“Guess so,” Ethan said watching as Jasper helped Nikki over the body. She looked as though she was afraid it might reach up and grab her.
Kate crossed her arms. “Why are these here?”
“I can’t even guess,” Ethan said pulling Kate along. “Maybe we should ask.”
When they reached the overgrown backyard, Kate expected to be ambushed by whoever was inside the house. She was almost surprised when it hadn’t happened.
They walked through the yard. Kate could tell that once upon a time, it had been a spectacular yard. They’d probably taken good care of it, she could imagine the flowers and plants that decorated the property.
Kate sighed as she looked into the tilted, moss-covered, birdbath. It was filled with water, and if there hadn’t been dirt and debris floating around, she would have been tempted to scoop some into her hand.
There was a porch with several chairs and a broken porch swing. The plants that had been in planters hanging from the ceiling hung down like dead snakes.
When they got to the front of the building, they found several people waiting on the porch. All three of them were armed.
“Good morning,” the man called as they stepped near the stairs. He adjusted the shotgun across his lap making sure they saw it.
“Morning,” Ethan said.
“Did you folks have a nice stay in the barn?” the man said, his face expressionless.
Ethan nodded. “Our apologies, we thought the area was abandoned.”
“Okay,” the man said as his eyes shifted over to Kate, then to Nikki, Jasper, and Garrett. He carefully examined them one by one. “So,” the man said, as he started to rock his chair back and forth, “what brings you around here?”
“We’re just passing through,” Ethan said, taking a small step forward. The other two men holding their guns tightened their grip, and Ethan held up his palm. “We’re quite tired. Things have been rough.”
The man stared at him. “Things are rough for everyone, aren’t they?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan said.
“What’s your name?” the man asked.
“I’m Ethan, this is Kate, Nikki, Jasper, and Garrett,” Ethan said.
“Good to meet you, folks. I’m Mr. Earle, and these are my boys Scott and David. My wife’s inside.” Mr. Earle cleared his throat. “So, were you folks the ones making all that racket last night?”
Ethan glanced at Kate for a brief second. “It wasn’t us, but it was part of our group. They’re no longer with us.”
“They aren’t with you, as in they’ve run off, or they’ve become one of those creatures?” Scott said.
“They’ve been turned,” Kate said. She felt small when they all set their eyes on her. “They stole our stuff.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Mr. Earle said, and Kate could tell he knew she was referring to the backpacks.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. “Did you know there is a line of Unholy in your backyard?”
“Unholy?” Mr. Earle asked.
“The creatures,” Ethan replied.
“It keeps them away,” Mr. Earle answered with a slight shrug. “Why do you call them Unholy?”
Ethan let out a slow breath. “The last place we were staying called them that.”
“Interesting,” Mr. Earle said. He started rocking again. “So, what can I do for you folks?”
“We don’t get many visitors out this way,” Scott said.
David nodded. “Especially none that walk right up to the house.”
“Well,” Ethan said looking down at the ground for a moment before looking directly into Mr. Earle’s eyes. “Might you have some food or water to spare? And if you wouldn’t mind, maybe another night in your barn?”
Mr. Earle stopped rocking. He shook his head. “No, that won’t do.”
“We understand,” Ethan said taking a step back. “Sorry to have interrupted your morning.”
“And our night,” Scott said with a half-grin.
Mr. Earle covered his mouth and let out a cough that rumbled deep inside his lungs. “That’s not what I meant. What I meant, was my wife would be upset if I didn’t invite you inside for a cup of tea. Oh, and you can have your things back.”
David stepped to the side and pulled the backpacks out from behind his father’s chair. He set them down at the top of the stairs.
“We have several guest rooms upstairs,” Mr. Earle said. “It’s far safer in the house than it is out in the barn, because of the bodies lying around. Those creatures don’t like to cross over them.”
Ethan turned to Kate. Neither of them knew what to do, or what to say. The idea of staying in a bed was something Kate wasn’t sure she could say no to.
“Of course, while you stay, you’ll have to give us your weapons,” Mr. Earle said. “For safety reasons.”
“Give us a minute,” Ethan said turning his back to the porch. The others huddled around.
Nikki was nodding her head before Ethan even said anything.
“Take your time,” Mr. Earle said as he looked away from him off toward the horizon.
“We could really use a break,” Ethan said in a soft voice looking at Kate. It was as if he already knew she was going to be the hardest to convince.
Kate blew out a heavy breath. “We don’t know anything about these people.”
“You didn’t know anything about Simon,” Jasper said with a small shrug.
“Exactly,” Kate said raising a brow. “That was against my will, mostly, and staying here will be by choice.”
“We’ll have to give up our weapons,” Ethan reminded them all.
Nikki chewed her lip. “He has to be at least sixty, and those guys, well they’d be outnumbered.”
“Being out here, on our own… we’ll probably have to take risks,” Kate said. Her eyebrows squeezed together. “Is this one worth taking?”
Kate noticed movement in the corner of her eye, and she twisted her head to see around Ethan. A woman stepped out on to the porch. She whispered something to Mr. Earle than clapped her hands excitedly.
“Hello!” She called out.
