“We should go back.” Kate threw her hand in the air toward the window. “Investigate.”
“I should throw you right into the lion’s den? You’ve got to be joking.”
Kate cocked her head to the side. “Isn’t the lion’s den the room you locked Will inside?”
“I don’t know. God dammit I don’t know.” Ethan ran his hands through his hair. “All I know is that I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Kate’s shoulder’s slumped down. She brushed her palms against her thighs over and over until they felt raw. She didn’t know why they were staying inside the town. Just because they couldn’t leave with Laura, didn’t mean they couldn’t just leave. But then again it wasn’t like she wanted anything to happen to the townspeople.
“Do you think we still need to have that town meeting?” Kate asked.
Ethan shook his head. “I have no idea. I guess maybe we should. People are probably hungry.”
“This is going to make me sound like a terrible person, but I think we should leave.”
Ethan turned to her and stared into her eyes. He was trying to decide just how series she was.
“We can tell everyone—”
“That we’re leaving?”
Kate shook her head. “No, we tell them it’s not safe out there and not to leave their rooms. Maybe I could put Maya in charge, she’s much more suited for all this than I am. I could just tell her that I need a break.”
“And then we sneak away in the night?” Ethan asked.
“Something like that.” Kate’s smile quivered slightly. “But we can’t leave Will locked up.”
“He’s not coming with us,” Ethan said staring at the wall without blinking.
Kate frowned. “We can’t leave him locked up in there.”
“We could.”
“I can’t. They may never let him out.”
Ethan inclined his head and let out a sigh. He looked at Kate and shook his head.
“I don’t know why you don’t see him for what he is,” Ethan said.
Kate let out an exasperated breath. “I don’t know why you don’t see he’s just a broken man who doesn’t deserve any of this.”
“I don’t want to get into all this again, do you?”
“Definitely not. But we if we’re leaving, we’re letting him out, deal?”
“As long as he’s not coming with us,” Ethan said.
“Fine.”
Ethan drew out a long breath. “So, what do we do now?”
“Pack up a bag, town meeting, release Will, and we run?” Kate said twisting her fingers together.
“When?”
“Bag and meeting today. Release Will and run tomorrow night?”
Ethan rolled his shoulders back and lowered his head for a moment before shifting his eyes up to meet Kate’s. “Okay. We’re really doing this?”
Kate cocked her head to the side. She swallowed down her nerves about all the things that could go wrong with their plan.
Kate hid her trembling fingers behind her back. “Yes.”
Chapter 23
Kate and Ethan spent the day each packing a backpack with supplies from around the camp. They made sure to pack as much ammunition for their guns as they could fit next to the first aid kit and food.
Ethan hid the bags inside Kate’s room as she stared out of the window. The sun was falling in the sky, and they wanted to have the meeting before nightfall.
“Ready?” Ethan asked stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
She placed her hands on his arms and closed her eyes. Kate let the brief moment of safety sink in because she knew it wouldn’t last. Before long they’d be out there, trying to make their way through a maze of unknowns, and diseased creatures.
“It’s kind of funny,” Kate said breaking the silence.
“What is?”
Kate turned to face him. “I never thought taking out Simon would cause everything to crumble. I mean I didn’t really give it that much thought, but I would have thought it would be a good thing for this town.”
“It was a good thing,” Ethan said.
“Then I guess I was terrible at trying to put things back together.”
Ethan lifted Kate’s chin. “Perhaps there was no bandage big enough to help heal the damage that had been done.”
“I never wanted the job anyway,” Kate said pressing her cheek against Ethan’s solid chest.
“That’s partially my fault,” Ethan said. “I encouraged it. It was stupid of me to think we could make this into something better.”
“It’s no one’s fault,” Kate said.
Ethan placed a quick kiss on top of her head. “We’ll figure it out. We’re going to be okay.”
Kate smiled even though Ethan couldn’t see her. “I hope so.”
She hated that she felt like a failure. It felt like everything was crashing down around her, and she didn’t have enough strength to pick it back up. And maybe she didn’t even want to.
It was Simon’s town. Always had been. Always would be. And whoever was out there, wanted to make sure she knew that, just in the same way that Percy and Robby wanted to teach her a lesson. Or maybe they just wanted to make her pay for what she’d done.
Kate was calling uncle. There was no point staying where she didn’t feel safe or welcomed. It was time for her to say goodbye.
“Ready to put our plan into motion?” Ethan asked.
Kate frowned. “I’m not sure.”
“What?” Ethan pressed his hand to his forehead.
“No, I just mean, when we go out there, it’s just you and me. Tommy’s gone. Wayne’s gone.” Kate pressed her fingers to her lip as she turned away. “Maybe that town meeting is the lion’s den.”
“What are you saying, Kate?”
Her breaths quickened. “I… maybe… what if we just tell Maya and go? Maybe she’ll deal with it?”
“You really think she wants to deal with what’s going on out there on her own?”
Kate lifted her shoulders in a half shrug. “Everyone knows her.”
Ethan began pacing. “Okay. Maybe. What if she says no?”
“Then I guess we do the town meeting.”
