Page 106 of Red

I twist and see two men running toward me.

They killed Pratt, I remind myself. I let the feelings flood me—his smiling face before he left the morning before, the knocks that came to the door in the middle of the night. The realization that I was alone. Tears prick my eyes and I take fast, short breaths.

“Who is it?” One of them shouts. I recognize the voice, Mike?

“Hey, you.” Guns in hand, they raise them at me.

My feet slow, then I toss the lighter and walk in their direction, straight toward the end of the two black barrels. Behind them, a huge blaze is lit as the humans try to put it out.

“It’s Aly. I, um, took a wrong turn. My SUV is stuck in the mud.” I point in the general direction of the old hunting trail. “I was walking along, hoping to find someone, when—” I look behind them and cover my mouth at the sight. A third building is now set ablaze.

Mike checks over me from head to toe. “Did you see anything out here when walking?”

“No,” I gasp. “No, I heard gunshots and ducked. Not fast enough.” I angle myself, and he shines his flashlights on my shoulder like it isn’t near daylight. Humans . . .

“Come with us. They’ll want to talk to you,” the hooded one says, not lowering his gun.

Mike adjusts his opposite of me. “You’re lucky we found you. Keep your eyes open. The beasts might be close.”

“You think?” I ask.

“The armory just blew up. Who else would’ve done it?”

“Maybe it was an accident,” I offer innocently.

“You’re the sharpshooter girl? I thought you left,” the other says.

“I did, but I changed my mind.” Flames prick my legs and feet. They have no reason to suspect me, other than the terrible timing of this. My SUV will be in the mud when they check, so that’s something.

They escort me back to camp, one on either side, guns scanning the surrounding area. Mike guides us with a flashlight we don’t need. The intensity of the fire stretches deep into the forest, lighting the way. Voices shout over the blaze, and cracks come as the side of the building next door collapses in on itself.

“Let’s go around,” the hooded man says.

I don’t get much choice. We walk through the edge of the forest, where heat reaches our faces. With no running water out here and only the holding tanks, they don’t stand a chance against the fires. Large chunks of debris float into the sky lit with sparks. I will them to land on other buildings. The forest is damp, so it should be safe.

There are more shouts as we reach a cluster of people, and a head turns, the stance hard to forget.

Chapter 30

Tripp’s mouth drops open. He steps away from the group and walks our way.

“Boss, we found her in the woods behind the fire,” Mike says.

“Go help the others with the fire. We don’t need this whole place burning down.”

They shift and head toward the blaze now behind me.

Confusion paints his face. “Aly? What are you doing here?”

“I was coming back, but I couldn’t remember the turn and got stuck.” I reach my hand out to the one holding his rifle.

“By pure coincidence, you happened to be behind the explosion?” His confusion changes to one of focus and his arm reaches out to grab my hand. He turns it over, his eyes scanning, but there’s nothing to find.

“I heard the loud bangs. My shoulder got hit so I started running from it.”

“Why are you back? Your letter . . .”

Guilt flutters in me at the sadness coming off him. I squeeze his hand. “I didn’t think it was for me.”