Page 14 of Red Fire

“I’ll sleep when it is safe to do so.”

Poor guy. I get tears in my eyes for a moment. I’m so grateful he is helping me. I’ve never been more terrified in all of my life.

“Here.” He hands me something.

I take it on instinct, quickly realizing that it’s my backpack. “Thanks.” I fumble with the pack, putting it onto my back as I stand. “I don’t suppose you have a lantern or a flashlight?”

“No, and even if I did, we wouldn’t use it. They’ll find us in a minute if we do something like that.”

“You’re right.”

“As quiet as a mouse.”

“Mice can be noisy critters.” I smile.

“A mute mouse, then.”

I giggle softly, then stop. “Sorry, I laugh when I’m nervous. It used to get me into a lot of trouble at school.”

“You’ll need to get over that habit really quickly. If they find us, we probably won’t escape. I will be killed. You…you’ll be in trouble, Octavia.”

The words mating and breeding come to mind. My stomach churns.

“I know.” A knot forms in my stomach. I’m trying not to think about it because I’ll freeze up. I’ll be too afraid to do anything, which isn’t like me. I hate feeling this vulnerable. “I’ll be as quiet as a mute mouse…I swear.”

“Good. We need to get going soon,” he says in a soft, yet deep voice, throwing a log onto the embers. He starts blowing.

“Okay.” I rummage in my pack, feeling my way around until the log catches alight and I can see.

I spend a few minutes brushing my teeth. I’m tempted to wash off some of the soot that is still caked on my skin, but I don’t. I have a feeling that Creed wouldn’t like it.

“Are you nearly ready?”

“Can I have a minute alone, please?”

He sighs, going outside. I use the bucket and then call him back inside.

“Ready?” he whispers.

“Yes.”

He pours water over the fire, which sizzles as it goes out. There’s a little smoke, but nothing crazy. Then we walk outsideonto his wooden deck. It’s just as dark under the canopy of trees as it was inside the cabin. I can’t see much of anything.

“There are no stairs,” he murmurs. I think I hear him take his jeans off, but I try not to think about it. I don’t want to know.

“How do you get up and down?” I’m, once again, trying not to panic. “Especially in the dark,” I whisper.

“I climb.”

“I’m not sure I—”

“Get onto my back.” He turns and goes down on his haunches. At this point, all I can see are shadows. “I’ll carry you. I use branches as well as footholds I built to get up and down. I’ve done it a thousand times. It’s quite safe.”

I hesitate. I mean, of course, I do…who wouldn’t? We’re high up. Creed is going to climb down the side of a tree. Climb! He’s going to do so with the added weight of me on his back.

Creed sighs. “What happened to doing whatever I told you without question and immediately? Get! Onto! My back! Do it now!” he growls low.

Oh, my gosh!

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