“We’re not going to tell her we're leaving, are we?”
Kate shook her head. “Of course not. I’ll just tell her I need a break. After all, she was Simon’s second, if anything happened, this was all supposed to be hers anyway.”
Ethan stopped pacing and pressed his finger to his lip. His head slowly started to bob up and down.
“Well then, let’s go pay Maya a visit.”
They walked down to Maya’s room and knocked. Kate cocked her head to the side and listened. She couldn’t be sure, but for a brief second, she thought she’d heard voices.
“Did you—” Kate started to say but stopped when the doorknob squeaked.
“Oh, whew, it’s just you guys. God, I was scared for a second there,” Maya said wearing a faint smile as she pulled open the door. She took a quick look up and down the hall before waving them inside. “Come in, come in.”
Ethan and Kate stepped inside, and Maya locked the door behind them. She crossed her arms and bit her lip lightly as she looked at them through narrowed eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“What makes you think something is wrong?” Ethan said with a raised eyebrow.
“Because you’ve never paid me a visit before.”
Kate released a quick breath. “Well, you’re right. I have something important I want to ask you.”
“Okay,” Maya said dragging out the word as she looked at Kate skeptically. “Shoot.”
“Um,” Kate stammered and looked at Ethan hoping she’d find the right way to tell Maya what she wanted to say. “I was wondering if you’d take over.”
Maya shook her head. “Take over?”
“I need a break. You know this place better than I ever will, and everyone likes you and knows you.” The words flood
ed out of Kate’s mouth.
Ethan placed his hand on Kate’s shoulder. Maya looked at him and then back at Kate.
“What will you two do?” she asked.
“Go back to eradicating,” Ethan answered quickly.
“Or whatever you think is best.” Kate forced a smile.
Maya turned away from them and started pacing. She watched her feet as they moved across the floor.
“Hmm… I don’t know,” Maya said chewing on a fingernail. “There’s a killer out there.”
Kate’s heartbeat raced.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I mean I don’t know the first thing about dealing with all that.”
Every muscle in Kate’s body tensed. “You were Simon’s second, the position is rightfully yours.”
Ethan inconspicuously bumped his elbow into Kate. She was letting her desperation show.
“I’m not sure I can fix things,” Maya said, her words stabbed Kate’s stomach. Kate felt like dropping down to her knees and begging Maya to take the town.
Maya picked up her clipboard and started flipping through the pages. It was like she was scanning her documents looking for the right answer.
She sighed. The clipboard crashed loudly when Maya tossed it onto the table.
“Nope.”
“Sorry?” Kate asked swallowing hard.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do it.” Maya gave them a smile. “I wish I could do it, but honestly I don’t want to lead. In fact, I never did.”
Kate bit down on her cheek. “Then why were you his second?”
Maya closed her eyes and shook her head while wearing a strange half-smile. “It’s stupid, but I was in love. People do really stupid things when they’re in love I guess.”
Kate placed her hand on her stomach trying to stop her heart from sinking down any further. She opened her mouth, but before she could desperately beg Maya to take the town, Ethan placed his hands on her shoulders and led her back.
“We totally understand,” Ethan said. “Thanks for your time, we’ll figure it out.”
Kate didn’t understand. She couldn’t understand how someone could have loved Simon. As far as Kate was concerned he had been an absolute monster. No one in their right mind could have loved him.
Maya smiled brightly, but to Kate, it looked like she was hiding something. Her lips were curled upward, but there was a darkness in her eyes that made her skin prickle.
“Thank you for thinking of me though,” Maya said, lightly touching Kate’s arm. “I wish I could help, but I really feel like I’m risking too much helping you the way it is.”
Kate hesitated even though Ethan was trying to move her out of the room.
“Wait,” Kate said wiggling herself free of Ethan’s grip. “What do you mean by that? You think whoever is doing this is after me?”
“Oh no!” Maya said. “That is not at all what I meant by that.”
“Well then what did you mean?” Kate asked cocking her head to the side.
Maya chewed the side of her cheek. “I just meant if I have to step out to tell you something, like when I had to tell you about Chuck.” Maya chuckled stalely. “Had to keep looking over my shoulder.”
“We know the feeling,” Ethan said.
Kate stared into Maya’s eyes. There was a smile on her face, but an emptiness in her eyes.
“We’ll get out of your hair,” Ethan said taking Kate’s hand.
“No problem. Glad you stopped by. It gets a little lonely in here.” Maya cocked her head to the side. “That reminds me, I was wondering what you guys are planning to do? I’m sure everyone is wondering what’s going on or at the very least they’re probably getting really hungry.”
Ethan grinned. “Another town meeting, I guess.”
“Town meetings don’t fill bellies, silly,” Maya said grinning. “Well, whatever you do let me know how I can help.”
“We will,” Ethan said opening the door and practically pulling Kate into the hall with him. He closed the door and pulled her toward the stairs. “What’s going on with you?”
Sadness overcame her, and her body jerked. Then she froze. Her body felt numb as she sucked in a shaky breath.
“We’re stuck. There’s nothing we can do,” Kate said swallowing down her frustration.
