I lifted his head but struggled with pulling the fabric over his head with one hand. First, because I couldn’t get a good enough grip, then because I was in my own way. I switched hands and finally got the logistics down. There, that was better.
He stirred when I pulled the last bit over his head, and then he blinked sleepily. “Nash?”
If I had thought I loved how he said my name before, this was even better. All sleepy and mellow, it was little more than a whisper, yet it hit me like a lightning bolt. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart.”
“I don’t want to sleep the whole time…”
I could easily spot the pain and frustration behind those words. “I know, but your body needs it. The beach isn’t going anywhere, and neither am I. Sleep, sweetheart.”
His blinks grew slower. “What about you?”
“I’ll be in bed early as well.” That wasn’t a lie. I was tired too, though obviously nowhere near as tired as Forest.
“Bed. Not couch.”
I smiled. Even half-asleep, Forest managed to make himself crystal clear. Bossy little shit. “Yes, bed. Next to you.”
“Good.” His eyes remained closed now, and just when I thought he’d fallen asleep again, he mumbled, “I like you sleeping next to me.”
The smile that grew on my lips stayed there for a long time.
Something was wrong.
That sixth sense that Creek always called my Spidey sense was tickling down my back, making the hairs rise on my skin. My muscles tensed, my body coiling like a spring ready to release.
Something was off. There was danger. I slowly looked around, taking in my surroundings with practiced attention. Nothing. No hostiles, no sounds, nothing moved.
“What’s wrong, Sarge?” Bean asked, watching me with concern. The guys knew my instincts, knew that I was seldom wrong. I had no clue how or why my body and mind were so attuned to my situation, but they were.
It rarely happened that I missed anything, which should reassure me right now, but it didn’t. It only made my unease grow. Because something was wrong.
“Sarge?” Bean asked again.
“Something’s wrong, but I can’t find what.”
“Do you want me to…?”
“Stay here. I’m gonna take a quick look.”
I signaled to the rest of the platoon that they should stay put, then belly-crawled through the sandy terrain to a slightly higher vantage point. It took a while, but I’d rather take my time than rush it and get noticed.
When I reached the top, I carefully raised my head to take a quick peek. Nothing. Everything was quiet. And yet my Spidey sense was screaming at me.
I took another minute to study the area through my binoculars. Nothing. As much as I hated to admit it, maybe I was wrong this time.
With a frustrated sigh, I turned around to start the crawl back. But when I looked up, my blood froze.
My men lay on the ground, their faces distorted, their uniforms soaked with blood that now dripped onto the ground. No, no, no!
What had happened? How was this possible? I hadn’t heard anything.
I pushed myself to my feet and ran toward them. They were dead. All of them.
But when I got to Bean, he opened his eyes and looked at me, even though half his skull was missing. “You didn’t see it, Sarge. This is on you.”
And then he closed his eyes and he, too, was gone.
I made a sound, a sob, then a louder wail.
