Sarah started at the body, knowing it was all her fault.
Nathan frowned as he looked at the small girl."You're not doing this alone, " he said as he looked back down at the body."We're in this together."He looked up and saw Cassie standing at the edge of the woods.Her face was drawn with exhaustion and her arms were crossed over her chest.He didn't even need to be told that she'd seen it all, that she was devastated.He wanted to go to her, to comfort her, but he knew that he'd pushed her too far.He was afraid of what she would do, of what she would say to him once she was able to regain her balance.The fact that she was still standing there, with her arms crossed over her chest, told him that she was neither of those things.His head was in his hands, his shoulders slumped as he watched Cassie stare at the dead child.She was so sad, so broken, he couldn't stand the pain he saw in her.He didn't understand it, didn't understand why she was still there.Even if she hadn't seen anything, he couldn't believe that she wouldn't run."It's time to go," Devon said softly."No!"Cassie blurted."I won't leave here!"Devon's head shot up; his eyes blazed with anger."Not without her!"Cassie stiffened, her mouth parted slightly as she swallowed heavily.He could tell that she had been shocked by his demand, but he also saw the truth of it in her eyes.Her stubborn streak shone brightly as she glared at him."No, it's not a life we can't give.It's time to put it behind us," Chris said softly."Time to move on," Cassie whispered."Nathan, Sarah, will you please escort Cassie and I back to town?"Nathan shot Cassie a sad, frustrated look."You don't even know what you are yet.We can't take you into town.""And neither can you," she retorted."We have to start somewhere.""Cassie...""She's right, we can't go back out there with all of this going on," Melissa said softly."We have to start somewhere," Devon said forcefully."The last place anyone would look for you is out here."Her eyes darted to Devon's, but she did not say anything."If the person or persons are like us, they will stay away from here."Cassie stared at him, her eyes wide and disbelieving."That's a good thing, right?""Not in this case," he said.
"Especially not with the girl in the woods.They're going to want to finish what they started here.""But they won't," Chris said softly.Cassie shook her head, her eyes widening as realization dawned on her."I was here too."The hard lines of her face began to relax as she slumped against Chris."Yes you were."Devon met Chris's gaze, surprised to see that Chris was almost as upset as he was."I'm sorry Cassie, I was too tired to realize that you were out here.There is no need to feel guilty about it though.I understand that you were trying to help, and that you would have kept going if I would have let you."Cassie nodded, but she didn't look entirely convinced."I had to fight them off, that's what I was doing.They weren't going to stop.At first they wanted to capture me, to hurt me, but I fought and fought.It's a wonder that you didn't come out here sooner."Her eyes darted away, her hands clutched at her sides as she shuddered."I was so afraid.I was so terrified they would hurt you too Devon, I'm sorry that they did."He cupped her cheek, turning her head toward him.Her emerald eyes were vibrant and sad."It's alright Cassie, you did what you thought was right.And I'm not hurt.""That's not what I meant," she said softly.He frowned at her."What did you mean?"Her hand reached up to caress the hard lines of his face, her fingers slid through his hair as she did so."I'm just worried that they will come here.We'll have to stay in town until we can get things under control, at least until we can figure out what they are."He kissed her forehead, savoring in the warm scent of her, the light in her eyes.
THE END
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