“Sorry, folks, this is my wife. She’s quite excited to have guests. If you stay, she’s planning to prepare a nice warm dinner.” Mr. Earle stood and held up a palm. The gestured reminded Kate of something Simon would do… something that was supposed to be comforting but to Kate, it felt like her bones being dragged over a cheese grater. “Make her happy and stay for the night.”
Mrs. Earle clasped her hands in front of her and flashed them all a warm smile. “It would make my day. My month!”
“She loves to entertain,” Scott said, and David chuckled.
Ethan looked at Kate and then the others. Each one nodded in turn, and Ethan’s gaze shifted down to his hip. “We’ll stay the night.”
Chapter 23
Mr. Earle’s wife, who insisted on being called Tricia, let everyone up the perfectly polished wooden stairs. Mr. Earle and his two sons stayed outside after taking their weapons. They had almost needed to pry the blade out of Ethan’s hand, but eventually, and reluctantly, he handed it over.
“This way,” she said once she was at the top of the stairs. There was only one direction to go, to the right, but it made her smile to lead the way nonetheless. “The master bedroom and my son’s bedrooms are on the first floor, so you won’t be disturbed. I always wanted to run a bed and breakfast.”
Tricia blinked, and her smile flickered for a moment as the woman appeared to be thinking of the past.
“Once the boys were married and moved out Mr. Earle, and I were going to open one, but then all this happened,” Tricia said holding her hands together. “You know how it goes.”
Kate smiled at the woman. She couldn’t help it. Her grin was nearly contagious. “This would have been a lovely place for one,” Kate said pressing her lips together and allowing them to curl upward ever so slightly. “You have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you! We had it remodeled a few
years ago in preparation. You might think it was a waste of money considering, but it’s made things a bit more comfortable since everything changed.” Tricia pulled back her shoulders. “Anyway, this is the first room. We only have four, so I can’t offer everyone their own room, unfortunately.”
“That’s quite all right,” Ethan said. “Kate and I will be staying together.”
“Hmm,” Tricia said with a wink. “Okay then!” She gestured to Garrett, Jasper, and Nikki. “This way, please.”
Nikki looked over her shoulder but followed the woman the short distance down the hall. She turned her back and grabbed Jasper’s hand before whispering something into his ear.
“Nikki and I will share a room,” Jasper announced and Tricia nodded before showing Garrett to the third room.
Kate and Ethan turned to enter the room, but Tricia cleared her throat loudly in an attempt to get their attention. “Oh, please come down for lunch at noon. I look forward to seeing you all there.”
“Noon?” Garrett said peeking out of his door. “How will we know when it’s noon?”
“The sun?” Tricia said cocking her head to the side. She waved her hand as she shook her head. “I’ll ring a bell. Go on now, rest. I heard you all had a rough night.”
“Thanks,” Ethan said as he ushered Kate inside the room, closing the door behind them.
Kate looked around the room, peeking around every corner as if she were afraid there might be an Unholy hiding inside. The bed was made up perfectly with clean, lightly scented bedsheets. There were landscape paintings hanging on every wall, a closet and their own private, although not working, bathroom.
Ethan walked around the room methodically before stopping in front of the window. He pulled back the curtains and looked at the overgrown world. Not far off, he could see the line of The Unholy that ran around the perimeter of the property.
Kate sat down on the edge of the bed, her palms resting against the soft mattress. Ethan turned and looked at her as he closed the curtains.
“A person could almost forget with the curtains closed,” Ethan said.
“Almost.”
The only problem was Kate didn’t need to look out the window to remember. Her memory of what had happened to Will was still at the front of her mind.
She bit her cheek and tried to force her thoughts away. Kate didn’t want to cry because she wasn’t sure she could stop the tears if they started to fall.
It was evident to Ethan as to where her mind had gone. She was thankful he didn’t mention it.
“Want to rest?” Ethan asked sitting down next to her. “I’ll stay up even though I locked the door.”
“I’m sure they have a key,” Kate said.
Ethan nodded.
“I don’t know if I can sleep,” she said looking down at her fingers as they twisted together.
“Book?” Ethan asked as he gestured at the bookshelf.
Kate shook her head. She didn’t think there was anything she could do that could take her mind off of what had happened.
Kate didn’t even know if she went to sleep if she’d wake up. They were inside a strange house, with strange people, there was nothing safe about their situation. For all she knew, the people were cannibals that would eat them all before morning. Even though the clock on the nightstand wasn’t working, she still felt as though she could hear the minutes of her life ticking away.
She let out a breath that made her feel as though she was being deflated and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. He didn’t say anything. He held her and pressed his cheek down against the top of her head.
They stayed there glued together for so long Kate’s arm started to tingle. When she pulled back, Ethan lightly touched her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, you know that, right?” Ethan said.
Kate nodded. “I know, but there is only so much you can do. Our time is very”—Kate swallowed as she searched for the right word— “limited.”
Ethan wrapped his arms around Kate’s waist and gazed into her eyes. “I can’t lose you.”
“I can’t lose you either,” Kate said airily as she inched closer. Ethan’s eyes glistened in the small amount of pale light that glowed around the edges of the curtain.
