Chapter 19
I stood and ran a couple steps forward, but couldn’t see him anywhere to be found. I screamed on the top of my lungs and threw light shots in random directions, blind with my anger.
I punched with all my force into the tree I tripped over, causing my knuckles to bleed scarlet red that was washed away by the falling rain.
Frustration ran through me and I punched the tree a couple more times, scraping up my hands and wrists until they were practically raw.
Blood dripped down both arms as I stood there, my mind a swirl of many thoughts at once.
I gripped my head in my hands and let out an agonizing scream as I fell to my knees.
Sitting there I kept my head in my hands, not knowing what to think. I felt the cold of the rain creep into my skin as it continually pounded onto me and soaked my clothes.
I didn’t realize my body was shaking with my sobs until a gentle hand appeared on my shoulder. Looking up I saw Courtney kneeling beside me. Before I could respond she hugged me as tight as she could, giving me a strange sense of comfort.
We stayed there, but for how long I don’t know. By the time I managed to stand up Courtney was soaked as well, her light eyes full of concern and worry.
I leaned against her even though I could hold my own weight, I just felt like if I tried to stand on my own I’d end up back on the ground.
Leading me inside the house it was eerily quiet, nothing but the sound of heavy rain outside and our quiet footsteps.
I almost felt like a little kid being helped up the stairs, and being changed into a new shirt and pants Yet, I felt I was on auto pilot from the shock still lingering.
Being in some new jeans and a green shirt, although my arms and hands still bled, Courtney led me to my room where only our sleeping bags remained. The silver sphere lied on the floor with a huge chip on it.
We stopped in the doorway and I could see Jenn and Aaron sitting on the floor next to each other staring at the floor, Jenn’s head on Aaron’s shoulder. Ashley was sitting with her back against the wall where her sleeping bag was, her head on her knees. Last of all Michael was sitting on the cedar chest staring at the floor as well.
At the sound of our scuffling footsteps they looked up at us with their faces full of regret and sadness.
Michael looked the most pained as he laid eyes on me. With no one saying a word I went and sat with my back against the cedar chest while Courtney took her sleeping bag.
Going to the floor Michael sat down next to me and put his arm around me, still not saying anything. I didn’t know how to respond, so I just continued to sit there, then eventually put my face into his shoulder, beginning to shake again.
I felt him pick up my right hand and turn it over then a bit of a gasp, “Haila, you’re bleeding.”
I heard someone get up and figured it was probably Courtney. By the time she came back I felt a couple drops of blood fall onto my bare ankle and knew my arm pressed against Michael must be staining some bits of his clothes.
Courtney returned with the medical kit and got to work. She picked up my right hand and cleaned it off, wrapping the scrapped bits lightly with a bandage. I could feel the medicine making my skin tingle. She did the same to the other hand and set the kit on the dresser, then returned to her seat.
Staying where I was I felt Michael rub my back as if he was trying to sooth me. It felt good and sort of worked, but I still couldn’t grasp the concept of losing Josh.
After a bit Jenn’s voice broke the silence, “What do we do now?”
Ashley answered, “I don’t know.”
Courtney added, “We can’t just sit here.”
I felt Michael’s chest rumble, “There isn’t much we can do.”
Speaking from my little non existent hiding place I’m sure I surprised them by speaking, “There is something we can do. We can find out what their weakness is, find out where the heck they live, and get Josh back.”
Silence followed my thoughts. Wondering what they were doing I lifted my head to see them all staring at me. Before I knew it Michael hugged me, not giving me much room to breathe before he let me go, his arm still around me.
Ashley continued to look at me, “How would that work? We know nothing.”
I nodded, “But someone else does.”
