{"id":1516,"date":"2012-11-26T00:00:56","date_gmt":"2012-11-26T05:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1516"},"modified":"2012-11-25T19:57:54","modified_gmt":"2012-11-26T00:57:54","slug":"winter-chapter-26-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1516","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 26 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God, that <\/em><\/span>smell<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/em>It was almost enough to make me stop thinking altogether, it was just so awful, the smell of flesh and other organic matter set on fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All I could do was keep running and hope that it wasn\u2019t anyone I cared about that was on fire, that some wildfire wasn\u2019t all of a sudden threatening our lives and the space we\u2019d carved for ourselves out of the ruins of our former lives.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I ducked between the last pair of sheds and into the open ground in front of the gate and found myself bearing witness to organized pandemonium.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Something huge and foul was beyond the gateway and it was burning, screaming.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan stood in the center of the gateway\u2019s gap, power as green and pure as springtime or evergreens twisting around him, making my heart beat a little faster as waves of it crashed over me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom was next to him, shouting orders, coordinating the gun volleys.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Whatever the screaming, burning thing was, it wasn\u2019t dead yet and we were still trying to make it die.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It clearly didn\u2019t want to.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I yelled up to Jacqueline, who was perching with Paul in the watchtower.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d she countered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou were going to stay put.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You promised.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat was before something started screaming,\u201d I snapped, glaring at her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDammit, Marin.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom had finally noticed me and was glaring over his shoulder, one hand still in the air as he got ready to signal the others to fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaking sure you\u2019re still breathing,\u201d I shot back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow will someone tell me what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe big green ugly began to spontaneously combust,\u201d Rory snapped, sweat beading on his brow as he directed a line of flames toward the <\/span>burning, screaming thing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUnfortunately, that\u2019s not putting it out of its misery.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can tell,\u201d I snapped.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom snarled and let his arm drop.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Shotguns erupted again and he took two steps toward me and grabbed my arm, yanking me toward his chest.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell are you thinking?\u201d he hissed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI was fine when I didn\u2019t have to worry about you getting hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not going to get hurt, you guys lit the thing on <\/span>fire<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd it\u2019s not dead yet,\u201d Thom retorted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do you think that\u2019s doing to me and the rest of us?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Go back.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cToo late,\u201d I said, grasping his arm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m here now.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just tell me how to help.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet up in the wa\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s voice interrupted him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMarin,\u201d he rasped, sounding as awful as I\u2019d ever heard him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet over here and take my hand and do what I ask.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I know what it is and I think I\u2019ve figured out what we need to do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I looked at Thom even as Phelan reached out a shaking hand toward me, through the swirls of green power that welled up around him from the ground beneath his feet.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGo,\u201d Thom whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf he knows how to stop it, he knows how to stop it. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Go.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded, then grabbed him and pulled his face to mine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom was startled by the kiss for a moment before he relaxed a fraction and began to kiss me back, but he was still the one to push me away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHurry,\u201d he said, his voice low.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet\u2019s finish this, then we celebrate.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I offered him a watery smile and took Phelan\u2019s hand.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The maelstrom of power swirling around him sucked me in and took my breath away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The only thing that felt solid and real for a moment was Phelan\u2019s vise grip on my hand.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBreathe,\u201d he muttered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust breathe, Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I need you to anchor me for this, that\u2019s all.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ground yourself and breathe.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I looked up at him, brows knitting and heart starting to beat faster.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell are you going to do?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEnd this once and for all,\u201d he said through gritted teeth, \u201cthe only way I know how.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Endgame style.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re not going to\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t have any intention of dying today, <\/span>leann\u00e1n<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Good.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut what are you going to do?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBind it and kill it, I dearly hope.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Now ground yourself and pray that this works.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I swallowed hard against the lump that had begun to build in my throat and cast my own senses down toward the ground beneath us, through the wellspring of power that surrounded our feet.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I found the deep currents of the world and tried to bind myself to them at least temporarily.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReady?\u201d Phelan murmured through a clenched jaw.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReady,\u201d I confirmed, swallowing again.<\/span>\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re trying, Phelan, but I sure as hell hope it works.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Green light exploded all around us and abruptly, I stopped being aware of anything at all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God, that smell.\u00a0 It was almost enough to make me stop thinking altogether, it was just so awful, the smell of flesh and other organic matter set on fire.\u00a0 All I could do was keep running and hope that … 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":[35,65,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-26","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-os","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1516","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=1516"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1517,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1516\/revisions\/1517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}