{"id":344,"date":"2011-06-29T00:00:57","date_gmt":"2011-06-29T04:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=344"},"modified":"2011-06-29T00:00:57","modified_gmt":"2011-06-29T04:00:57","slug":"day-3-chapter-7-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=344","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 – Chapter 7 – 07"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone else\u2019s stress had created a dull pounding in his head over the past few days, exacerbated by the atmosphere of desperation mixed with hope and despair.\u00a0 Marin\u2019s anger and frustration was like a knife cutting through all of that, and Drew broke off from helping unload the building supplies Rory had driven over from the construction site on south campus to intercept her.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He caught the edge of Rory\u2019s sudden flash of annoyance.\u00a0 \u201cDrew!\u00a0 Where\u2019re you going?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He waved Rory off.\u00a0 \u201cMarin needs to stop seething.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back when I\u2019ve taken care of that.\u201d\u00a0 The annoyance faded quickly with the explanation.\u00a0 Drew suppressed the urge to shake his head.\u00a0 If I can\u2019t get her to stop seething, I\u2019m going to have a migraine before the end of the night.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to learn to control this.<\/em>\u00a0 He\u2019d been able to feel strong emotions since childhood, but as he got older, he started to perceive a low-level buzz of other\u2019s emotions in the back of his brain.\u00a0 In the past three days, that buzz had almost become a howl, one he couldn\u2019t block out.\u00a0 He\u2019d told Rory about it, but hadn\u2019t told Kellin or Marin yet.\u00a0 They both had more important things to worry about; namely everything else<\/em>.\u00a0 He\u2019d tried to stay away from most of the others when he could and that seemed to help.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Keeping his distance wouldn\u2019t be a solution forever, but for the moment, it was the only option he had.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMarin, wait up.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She didn\u2019t stop walking, but she turned and looked toward him.\u00a0 A tear was oozing down her cheek and Drew jogged to keep up.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What now?<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cMarin?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She tried to wave him off as she kept walking, down toward the ravine.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m fine, Drew.\u00a0 Help Rory.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRory\u2019s got that mess well in hand,\u201d Drew said evenly, drawing up alongside of her.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did Thom say this time?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin stumbled and would have fallen if Drew hadn\u2019t caught her.\u00a0 He waited until she\u2019d regained her balance before he let go.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t look at him.\u00a0 \u201cHow did you know?\u201d\u00a0 She whispered after a long silence.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBecause he\u2019s the only one that can ever affect you like this.\u00a0 He\u2019s the only one you allow<\/em> to affect you like this.\u201d\u00a0 He touched her shoulder, squeezed it gently.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened, Mar?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe lied to my face, Drew, that\u2019s what happened.\u201d\u00a0 She swiped angrily at the tears rolling down her cheeks.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t care how scared he is, or what the hell he\u2019s dreamed that\u2019s made him freak out, but I can\u2019t take him lying to my face.\u00a0 I can\u2019t.\u00a0 It\u2019s not fair, especially when he knows I know he\u2019s lying.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There was fear beneath her words, bone-deep, gnawing at the edges of his consciousness.\u00a0 He\u2019d missed it beneath her rage.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re afraid,\u201d he breathed.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOf course I\u2019m afraid!\u00a0 He\u2019s in denial and it\u2019s going to kill him one way or another.\u201d\u00a0 Marin shook off Drew\u2019s hand and started walking again.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t follow me,\u201d she snapped.\u00a0 \u201cI need some time alone.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn the ravine?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJust leave me alone, Drew.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her rage beat against him like storm surge against breakers.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t follow, just watched her go, watched her disappear down toward the lip of the ravine.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can\u2019t leave her down there by herself.\u00a0 Can\u2019t follow her by myself.<\/em>\u00a0 Drew took a deep breath.\u00a0 Time to snag Rory.<\/em>\u00a0 He grimaced and thought about what Kellin was going to say.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Another thing to talk about tonight, after everyone else\u2019s gone to bed.\u00a0 Something to announce at breakfast.\u00a0 No one goes down there alone.<\/em>\u00a0 Drew marched back toward where Rory was still unloading the truck, though with a few extra sets of hands, now.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRory, I need you to come with me.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory stopped in the middle of hefting one end of a three-by-ten plank, almost dropping it on his toes.\u00a0 The camps staffer at the far end of the board started to push it forward and Rory cursed, this time dropping the beam as it shot through his hands.\u00a0 \u201cDamn it, Carl, hold up.\u201d\u00a0 Rory glanced down at his palms, grimacing.\u00a0 \u201cThe hell\u2019s wrong, Drew, other than splinters two inches long in my hands?\u201d\u00a0 He started picking one of them out, not looking at the older man.\u00a0 He waved for someone else to take over, stepping away from the back end of the flatbed.\u00a0 The probably wouldn\u2019t use it very much in the future after they finished most of the heavy lifting from south campus, given the rapidly deteriorating state of the roads, though it was nice to have at their disposal for long as they could get the diesel to run it.