my gritty eyes, my fingers trailing the thin gauze and flinched. I was surrounded by rock, white rock that seemed to radiat

edrolls, their blankets clean but slept in. A pile of clothes by the far wall was the only sign of colou

lit

ed myself up. The heavy curtain covering my only escape parted t

re you

d, trying to see through

e d

N

my pitiful cleavage and

istance then gave in. He was t

you think you wer

ancing through the bite. So much for sympat

got yourse

the eyes in the back

argue? Why couldn't y

g! And you’ve been doing

S

o take care of

d you plan on doing th

d you to loo

r said

ade points or even pay the damn guy at the reception de

o Lillith,

e only reason they'd joined us was for the extra money and kitted up transport, but somewhe

e," I said, ashamed of the

yle

id ge

nd him. I lifted my good arm and covered my damp eyes. I hadn't cr

to my room, forced to take it easy as I counted down the minutes until Lilli

h day. They were too busy drowning in each other’s eyes and making lame ex

day here, where ever "here" was. It was also the longest amount of time I'd ever been separated from Aaron, and wi

better today?

t managed to hide my wince. "I'm fine. B

d," Dave said, gr

e you're not t

no such

h. Though one night of nausea free slee

kin above Dave's stubbled che

going to tell me

n't tell you. Yet.’ I couldn’t say for certain, but I was pretty sure that nagging question of mine

ure you wa

ctually going to t

p, hesitating

it's killing m

her perfectly white teeth.

rche

no

w..

shared a fleeti

d, finding my co

nd. Not unless... light have mercy," I said,

Lills mumbled, get

ed by. They were those who'd committed their lives to the destruction of every non human creature beyond the borders of the Diarna, the furthest mining town in the s

to leave the food table. But when the Shades crossed into our lands, they'd reared their hooded heads and come pouring ou

ey wanted. No one, and I mean no one knew the locations of their hidden commun

on had

ut the rest? Scorchers stuck together in packs of at least five and never hunted on their o

knew about Lillith and he would've told the others everything by now. Scorchers d

nk her a weapon, or a freak? Would they go as far as keeping her against her wil

re long enough and hell or high water, I was getting out of this room. My ribs weren't cracked, ju

fist-sized scar. Burning the bite. Only Scorchers would think of that. They

ns. The denim over my knees had thinned to a single weave, and the hem at my heels dragged on the ground where it had been worn to

. I preferred it up, but a side comment Aaron made three months ago hinted at the

or. There was nothing I could do though. Everything that could be used as a weapon short of

unfurled himself and stood, his face knocking the breath from my lungs. I'd thought Dave look

re you

m," I said, fin

ed little kids to make butt crack jokes, and I felt confident enough to bet

you leave o

come w

dark hair, his frown deepen

to see

s bu

n't c

folding his arms, “so think of some

w do you know he does

said

hat's yo

uh

ted, liking the fact that my que

rne

ho in their right mind would n

o happen. Either you come with me and take me to Aaron, or I can beat you bloody and

on, and I doubt his fighting as good. It didn’t matter though. I was useless without a weapon, even more so inj

ted with the situation, and no doubt me. "I was t

this guy would've listened to a req

ar

ever ma

nuine sound surprising m