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“Feel better now?” Logan asked, concern lacing his tone.
“A little,” I said.
Once I was sure we were alone, I released his wrist, letting his arm fall to his side.
Here we are, like it or not.
“Do you want to take some samples and keep moving? I bet there is a cool waterfall a little further up,” I suggested between straggled breaths.
“No, I can take some samples, and we can stay here tonight. This is the best site to sleep at for at least five miles.”
I nodded slowly, biting the nub of my thumb raw.
“Okay.” I peered around a small boulder.
It will find us, even if we leave. The creature is a predator. It’s stalking its prey.There was no running or hiding anymore. Part of me wanted to see it. I wanted to end this nightmare.
Throwing my pack onto the ground, I rummaged for a canteen. The cool water helped ease the aching from my throat and the pressure building behind my temples.
I watched Logan disappear behind a boulder.
That was not allowed! He did not have permission to leave my sight until we got the hell out of this valley.
Crunching over gravel, I veered around the rock in time to see Logan throw a stone into a plastic bag.
Logan stood up and grabbed a small test tube and began filling it with a dirt sample. “Hey, almost done.”
“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms and perching against a small orange stone.
“All right.” He sighed and stood up. “You hungry for dinner?” he said, glancing over at me while throwing the samples into a black box.
“Sure.”
“It’s kind of a fascinating place, isn’t it?” he said.
“Uh huh,” I lied, rubbing the back of my neck.
“I think you’ll love it at night, once the stars come out. The rocks practically glow in the moonlight.”
“Sounds great,” I said, flicking my eyes from one ridge to the next. I rubbed my hands over my crossed arms, trying to remove some of the goosebumps.
He faced me. “Listen, Charlie. I think I should explain about earlier.”
“No need.” I walked past him toward my backpack.
“Charlie, wait,” he pleaded softly, darting in front of me.
I peered down at my boots, covered in a crimson dust. I toed the small rocks surrounding them.
“Listen, earlier, I shouldn’t have kissed you…” Logan let out a long string of curse words.
You didn’t want me? Real men are even more confusing than dream men.
“I’m sorry for everything,” he whispered, reaching for my cheek and bringing my mouth to his.
Sorry, for what?
The speed at which my world tilted sideways left my mind reeling.
