Page 115 of Born Savage

There was no longer any doubt how important Rage was to my life and those of everyone else left alive.

I crouched in front of the wood, taking several deep breaths while Blade watched with clear curiosity. Since I didn’t like being watched, I closed my eyes and eased my hands over the wood.

I’d heard gifts of this nature were rare, learning to use them more so. But I also realized that I needed to relax so I could help us stay alive.

Another test and one so very personal.

With my thoughts drifted into a peaceful place, I could feel vibrations tickling my arms. Electric in nature, they were unlike before when all I’d wanted to do was to unleash the beast from deep within.

In those moments of learning to control every emotion, Rage’s face remained in the front of my mind.

“I’ll be damned. She did it.” The excitement in Blade’s voice allowed me to open my eyes. Seeing the flames tickling the dried wood made me smile.

I sat back, realizing Wren was no longer with Vicious and she was happily playing with the dog while the powerful warrior was twisting his arm, not a sign of a cut anywhere on his hand.

“How long did that take?”

“Ten minutes or so.” Wrath answered the question. I’d been out of it, lost in the activity.

“Where’s Rage?”

Vicious looked at Wrath before answering. “He’s not interested in coming inside.”

“What are you talking about?” I was on my feet, immediately shoving my hands into my gloves.

“He doesn’t like…”

Why wasn’t he answering me? “He doesn’t like what, being with me any longer? Is that it? Does he suddenly think this mission is a joke?”

Vicious crowded closer to the fire. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I said to him. Maybe if the two of you worked more closely together and dropped your armor completely, we’d get out of this shit.”

“What does that mean?” I was incensed.

“It means we all know how much you need each other. He’s claustrophobic. The scientists could alter just about anything in our DNA but our fears. The weakness could be used against him if discovered.”

We all had at least one weakness, a fear so innate we couldn’t react as we normally would. He couldn’t crawl through the tunnel.

I didn’t hesitate, grabbing one of the light sticks before moving to the tunnel. As I crawled through, I thought about my greatest fear. Not of monsters or even barbaric men. Not of disease or famine but heights. I couldn’t stand heights.

Once I was outside, I was amazed how quiet it had become. I could even see stars above, a further indication the storm was gone. However, the bitter cold was still dangerous.

I found him moments later, finding some shelter crouching by a bank of snow. He didn’t flinch when I came closer, knowing who was there.

“Get back inside,” he growled.

“Not until you come with me. You’ll freeze to death.”

“So will you.”

“Then come inside,” I insisted and moved beside him.

He shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“You’re stubborn. And you’re afraid of tight spaces. Do you trust me?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“A simple one. Do you trust me?”