Page 16 of Reckless
I’ll find out soon enough. Findhersoon enough.
And when I do, I’ll get my answers.
CHAPTER 7Paedyn
I swear the scorpion scuttling dangerously close to my worn boots blinks in response to my question.
That’s it. I’m actually insane.
With that thought in mind, I sigh and repeat my question. “I said, if you could eat anything—and I meananything—what would it be?”
To say my voice is raspy would be an understatement. My throat feels as scratchy as the sand crunching beneath my feet, so dry I can hardly think straight. I shake my aching head at the creature while carelessly stepping around it, practically stumbling. “Fine. If you won’t answer, I will.” I trip in the sand, tripping over my words. “I—I could go for an orange. Yeah. A fat, juicy orange. Or… or some butterscotch.”
I look back at the scorpion, finding it scurrying close behind. The sight should be far more alarming to me, but I can’t find the energy to care at the moment. “You know, my father loved butterscotch.” I make a sound that only slightly resembles a laugh. “Sometimes I wonder if I even like the candy, ya know? Like, maybe… maybe I just convinced myself I liked them because he did.”
The scorpion stares up at me.
Or maybe it doesn’t. I’ve had some trouble deciphering what’s reality recently.
Is this my fifth or sixth day in the desert?
I almost laugh.
Maybe I’m dead already. How am I to know the difference?
I stumble, sand suddenly flying up to meet me. My knees sink into the gritty ground as I pant, the sinking sun still burning my raw skin. With a shaky breath, I slowly stumble to my feet, forcing my sore legs to continue their unsteady march.
I’m tired. So very tired.
My eyelids droop, mimicking the sun as it begins dipping behind dunes for the night.
Stay awake.
Suddenly, I feel as though I’m back in the Whispers, stumbling in the dark while trying not to bleed out from the deep slice beneath my ribs. That is whenhefound me. Saved me.
I shake the thought away and scan the horizon for the hundredth time, my eyes tracing the outline of each shadowy building that litters the city beyond.
I’m almost there.
Where “there” is, I haven’t the slightest idea. I’m not sure which city I’ve happened upon, whether it’s Dor or Tando, but I’m not exactly in any position to be picky.
I just need to make itthere.
Licking my chapped lips does nothing but add more sand to my mouth. Now would be the time to gulp down some grainy water, except that I greedily drank the last of it this morning.
I’m dying of thirst.
Maybe just dying. Maybe just dead already.
My ragged laugh at the thought rapidly morphs into a racking sob, seeming to rattle my brittle bones.
Keep walking. Just keep walking.
But I don’t want to. What I want is to lie down, shut my eyes, andrest.
My feet slow, my whole body feeling sluggish.
Keep. Walking.