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re going down into the ravine.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory stopped in the middle of yanking one of the silvers out of the meat of his palm.\u00a0 His voice came flat, disbelieving.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He thinks I\u2019ve lost it.\u00a0 Maybe I have.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cMarin went down by herself.\u00a0 I can\u2019t carry her back kicking and screaming without backup.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory stared at him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat the hell is going on, Drew?\u00a0 She knows better.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew shook his head quickly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll explain when we\u2019re down there.\u00a0 Come on.\u00a0 I need you now.\u201d\u00a0 Every minute we\u2019re wasting up here is a minute she could be getting into serious trouble down there.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOkay, okay.\u201d\u00a0 Rory glanced to the side.\u00a0 \u201cTala, take over, can you?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tala flashed a thumbs up and went back to helping haul a pallet of bricks.\u00a0 Rory glanced at the sky, frowned, then looked at Drew.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGo.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew took off at a jog, Rory following a little more slowly but catching up quickly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSo what the hell is going on?\u00a0 She went down there alone<\/em>?\u00a0 She never goes down there alone.\u00a0 Not since that time you and her and Thom went down and ran into\u2026whatever the hell you ran into.\u00a0 When she lost that pendant of hers.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When gave it to Thom and he threw it at the <\/em>thing following us.\u00a0 Slowed it down at least, because it never caught us.\u00a0 When we started to really realize what\u2019s out there.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I know.\u00a0 And it\u2019s Thom that\u2019s the reason she\u2019s out there right now.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory blinked at him, then frowned.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want to know, do I?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot yet.\u201d\u00a0 Drew started down the incline into the ravine, the ground slick from the recent rains.\u00a0 Hopefully it won\u2019t start pouring before we get to her and get out of here.\u00a0 Otherwise, we\u2019ll never get out of this alive.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cAt some point, I think we\u2019re all going to know.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll stay blissful in my ignorance a little longer,\u201d Rory grumbled, following Drew down to the muddy bank of the creek at the bottom of the ravine.\u00a0 Marin\u2019s footprints crossed the clear-running water about twenty feet away from where the two men were standing.\u00a0 It was deathly quiet, not even birds made a sound in the trees above, only the sound of the wind and the water near their feet, of their footsteps.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I wish I had that luxury.<\/em>\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t too far ahead of them.\u00a0 Her anger was slowly bleeding away.\u00a0 We need to close that gap before she calms down and I can\u2019t track her anymore from her feelings.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon, we need to hurry.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They jogged a little ways, until Rory slipped on the muddy bank and went down, cursing.\u00a0 \u201cBloody slick, I guess.\u00a0 Thought I had my footing.\u00a0 Maybe we should slow down.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s all right.\u00a0 She\u2019s stopped moving.\u201d\u00a0 At least I think she\u2019s stopped moving.<\/em>\u00a0 He helped Rory up, looking further down the ravine.\u00a0 It opened up into a marsh not far beyond where they were standing, if you followed the right-hand fork.\u00a0 Feels like she went that way.\u00a0 Feels like she\u2019s over there.\u00a0 Of course, that\u2019s where we were when we ran into that thing, but it should be okay right now, right?\u00a0 It\u2019s still daylight.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something brushed past him, something cold.\u00a0 He caught a fleeting glimpse of gray in his peripheral vision, got impressions of mischief and mayhem.\u00a0 \u201cShit,\u201d Drew murmured.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory blinked at him, then grimaced. \u00a0\u201c\u2026I didn\u2019t slip, did I?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d Drew mumbled.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think you did.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s those little gremlins, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 The little gray things.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou feel it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, little grabby hands against my ass shoving me into the creek.\u201d\u00a0 Rory looked at his soaked and muddy jeans and grimaced again.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s headed for Marin.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou sure?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew nodded.\u00a0 \u201cPretty sure.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory started to move again, then glanced back at Drew.\u00a0 \u201cThat is<\/em> bad, right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God, I hope not.<\/em>\u00a0 It probably was.\u00a0 Drew shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cMove.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Somewhere ahead, Marin yelped.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone else\u2019s stress had created a dull pounding in his head over the past few days, exacerbated by the atmosphere of desperation mixed with hope and despair.\u00a0 Marin\u2019s anger and frustration was like a knife cutting through all of … 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":[9,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-7","category-day-3"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-5y","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344","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=344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}