{"id":1122,"date":"2012-03-12T00:00:40","date_gmt":"2012-03-12T04:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1122"},"modified":"2012-03-11T14:59:01","modified_gmt":"2012-03-11T18:59:01","slug":"autumn-chapter-5-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1122","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 5 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Fevers brought the strangest dreams, Cameron reflected as he took a few uneven breaths, shaking off the lingering vestiges of one such dream.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His wounds still burned, still felt like they were open and weeping.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The blankets over him felt almost <\/span>too<\/span><\/em> heavy, too hot.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Dim light splashed across his eyelids and he groaned softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It felt like he was stabbing himself in the eyes with icy daggers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Trying to throw an arm across his eyes to shield them made him nauseous with pain.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>In the end, he squeezed his eyes more tightly shut and tried to curl in on himself until the dry heaves stopped.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s awake.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A cold hand touched his cheek and he shivered, exhaling a little gasp.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFuck all,\u201d he croaked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour hand\u2019s cold.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s because I\u2019d estimate your fever at about a hundred and three,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was close.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The pain in his head ebbed enough that he risked a look.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her body shielded his eyes from the light streaming in through an uncovered window.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Dawn light made a halo of auburn hair that had won loose of a ponytail and firelight cast her features in flickering shadows, but Cameron saw enough to know she was a stranger.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>And yet\u2026<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI saw you,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI saw you in a dream.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>One of his fever-dreams, but a dream nonetheless.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The woman glanced over her shoulder toward a man nearby.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A jolt ran through Cameron as he met his gaze.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou,\u201d he whispered.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>More light flooded into the room and Cameron choked on a curse as it sent a flash-frozen spear between his eyes that exploded into fresh, searingly cold pain.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cClose the door, Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s awake.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Neve.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron sucked in a few ragged breaths, eyes squeezed shut until the light abruptly winked out again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought you said it\u2019d be at least another day or two,\u201d Neve said with an accusatory edge to her voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The man answered, his tone dry.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cApparently I was mistaken.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We both know this isn\u2019t precisely my area of expertise.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice dropped.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat dubious honor went to Seamus.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, he\u2019s not here and never <\/span>will<\/span><\/em> be,\u201d Neve snapped.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her hands were cool and damp when they touched his face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron exhaled and sagged, opening his eyes slowly to stare up at the Black Irish girl who\u2019d saved him on the road.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNeve,\u201d he murmured, thoughts starting to tangle.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>How had she known where to bring him?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Had it been an accident?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why had she followed him instead of taking her own path as she\u2019d originally intended?<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>And the sword.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why had she given it to him\u2014and how had he known how to use it?<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d she whispered. \u201cYou\u2019re safe here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019re both safe here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She glanced toward the other woman.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cKira, could you slide that basin over here?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The fever\u2019s breaking.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s starting to sweat.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A chill swept through him and he shivered. Pain lanced through his arm and shoulders; red-tinted darkness nibbled along the edges of his vision.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The two women crowded around him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve wrung a rag out over a wide bowl filled with water and began to sponge his brow and neck.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How long have I been sleeping?<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He felt the absurd desire to suck on that rag and realized he had to be hellishly dehydrated.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat day is it?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDoes it matter?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve asked softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGot somewhere to be?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He looked away, watched the flickering fire, whose light didn\u2019t seem to hurt his eyes like daylight did.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It struck him as strange, but he pushed the thought aside and sighed softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I guess it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHere.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The man he\u2019d seen in his fever dreams, the man his gut told him he\u2019d been looking for, pressed the nipple of a sports bottle against his lips.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDrink and try to keep it down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ll be all right now that the fever\u2019s broken.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A clever retort slipped through Cameron\u2019s metaphorical fingers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It didn\u2019t matter anyway.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He twitched one arm reflexively, intending to take the bottle and was rewarded with fresh and blinding pain for his efforts.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t move,\u201d the man said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll hold it, you just drink.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron swallowed and nodded, then began to drink.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The water went down sweet and cool, sending good shivers down his spine even as his stomach quivered, still in rebellion against the pain of his injuries.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>After the first few gulps, Cameron forced himself to slow down, to calm down.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He was fairly certain he\u2019d downed more than half the large bottle before he shook his head slightly and the other man lifted the bottle away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhere am I?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron asked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The riot in his belly was starting to slowly settle down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As long as he didn\u2019t try to move, maybe it would stay that way.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNew Brunswick, such as it is,\u201d Kira said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019ve been down for the count for nine days.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not bad, all things considered.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She glanced at the man sidelong and he nodded slightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron stared at the man.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re the one I was looking for, but I don\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Follow your gut, follow your heart, and I\u2019ll follow mine.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve squeezed his hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He hadn\u2019t even felt her take it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why did she follow me after all?<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The man shook his head slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can only speculate about why you were looking for me, and none of my ideas might be right. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The best I can come up with is fate.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFate?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Fate brought me here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron stared at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The man shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t believe in it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot really,\u201d Cameron said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut at the moment I\u2019m not sure I\u2019ve got a better suggestion, so we\u2019ll go with that for now.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What about those things that attacked me on the road?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What were they and why the hell do I still hurt so damn much if I\u2019ve been laying here for nine days like a lump?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She said fever.\u00a0 <\/span>Infection?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>God, I hope not.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re\u2014well.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ve always called them <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em>,\u201d Neve said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe Greeks called them Erinyes, but the Romans called them the <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em> and so do we.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019re anger spirits made flesh.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron stared at her, blinking.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou mean they\u2019re some kind of gang of chicks that are like anger spirits in the flesh.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His heart started to beat a little faster.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>First his gut, then weird dreams, a guy who said his showing up here was fate and now this?<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did I die out there on the road and get sent to some really, really special brand of hell?<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve shook her head slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, Cameron,\u201d she said gently.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI meant exactly what I said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That pack started chasing you about two days after we started traveling together.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I thought they were after me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He started to feel sick again as he stared at her, read the pain and guilt in her eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His mouth went dry.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2014I need to get out of here,\u201d he stammered.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t even make it upright,\u201d the man said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBelieve me, I know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve tangled with them before.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I fell off my horse and into Crazy Town.\u00a0 <\/span>This is all a dream.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It has to be.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve\u2019s hand tightened around his so tightly he could feel her pulse through her thumb against his flesh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPlease, Cameron,\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t test your luck trying.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s going to run out sooner or later, and you\u2019re going to need it later rather than sooner.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head weakly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho are you people?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFellow survivors,\u201d the man said simply, \u201cwho care as much as you do about what comes next.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What <\/em><\/span>does<\/span> come next?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron closed his eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd what\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSurvival,\u201d the man said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd building a better world after the war\u2019s over.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron\u2019s eyes popped open.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWar?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What war?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe one that you became a part of the moment you survived the end of the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fevers brought the strangest dreams, Cameron reflected as he took a few uneven breaths, shaking off the lingering vestiges of one such dream. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His wounds still burned, still felt like they were open and weeping.\u00a0 The blankets over … 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":[38,35,43,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-5-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-i6","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1122","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=1122"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1124,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1122\/revisions\/1124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}