I didnt think I could relax, but I slid limply onto the box because I didnt know what else to do. He watched me for a long moment before moving back to his own box. We didnt speak for a long while, the light bulb swayed slowly back and forth, shaken by the vibrations of that thing making its way slowly down the street, draining its victims.
Draining people .
CHAPTER 4
We slipped through the shadows of the buildings, Cade moving with easy grace and a silence that was astonishing. I wasnt quiet or graceful, but at least I wasnt a blundering idiot. Not this time anyway. I followed him as we made our way through the streets. I did not feel the rumbling approach of those monstrous things, but I kept alert for any sign of their return, or any sign of something else coming for us.
The streets were not as cluttered with people now. I did not know what they did with the bodies when they were done with them, but thankfully they did not leave them behind. Guilt filled me for feeling relieved about the disappearance of the frozen people, but I couldnt handle seeing their broken remains cluttering the street. Not on top of everything else.
Cade slipped around a corner; my heart picked up a beat as he momentarily disappeared from sight. He was waiting for me when I turned the corner, his long fingered hand stretched behind him to hold me back.
I stopped, my breath trapped within me as I strained to hear anything out of the ordinary. It was unnaturally still in the fading light of day. I wondered if the aliens had retreated to their ships for the night, or if they would be returning soon to start collecting the people still within their homes, and stores.
Cade moved forward again. We made our way out of the center of town, slipping into backyards, staying to the woods as we swept through the shadows with more speed. Excitement and trepidation hammered through me as we neared my house. I didnt know what to expect, I tried not to get my hopes up too much, but it was impossible.
I almost broke into a run when my house finally came into view, but Cade held me back, his arm encircling my waist as he kept a tight grip on me. Getting yourself killed wont do you, or your family, any good.
I nodded, biting on my bottom lip as I ignored the strange sensations his touch aroused in me. Or at least tried to ignore them. It was impossible. My body tingled with unfamiliar currents of electricity when his fingers momentarily brushed over the bare skin exposed by the slight uplifting of my t-shirt. I forced myself to focus on something other than him, now most certainly was not the time to be thinking about this stuff.
My house looked ominous in the fading light. It appeared empty, cold, and dark. My home was never dark. Abigail was forever turning on lights, but she always forgot to turn them off. It wasnt unusual to come home and find every light in the house blazing brightly, spilling from the windows, and lighting the night like a homing beacon. My mother and Aiden were constantly lecturing Abby to turn the lights back off; I remained silent on the matter. Though I never said it, I secretly liked the welcoming warmth of the lights when I came home. There had been enough darkness in our lives, I wasnt about to tell Abby that she should keep the house dark too.
The complete absence of them now was enough to make me want to cry.
Cade, I breathed, choked by the lump in my throat.
They wouldnt turn the lights on Bethany, not tonight. I wanted to find solace in his words, but there was none. It was too dark, too quiet. I didnt want to go in there, I had to. Come.
He entwined his fingers with mine, pulling me slowly through the trees. We moved swiftly across the street, darting around to the back. For the first time I realized just how rundown my home had become. Paint was peeling off in flakes;
the back porch sagged beneath the weight of years and weather. I was overwhelmed by sadness; a sense of helplessness filled me.
I crept up the stairs, wincing when they squeaked beneath my weight. My heart hammered as I twisted the knob and pushed the door slowly open. I didnt know what to expect, I was terrified of what I would find. The hinges creaked, the kitchen floor groaned slightly as I stepped inside. The familiar scent of my moms perfume, food, and scented candles washed over me. In the dim light I could make out the tidy kitchen counters. I could see the outline of pictures, report cards, and magnets that covered the fridge. Plants hung in the window over the sink, dishes were stacked neatly in the dish drain.
It was my home, and for the first time it felt cold and lonely. Vacant.
I made my way slowly through the kitchen. Though there was enough light to guide me, I moved mostly on instinct through the darkening rooms. Cade followed as I crept cautiously up the stairs. Mom. I was afraid to speak too loud in the foreboding silence. Mom.
I heard the choked tears in my voice, the slight note of panic that was clearly audible. We reached the top of the steps, the house remained completely hushed. I swallowed heavily, forcing myself to speak louder. Mom?