Page 68 of Bound By Water
Having achieved success, I start taking notes. I’m good at studying. A perfect student. There’s a lot to learn, but I can do it. School is my comfort zone.
Ignoring Quaid’s request to stay, I leave and head straight to the stream Oliver showed me. When I get there, water trickles over the rocks in a soothing manner, and I drop to the ground. My hands automatically reach for the liquid, and it responds, flowing up to meet them. I rub the water on my hands and cup it in my palms, making friends with the element that answers my call.
I still don’t remember using it the night my parents died, nor why I suppressed it. Part of me wishes I’d known, but I’m happy to have had a normal-ishchildhood. River had to go on the run at an early age and missed out on all the usual milestones.
River. I asked him if that was his real name, and he laughed and assured me it was. He was teased a lot in school, but it never bothered him. Apparently, his mother loves nature and thought the names fit him and his sister, Lily.
Sometimes I want to tell him my real name, but I can’t. If he were captured by Raven, the only name he knows is Greer, not Willa. Honestly, I’m proud to carry Lionel’s son’s name, though I miss my girly name.
“There you are,” River says behind me.
The water falls back to the stream, and I turn to look at him. He makes a noise and strips off his sweatshirt, then his shirt. Astonished, I stare at his surprisingly cut abs. All our nights together, and I’ve never seen him without his shirt. I’ve been missing out. My eyes trace every line and crevice.
To my dismay, he slips his sweatshirt back on. Crouching down in front of me with his t-shirt in hand, he reaches for my face. “Hold still.”
I rear back. “What are you doing?”
“Your nose is bleeding,” he replies tersely. “It happens when we overuse our powers. A couple of minutes of pressure should help.”
Embarrassed, I take the shirt from him and press it against my nose. “Thank you.”
He sits down. “How long have you been out here?”
I glance at my tablet and wince. “An hour. I’ve been playing with the water and thinking. About the past. The future. You.”
“You told Oliver about my mom and sister,” he says, picking up a rock and tossing it into the stream. “Why did you tell him? I told you that in confidence.”
“Whether you like Phoenix or not, they have the resources to help people. They found us. We’re here and safe. I thought they could do the same for your family,” I tell him, fidgeting restlessly. I knew when I told Oliver I was breaking River’s trust, but I was desperate to find an answer that would let us be together. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you first.”
He tosses another rock into the stream, and I reach over and push it to the side. “It’s blocking the flow.” The water is barely trickling as it is.
“If I asked, would you leave this place and go somewhere safe with us?” His voice is quiet, but I can tell by the intense look in his remarkable green eyes that my answer is important.
I chuckle. “Leave this wonderful facility with its grey sweats and tan buildings? How will I ever cope?” He doesn’t laugh, so I reach out and grab his hand. “Of course. There will be nothing left for me here.”
“They can teach you how to use your powers. Plus, you seem to be getting close to Oliver,” he suggests in a speculative way. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to leave.”
Phantom hands circle my throat, stroking gently, and I almost choke at the thought of Oliver leaving to fight the enemy, but he’s not mine. “He cares about all of us, not just me. It’s why I told him about your family. Oliver needs to save people. It’s ingrained in him. Duty, integrity, dedication. Lionel was like that, and my dad. Must be an Army thing.”
River exhales heavily. “Okay. Let me figure out a plan. The tricky part will be getting back here. I’ve got a general idea of where we are but not the exact coordinates. Maybe Quaid or Oliver can help with that piece. I’ll think about it.”
“How do you know where we are?” I ask, looking around at the trees. Maybe if I knew what kind of trees those were I’d be able to guess, but nothing looks familiar.
River digs his hands into the dirt. “The land. It gives me a general idea. For example, this type of dirt.” He raises his hand with a fistful of it. “We’re not in Georgia. The dirt would have a ton of red clay in it if we were. This has clay in it, but it also has wetlands and Cecil soils.” He looks at the area around us. “Add in the vegetation and trees. My guess is somewhere in North Carolina.”
Impressed, I stare at him. “You’re remarkable.” I smile widely. I’m happy he asked me. The yearning to return to my old life has faded. It’s time to find a new life with River and his family. That’s enough, right?
His smile fades. “Here, let me take a look.” He lifts the t-shirt from my face, then dips it into the small stream. “Bleeding has stopped. Let me wash your face so the others don’t think I popped you in the nose, especially Quaid.” He leans in close. “Personally, he scares the shit out of me.”
Laughing, I tilt my face up and let him clean the evidence. “Me too, but I’d never tell him. He’s already too damn arrogant. It infuriates me.”
River stops washing to look at me, speculation in his eyes. “Hmm. I’m starving. How about you?”
“Famished,” I reply in surprise. “Literally, it feels like my stomach is completely empty. I know I ate breakfast earlier.”
River nods. “When you use your powers regularly, you burn a lot of calories.” He pats his washboard stomach. “That’s how I got the abs you were staring at earlier.”
Sputtering, I shove him away and get to my feet.
