Jenna, I whispered.
Cade sighed softly; he rested his head in the hollow of my neck. A chill raced down my spine. Youre the only one that matters Bethy. My mouth dropped, he lifted his head to meet my wide eyed, disbelieving stare. The words were harsh, almost cruel in their detachment, but there was something heartwarming and reassuring in them that left me shaking with something more than fear. Youve always been the only one that matters.
Now how the hell did I respond to that? How the hell did any one respond to that? I thought that I should protest, that I should tell him that of course other people had mattered, and always would. I thought these things, but I did not say them, mainly because I was unreasonably pleased by the conviction behind his fervent words. My breath was robbed from me, I wasnt certain I was never going to breathe right again. I thought that he was going to kiss me again, but his onyx eyes slid away. The noise of the forest was getting closer; it seemed as if a herd of deer were tromping their way through. For a moment relief filled me, maybe it wasnt the aliens, maybe the wildlife was starting to move around again.
Cade pressed me back when I tried to move away from the trunk of the tree. He shot me a dark look, his jaw clenched as he shook his head sharply. The muscles in his lean arms were tight around me, bulging slightly. Even now, terrified, bloody, and cornered, I felt myself reacting to the wonderful feel of him. He must have sensed a change in my breathing, or in my body, as his gaze slid slowly back to me. Those midnight eyes were stunning, liquid pools that gleamed in the light filtering through the leaves. I could see fear in
his gaze, but there was something far more intense, almost soul shattering.
He leaned close to me, his lips pressed against my ear. I reveled in the feel of him, of the breath whispering over my skin. Im not confused Bethany, he whispered so softly that I barely heard him. I never have been.
I shivered in response as the woods suddenly erupted with motion.
CHAPTER 11
I gaped at the sight beneath us, too stunned to react at first. Cade
I see, he said softly.
I continued to stare for a moment longer, blinking as I tried to convince myself that what I was seeing was real. Theyre human.
Yes.
I followed him swiftly back down the tree. The group of ten people spun toward us, drawing out the weapons they possessed as we reached the ground. Easy, Cade said, using his arm to push me back from them and his body to shield me.
They stared at us for a moment longer before slowly lowering their spears and one rifle. What are you doing here? a tall burly man demanded.
The same as you I suppose, Cade responded with more nonchalance than I would have managed under the circumstances.
The man eyed us wearily. I was stunned by the hostility radiating from them, the anger they had toward us. We were not their enemy. Are they out here? a woman asked tremulously.
Not yet, but Im sure its only a matter of time. Where did you come from?
Mashpee. The man responded, indicating the town next to ours. Were making our way to the bridges.
Are you going to attempt to cross them? I blurted in surprise.
We cant stay on this side, were trapped here.
I glanced sharply at Cade, not at all sure how I felt about that. It was true, on this side we were cut off from the world, separated from the mainland by the canal. The bridges were the only way off the manmade island, but nothing had moved over them in awhile, car or person. The thought of attempting to cross them on foot seemed like a suicide mission to me. They would be exposed, out in the open, high in the air, easily spotted from above. I thought I would rather jump in the canal and take my chances with the deadly current and cool water, rather than try and run across either bridge.
Theyre just gonna herd the survivors into smaller and smaller pieces of land, until they cant herd us anymore. Until there is nowhere left for us to go. We need to get off, the man continued.
I shuddered in dread, knowing that the man was right. They would continue to push us where they wanted us, but the bridges were not an option. At least not to me. Neither was swimming across, and a boat would be an easy target on the open sea, or the canal. We were trapped here, stuck, and at the mercy of the aliens hunting us. Have you met many other survivors? I inquired tremulously.
I met up with three others near the Sandwich line. Weve picked up the rest along the way.
I bit my bottom lip. They hadnt walked an overly long distance, but I thought they should have discovered more people in the area theyd covered, or at least I had hoped they would have. That hope vanished. The number standing across from me was depressing, and defeating. Well walk with you, Cade said softly.
Cade, I whispered, dread filling me at the thought. They were the first people we had seen in a long time, I should be ecstatic to see them, and yet their plan terrified the hell out of me. I was weary of them and their intent. I didnt even like driving over the bridges, never mind running across the damn things.