Ethan looked over his shoulder. “There is still one thing we can do.”
“What’s that,” Kate said fighting back the tears.
He turned to Kate and flicked his eyebrows upward. “Leave.”
Chapter 24
Kate stood at her hotel window, staring out into the darkness. Her fingertips touched the cold glass window pane.
“Can we really do it?” Kate asked.
“Do what?” Ethan stretched his arms into the air and folded them behind his head.
Kate chewed on the side of her cheek before answering. “Leave. There are so many people here. I hate feeling like I’m abandoning them.”
“They aren’t your responsibility.”
Deep down Kate knew it, but just because she could survive the world filled with The Unholy didn’t mean the others could. There were older men and women who still probably didn’t know how to take them out despite the training. They wouldn’t know how to find food and water. There were plenty of people in the town that needed someone to keep them safe.
But Ethan was right. It wasn’t Kate’s job to worry about every person in the town. She never even wanted to be here, Simon had brought her, and she stayed because she couldn’t find a way out. Now that she could leave, she couldn’t let anything stop her.
Once they were gone, someone would step into her shoes. There were plenty of others who knew the town and how to manage it. In fact, there were probably people who would do it far better than even Maya would have.
Kate had to put it out of her mind, or she’d try to find excuses to stay.
“Come over here,” Ethan said jerking his head slightly to the empty spot on the bed next to him.
Kate welcomed the distraction and climbed onto the bed. She curled up against his warm body and rested her head on his chest.
“It’s going to be okay, you know?” Ethan said squeezing Kate tighter.
“I don’t know. And you don’t know.” Kate let out a quick breath as she turned to look into his eyes. The hope inside them sparkled at her in the darkness.
Ethan stared into her eyes. “We’ll figure it out, and I’ll do anything in my power—”
Kate pressed her fingertips to Ethan’s lips. She didn’t want to hear promises and hope. There was no room inside of her for them. She didn’t want to dream about a perfect world, only to be disappointed when it didn’t happen.
Her fingers and eyes slid down his chin and onto his chest. Kate’s eyes stopped, but her hand kept moving.
The candle’s flame danced slowly to a beat that only Kate could hear. It was like a drum pounding deep inside her.
Kate’s hand glided inside Ethan’s shirt and curved over his rock-hard stomach. Even though his skin was warm, she shivered.
Her eyes moved up Ethan’s body and over his lips, stopping when their eyes connected. Ethan held her gaze as her hand crept up to his chest pausing over his heart.
Time seemed to stop as his hand curled around Kate’s neck, and he slowly pulled her closer. He hesitated, looking down at her slightly parted lips.
At that moment, the only thing that existed was her and Ethan. The air around her felt impossibly light as he pressed his lips against hers.
She froze for a moment as the kiss overwhelmed her. It was as though it was the first time she’d allowed herself to feel anything in… forever.
Ethan’s lips were impossibly soft as they glided hungrily over Kate’s. Her heart pounded harder, but she could feel that Ethan’s raced just as fast.
“Kate,” he whispered, and every inch of her body tingled at the sound of her name on his lips. Why had she fought her feelings for so long?
Kate climbed onto his lap straddling hi
m as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him hard as if he were her oxygen.
Ethan’s hands grabbed her hips and held her tight, guiding her against his growing need. The darkness of the room seemed to swallow them as they moved together as if their dance had been perfectly choreographed.
Kate’s fingers curled around the hem of Ethan’s shirt. She smiled with her eyes half-closed as she raised it up over his head.
Her hands moved over every inch of his exposed skin. She couldn’t get enough of the warmth and the silky smoothness.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment.” He kissed her, rocking her hips forward. “Fantasized about it.”
Kate couldn’t find the words to respond, but her body had managed to answer in its own way. Ethan pressed his palms against her body rolling them upward. Her shirt rolled upward slowly revealing her bare skin.
Ethan’s chest rose and fell slowly as Kate reached behind herself to unhook her bra. She slowly let it fall off her shoulders, her eyes on Ethan as he stared at her.
“Jesus,” he said in a low voice.
He cupped her breasts and Kate threw her head back at the sensations that rippled through her. She felt… intoxicated. It had been far too long since she’d been touched in the way Ethan was touching her.
Ethan growled as he rolled her over onto her back. Both of them fumbling with the button on each other's pants.
Kate giggled, and Ethan smiled, but it quickly faded as it was replaced by desire. A need. A craving.
Ethan worked his pants down before helping Kate out of hers. Their bodies moved against one another as they tried to indulge in every smooth, and silky curve of the other.
Kate let herself go to a place of perfection. Something that was completely free of worries and she was thrilled it was Ethan taking her there.
They rocked together as one, and Kate let her body climb to the top of her pleasure. A cliff so high it almost felt dangerous. When he pressed his lips to hers, her body tightened, and it felt as though she was soaring through the air.
Ethan and Kate crashed down together, their hearts racing. Both taking quick, frantic breaths.
When they landed back down on earth, Ethan rolled over onto his back. He leaned over with a big smile on his face and kissed the top of Kate’s head.
Falling Darkness Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller - Books 1-3 Page 31
