{"id":1389,"date":"2012-08-29T00:00:52","date_gmt":"2012-08-29T04:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1389"},"modified":"2012-08-28T20:29:48","modified_gmt":"2012-08-29T00:29:48","slug":"winter-chapter-20-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1389","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 20 – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It all happened too quickly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>One second, Thom was negotiating with the band\u2019s leader, the next he was on the ground.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I didn\u2019t even see Phelan draw and fire the first shot, though I saw the head raider sprout an arrow through his chest, watched a pistol tumble from his hand as he dropped to his knees.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf one of you so much as twitches for a weapon, you\u2019ll be next.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I didn\u2019t stay where Thom told me to stay.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My heart trying to hammer its way clear of my chest, I marched forward, toward the spot where J.T., Matt, and a few others filled the gap between the walls.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom was on the ground, blood flowing from his side.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShoot them!\u201d someone behind the lead raider shouted.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan loosed another arrow just as Paul whipped his shotgun up and fired.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A moment later, all I could hear was the sound of shotguns and automatic weapons.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>And <\/span>screams<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I wedged myself between J.T. and Matt and joined the firing line, though my gaze kept straying to Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He wasn\u2019t moving.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I couldn\u2019t tell if he was breathing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t you dare leave me now, Thomas.\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t you dare.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. stumbled back from my side with a grunt, blood spattering my face abruptly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I glanced sidelong.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was clutching his arm, but whatever it was didn\u2019t look <\/span>that<\/span><\/em> serious.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>At least, I hoped it wasn\u2019t.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>In the field, without cover to hide behind, the raiders were going down\u2014some wounded, others dead.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>By the time the smoke cleared, more of theirs had gone down than ours.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. and Jack were both walking wounded.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDrop your weapons,\u201d I barked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd keep your hands where I can see them or I\u2019ll blow your balls off.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The half dozen that were still standing took one look at me and did as they were told, tossing their weapons on the ground and putting their hands up.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I strode out into the killing fields, waving for Paul and my brother to back me.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan, for once, had avoided so much as a scratch and bounded down from his perch as quickly as he could at the sound of voices shouting that they surrendered out in the field.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I would\u2019ve rather he kept his perch, but if he felt his place was at my back\u2014or at Thom\u2019s side, which I hoped was more likely\u2014I would take it. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Carolyn scuttled out behind us, heading toward Thom.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks, Care.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I walked toward the crumbled body of the leader.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d fallen completely over, all the life gone from his eyes as I looked down at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My gaze scythed across the field, finally landing on the six men still standing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I pointed at the weapons on the ground.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPaul.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Start gathering these up.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I kept on staring at the six men.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re burning the bodies tonight by the road.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Two of the six men exchanged nervous glances.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A third swallowed hard, shifting from one foot to the other.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I let them stew for a moment longer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou six can take a week\u2019s worth of food from your supplies.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You don\u2019t get any weapons, you don\u2019t get any ammunition, but you get your lives, which is far more than you deserve.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I raised my voice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRory, Drew!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They materialized a few moments later nearby, Greg and Kellin trailing a few steps behind them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg ducked past us toward the five prisoners in the wagons.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The six men kept their hands up, still looking nervous\u2014probably because we still had people on the walls aiming weapons at them.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I jerked my chin toward the six.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWatch them while they get their supplies.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then pick four other people and walk them to the far end of campus.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t want to see them here ever again.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Rory nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ve got them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded and turned back, moving toward where Thom lay.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn\u2019s hands were slick with blood as she pressed both of them against the side of Thom\u2019s chest.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow bad?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I asked, crouching down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I reached toward his face, brushing my hand along his cheek and jaw.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His skin was cool, but not frigid, and he was still breathing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not sure.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It hasn\u2019t stopped bleeding, though, but I think it pinged a rib.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s not going to be happy when he wakes up.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She looked past me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhere\u2019s Jay?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cProbably finding Jac so he can worry about seeing to his own shoulder while she deals with this.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I pressed my fingers into the hollow near the corner of Thom\u2019s jaw, feeling for a pulse.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There it is.\u00a0 <\/span>Slow and steady, but it\u2019s there.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>For the first time since the fighting started, my heart began to beat normally again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou don\u2019t think you were a little harsh?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin asked softly as she came up behind me.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I stared at Thom\u2019s pale face for a moment before I shook my head.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNope.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not at all.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It all happened too quickly. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One second, Thom was negotiating with the band\u2019s leader, the next he was on the ground.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even see Phelan draw and fire the first shot, though I saw the head raider … 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":[35,59,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-20","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-mp","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1389","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=1389"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1390,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1389\/revisions\/1390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}