The Key to My Hart

Chapter 18

I wasn't sure how long I stayed in the meadow for, but Ryder came and found me soon after.

"Atalia, I don't understand what's going on. Sam said something about he had taken Azrael's blood." He eased himself down beside me.

"I've been keeping Doc updated on what my blood does to other people in hopes that he can figure this pandemic out and come up with a cure. I told him about Chogan and now about Rowan. He already knew about Azrael and myself." I sighed and laid back into the grass. "I think he became curious and decided to start experimenting on himself with our blood, but it sounds like he decided to use Azrael's instead of mine. I was experimented on as a child by the psychopath that caused this whole thing. Azrael wasn't. We have no idea what his blood would do, and I think that's exactly where Doc's thought process went."

"It's not your fault. That man is too curious for his own good." Ryder laid down beside me and linked his fingers through mine. "We will have to brainstorm on how to help fix this issue. He may be our only hope of finding a solution to the biter problem."

I murmured an agreement. "Ryder, I'm sorry, but I just need a few moments to myself."

"No problem." He leaned over and kissed my forehead before making his way back to the inn. I sat up and focused on the tree line in the distance. There had been movement out there, and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach I knew exactly who, or what, it was. I needed Ryder safe and away.

I stood and brushed myself off, never taking my eyes off the spot in the distance. There was slight movement again. I jogged over, only slowing down when I was close enough to see into the shadows casted by the trees.

Even with the sun high in the sky, the thick foliage was hard to see through. I pushed a brush aside and yelped as a face appeared right before me. It was her. The biter. I froze. She didn't move, just watched me the way I watched her.

"I don't understand how you're here." I whispered.

The biter cocked her head to one side then the other. She reached a hand out towards me but I stumbled back, almost losing my balance on the roots under me.

"How have you managed to keep up with us? We've driven miles. You're not a runner. So... I don't understand." I was going crazy, sitting here talking to a biter. Could it even understand me? We couldn't drive very fast due to the debris and obstacles on the roads, and we did stay here over night. Now we were stuck for a little while due to the... "The tires. Chogan suspected foul play. Holy shit. Did you stick those nails in our back tires?"

I was horrified at the thought. The biter just looked at me. Without moving her eyes, the biter slowly moved its head from one side to the other.. in almost a slow shake of the head.

"If it wasn't you, then who? Maybe it was just an accident." Again, the biter moved its head from one side to the other. "So not an accident? Was it someone in my group?"

The biter tilted its head to the side. "I'll try to rephrase. Was it a friend?" No, again. "Then who?"

The biter started to lift her arms, ever so slowly. I took another step back.

"Atalia!?" Ryder's voice carried across the meadow. "They're back!"

"Shit. I have to go. If they find you here, they will kill you." I wasn't sure if she knew what I meant. This thinker intrigued and confused me. She seemed to understand most of what I said, but she lacked communication skills.

I jogged back towards the inn. Ryder stood at the back door with his hands on his hips.

"What were you doing all the way out there?" He asked.