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I squeeze Art’s shoulders, smooshing him to my chest, and nod. “Yeah, okay, thanks. Let’s –”
“I’ve called the doctor. He’ll be here in a few.” Zach’s voice breaks through my panicky thoughts.
He’s standing away from the group and I watch his eyes as they look at where Ryan is touching me. “No need to go anywhere.” Then he orders a staff member, “And get someone to close up that hole.”
With that, he turns away, leaving.
There are leaves clinging to his jeans, his boots, mud caked on the sleeves of his shirt, even his elbows and arms.
He’s retreating, going away, after saving Art and even me. With Art in my arms, heavy and unconscious, I go after him.
“Wait. Zach.”
He comes to a pause but doesn’t turn around. I keep going until I come to stand before him. Somehow, he got a little dirt on the side of his jaw, too. I have a very strong, potent urge to reach up and wipe it off.
“What?” he bites out.
“I… How did you know about the hole? How did you know Art could be down there?”
The sun doesn’t move and neither does the air. It’s all still and hot but oddly, Zach’s face, his entire body turns shadowed.
Darkness slashes his features, his demeanor, like last night when he sat in that chair of his, with the entire galaxy at his back.
“Zach –”
His gruff words cut me off. “Because I’ve been down there.”
At first I think I haven’t heard him clearly. But when the rigid look of his face doesn’t go away, I realize that I have.
I have heard him clearly.
Clutching Art to my chest even tighter, I ask, “When?”
He clamps his jaw before saying, “A long time ago.”
And then, he spins around and leaves.
