Chapter 9
I heard Eva say "Any minute." Her voice sounded like an echo, but she sounded close.
"Is she okay, now?" Naomi asked, sounding about the same as Eva, but further away.
"She's healed, but she's still exhausted." Eva explained, sounding a little more normal.
"We should stay here for the night." Damian announced. His voice was a little echoed and closer than Eva.
"We shouldn't stay that long. It's not that safe here. Anyone can come in." Malcolm offered in a defensive tone.
"She needs to rest." Damian said with slight authority.
'I'm okay. If we need to keep going, it's fine.'
I thought said it out loud, but Eva said "She wants to keep going."
"She what?!" Jason asked in surprise.
'We have to keep going. The faster we get to Amanda the faster Mel and Charlotte get better, and we can go home.'
"She wants to get all of this over with." Eva explained.
"She can hear us?" Damian asked quietly.
"Yeah." Eva said.
I felt someone take my hand and hold it gently, and Damian quietly said "Alexis, you need to rest. We'll be there in a few days, either way."
Malcolm cleared his throat and said "We really shouldn't -"
"We're staying." Damian cut him with authority, raising voice.
"I can sleep ... on the way." I said weakly, barely above a whisper.
"Not very well." Damian quietly scolded. "You need some real rest. ... We all could."
'I'm so sorry. I wasn't even thinking of you guys needing sleep. I know you don't need as much as me, but I still should have thought about it. I'm sorry.'
"It's okay." Eva said and added "She feels guilty."
"I didn't mean it like that." Damian said regrettably as he squeezed my hand a little tighter.
Forcing my eyes to flutter open enough to see him, I breathed "I know, ... but I should've ... thought of it."
"I'll take the first watch." Jason offered.
"Not alone you won't." Naomi snapped.
"I only need an hour or so. Wake me up, and I'll take the next watch." Malcolm said.
"I'll take second watch with you." Eva quickly added.
"Then, it's settled. We rest for a couple of hours and be on our way." Damian said smugly.
As he walked past Damian and I, Malcolm nudged my arm and joked "Get some sleep, tough girl."
"Sure, ... smart ass." I weakly joked back.
Malcolm laughed once and said "There's only two bedrooms, so you two can have this one. Eva, you can have the other one. I'll take the couch."
"That couch looks horrible, and the bed is huge. I can share." Eva said wryly as she followed Malcolm, Jason and Naomi from the room.
'Nice. ... Kill the light on your way out, would you.' I thought jokingly, and she hit the switch with a quiet snicker as she pulled the door shut behind her. 'Thanks. Let me know how that goes.' I thought coyly.
"I'll take one more look around and be right back." Damian said as he stood up.
I hadn't realized he'd been kneeling on floor beside me. I was a little paranoid to be alone, so I mumbled "Don't go. ... Please."
He slowly sat on the bed next to me and brushed his fingers across my cheek. As I relaxed and let my eyes slowly close, he murmured "Alight. I'll stay." He carefully slid into bed behind me and tucked me in against him, putting his right arm under my head. Squeezing me gently, he added "You're safe here."
Without thinking, a soft smile played at the corners of my lips, and, lightly gripping his hands with mine, I nodded and breathed "I know."
"Get some rest." He murmured with a smile in his voice.
I felt his breath wash across my skin, and, for the first time since I'd left home, I did feel safe. 'This is ... nice.' It wasn't long before I fell asleep, completely relaxed and comfortable in his arms.
