Well go with you for a little while, Cade amended squeezing my arm gently. If that is ok?
They exchanged quick glances. Strength in numbers, the man agreed.
Yes. My heart was hammering, panic clawed at me. There are others of us nearby. Cade turned to me and gently clasped hold of my shoulders. I have to find Jenna; there is no way to know how far she ran. Wait for us.
Cade
He was already moving away though, disappearing swiftly into the woods. I marveled over his grace, agility, and ability to move with such speed and ease. I focused my attention back on the group to find them watching me intently. They looked as beaten and terrified as I felt. I found my defenses crumpling; I managed a small smile for them.
One that was only halfheartedly returned. This way, I said softly.
***
It had taken Cade nearly a half an hour to find Jenna and bring her back to the tree house, by that time it was almost dark. The group became divided on if it would be best to keep moving, or wait until daybreak. A majority vote had us packing up our meager supplies. I preferred to keep moving, we had stayed here too long and I felt we would be pushing our luck if we continued to do so.
Bret worried over me as he cleaned my wounds with some of the water we had left. One of the members of the other group had bandages. I wanted to tell Bret to stop, wanted to tell him not to worry about me. I was certain that if he knew the truth about me, the last thing in the world hed want to do was touch me. And I wouldnt blame him in the least.
But I let him worry over me; I could sense the fear and anxiety tightly wound within him. Helping me with my injuries was easing some of that tension. I forced myself not to turn away from him, none of this was his fault, it was all mine; I could not deny him the comfort he sought. I felt like a mummy with my hands wrapped up, but apparently my dive into the thorns had done more damage than Id realized. You have to be more careful, Bret muttered as he finished tying the bandage.
He looked at me in amusement. We both knew that was a near impossibility. After all, I was the girl who had tripped over her own feet and sprained an ankle last year. A fact that, until all of this happened, Aiden and Bret had found highly amusing. Im fine Bret, I assured him softly.
His clear green eyes were warm and caring as he squeezed my hand lightly. Youre a train wreck, but I love you.
Guilt coiled through me, I shied away from the words. I wished he would stop saying them. It took all I had not to jerk away when he bent to kiss my cheek. I could feel Cades gaze burning into me from across the clearing, but I couldnt bring myself to look at him. I felt like the lowest form of life at the moment, and I wasnt ready to deal with the fact that I was now a cheater. Ok well maybe I wasnt a full blown adulteress, it had only been a couple of kisses, but I was still a horrible person and I knew it.
I just wished that Cade wasnt so damn irresistible, or that I wasnt so damn weak.
I went to grab the bag of food but Bret beat me to it. Let your hands heal.
I wasnt going to argue, there was no need. I fell into line beside Abby; she slid her hand through my arm. Im glad weve found others.
Yes.
Though I still wasnt certain how all of this was going to work out. Heading toward the bridges meant heading toward higher populated areas. Areas that would have a higher concentration of frozen people, and aliens. And crossing the bridges? We couldnt, we simply couldnt. Unfortunately, I knew that some people were determined to do just that, and I was a little scared that Jenna was completely for it. She was nearly hysterical after Cade had brought her back, she was wide eyed and terrified, and hell bent on getting off of Cape Cod.
I didnt realize I was staring at her, and Cade, until I caught him staring back at me. I blinked in surprise, my face colored, and I ducked my head quickly. Abby giggled softly beside me. I think he likes you.
Hes just a friend, I responded quickly, perhaps a little too quickly.
Abby stared up at me, her eyes widening slightly. She had only been teasing but my reaction to her, and my focus on Cade, had not escaped her attention. Abby might have written off the kiss she had witnessed earlier as the heat of the moment, temporary insanity, curiosity, or simple fear, but I could see the dawning realization in her gaze. Bethy, she whispered in horror.
How are you doing? I asked softly trying to change the conversation.
Bethany what are you doing?
Nothing Abby. How are you holding up?
She stared at me for a moment longer, her dark eyes wide and caring. I could tell she wanted to say more, but eventually she decided to go with my change of subject. Surviving, just like everyone else.
I wondered how we were surviving at all. How we were still moving and going and carrying on through all of this. I could barely think of our mother, I was afraid I would turn into a sobbing mess if I did think about her for too long. We were all exhausted, hungry, beaten, and terrified, and yet we continued to move on, continued to fight and struggle for our lives no matter how frightening, uncomfortable, and uncertain they had become. Abby leaned against my side, her head against my arm. She was strong, but I knew she wouldnt be able to take much more. I wasnt so sure any of us could.