Vicious Memories

Chapter 12

Later that night I revisited the monkeypod tree.

The new grave was a brown dirt scar nestled among the surrounding grass, and I ran my hands over the smooth stones Alice had placed to mark the boundary.

"I'm not really sure why I'm here," I said out loud, "or what I should say. But last night you kept me company, so I felt like I should at least return the favor." My voice trailed off into the darkness, and I wondered if I really was losing my mind sitting here talking to a dead woman I had barely known.

Dinner earlier had been subdued. Mads had looked on approvingly as the villagers ate her stew, a tiny smile curving her red lips, held in check only by the grim occasion. Conversation had been sparse around the massive bonfire in the middle of the clearing. As the orange flames did their best to keep the dark night at bay I watched the same battle reflected on every villager's face; hope straining not to be smothered by sadness and loss.

Cooper had shown me to an empty tent in the outer ring where I could spend the night. It was just long enough for me to lie down in, but was miles better than being tied to a log. There was a blanket spread over a tarp on the ground inside, and another blanket on top for me to cover myself with. They would find me a good place in the caves tomorrow; people would have to shuffle over and make room because right now the only open space was Jessica's old corner, and it didn't seem right for me to move in there.

Now it was a little after ten at night. There were still a few working timepieces in the village, and a solar powered watch was permanently hung up outside one of the cabins.

Stars wheeled overhead as I passed the time by Jessica's grave. I let it stretch out, not convinced I wanted to go to sleep. I wasn't sure if I would wake up having forgotten everything all over again, and the thought terrified me.

"Anyway," I said, "I just wanted to say my own personal goodbye. Thank you for being kind to me yesterday. You really saved me out in the jungle there, and I thought you should know that. I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better."

The wind tousled my hair as I got to my feet. The smell of the flowers around the graveyard was diluted by the breeze and I could just barely pick it up. Up above, the monkeypod tree's leaves had curled up for the night, and I could see a sliver of moon between the branches.

I turned around to find a figure watched me.

As my feet carried me back toward my tent, the ghostly white moonlight picked out Gabriel's face.

I wondered if he was spying on me, but when I met his eyes I understood that not to be the case at all. Something wet glittered there, and I knew he was here for the same reason I was, just waiting for me to leave so that he could have some time to say goodbye to Jessica by himself. Mads had told me earlier today that he and Jessica had been very close; she had looked up to him, and he had watched over her in return.

Gabriel gave me a terse nod as we passed each other.

My path back to my tent brought me to the top of the steep embankment that led down to the creek. My bed - or piled blankets, really - called my name.

Before I reached the tent a sound from the creek made me pause. A shard of tension scythed through me. I turned my head, trying to place the sound, but it was gone. All I could hear was the gentle gurgle of the water below.

As I took another step toward my tent the pitiful sound hit my ears again, and an inherently protective part of my brain took control of my limbs. I stepped quietly down the embankment before I could stop to think about it.