s just my own.”

  He shook his head. “I should never have picked a fight right before you had to go off and I should have figured something out with you instead.”

  “So you forgive me?”

  He kissed me, his lips warm and so familiar. I closed my eyes, loving the feel of his hot breath on my mouth. “You’re going to be my wife. You have me wrapped around your finger. I could never stay mad. Certainly not now.”

  I lifted my bad arm. “It still hurts.”

  “I imagine it will for a long time.”

  “Right. It’s like my near-death punishment for a dumb decision.”

  “Scoot over.” I managed to move so he could lie down with me. “I have to get my Rachel-time. Your parents will be in soon. All your friends. Everyone is here all the time. It’s amazing we were left alone this long.”

  I curled up against his side. “This is all I wanted, Chad. One more chance at this.”

  Life didn’t usually give me what I wanted, but this time it had. I’d treasure every second of it.

  Chapter Twelve

  My arm still ached all the time, but I’d stopped complaining about it. The general consensus the medics had was I was lucky not to have lost the arm and it might hurt for a while. In any case, I felt grateful to be out of the medical ward and back into my bed.

  My mother and father had fussed over me to no end but I’d had enough. My arm was stiff but if I could just get it loosened up a bit, I’d be back to myself in no time. I’d spent the night alone because Chad had duty. Patrick had promised to get us on the same schedule again soon.

  Not that I had a schedule. I was currently off duty entirely. The idea would have bothered me in the past but not so much now. I stretched, sitting up, and heard the door open and close.

  “Chad?” I grabbed the sheet and pulled it up a bit just in case it was someone else.

  “It’s me.” He poked his head in the room. “Early for you to be awake.”

  “I don’t have very much going on. No need for my body to sleep in. Don’t worry, I won’t keep you awake.”

  Chad grinned. “I’m wired. Not going to sleep now and your body has plenty to do. You should be sleeping so you can heal.”

  “Thank you, doctor.” I stood up. “I’ll make you something to eat.”

  “I’m not hungry. Lie back down. I’ll get in next to you. We can talk.” He took off his shoes and I moved over.

  “Sounds ominous.”

  I loved when his dimple showed during a smile. “Yep, you should be afraid, very afraid.”

  He got under the covers and the room felt ten times warmer. I sighed. I’d been wide awake but now I could see getting all comfy and sleepy again.

  “How was it?” I touched his cheek, wanting the tactile experience that came with stroking him.

  “Eh. It’s all very dull out there now. Makes me nervous. But Dad says maybe the worst is behind us.”

  I smiled. “Maybe, but you know I’m always skeptical anything can remain good for too long.”

  “You’ve clearly rubbed off on me.” He adjusted himself until I could lie against his chest. “To have you here with me. It’s so right. I can’t even explain it.”

  “You don’t have to. I get it. Believe me, nothing has ever been better.”

  “Which brings me to what I want to talk about.” Chad kissed my hair.

  “Yes. Let me off the hook. The waiting to know what you want is going to kill me.” I really couldn’t do any more suspense.

  “I want to get married.”

  I burrowed deeper. “I recall something about that. I think I said yes. Or do you have something wrong with your memory all of a sudden?”

  He pinched me and I yelped, swatting at him. “I want to get married today.”

  “Today?” I raised my head. “Isn’t that going to be a little tricky to arrange?”

  “No. Dad said he’d marry us today if you agreed. We don’t have to make a big thing about it. We’ll gather whoever can come, get married, and then you’ll be mine. Forever.”

  “I am already, you know.” He had such a look of longing in his brown eyes. How could I deny him anything? “But if it’s important to you to get it done fast, then we’ll do it. Today.”

  He let out a long sigh. “Great. Three o’clock.”

  Pulling me into his arms, he kissed me, long and hard. Finally, he leaned back and I stared at him.

  “You already had a time picked out. You must have been pretty sure I’d be okay with this.”

  “Well, I kind of thought I could persuade you.”

  I took a deep breath. Please, I thought to anyone who might be listening, who might be able to hear my thoughts and influence the universe, please let Chad’s father be right. Let the worst be behind us.

