Tomorrow Never Dies (Moonlight 3)

Chapter 36-Holding Out

'Just past the rock, turn left and then take a sharp left turn again.' Ashton instructed.

My heart was thumping in my chest as I ran as fast as I could on two legs. I could hear the panting chasing breaths of the small pack of Shadow Wolves had split off to follow us. They hadn't been distracted by the creature's appearance like the others. I still wondered just what exactly it was and why it was helping us.

We'd been running for quite a while now and they were still hot on our heels and showing no sign of tiring. One false move or misstep and we could lose our advantage.

The three of us nodded before we followed Ashton's instruction taking the next left and then the sharp one. We came to a small opening between a few rocks. I wouldn't have even noticed it if I wasn't staring straight at it. Would we all fit though and make it before the Shadow Wolves caught up to us or realised where we were?

'Quickly in here.' Michael spoke, the first one to wriggle between the gaps in the rocks. Ashton followed him, and Calum gestured to me to go in next. I could hear the Shadow Wolves behind us, there was no time to think. I followed them. It was a lot bigger on the inside, but it was still cramped. There was no way any of us could stand properly in here, but there was enough to lie low and stay hidden. Michael and Ashton were already moving over so the two of us could also fit. Calum followed in behind me a moment later and I wriggled over to give him more room.

As Calum slumped beside me, the sound of heavy breathing filled the air. That had taken its toll on all of us much more than it normally would've. Further proof that there was something wrong with the four of us. There was a reason we couldn't shift, and I was determined that while we were hiding in here that maybe we'd be able to work out why.

"Hopefully this might give us some time before they find us again." Michael spoke softly, his eyes on the gap that lead to outside. No Shadow Wolves had come past yet, so I took it as a sign that we'd managed to lose them. I closed my eyes it reminded me far too much of how we'd lost Emily and I hoped that it wouldn't end in a similar result.

Slumped up against the wall, Calum managed a nod while Ashton rubbed at his temple. There was a strange silence between the four of us. I looked between the three of them, slightly stunned as it occurred to me that here we were finally back together again. It was hard to believe, and it seemed as though no one was quite sure what to say to one another.

'Am I dreaming again?' Calum asked, his eyes on me and then on Michael and Ashton, 'Are you all really here?'

'Yeah, this is real.' Michael nodded.

There was silence for a moment.

'Wait, are you sure you two are okay? Up until a few minutes ago we were convinced you were both becoming Shadow Wolves?' Ashton asked there was a slight fear in his eyes, he even seemed to wiggle away from Michael and myself a little as if we would turn against them at any moment.

Michael and I exchanged glances; I noticed the was his eyes were their usual colour green but still flecked with golden. There was no longer any sign of the red that had been in them before.

'We were.' I frowned, knowing that was the truth. There was no point in denying it, for days now Michael and I had known that something was happening to us. 'It was my fault, if only I hadn't been so upset about what had happened to Jack...' I clenched my fist.

'Luke it's okay, you can't blame yourself.' Michael spoke calmly, 'I saw almost everything you did. We were just kids; we couldn't have known. You had every right to get upset.'

Ashton and Calum looked a little concerned but both nodded.

'Did I really though?' I asked quietly.

'We're all back together now and that's what matters.' Calum smiled. 'Michael's right, you can't beat yourself up over it.'

'I mean hey, I was the one letting you get in my head.' Michael sighed, 'It's not like I was innocent either.'