CHAPTERFORTY
We rested on the train until the sun rose. Though, resting may be too kind of a word. We sat, and we stared. Some closed their eyes. Many cried silent tears. But we waited for final judgment when we would find his body in the rubble…alert or a living corpse. The truth would be known soon.
I stepped out into the light that burned my eyes and made my way down the train stairs. I didn’t look in the direction of Theron and Poppy.
Both sat sidebyside on the grass near where the blast had died down. One side was green where they sat, on the other was black. Like if they passed over that line of healthy grass, they would become ash as the building now was.
The group moved forward together, our shoulders brushing one another’s. No one moved for more space or slowed their walk. We needed that touch to remember we were alive.
Theron and Poppy stood before we reached them, and they led our group onto the charred earth.
Here, we split apart in silent agreement.
We would cover more ground.
Theron cleared his throat, and called, “Godric! Can you hear me?”
My lips pinched, and I kept silent. I knelt and peeled back furniture from the ground and tossed it to a flat area. I repeated this process until I reached the black ground.
I swallowed down the sob and moved on.
I didn’t want to be the one to find him.
Another heart could handle it.
“Big man, I need you. Answer me!” Poppy shouted.
Finn called, “God!”
I shook my head and tuned them all out.
My focus was on moving charred boards and rocks to another location. Then I dug and shoved. My nails broke and regrew, dried blood painted the tips of my fingers. The muscles in my back burned, and my lack of sleep kept my vision blurred.
The shifters worked much faster, as is to be expected.
Dust shadowed Theron into a wild thing.
Poppy held a miniature lion stuffed animal that had somehow survived the fire.
Finn swayed back and forth on his legs and landed hard on his butt. He placed his head in his hands and sobbed. He stated loudly, “I found him.”
The mad dash began, everyone scrambling over rubble or tripping on broken goods.
I stopped behind my white tiger and placed my hands on his shoulders. I leaned into his back and peered down to see if Godric was grinning up at everyone or if his eyes were closed in permanent slumber.
“No!” Poppy’s blood-curdling scream would live with me forever. She dropped next to his body and shook his bare shoulder. “Wake up, big man. Wake up.”
Godric’s bare form was covered in soot.
He slept peacefully. His eyes closed…forever.
I sat hard behind Finn and wrapped my arms around his sobbing form. The gentle rocking motion I made us do helped him as much as it did me.
Theron choked on air.
Then he tipped his head and bellowed.
Earth shattering.
