Lost Soul

Chapter Thirty-Six: Squirrels

Ava's visions stop coming. She holds the artbook in her lap whenever we rest, running her fingers over the dog-ear Charlie marked on blank pages. Her lips are set in a thin line.

Cat tries to get her to tell her more about her vision, but Ava shuts down every time.

She won't talk to anyone about what she's seen.

It drives me crazy.

Danny tries to comfort me, but even talking is becoming a struggle for him now.

We can't find a cave to sleep in tonight, so we have to make camp outside in the snow. The tents do little to keep us dry.

I'm on watch now, but I stay near the camp. If something happens, I need to be here.

There's a squirrel in a tree, watching me.

It's much too late in the winter for it to be out.

I keep my eyes on it, even though its beady eyes and tiny claws give me the willies. I start to draw my daggers to scare it off when Ava screams from inside her and Cat's tent.

I whip around, ignoring the squirrel. I dash towards the tent and yank the zipper up.

Cat can sleep like the dead, so she's still snoring next to Ava.

Ava thrashes in her sleeping bag, hands balled into fists. Tears stream down her face.

"Ava." I grab her shoulders and shake her. "Ava, sweetheart, wake up. You're having a nightmare."

She jolts awake with a sob. She reaches blindly out and hits me in the face. "Who-?"

"It's me, Raven," I assure. "You're okay. You had a nightmare."

She sobs as I pull her into my lap.

I rock her back and forth, petting her hair down. It's slick with sweat. "Shh. It's okay. I've got you. It's over."

She shakes her head, trembling in my arms. "The gem," she whispers.

"What gem?" I murmur.

Tears keep pouring down her cheeks. "You can't touch it," she whispers. "No one can touch it."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to be gentle.

I want to understand. More than anything. I wish I could be James for her. I wish I could be patient, and gentle, and understanding. I wish I was what she needed.

But I'm not.

She shakes her head. "I don't know. I don't know," she sobs.

"It's okay," I whisper.

She hits my shoulder, sobbing. "No! No! Everything's wrong! Everything's messed up in my head. I know everything and nothing all at once. And I don't know what to do, Raven."

I take a shaky breath and squeeze my eyes shut. I'm used to having all the answers. I should be able to help her. I should be able to fix this.

I hold her tighter. "I'm right here. I've got you."

She shakes her head. "You can't stop this," she whispers. "You can't protect me."

A tear trickles down my face. "It doesn't mean I'm not going to try," I promise.

Something creaks deep in the forest, like something huge is pushing through the trees.

Ava's head snaps towards the sound. "It's too late," she whispers. She shoves out of my arms and scrambles out of the tent.

"Ava!" I shout, following her out. In my scramble, I kick Cat and she grunts awake as I leave the tent. I grab Ava's arms. "Get back inside! Whatever it is, we don't have to fight it."