It surprised her when she turned toward Ethan and placed her hands on the sides of his face. She could feel his rough beard tickling her fingers and palms.
A small gasp escaped from between her lips just before she pressed her lips to his. They held still for a long moment, but then something took over. It was like someone was controlling her body as she straddled Ethan’s lap.
“Kate?” Ethan whispered pulling back slightly. His eyes moved side to side as he gazed at her.
She gave him a small nod, and without further hesitation, their lips moved together hungrily. They both needed each other more than they could ever express in words.
Kate’s hands moved down Ethan’s strong, broad shoulders. Her fingertips gliding over every curve as she followed the lines of his arms. She moved her hands over his abdomen, hesitating as she reached the hem of his shirt. Ethan’s body tensed as Kate gripped his shirt and slowly raised it up his body.
Her lips glided down his neck, and something rumbled deep inside him. Kate’s heartbeat pulsed deep in her veins, warming every inch of her body. She gasped when he twisted her shirt in his fist, pulling it tight against her.
“I need you,” Ethan said in a deep voice saturated with need.
Kate shivered. “I need you too.”
Her words worked their way up his body like a flame moving up a fuse. When it got to the end something ignited deep inside him.
Ethan pulled Kate’s shirt off and lifted her, practically throwing her down on the mattress. Kate moaned as his hands glided roughly up and down her body.
It felt like the room was spinning his lips moved down over her breast. Kate’s fingertips dug into the mattress as he kissed over her sensitive flesh.
Her fingers fumbled as she worked to unbutton his pants. She needed him more than ever, and she didn’t want to wait any longer.
Ethan’s hand slid between them. He unbuttoned his pants and wiggled out of them before helping Kate out of hers.
Her hands glided up and down over his silky skin as if it were her life force. Ethan raised Kate’s leg, staring into her eyes as he moved closer… deeper.
“Oh, God,” Kate moaned as she squeezed her eyes tightly together. With each touch and each kiss, Ethan brought Kate to a new height. A further distance where all that mattered was each other.
His lips made all her thoughts and worries vanish. Kate let herself fall away into the pleasurable world, hoping it wouldn’t ever end.
Their bodies rocked together with an intense desire that made Kate press the back of her head against the squishy, fluffy pillow. She glanced at Ethan through half-open eyelids, feeling dizzy and intoxicated as his muscles contracted and relaxed with his movements.
“Oh, Ethan,” she whispered, closing her eyes again. She allowed his passion to overtake her. She let him take absolute control, which sent tingly shivers down her spine.
Her body tensed, and she gripped his shoulders tightly. It felt like they were being propelled through the air so quickly that her surroundings blurred.
Kate bit her lip as waves of extreme pleasure rippled throughout her entire body. Ethan crashed into her like a rogue wave as his own pleasure splashed down around him.
Their breathing was frantic as they came back to the shore. Everything around them slowly started to come back into view. Kate could see the room around her crystal clear and with it came reality.
She was happy for the break, but it sickened her that it had come and gone so quickly. Ethan kissed her, and Kate’s hand slipped around his neck, her fingers twisting into his hair. She held him there, hoping to hold on to their fantasy world just a little longer.
“I love you, you know, that right?” Ethan said. “Like, re
ally, really love you.”
“I know,” Kate said breathlessly. “I love you too.”
Ethan rolled over and pulled Kate into his arms. “That’s why I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Kate couldn’t say it, but she knew what he was feeling because she felt the same. If anything ever happened to Ethan, she wouldn’t go on.
They got dressed and laid there together wrapped in each other's arms. Kate dozed off a few times, but never for very long. She didn’t think Ethan slept at all because every time she woke, he was there rubbing her arm and kissing the top of her head.
There were footsteps outside the door that caused Kate to sit up abruptly. Ethan eased himself up, but she could tell that he’d heard the noises too.
Moments later a bell rang. “Lunch!” Tricia’s voice was soft and soothing as if she were gently waking children. She rang the bell again, a touch louder than she had the first time. “Lunch time!”
Chapter 24
They walked down the stairs in a straight line… the stairs creaked in the silence. Kate could tell by the other’s tired expressions that they hadn’t gotten any rest either.
“Just this way,” Tricia said gesturing to a set of double doors as they walked through the lilac-scented living room.
Tricia pushed open the doors, and they locked into place. Mr. Earle was seated at the head of the table, David was to his left and Scott to his right. They all stood as their guests entered the room.
“Pick a seat, make yourselves at home,” Tricia said waving at the chairs.
Kate and Ethan sat next to each other on David’s side of the table. She figured Ethan picked the spot so he could see all the entrances and exits in the room with his back to the wall.
Garrett sat opposite Mr. Earle, and Nikki and Jasper sat in the remaining two spots. No one talked, but both David and Scott wore big smiles as they studied the new faces at their table.
“Here we are,” Tricia said setting down a plate in front of Mr. Earle.
Kate’s stomach started to rumble before she even knew what they were being served.
Mr. Earle smiled at his wife. “Looks delicious.”
Falling Darkness Series - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller - Books 1-3 Page 46
