A gust of wind knocked Tatum to the ground, nearly pulling Nick with her. He lifted her to her feet and continued fleeing the weather.
Another glance over his shoulder, and Nick thought Kate was yelling something but there was no time. They had to get out of this. Hail smacked against his head and body, like someone dropping a box of paper weights onto him.
Tatum screamed out as the ice hit her over and over. Nick picked her up and covered her head with one forearm. Then, continued his sprint across the field.
The view ahead of Nick was only gray water fiercely rushing from the sky. It was not until the white, wooden panels of the home appeared next to him that he discovered he had ended up off course. He swerved to his left, casing the porch railing until it opened up. He dove beneath the awning and set Tatum on the ground, falling to his knees. His lungs were threatening to burst from his chest, and he heaved in gasping breaths.
“Are you okay?” Nick asked, finding composure and inspecting Tatum’s body.
“I’m okay. Where’s Kate?” Tatum asked, peering through the wall of rain. Nick rose and stood beside her, straining his eyes as though he could pierce the downpour with laser vision.
Kate burst through the rain so suddenly that her appearance startled Nick. She fell into his arms, and he held her while she caught her breath.
“Where’s Evie?” Nick shouted, his eyes darting from side to side.
“That’s what…I was trying…to tell you. You just kept running,” Kate said with exasperated breaths. “She was holding my hand. Then, she was gone.”
“What do you mean ‘gone’?” Nick asked. “Why would you let go?!”
“Nick, I didn’t purposely let her go. Her tiny hand slipped right out of mine, and I tried to look for her, but I didn’t want to lose you, and I couldn’t stay out there in that stuff.” Kate was crying now, holding her head in her hands.
“We have to go look for her.” Nick started toward the steps. Kate grabbed his hand, halting his descent.
“We can’t go out there,” Kate said.
“She’s probably dead,” Tatum stated.
“Tate, not now,” Kate scolded.
“That’s what happens!” Tatum shouted. “The monsters came and ate all the mommies, and daddies became shitheads, and everyone dies!”
“Tate, it’s—”
Nick stepped in between Kate and Tatum, taking the little girl’s hand in his.
“I won’t make promises about Evie, but as soon as the storm dies down, I will be the first one out here looking for her.”
Tatum met Nick’s eyes and nodded. Nick studied her expression. There was strength. Fear. Anger. There was no sorrow. There was no worry. And Nick wondered just how ruptured Tatum’s innocence was.
The group moved to the inside of the home. Nick instructed Kate and Tatum to stay put as he cleared it. He moved from room to room with his handgun drawn until he was certain no survivors were hiding there.
Kate searched the rooms for dry clothes, coming up with outfits that matched everyone’s size as closely as she could manage. They took turns changing in the bathroom until they were sitting on the couch, wrapped in dry clothes and tense silence.
Hail battered the roof, and the window panes shook from the force of the wind. The house seemed near to disintegrating from the powerful storm. Nick walked to the kitchen and rummagedaround until he returned with a lighter and scented jar candles. He lit each one and placed them in the corners of the room, offering a small, golden glow.
Nick sat beside Kate and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He leaned into her and kissed her temple.
“Are you okay?” Nick asked.
“Not really,” Kate admitted.
“You two should get some rest. Take one of the bedrooms. I’ll stay down here and wait the storm out.”
“You need to sleep, too,” Kate said.
“Since the…change, I don’t need as much as I used to. I’ll be okay. Here, I’ll walk you both up.” Nick stood and pulled Kate up by her hand. He gestured for Tatum to lead the way. The three walked up the stairs, and Tatum headed toward the master bedroom. She and Kate crawled into the sprawling bed, pulling the covers over themselves.
Nick kissed Kate, smiling down at her. Kate did not miss the worry creasing his forehead, but she smiled back and hoped it was reassuring.
