Detour: Book Two of the Humanity's Edge Trilogy
Page 19
In the silence afterward, Clay collapsed against the wall, covering his face with his hands. He began to sob, adding to Alayna’s wails, unable to process the truth of what Alex had told him. He’d wanted to be strong, for Maia. He’d wanted to accept the truth. But faced with it, he recognized how truly powerless he was.
Alayna went to him then. She knelt down beside him, lifting his bloodied hand to her lips. She kissed it, watching as his face changed.
“They have her. They have my Maia,” he whispered, his voice raspy.
“I know. I’m so sorry, Clay. I’m so—”
“I have to get her back, Alayna. I have to fight.”
“And we will,” Alayna’s words were sure. “After you left, Alex said they were more than likely headed back to their compound.”
Clay sat up, his attention on Alayna’s words. His heartbeat began to slow as he began to understand their meaning.
“It’s a bit north of here. In the woods. You know, I was thinking about our walk here. That dirt road, where they took the Jeep. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s up there. Otherwise, we would have seen the compound,” Alayna said.
“You really think it was Malcolm?” Clay asked, dubious.
“I heard his name,” Alayna said. “When they were stealing it. I heard someone call for a Malcolm to check it out.”
“So, he had Maia with him when he took the Jeep?” Clay gasped. “Could it be? I mean how many other groups of survivors are there?”
Alayna shrugged, looking unsure. “I don’t know. But Alex is willing to lead us to the compound. As soon as he’s well.”
“And he’s okay with turning on his father?” Clay asked, skeptical.
The others came closer, listening. Sam clutched her gun, her eyes fixed on the open door, almost certain they’d be under attack at any moment.
“I don’t get the feeling that Alex cares much for his father anymore,” Alayna said, glancing back at Sam. “And Sam mentioned that she’s had dealings with him in the past, as well. He’s apparently psychotic, to put it mildly. She wouldn’t go into too many details, though.”
Clay’s eyebrow twitched. What was the story there? Sam had begun to pace the edge of the room, her gun drawn, clearly deep in thought. He would approach her with this issue later.
“Doc Rodney says Alex can travel in a few days. So, there’s that. Finally, something to look forward to,” Alayna said, brushing plaster specks from Clay’s growing beard. “Sheriff. When was the last time you slept?”
“Ha. Sleeping is for the weak,” Clay said sarcastically, turning his eyes to his bloodied hands. He could no longer remember all the damage he’d caused, but could see the shattered glass embedded in his skin. God, he really was turning into a monster.
“Did you even sleep that night in the forest?” Alayna asked.
“No. I can’t remember. I’ve been awake, just making sure we’re all okay. Making sure nobody came at us,” Clay said.
“Well, that won’t do. You’re still human enough. You need your sleep,” Alayna said, rising, and taking Clay’s hand. With a jerk, she pulled him to his feet. “I’m going to put you to bed and then stay with you until you actually sleep. And that’s final.”
Clay wrapped a single arm around Alayna’s waist, oddly needing the support to walk. He felt the others’ eyes on him as Alayna led him to the second floor, back to the clean, quiet darkness of a hotel room. They collapsed together on the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, with Clay’s brain finally allowing him a few moments of peace.
Chapter 55
Clay awoke hours later, with the warm sunlight streaming across his face, his arms, his naked abdomen. For a long moment, he wasn’t entirely sure where he was: it could have been any hotel room in the world.
He rose from bed, his eyes glazed, as memories of the previous few days came back, images of Sam and Alex and the destroyed hotel reception desk flickering through his mind. “Jesus,” he muttered, massaging his face with chapped hands. “Maia. I’m coming, baby. As soon as I can.”
Alayna was nowhere in sight. Remembering his craving for a cup of coffee, Clay dressed quickly and headed out into the hotel. He was no longer surprised at his muscular development, even though he felt stronger than he had ever before. He flexed slightly, thinking back to the year he’d spent at the gym in his early thirties, trying to regain the strength he’d lost from his youth. Not even five days of rigorous training a week could fix him up. “You just like French fries too much,” Valerie had teased him. “Is that such a crime?” he’d asked in reply.
Now, he was more muscle than anything else.
Downstairs, Clay entered the kitchen to find Sam inside, trying to light a can of sterno. She eyed Clay, embarrassed, her cheeks turning pink. Shrugging, she gestured with the can.
“If only I could get this sucker lit, we could have a damn fine cup of coffee,” she said sheepishly.
Clay leaned over, pulling a box of matchsticks from a drawer. He chose one with a long burn area, struck it, and then held it over the gel. After a long second, the can began to glow blue. Success.
“If only I’d known,” Sam said, grinning slightly. “You’re looking refreshed, by the way. Feeling better?”
“Physically, better than ever,” Clay said, watching as she adjusted the sterno under the pot of water. “And I’m glad I found you. You’re exactly the person I want to talk to.”
“I thought you’d say that,” Sam said, her eyes flickering away.
“You know Malcolm,” he said.
“I do,” Sam whispered, resigned to the conversation.
“Anything you can tell me about him. Whatever makes him tic . . . I’ll take it. I’m going after him,” Clay said, analyzing her face.
Sam leaned against the counter, considering his words. “You asked me yesterday what my plans are, Clay. And I told you I didn’t know,” she said. “That is, I didn’t know until Alex woke up and I realized who he was.”
“Malcolm’s son?” Clay asked.
“I’m going with you,” Sam said. “You’re going to need my help with this one. And Malcolm and I, well . . . we have something of a history. A horrible history. That bastard has hurt me, and he’s not going to hurt anyone else. Least of all you and definitely not your daughter.” She leaned closer to Clay, almost spitting with anger. “I want revenge on that bastard just as much as you want your daughter back. And if we can go at him as a united front, we stand a better chance of succeeding.”
Clay crossed his arms over his chest, giving Sam an exultant grin. The water began to bubble. The sound was warm, soothing and familiar in his ears. The two leaders regarded each other with respect. They were about to face a monster. A human monster, and they wouldn’t hold anything back.
“That, Samantha, is the best news. It’s the best news I’ve heard in a long damn time.”
Dear Reader
Thank you so much for reading Detour: Book Two of the Humanity’s Edge Trilogy. The trilogy’s dramatic conclusion, titled, Reversion: Book Three of the Humanity’s Edge Trilogy will be available for preorder very soon! Be sure to watch for it!
I would also like to thank you for supporting indie authors such as myself. If you enjoyed reading this book, please leave a review wherever you got it. Reviews are an important key to the success of every book or story — the more reviews a title receives, the more likely it is that other readers will discover its virtues. So, please give your opinion, whether you liked it or not.
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Paul
Website: www.PaulKohler.net
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Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Books by Paul B. Kohler
About the Author
Free Book
From the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Dear Reader