{"id":465,"date":"2011-08-01T00:00:01","date_gmt":"2011-08-01T04:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=465"},"modified":"2011-08-01T00:00:01","modified_gmt":"2011-08-01T04:00:01","slug":"day-7-chapter-8-marin-09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=465","title":{"rendered":"Day 7 – Chapter 8 – Marin – 09"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I sucked in a breath as I came awake, warmer and with my cheek pressed against Thom\u2019s bare shoulder.\u00a0 The rain had settled into a soft rhythm, much quieter and less violent than before.\u00a0 It was almost soothing.\u00a0 My watch, laying near the corner of the mattress, said it was midafternoon.\u00a0 I exhaled and pressed my face into Thom\u2019s shoulder, running my hand across his bare chest.\u00a0 I felt tape.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oh, Thom.<\/em>\u00a0 I exhaled and smiled against his shoulder.\u00a0 I lay there for another few minutes, listening to his breathing before I pushed myself up on an elbow and looked around.\u00a0 Things were quiet.\u00a0 It looked like a few had headed out from the shelter into the rain.\u00a0 There were fewer lumps underneath the collapsed tent, some of the furniture trapped beneath possibly moved.\u00a0 The sky was lighter.\u00a0 Maybe the worst had passed.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I got dressed again and wandered toward the fire.\u00a0 Tala glanced up from gleaning some of the ash away from the edges.\u00a0 \u201cWarmer?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0 My wet clothes were still hanging near the fire, along with J.T.\u2019s.\u00a0 I sank down next to Tala, wrapping my arms around my knees.\u00a0 \u201cAshes?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She nodded.\u00a0 \u201cFor soap, since we\u2019ll eventually have to make it.\u00a0 Figured I should start perfecting the technique before we actually need to use it.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cExperimental archaeology finally paying off, huh?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMore like the reconstruction stuff, but yeah.\u201d\u00a0 She grinned and resumed scraping the ashes up into a jar.\u00a0 \u201cYour brother was making noises about an anvil.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFor what?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI dunno.\u00a0 To have, maybe?\u00a0 Ask him when he gets back.\u201d\u00a0 Her shoulders rose and fell in a shrug.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not a bad idea to find one if we can.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to eventually need to make our own tools and crap.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I have no idea how we\u2019re going to accomplish that.\u00a0 At the same time, I\u2019m not going to start worrying about that yet, either.\u00a0 Plenty of time to worry about that later.\u00a0 If we live long enough to worry about that.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019d everyone go?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSome of them loaded up onto the flatbed to go to the home improvement store and see what they could bring back.\u00a0 Plants, pots, nails.\u00a0 Shit like that, I think.\u00a0 And siphon diesel.\u201d\u00a0 She shrugged with one shoulder, glancing at me.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever we can get, right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight,\u201d I murmured, then sighed.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I shook my head.\u00a0 \u201cEverything and nothing.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She snorted. \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s terribly descriptive, Mar.\u00a0 Thanks.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something growled and rumbled in the distance.\u00a0 I frowned, looking westward.\u00a0 The clouds were lighter there.\u00a0 \u201cYou hear that?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cProbably just thunder echoing funny,\u201d Tala said.\u00a0 \u201cEither that or parts of another building coming down.\u00a0 Two of the living centers collapsed while you were asleep.\u00a0 I was kind of surprised you didn\u2019t wake up, but I guess whatever Leah mixed up was pretty potent.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDo you know what it was?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNah.\u00a0 Some old folk remedy or something, I think.\u201d\u00a0 Tala put the lid on the jar, sitting back on her heels.\u00a0 \u201cDid you know her great aunt was some kind of crazy hedge witch type?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That might explain a thing or three.<\/em>\u00a0 I shook my head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 She knows herbs, then, huh?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd plants and home remedies and stuff.\u00a0 She and I talked about it a couple hundred times.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Good to know.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s still here?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou, me, Thom, a couple staffers.\u00a0 Rory went for firewood withBrandon.\u00a0 Stasia\u2019s checking the horses and the chickens.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Another shrug.\u00a0 \u201cIf we\u2019re going to get attacked by someone today, I think we\u2019d know they were coming by now.\u00a0 Either way, not much we can do to stop them right now.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I grimaced.\u00a0 She was right.\u00a0 Something else to remedy quickly.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cYou need help with anything?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI was going to check the smoker if you wanted to help with that.\u00a0 Dr. Doyle went to the store with the others to help out with the picking, so I could use an extra hand.