He grabbed hold of my shoulders, pulling me a step closer to him. I never said that. When I am not around, you bury your fear, your hurt, your pain, your emotions because you dont trust anyone else with them, but
But for some reason
I trust you.
A small smile quirked the corner of his full mouth, his black eyes twinkled mischievously. Yes, for some reason you trust the devil with your fears, and your pain.
I blinked in surprise as he brought up his nickname from school. You knew they called you the dark devil?
His grin widened. The devil knows all.
Youre not funny, I muttered.
Im not trying to be. He kissed me softly on the forehead before releasing me and taking a step back. You will get them through this Bethany. No matter what, I know you will.
Though I appreciated his unwavering faith in me, I wanted to grab hold of him, wanted to plead with him to stay, wanted to tell him I loved him but the words stuck in my throat. It was obvious that he was set on this course of action, and I was not going to be able to stop him.
Be safe.
He flashed that amazing cocky grin that caused my heart to melt and my toes to curl. Always.
Before I could say another word he darted away from me, bolted across the road, and disappeared into the shelter of the median with startling speed and grace. I was left gaping after him, my heart hammering wildly as a cold sweat broke out on my body. I had never seen anyone move like that. I took a small step after him, torn between wanting to follow, and needing to stay with my sister.
My gaze went slowly back to Abby. She and Jenna had crept closer, but still hung back a good five feet. I could see the fear in their faces, a fear that caused me to straighten my shoulders and tilt my chin up. Cade was right, I would find some way to get them out of this. No matter what it took, I would get them out of here, even if I had to do it without him. That thought made me want to vomit.
A soft rustle of the leaves was the only thing that alerted me to the fact that Cade was making his way across the other side of the highway. I held my breath, counting silently to myself. I thought he should at least be back in the median by a hundred. At two hundred I was beginning to panic. At three hundred, I could barely breathe through the tight constriction of terror encircling my chest. I was shaking, tears burned my eyes, but I refused to shed them, refused to let my terror show to either Jenna or Abby.
I counted to five hundred. My throat was burning, I was barely breathing anymore. Five fifty. I didnt know how long we should stay here for. How long we should wait for him to return. I wasnt sure that I would be able to get my feet to move away from here if the time came. There was no bright light, no crashing bangs echoing throughout the forest signaling the creatures arrival, but when I hit eight hundred I was beginning to fear that Cade was not going to return.
We didnt know what other kinds of weapons these aliens possessed, didnt know what they were capable of. Just because they had always announced their arrival with noise and light before didnt mean that they always had to. The noise and lights could just be a fear tactic, one that worked really well as far as I was concerned. Maybe they had taken Cade. Maybe they knew we were here and were just waiting for us to expose ourselves.
I took a step back from the roadside, losing count as I began to search the night around us. Were they out there? Hunting us, stalking us? Were they narrowing in on us even now? I didnt want to leave Cade, but he had been gone for far longer than he should have been, and he had faith in me that I would continue on, that I would get them to safety.
Bethany
Five more minutes, I whispered.
But hes been gone
Five more minutes Abby.
Look, I get that you dont want to leave your lover behind, but they could be closing in on us even now, Jenna said.
I shot Jenna a furious look, my hands fisting at my sides. Five more minutes! I snarled.
She glared at me as she shifted angrily. I turned back to the road, starting to count again. One more time to two hundred, and then we would have to go. We would have too. Fifty six fifty seven fifty ei Movement rustled the trees in the median.
My breath froze, I took a swift step forward as hope exploded through me, and then Cade was emerging from the shadows. My legs shook as relief flooded me; I was able to take my first real breath since he had left. Cade knelt by the side of the road, his hand resting lightly on the ground as he searched for us. I stepped slightly forward, barely exposing myself to the dim moonlight that illuminated the road. He lifted his hand, gesturing for us to come over.
Lets go, I said softly.
Wait! Jenna hissed in surprise.
We have to go now, well its still safe.
Out there? she croaked.
I decided to take a page from
Cades book. Then stay here. Lets go Abby, now.