Page 10 of Haunted By the Shadow of Death

“Yes, this way Pips won’t be scared either,” Kicks said.

“I’m not scared,” I said, cuddling Charlie to me.

“Aren’t you?” Kicks glanced over, the moonlight illuminating his face.

“I think she gets scared, too,” Charlie said.

“I agree with you Charlie.”

I pulled the covers up around Charlie and me. “I think we should all be quiet and go to sleep now.”

Chapter Four

Breakfast at Bri’s pack was an efficient affair. It was also fast, thankfully, because although we were seated in a larger house used for communal purposes, Charlie, Kicks, Bri, and I were all at a quaint little table together. This time I was a third wheel with luggage, as Charlie sat beside me.

Bri and Kicks were falling into the banter of people who were all too comfortable around each other, throwing out the occasional token question to me to seem inclusive. The more comfortable they were, the more I itched to get away from them.

He’d kissed me last night, repeatedly said he hadn’t been with her, but the optics weren’t great.

Charlie was eating some toast and glancing over. He kept staring at Kicks, and then Bri, his brain picking up on something off even as his life experience couldn’t quite label it yet. He’d also been gulping down chocolate milk like an alcoholic falling off the wagon after a decade. Any minute now, any minute, he’d be my ticket out of here.

“You’ve got water here, too.” I pushed the glass closer to Charlie, feeling no qualms about using his bladder as my ticket away from this table.

“Piper, I have to go to the bathroom.”

I sprang into action like an Indy driver getting the green light.

“I’ll take you. Meet you outside?” I said to Kicks, already grabbing Charlie’s hand.

“I can take him,” Kicks said, getting to his feet almost as quickly as me.

Did he want out of here as much as me? It seemed like it, not that I was going to help him.

“I’ve got him. I’ll meet you outside.” It seemed like he might’ve been telling the truth after all. I turned to Bri. “Thank you so much for letting us sleep here.”

“Anytime.” She smiled and waved.

Kicks nodded, but there was a sarcastic thanks in his eyes.

Whatever had happened with them last night, it didn’t seem like it was as cozy as I’d imagined.

I made my way to the bikes, where some of the pack was already gathering, my step a bit lighter than it had been last night or even this morning. Evangeline moved toward me like a magnet. I could see Buddie and Rastin not far behind, like they were getting towed in behind her.

“Was that as awkward as it looked?” she asked, glancing around for nosy ears.

Before I could answer, Buddie was there, speaking for me. “You even need to ask?”

“I don’t,” Rastin said, laughing.

Charlie, who’d been examining every bike in the lineup like he was an inspector, came back over.

“Why was it awkward? I want to know.”

“No reason. Go get settled with Buddie. We’re leaving soon.” I gave him a little shove toward Buddie as Kicks and the rest of the pack headed over.

The sun had set hours ago as we drove up a spiraling road into the mountains. The fresh, woodsy scent was strong, reminding me of Kicks. The road was lined with oak trees that looked like they hadn’t been saplings since the beginning of time. There was something ancient and almost prescient in these forests we drove through.

Buildings appeared in the distance, nestled in between the trees. Some of them looked like classic log cabins, not big enough to have more than one or two rooms each. Some were larger, as if they could accommodate a family. Others were brand new and only partially constructed. As the engines cut out, the sound of the nearby river filled the air. The community had been built alongside a long stretch of beautiful water.

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