Page 69 of Coerced

Jax joined us before we made a decision.

“In case it makes a difference, I want a shower,” he said, “and most of us are worn out. Travis especially isn’t used to carrying so much gear for so long. Plus, our food supply is getting low?”

“We’ll take a break,” Kerry declared with a speed that made me grin. “I don’t wanna risk running out.”

Just as we turned back to join the others, the wind shifted and a foreboding smell hit my nose. My eyes met Kerry’s.

“What is it?” Jax picked up on our alertness.

“Human,” Kerry and I spoke in unison and I added, “Wait here.”

“You didn’t say anything aboutwhywe smell him.” Kerry glanced at me after we’d run a few hundred yards.

“They don’t need to know he’s dead yet. No need to upset them until we see what the situation is. Lots of accidents can happen while hiking in these mountains.”

“You don’t need to worry about upsettingme.” He snorted derisively. “I’m sure you can smell the Diabolical on this just as well as I can. It’s as strong as a skunk.”

We started jogging at the same time. Following our noses, we headed up the trail for another hundred feet, then veered off it into the winter-bare undergrowth.

“Yes,” I admitted at last. “Still, like I said, no need to panic the others. In this, they’re innocent. Even Spin and Chance. We haven’t had to deal with dead humans before. Well, a zombie once, but she’d been a nephilim, not a human.”

A spike of guilt pierced my heart as I thought of Zoe and I quickly pushed it aside. I was getting really good at that, shoving down memories I didn’t want to deal with. I knew someday they’d come collecting, but as long as it wasn’t today, I’d take it.

“I seen a few,” he muttered.

“My warden warned me the first time would be rough.”

“Sometimes, they look like they’re sleeping. Depends on what killed them. On how tore up they are.”

I glanced over at the kid.

Ope! I should have kept my mouth shut!

His skin was taking on a blue tint and his eyes were brutal. He didn’t answer, and we pushed on through the crackling brown brush for another few yards until we found the body.

19. Mend What’s Broken

Kerry

We figured the woman was about sixty and an experienced hiker, to go by her clothes, boots, and gear falling out of her backpack. I crouched next to her, looking for an ID. She was crumpled on her side, face down, and her long gray hair was coming loose from a black bandana. Far as I could tell, she hadn’t been dead that long. At least, she wasn’t stiff or anything.

As I rolled her over, I heard running feet coming closer, but I didn’t look up. I could tell who it was.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Rome called out.

I turned my head to look at him and saw Gemma skid to a stop a few feet away. Her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes were horrified.

“You killed a human!”

Jax, Gigi, Spin, and Chance came to a stop behind her and formed a half circle around us.

“Oh, no.”

“What happened, Kerry?”

“You killed a human?”

Then the others must have caught up and joined them because I could hear Tara, Maddy, and Travis saying the same things. John asked Rome why he hadn’t stepped in, but Rome stayed silent, hunkered down by the backpack.

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