{"id":1014,"date":"2012-01-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-01-11T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1014"},"modified":"2012-01-05T12:44:47","modified_gmt":"2012-01-05T17:44:47","slug":"autumn-chapter-1-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1014","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 1 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg found Marin with Kellin, seated by the fire, each with mugs of tea cradled in hand, spattered here and there with mud, much as he had been, though theirs were mostly around the cuffs of their jeans and on their shoes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin spotted him first and offered a faint smile and a slight wave as he ambled over to join them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Drawing closer, he realized that their pants were not only muddy, but damp.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell were you two doing?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cChecking out part of the ravine,\u201d Kellin said with a rueful smile and a shake of her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMy idea, not hers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I needed to get closer to the lines themselves so I could get a feel for what\u2019s been happening.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her nose wrinkled slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re still shifting, but different now.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can\u2019t describe it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin smiled wryly over the rim of her mug.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know we\u2019re in a little bit of trouble when Kel\u2019s at a loss for explanations.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg grunted, pouring himself a mug and settling down with the two women.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhatever\u2019s happening down there, Phelan and I got the holly planted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Brandon\u2019s giving it all a little water now.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Took a bit, but it\u2019s done.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That should help.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He paused.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll seed lavender in the spring.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Whenever that comes.\u00a0 <\/span>Hopefully the growing season will be long enough to get it started.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCould we start it in the glassed planters?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe could, but I\u2019m afraid it\u2019d crowd out everything else we\u2019re trying to grow in those,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSpring will have to be soon enough.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s not bite off more than we can chew, right?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She smiled at both of them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ve got enough on our plates already.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg arched a brow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow, I could have sworn that the biggest things on our plate were food, shelter, and security.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Are you going to tell me that there\u2019s <\/span>more<\/span><\/em> we\u2019re worrying about, Miss Willis?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She blushed and shrugged helplessly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou mean beyond worrying about what\u2019s going on in the world around us?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>No, of course not.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But there\u2019s the hallowing ceremony in another, what, day and a half, Mar?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin nodded slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s when the new moon is.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know what Phelan\u2019s planning for it, but I\u2019m thinking that doing it at twilight would be best\u2014the ways are thin enough then.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It won\u2019t be midnight, but it should take just as well.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou sound like you think that might be a problem,\u201d Greg said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt not being midnight.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt might be.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Marin shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut I\u2019m not going to hike that far away from here in the dead of night, and I\u2019m not going to expect anyone else to, either.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not <\/span>that<\/span><\/em> brave.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOr foolish,\u201d Kellin muttered, then shivered, looking up from her mug.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her gaze swept the area around them, her brows knitting slightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t look like a good expression.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin ignored the question for a moment, still looking around.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She finally slumped and sighed heavily, shaking her head a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cApparently, nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The hairs on Greg\u2019s arms stirred, then laid back down again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He frowned, looking around himself.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDid you feel that?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLike someone just walked over my grave?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Yes.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin said in a bare whisper.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She set down her mug and unfolded, standing up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She looked around again, more slowly this time, swallowing hard.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere isn\u2019t anyone here,\u201d Marin said softly, wrapping her arms around her knees.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut there\u2019s someone watching.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know where and I don\u2019t know how, but I know.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A shudder ran through Greg and he stared at Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShouldn\u2019t we do something about that, then?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Throw metaphorical acid in the eye that\u2019s watching?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He imagined doing it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A few heartbeats later, the uneasy feeling vanished.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Now both women were staring at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat did you just do?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg blinked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNothing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I just imagined doing it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen you just made yourself a target,\u201d Phelan said from behind them, expression grim.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf anything sinister happened to be the thing watching, anyhow.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He scratched his tattoo and stepped around them to get himself a mug of tea.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWill-working used to be a rare skill.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Seems a little more commonplace these days than it was in the old days.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou mean you don\u2019t know what was looking at us just now?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin asked sharply, watching as Phelan calmly filled his mug and sat down on the other side of Marin.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not omniscient, Kellin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I just happen to know a little more and sense a little more.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That comes from experience.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He held her gaze for long enough that she finally sighed testily and looked away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen what good are you?\u201d she snapped, then turned and marched off.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cKel, wait,\u201d Marin started.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg put a hand on her arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet her go,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTaking a walk might help her put some order to her thoughts.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She\u2019s in a rough patch.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know,\u201d Marin muttered, scrubbing both hands over her face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s still no excuse for all of this.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe\u2019s just unsettled,\u201d Phelan said, sipping his tea.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBeing on the precipice and then being dragged bodily back will do that to you. She\u2019s still reorienting.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Reorienting?\u00a0 <\/span>To what, still being alive?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut she never actually died.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTell that to her spirit,\u201d Phelan said, shaking his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou can\u2019t tell me that people who\u2019ve come that close to dying don\u2019t come back different after the experience.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shivered slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere are things that lurk between this side and the next that are drawn to violent death, which is what your friend would have had, if she hadn\u2019t been saved.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can\u2019t be entirely certain, but I\u2019m thinking she had something at least graze her between here and there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He paused.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOf course, it being the <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> likely didn\u2019t help, either.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced at Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHas she mentioned nightmares?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg answered before Marin could.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe doesn\u2019t want anyone to know about them, but I sleep six feet away from her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can hear her whimpering in her sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSecrets,\u201d Marin half growled, half sighed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSecrets are going to be the goddamned end of us.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She looked at Greg.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you think you can talk to her? The next time you notice her having a nightmare?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced at Phelan, who shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt might not hurt,\u201d he admitted quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTalking can help.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If she won\u2019t talk to you, tell her that I wanted to talk to her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You don\u2019t have to say why.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Of course I\u2019ll have to say why.\u00a0 <\/span>She\u2019ll ask.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can try.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s all I ask,\u201d Phelan said, looking tired and indeterminably old as he spoke. He glanced at Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRemind me if I ever see <\/span>my<\/span><\/em> cousin again to punch him in the gut.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She blinked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe should have warned me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan smiled wryly, weariness and humor braided together in his voice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou people are a bigger mess than I thought.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She laughed and shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe tried to warn you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStupid me for not listening,\u201d Phelan said with a smile.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg patted his shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStuck here now, right?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He lifted his mug in a toast.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTo cleaning up messes.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As their mugs clinked together, all three felt the hairs on their arms stir again, the feeling of being watched returning.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg stared at the fire for a brief second.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The feeling vanished almost as quickly as it arose.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Greg found Marin with Kellin, seated by the fire, each with mugs of tea cradled in hand, spattered here and there with mud, much as he had been, though theirs were mostly around the cuffs of their jeans and … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-book-2-chapter-01"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-gm","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1014"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1015,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1014\/revisions\/1015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}