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI think I have one of those.\u201d\u00a0 I got up and dusted grass and ashes off the seat of my pants.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The sound of rolling thunder stopped me in mid-motion.\u00a0 Then the ground bucked beneath my feet.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Metal screamed somewhere nearby as one of the dormitories nearest to us began to fold in on itself, then tottered and toppled backward, toward the steep slopes of the ravines behind them.\u00a0 I spun, almost unbalanced, my heart pounding.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take a breath take a breath take a breath\u2014<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No!<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was what I\u2019d seen in my vision, one of the ones that had knocked me flat, the one that had me waking up screaming, barely remembering what I\u2019d seen.\u00a0 It all flooded back and sent a lance of ice down my spine.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oh god.\u00a0 What just happened?\u00a0 And where?<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Furniture creaked, but only the most precarious, unoccupied stacks toppled.\u00a0 Tala grabbed my arm, and that was when I realized I was shaking.\u00a0 I could hear the horses in the other shelter over the rumbling, which was already beginning to taper off, and winced.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m fine!\u00a0 Go help Stasia with those horses before someone or something gets hurt.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tala was off like a shot.\u00a0 The shaking stopped completely a few seconds later and I took a few deep breaths, counting to ten and trying to calm down.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Where did the ground just explode?\u00a0 How far away?\u00a0 How did we feel it here?\u00a0 Why?<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat the hell was that?\u201d\u00a0 Rory was shouting from somewhere to my left.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnother earthquake,\u201d I snapped at him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did you think<\/em> it was?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His hair was plastered to his head, shoulders and arms wet as he tramped toward the fire, glaring at me.\u00a0 \u201cThe hell is wrong with you?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I just glared at him as he dumped his armload of wood near the pile.\u00a0 He glared right back.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJust because you\u2019re fighting with Thom again doesn\u2019t mean you can take your shit out on me.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re not fighting,\u201d Thom said from behind me, sounding like he\u2019d just woken up.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I love how everyone just assumes that\u2019s why I\u2019d snap at anyone.\u00a0 Asking stupid questions doesn\u2019t even rate on anyone\u2019s list.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory barely glanced at Thom before he went back to glaring at me.\u00a0 \u201cThen what the hell is your problem, Marin?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou, asking stupid questions, Rory!\u00a0 It was a fucking earthquake<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 Thom found my hand and squeezed.\u00a0 I swallowed a few choice words and tried to tamp down my ire.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, so it didn\u2019t ring familiar?\u00a0 Like something you woke up screaming about?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fuck you, Rory.<\/em>\u00a0 I took a breath and countered to ten, squeezing Thom\u2019s hand so hard my knuckles turned white.\u00a0 He admitted to me later that it\u2019d hurt.\u00a0 \u201cIf I thought that it was important to mention something like that, Rory, I would.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThen it did?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why do I even bother keeping things to myself if I\u2019m such a goddamn open book?\u00a0 <\/em>I sighed, nodding.\u00a0 \u201cNot as bad as I thought it was going to be.\u00a0 Not as bad as it looked.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory was quiet for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cThen that\u2019s important.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I stared at him.\u00a0 He shrugged.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat means nothing\u2019s set in stone.\u00a0 Just because you see it doesn\u2019t mean it always happens that way.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was Kellin\u2019s little speech coming out of Rory\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 I sighed and turned toward Thom.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He was white as a sheet, jaw slack.\u00a0 My stomach twisted.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My fingers tightened around his hand.\u00a0 \u201cThom?\u00a0 Are you all right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He blinked, then smiled weakly at me.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I\u2019m fine.\u201d\u00a0 He squeezed my fingers back and lied.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEverything\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I sucked in a breath as I came awake, warmer and with my cheek pressed against Thom\u2019s bare shoulder.\u00a0 The rain had settled into a soft rhythm, much quieter and less violent than before.\u00a0 It was almost soothing.\u00a0 My … 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":[24,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-8","category-day-7"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-7v","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465","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=465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}