{"id":1426,"date":"2012-09-17T00:00:13","date_gmt":"2012-09-17T04:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1426"},"modified":"2012-09-17T06:43:28","modified_gmt":"2012-09-17T10:43:28","slug":"winter-chapter-21-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1426","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 21 – 03"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He couldn\u2019t see any light, but something drew him onward\u2014a feeling, a voice, something that set his heart to racing and his body shaking.\u00a0 <\/span>Shuddery breaths rushed in and out of his lungs, muscles burning like he\u2019d run for miles to get to this point.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes, Seer,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice whispered.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>One more step\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The darkness pressed inward like a living thing, cocooning him in terrifying cold.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Goosebumps rose along his limbs and his hands hurt from squeezing them too tightly into fists.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Dreaming,<\/span> he thought.\u00a0 <\/span><\/em>I\u2019m dreaming.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>This is a nightmare.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s it. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Just another step.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He couldn\u2019t bring himself to take that step the voice was urging him to take.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>What am I so afraid of?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why does this feel so wrong?<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThom,\u201d another voice said in his ear, \u201cThom, wake up.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He jerked and agony lanced through his side.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He gulped air in ragged gasps and stared at nothing but darkness.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat–\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin\u2019s fingers twined through his.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou fell asleep.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What are you doing out here?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He took two breaths and dimly tried to figure out where <\/span>here<\/span><\/em> was.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMy side–\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou got shot, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It took Jac and Jay hours to dig it out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They think you broke a rib again, too.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Just when they were getting better… <\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>He blinked a few times, trying to get his vision to clear.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhere are we?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMatt\u2019s forge,\u201d Marin said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou said there was something you needed to check up here and just got up and started walking.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I wasn\u2019t going to let you go alone with the shape you\u2019re in.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I grabbed our jackets and a couple blankets and followed you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he started to make out the tears on her face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t remember,\u201d he said, voice choked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She let go of his hand and put both of hers on his cheeks, cradling his face between her palms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat terrifies me, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can\u2019t tell you how much that terrifies me.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Believe me, it doesn\u2019t comfort me much, either.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He slid one arm around her shoulders and gingerly pulled her toward his chest, smothering a wince as the muscles on one side of his body protested.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s what you get for playing the big damn hero.\u00a0 <\/span>You get shot and get another rib broken.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Her arms slid around his shoulders and that was just about the best feeling in the world.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he whispered into her hair, throat tight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGuess I\u2019ve scared you enough for a month in one day.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFor a <\/span>month<\/span><\/em>?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Marin laughed a weak, broken laugh into his shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMore than that, but I don\u2019t think anything\u2019s going to change anytime soon.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She looked up at him, chewing her lower lip hard.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou walked out into a gathering storm without <\/span>shoes<\/span><\/em>, Thom.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A shudder wracked him and he hissed in pain, one hand going immediately to the wound in his side.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Marin sighed and shook her head, straightening slightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat am I going to do with you, Thom?\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow am I supposed to\u2026to\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTo take care of you, dammit!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He rocked backwards momentarily, eyes widening in the darkness.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re not\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOh don\u2019t even fucking start the \u2018you\u2019re not supposed to take care of me\u2019 bullshit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s part of what us being together is all about, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We take care of each other.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We protect each other.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s what we <\/span>do<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She took a deep, unsteady breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut I don\u2019t know how I can do that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t even know what made you get up and walk out tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t, either,\u201d he said, queasiness rising in his belly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Who the hell was that voice?\u00a0 <\/span>Didn\u2019t sound like any I\u2019ve ever heard before.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Shivers shot down his spine and he swallowed bile.<\/span>\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure I want to know, but I know that I\u2019m going to have to figure it out\u2014especially if it\u2019s something that might happen again.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s happening to us, Thom?\u201d she asked softly, her fingers twining with his again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut I\u2019m terrified of finding out.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her voice was very small.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMe too.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But we have to.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She came up to her knees and caught his face between her hands again, resting her forehead against his.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe <\/span>have<\/span><\/em> to.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not going to lose you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not today and not ever.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He swallowed against a lump in his throat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not going to lose you, either.\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t care what the cost is.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It could be terrifyingly high, but I\u2019m not giving you up to anyone or anything.\u00a0 <\/span>No matter what.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t see any light, but something drew him onward\u2014a feeling, a voice, something that set his heart to racing and his body shaking.\u00a0 Shuddery breaths rushed in and out of his lungs, muscles burning like he\u2019d run for … 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":[35,60,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-21","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-n0","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1426","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=1426"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1428,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1426\/revisions\/1428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}