I looked down, rubbing my fingers together, hating the sticky residue of Daniel’s blood. I hadn’t even washed my hands after stealing a life. A life he didn’t deserve but still a life.
The terrible crime would shade me forever.
Who am I? Who have I become?
“Please, Needle,” Jethro murmured when I didn’t respond. “Be quiet. Just...focus on happier things. It will help me immensely.”
Forcing a door closed on my thoughts, I nodded. “Okay.” If blocking my feelings was the only way I could help him, I would do it.
“Thank you.” Jethro’s back bunched as he slowly moved ahead with his slain sibling.
A rustling sound shot my head up. Every thought dispersed like the wind while fear squatted heavily on my spine. “Jethro...”
“Shit.” He froze.
“Shit?” I couldn’t breathe. “What—what is it?” My ears strained for more noise while my eyes frantically searched the thigh-high yellow grass.
Jethro took a determined step forward. “Don’t look. Just keep moving. We need to get a little further.”
I disobeyed, locked into a statue.
A chilly morning breeze rustled the grass, making it dance and weave. But there was something else...something other than plant life...something very much alive.
Stalking us.
Hunting us.
“It’s watching us...” My voice barely escaped.
“Do as I say. Don’t run. Don’t panic. Just stay calm.”
Something glided, hunting closer and closer.
Jethro slowly turned to face me, his eyes narrowing on a spot to the side. Daniel’s arm escaped the sheet, hanging loosely over his shoulder, his frame morbidly sprawled.
Jethro tensed. “Fuck.”
My heart rate exploded. Instincts ordered me to run. But I couldn’t unlock my knees.
Never tearing his eyes from the speck in the grass, Jethro very gently, very methodically slid Daniel off his shoulder. His legs, hips, torso, arms, until finally Daniel lay on the ground. The moment he was down, obscured partly by foliage, Jethro tore off the sheet, threw it away, and paced toward me.
Stupidity made me speak. “People will find him. It’s too close to the camp.”
Jethro shook his head. “Believe me when I say, they won’t.” He backed up, splaying his hands as if showing no threat to whatever hunted us.
I knew why.
Don’t ask why.
“Why?”
Ignoring me, his voice dropped to a whisper as his face skittered between fear and fight. “Nila...back away. Return to the camp. I need you to run, understand?”
My mouth fell open. I gulped terrified breaths.
Jethro came close enough to touch me, swivelling my shoulders until I faced the fence. His voice burned my ear as he growled, “Run.Now!” He shoved me hard. “Run!”
His command was a gun and I became a blur of motion. My knees shot high, bouncing over the tall grass; my hair flying in all directions.
