Genesis 2.0 (Monster Apocalypse Survival) Sci-Fi/DarkFan/Horror

Chapter Thirteen

I'd yet to break in the hiking boots I'd looted from Walmart and my feet wouldn't let me forget it. Even my blisters had blisters and yet Daniel urged me onward. I probably had enough sand in both shoes to build Mount Olympus.

"How much further?" I asked, trying to keep the whine out of my voice.

"A few more kilometers." Aeriel smirked.

Pressing my lips firmly shut, I tucked my chin and keep putting one painful foot in front of the other. Ever since I'd watched the Angel raise a wall of sand that put the Great Wall of China to shame, I'd been reluctant to piss her off. I'm not ashamed to admit that the more time I spent with her, the more she scared me.

Which was weird in its own way. Angels were beings of great power, why had I failed to admit that earlier when I'd been a snarky bitch?

Brief visions of skinless hands protruding from the depths of fresh fallen sand filled my mind's eye and I shivered. To call the end result of Aeriel's storm a graveyard was too modest. She'd obliterated a horde of zombies, just blown their tattered clothes and rotting flesh clean from their bones before dumping enough sand on them to fill the Grand Canyon.

She couldn't have done a better job with a sandblaster or pressure washer on nitrous oxide.

"What exactly are we looking for?" I asked to get my mind on something helpful.

"The Tree of Life," Aeriel answered and stared at me as if I'd sprouted three heads and six horns. "Haven't you been paying attention? At all?" she demanded.

"No shit," I shot back. "What does this Tree look like?" I amended in the snottiest tone I could manage.

"A tree."

I wanted to rip my hair out by the roots. Daniel took that moment to clear his throat and motion Aeriel to keep going, putting his hand on my shoulder to stop me. I glared at her back long enough to shove ten daggers there had it been possible and then peered up at him.

"What is her problem?" I demanded once the towering heifer was far enough out of earshot.

"Aeriel's one of our most dedicated soldiers, she takes her duties very seriously," he explained. The corners of his eyes softened as he smiled and he lifted his hand, his index finger reaching out to wipe something from my cheek.

If his finger lingered a little longer than normal, I didn't notice. Nor did I notice the way his eyes moved from mine, downward to study my lips.

I wanted him to kiss me so badly it hurt.

"Would that I could," he murmured softly and dropped his hand.

AUTHOR'S NOTE : Sorry for the cliff hanger! No, really I am. This is just getting too good! Please vote and comment.