style="font-size:15px;"> “No. I won’t risk anyone asking questions about why we left in the first place.” She bent to examine Jackson’s head. “He bled a lot.” The memory of the blood pooled around his head sent a shiver rushing through her. “But it seems to have mostly stopped now.”
She ripped the tattered sleeves from her blouse folded one in a square, placed it against the wound at the back of his head, and used the other to tie it firmly in place. “There. I’ll make an anonymous 911 call as soon as we can and tell them I saw someone getting attacked and tossed in the bushes behind the hospital. Hopefully, he’ll be all right until then.”
She studied his face one last time, remembering the way his eyes had glimmered with humor, his smile had held a hint of mischief.
Something deep within her stirred, protective instincts clawed their way to the surface. She brushed his hair off his forehead and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “I’ll send help. I promise.” One tear dripped onto his cheek, and she wiped it away with the back of her finger. Then she tore her gaze from him. “Come on, Mia. We have to go.”
They moved to the wall and headed toward the walkway.
Mia was a mess. Soot still covered her face and clothes. Her puffy, red eyes sunk into deep, black circles. Hair stuck out in every direction, and scratches and cuts crisscrossed every bit of exposed skin, thanks to the sticks and branches they’d had to battle their way through.
Ryleigh probably looked even worse.
Any form of public transportation was out of the question. Talk about drawing attention to themselves. They would have to stay to the shadows as much as possible and walk back to the building where she’d had her job interview, what seemed like a hundred years ago. Then they could retrieve the car and go home.
Her feet screamed in agony at the thought of walking all those miles. It would be worth it, though. Her breath hitched. Home.
When they reached the end of the row of bushes, she grabbed Mia’s arm and gestured for her to wait.
Chances were their attacker wouldn’t return after this amount of time, but who knew? She had no idea how much time had actually passed. It seemed like hours but was probably not more than fifteen minutes, give or take a few. Seeing no one in the immediate area, she left the cover of the bushes and stood. She scanned the walkway and the side of the building it led to then waved a hand for Mia to follow. She brushed at her clothing and hair, hoping to at least get some of the dirt off. Then she tried to clean Mia off.
A groan brought her up short.
She paused, strained her ears to listen for a repeat of the sound. It came again. She bit her lip. Indecision paralyzed her.
“Ryleigh.” The voice was faint but unmistakable.
She took Mia’s hand, limped around the bushes to the spot where they’d left him, and sat on the ground with Mia beside her. “Jackson? Can you hear me?”
The bushes rustled, and he emerged on his hands and knees. “Are you two all right?” He tried to move toward her, but winced, grabbed the back of his head, and sat where he was.
“We’re all right, just scared.” Pain pierced her brain, and she longed for a hot bath and her soft bed. “What was that thing?” Her voice shook, but she lacked the energy to try to steady it. A memory struck her. “You knew it.”
“Yes.” He held her stare.
Her thoughts churned frantically. Jackson knew that bizarre creature, had called it by name, conversed with it, stabbed it. Was he one of those things?
She maintained eye contact as she began to back away, didn’t dare break it. Grabbing Mia’s arm, she dragged her back too.
“Ryleigh, wait.” Jackson reached for her hand.
“Get away from us.”
“Please, Ryleigh. You have to listen to me.” He held both hands up in front of him.
She got to her feet, hauled Mia up with her.
Jackson stood as well, but didn’t lower his hands. “Ryleigh.”
“Stay away from us, or I’ll scream.”
“Just wait.”
“Is that thing going to come back?” She had to turn around, needed to check behind her, but didn’t dare take her eyes from Jackson.
“Yes.”
Fear gripped her lungs, squeezed. She couldn’t breathe.
“Calm down. Please, listen to me. I don’t think he’ll come back right away. Besides, he’s not really a threat. He’s just angry, probably because he doesn’t understand what’s going on. If he wanted to kill me, believe me, he could have. It’s Daygan we have to worry about. Please, let me get you somewhere safer, and I’ll explain everything. I promise.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She hobbled toward the walkway.
“Wait.”
She looked over her shoulder as he moved toward her. “What?”
“Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“You can’t even walk, and Mia is freezing. Please, just wait here and let me pull the car up. I’ll drop you off wherever you want to go.”
Mia stood shivering, arms wrapped around herself for warmth, or comfort. Ryleigh pulled her sister closer, tucking her under her arm.
“Please?” His cocky smile returned, and he turned it on her full force.
Her feet pleaded with her to accept his offer. She scrubbed her free hand over her face, and slivers of pain stabbed her. “Oh, fine. But you’re dropping us off at my car, and then I don’t want to see you again. Are we clear?”
His smile widened. “Be right back.” With that, he took off, jogging down the alley into the darkness.
She must be crazy. How could she even contemplate going with him?
Mia rested her head on Ryleigh’s shoulder. “Thank you, Ryleigh. I didn’t want to walk all that way.”
“Here, honey. Sit down.” She helped Mia to the ground and sat beside her.
Mia curled into a ball and laid her head on Ryleigh’s lap.
“I’m not sure what’s going on here, but we’ll be home soon.” Small bits of sticks and leaves had tangled in Mia’s hair, and Ryleigh tried to work them free.
Mia smiled but didn’t open her eyes. “I’m just exhausted, and I want a shower.”
“Me too.” She gave up and smoothed the mess of knots.
Jackson didn’t make them wait long. He pulled a dark colored car into the alley, hopped out, and jogged to them.
Ryleigh
