Page 41 of Shielding Maya

Her shoulders dropped. "Okay." He was making changes. Actually, he was the only one making changes.

"Hang tight, I'll be up there in about fifteen minutes."

"Okay. I'm helping Spencer until then."

25

Jasiah ended the call with the mayor and sighed. He stood and exited his cabin excited to tell Maya what just happened.

His eyes landed on her across the common area, speaking with Spencer and Myles. He hustled toward her, excitement coursing through him. Her head swiveled toward him as if she knew he was eager to speak with her. Her smile bloomed like the most beautiful flower and his heartbeat kicked up a couple of notches.

She took two steps toward him when something whizzed past him and hit the wall of a cabin behind him. Maya ran full speed toward him, Myles on her heels.

"Get down," she yelled.

He focused on her expression, fear in her eyes. Another projectile whizzed past him and hit the cabin behind him again. That's when it finally clicked what was happening. Maya jumped at him and knocked him over. He lay on his back, Maya on top of him.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

"Well, I hit the ground kind of hard."

"You wouldn't get down."

"What the hell is happening?"

A gunshot sounded again. Maya's head twisted to stare into the woods behind her. He lifted his head to see Myles' weapon drawn, slowly stepping into the woods. Spencer was right behind him.

"What the hell?" He asked again.

Maya's eyes locked on his. "Someone tried to shoot you."

That's when she sat up and began feeling his chest, looking for holes or blood.

"Nothing. Oh my God, nothing. He didn't get you."

"No, but you're putting yourself at risk." He twisted so she was on the ground and he was on top of her.

People took cover and he could see them peering at him and Maya and watching Myles and Spencer. Unreal that this had come up here again.

"Did you see who it was?" He husked.

"No. Did you see anything?"

He shook his head. "I only saw you."

Her face softened and her eyes met his and held.

He began to get on his knees, "We have to get to cover."

"You do. I have to go help Myles and Spencer."

"Maya..."

"Jasiah, this is what I do. Please, get to cover. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Maya scrambled to her feet and ran toward the woods where Myles and Spencer had entered. He got to his feet and ran toward his cabin. He whipped open the door and stood inside, door open, watching the woods. After a few moments, no more shots were fired and he stepped out as others gathered near their cabins or cover but not in the open.

Soon Maya, Myles, and Spencer exited the woods. Maya pointed in several directions, grabbed her phone from her pocket, and made a call.

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