  After that I didn’t think about much else except Chad’s strong arms and the way it felt when he kissed me. The simple joy of his arms around my body when he dozed off, exhaustion finally overtaking him.

  ***

  Three o’clock came a lot sooner than I would have thought. I stood in front of a mirror as Chad’s mother Carol, my mom, and Tia fussed over me. They’d thrown together a white dress. I didn’t know where they got it or how they made it fit me, since none of them were my size. However, I’d learned not to ask too many questions. Doing so always got me into trouble. If this dress belonged to a long-dead Warrior whose death needed to be avenged, I couldn’t hear about it right then.

  The white dress was short, hitting right above my knee. I never liked showing any skin at all. Pants suited me just fine. But today everyone seemed bound and determined to make me look like a girl. Even though Chad and I specifically told everyone how casual we wanted this to be.

  Were his friends and family pestering him into nice-looking clothes?

  Calling the dress white didn’t adequately describe it. The color would better be attributed to ivory. It had a scooped neck and a slight gold braid around the waist and the bottom.

  I caught my mother’s eyes in the mirror. She smiled. “Ivory is better than white for your complexion.”

  “How did you know what I was thinking about?”

  She winked. “I’m your mom.”

  As if that answered it beyond any doubt. I smiled. For today, I wouldn’t argue. Tia, on her hands and knees, fixed the hem and Carol played with my hair.

  “You’re going to be so happy together. This is what we need. Rachel came home and it’s a miracle. Now we can watch two of our best and brightest marrying. It’ll be the beginning of a new era.”

  I held up my hand. “Please don’t make me a thing. Chad and I are getting married. It’s big enough. Forever and all. Let’s not make it mean even more.”

  Unless they wanted me to start hyperventilating.

  “Fair enough.” His mom kissed me on the cheek. “Daughter-in-law.”

  In a million years, I hadn’t ever expected to hear those words.

  ***

  On my father’s arm, I walked toward Chad. Someone had gotten the wedding march played over the loudspeakers of the habitat. My dad squeezed my arm. “I’m so proud of you. I know it hasn’t been easy. You’re just a remarkable woman.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” I tried not to let the tears threatening to spill find their way out of my eyes. I tried but I failed. A few slipped through and I batted them away.

  Then I saw Chad and all other thoughts fled. This was just about him and me
. We were the only people in the habitat, the only people in the area, the only ones on the planet.

  He looked so handsome. It looked like they had gotten him dressed up, too. He wore a pair of khaki pants and a black, collared T-shirt. Where on earth had everyone hidden all of these beautiful clothes?

  I grinned at him and he took my hand when I approached. Leaning over, he whispered in my ear. “Nice legs.”

  My cheeks heated up. “Thanks. I think.”

  His father spoke to us for a while. He’d been married to Carol for more years than we could imagine, since none of us knew exactly how long we’d been alive. But the Lyons had lasted. And my parents were still together, in their case through death and cloning. I didn’t care what Patrick said. I knew what Chad and I promised each other was to spend every minute we had left alive loving one another.

  And at the end, he kissed me. I closed my eyes. I’d never known happiness before. We hadn’t all been through hell together. We were just two people saying “I do.”

  ***

  Sometime later, I saw a face I hadn’t seen much of since my return. Tiffani Endover walked toward me. She held a drink in her hand and raised it to me when I got to her.

  She hugged me close. “All day today, I’ve been thinking how much Keith would have loved this. You were so special to him. One of the kids he really believed in. Now look at you. You’re all grown up. I couldn’t be happier.”

  “Oh, Tiffani. I miss him.” I pulled back, an ache in my chest left from opening myself up to pain by uttering those words.

  “I do, too.” Unlike me, her eyes stayed dry. “But here is the thing. I’ve come to see I was lucky to have the time with him I had instead of being angry about the time taken away.”

  I didn’t know how she always managed to be grace and dignity, but she did. I loved Tiffani and I pulled her against me for another hug. They had been a perfect match, another example for me to hold onto in my heart for my own marriage.