{"id":782,"date":"2011-10-21T00:00:33","date_gmt":"2011-10-21T04:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=782"},"modified":"2011-10-21T12:30:08","modified_gmt":"2011-10-21T16:30:08","slug":"day-18-chapter-11-09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=782","title":{"rendered":"Day 18 – Chapter 11 – 09"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom was the first up.\u00a0 He lurched to his feet, crutches forgotten as he started to limp toward the sound.\u00a0 Rory had the presence of mind to tuck himself under his arm, ignoring the forgotten crutches as the five\u2014Angie included\u2014abandoned the fire and headed out into the thickening mist.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s that screaming?\u201d\u00a0 Angie asked as she kept up with them, right behind Rory and Thom.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t know, kiddo,\u201d Thom said.\u00a0 It\u2019s not Marin.\u00a0 I know what that sounds like and that\u2019s not her.<\/em>\u00a0 It was only a minor relief.\u00a0 It sounded like a woman screaming, and if Marin wasn\u2019t the one screaming, then Kellin wouldn\u2019t be screaming, either.\u00a0 That left two women out there in the woods\u2014Leah, who everyone was looking for, and Stasia, who\u2019d gone looking for her with Paul.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Angie\u2019s brother Paul.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Goddamnit.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAngie, stay right with me, and Mr. Thom, okay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Good call, Matt.\u00a0 If this is a fight, we\u2019re as big as a liability as she is.<\/em>\u00a0 Thom spared half a second to kick himself for darting off toward the sound, then they were pushing through the mist toward a mass of human-shaped shadows clustered together.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something moved in the mist, past the four and almost through<\/em> them, and they heard the scream again, accompanied by male shouting.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDrew!\u201d\u00a0 Rory shouted.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOver here!\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The mist around them parted.\u00a0 Stasia was shaking in Brandon\u2019s arms, eyes wide and darting.\u00a0 Drew was breathing heavily and Paul had a branch as thick as his arm in hand, holding it like a baseball bat.\u00a0 His eyes widened as he spotted his sister peeking around Thom\u2019s legs.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat the hell are you doing out here, Angie?\u00a0 I told you to stay with the others!\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d\u00a0 Thom shouted.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSomething pushed<\/em> me down the hill,\u201d Stasia said, voice starting to normalize.\u00a0 She was spattered in mud, leaves and other debris in her hair, and was shaking in Brandon\u2019s arms.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t trip, something pushed me.\u00a0 Then it tried again up here, tried to knock me down and drag me off!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was as if someone had swept her legs right from under her.\u00a0 Leah went down hard with the sound of air escaping from her lungs.\u00a0 Then something unseen seized her by the ankle and started dragging her off.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She screamed, and hers was joined by others, and cursing, seconds later.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something hit him square in the spine and he almost toppled, too.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom\u2019s heart thudded against his breast.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThom, snap out of it.\u00a0 Here and now, man, we need you.\u201d\u00a0 Rory shook him and Thom blinked, sucking in a breath he hadn\u2019t realized he\u2019d lost.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIs he okay?\u201d\u00a0 Brandon asked.\u00a0 His eyes were as big as Stasia\u2019s, though he looked like he was trying to hold it together.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe need to get back to the fire,\u201d Thom said, swallowing hard and leaning more heavily on Rory.\u00a0 The bad feeling was growing worse and he was starting to feel sick.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something unseen forced its way between him and Rory, who let go, stumbling back with a shout.\u00a0 Thom went down hard, his entire side numb until he hit the ground, when his ribs suddenly sent fire shooting through his chest and robbed him of breath again.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stasia screamed and Brandon spun her away from something unseen.\u00a0 A shrieking wind surrounded them, forcing them to cluster closer together.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat the hell is this?\u201d\u00a0 Matt shouted.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew and Carolyn exchanged a look.\u00a0 Carolyn swallowed hard and crouched down to help Thom up.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThom\u2019s right, we need to get back,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cGive me a hand here, Matt.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They hauled Thom back up to his feet.\u00a0 He could hear something faintly through the shrieking wind\u2014the sound of laughter.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Malicious, angry laughter.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fuck me.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His throat went tight, as if someone or something had wrapped its hands around his neck and squeezed.\u00a0 He struggled to suck in a breath and found he couldn\u2019t.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He flailed, knocking Carolyn away from him.\u00a0 Matt hung on only a second longer, stumbling back himself with big eyes.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not real, not real, not real, not real, not real.<\/strong><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It took a moment to realize that the thoughts weren\u2019t his.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGet off,\u201d he gasped against the pressure around his throat, clawing at unseen hands now.\u00a0 He should be on the ground, laid out flat.\u00a0 Why wasn\u2019t he down?\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t feel the ground beneath the one foot that was on the ground.\u00a0 \u201cGet off!\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory\u2019s hand came flying through his peripheral vision, wreathed in a dim red glow.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The pressure on his neck vanished and he sat down hard again, then flopped over backwards, gasping like a fish out of water.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blood roared in his ears, but he could still hear the shrieking of the winds in the mist.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The mist that hadn\u2019t gone away, blown away, despite the wind.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If it wasn\u2019t the wind shrieking, what was<\/em> it?
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Somewhere in the distance was more shouting, more screaming<\/em>.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGet up, Thom,\u201d Carolyn said urgently, grasping his arm.\u00a0 \u201cGet up!\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He rocked up more slowly than he would have liked, but faster than his ribs could take.\u00a0 Dark spots danced before his eyes as he forced his way back up to his feet.\u00a0 His tongue felt thick in his mouth as he mumbled, \u201cWe all okay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHere<\/em>,\u201d she spat, then hauled his arm over her shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, we have to go<\/em>.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They\u2019d gone three steps before he realized where the screams were coming from.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The tent.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The only one we left was Jay\u2026<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Then he realized one of the screams was familiar.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He ran.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0First<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0Previous<\/a>\u00a0\u2022 Next<\/a> \u2022\u00a0Latest<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom was the first up.\u00a0 He lurched to his feet, crutches forgotten as he started to limp toward the sound.\u00a0 Rory had the presence of mind to tuck himself under his arm, ignoring the forgotten crutches as the five\u2014Angie … 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":[30,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-11","category-day-18"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-cC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782","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=782"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":785,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions\/785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}