13. Willa / Greer
CHAPTER 13
WILLA / GREER
R iver cocks his head and abruptly changes direction. He continues to firmly hold my hand, and I continue to follow him. For now. I don’t know whether I can trust him, but I know I need his help. My ear is still ringing from that shot. I don’t know how to operate the gun in my hand or the first thing about hiding from these people.
Plus, the longer we walk, the more erratic the path gets. Thankfully, brief glimpses of the interstate tells me we’re sticking relatively close to it. Worst-case scenario, I could leave him and try to hitchhike, but it scares me to even think about it, which makes me snort. I’m practically useless. How do I even begin to navigate this new reality of mine?
River suddenly presses me up against the tree with a finger held to his lips. Tensing, I wait, wondering what he hears, but seconds later I hear it, too. A distinctive swooshing sound coming from above, blades cutting through the still night air to hold the metal bird in the sky. Helicopter. A beam of light hits the ground in front of us, and I shrink against the tree. It sweeps from one side to the other, coming closer and closer. I bite my lip, knowing it’s going to reach us any second now. Barely breathing, heart pounding, I stand perfectly still, praying I’m wrong.
River’s body is taut against mine as his eyes sweep the forest around us. Suddenly, he crouches down near the base of the tree and tugs on my hand. Unsure, but willing to do whatever he thinks, I squat next to him. He moves in closer, pressing me into the trunk, his body hovering over mine, until we’re as small as possible. Once we’re in position, hundreds of crisp fall leaves magically begin to cover us, forming a dome of protection.
For the second time in a few days, I’m in a forest, fearing for my life, but this time, I’m not alone. Even if I didn’t feel him plastered against me, his spring-like scent fills the air around us, lightening my dark thoughts until I feel a sliver of hope. River’s heated breath brushes across my neck, and I suck in a sharp breath at the sensation but remain still.
It’s a good thing, too. The bright spotlight sweeps over the leaves, illuminating them for a brief second, then slides away.
Relieved, I start to stand, but River grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze, so I ease back down. Listening intently, I realize the helicopter hasn’t left.
For what seems like an eternity, we listen to it lazily sweeping across the sky. Sometimes the light swings across us, but most of the time, the metal bird hovers above as if it’s waiting for its prey to run.
A drop splashes on my hand, and I jump. Instead of brushing away the sweat, River dips his chin and rubs it on his shoulder. Confused, I look at his hands and realize they’re still outstretched at his side, holding up the leaves. Yanking my sleeve over my hand, I carefully wipe the sweat from his face, especially his eyes. When I’m done, he briefly lays his forehead against mine as if to say thanks.
The night air is cold but in our little enclosed haven, we’re generating enough warmth for the two of us to be comfortable. I lean back against the tree and wait for River to let me know when it’s safe for us to leave. After a while, he eases down to his knees to wait them out.
Finally, the helicopter moves on, and with a muffled curse, River drops his hands, and the leaves cascade over us. Blinded by the crunchy leaves, I quickly shove them out of my face, then brush them away from my shirt. River hasn’t moved. He’s still hunched over in front of me with his fists planted on the ground.
Touching his shoulder, I softly ask, “Are you okay?”
He nods his head and tries to stand but immediately falls back to the ground. With a harsh laugh, he raises a finger. “I’m going to need a second.”
I clear the leaves from my body and start on his. Plucking a few out of his hair, I silently give him time to recover while I get rid of the musty-smelling leaves. Once his hair and shoulders are free of debris, I sit and wait. The chilly night air sweeps across my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake, but I ignore it.
With one hand on the tree for support, he finally stands. “Sorry. With all the power I’ve expelled tonight, it’s taken a little bit out of me.” He shares a look with me as if I should know what he means, so I nod and don’t tell him I’ve barely even used my power. “We need to get moving before the guys on the ground catch up with us.”
I frown. “You think they’re still following?”
He lifts a shoulder. “If not the original crew, then another. They have a limitless supply of soldiers at their disposal.” Taking my hand in his, he takes the lead. Although this time, our path isn’t quite as clear as if he doesn’t have enough to power to make the plants do his bidding.
A couple of hours later, the sun rises, and he tenses. “We need to figure out our location and determine the best place to lie low. They’ll be able to track us better in daylight. Are you sure you need to go to Atlanta? It’s too easy for them to find someone in the city. Too many damn cameras.”
I haven’t told him about the go bag on my back or the plan to find Phoenix, only the need to get to Atlanta. All he sees is the backpack full of clothes I’m carrying in my hands, although I’m sure he’s noticed there’s something under my jacket.
“I’m positive. Lionel thought it was the best place for me.” I don’t elaborate, but surprisingly, River simply shrugs his acceptance.
We decide to follow the interstate south and, thankfully, find a truck stop at the next exit. Semis fill the busy parking lot. But it’s the smell of greasy diner food that makes me whimper while my stomach growls. It must be time for breakfast.
“I’m starving. How about you?”
“With the amount of power I’ve used tonight? I could eat a mountain of food,” he says with a chuckle. “Tell me you have some money in that backpack of yours.” His flashes pleading green eyes in my direction.
I laugh, but it echoes in the morning air, and a sob escapes. Surprised, I clamp a hand over my mouth, but I’m unable to stop the tears. Lionel’s gone, and I’m standing in a parking lot talking about food and laughing with a guy I don’t even know and probably shouldn’t trust. Granted, River saved my life, but he’s a complete stranger, nonetheless. For several minutes, hysteria causes me to swing between laughter and crying, until River sweeps me into his strong arms and presses my face against his hard chest.
“It’s okay. Everything is all right. We’re going to find a way to get you to safety. I promise,” he assures me, his voice gruff with emotion. “Laugh. Cry. Just don’t scream. A big burly guy is staring at me across the parking lot. I don’t want him to think I’m hurting you. And I sure as hell don’t want to get into a fight with him. Dude is BIG.”
With a sniff, I stop crying and swivel around to look. Sure enough, a large beefy guy with ginormous biceps is staring at us. I laugh. Not in a hysterical way either. Thankfully.
I stretch up and whisper in his ear, “Can’t you use your superpowers?”
River glances around in an exaggerated way. “Shhh. We’re not supposed to let humans know about us. Cardinal rule. So, no, smarty pants, I’d have to fight him the old-fashioned way. Fist to fist, and since his fist is the size of my face, I’d like to avoid that scenario. After all, I like my pretty face.”
Tilting my head back, I stare up at him. It’s the first time I’ve stopped and really looked at him. A few inches taller than my 5’10”, he appears to be around my age, 23 or 24 years old, or maybe a year or two older. A strong jaw and high cheekbones have given his face strong defined features, but his bright green eyes and mischievous smile make him truly striking. Definitely hot, not pretty, and I’m pretty sure he’s used his face many times to get his way.
Instead of a smile, I roll my eyes. “Let’s go eat before your ego ruins my appetite.” I tap the smudge of dirt at the end of his nose. “You should probably wash up, too.”
This time, he laughs and slings an arm around me. “Wherever you go, I shall follow. Lead on, my lady who has the money.”
He swings open the door to the diner and a blast of warm air rushes out to greet us, which I embrace wholeheartedly after walking for so long in the chilly air. The serviceable diner is packed with people eating breakfast, and the familiar sound of chatter, laughter, and utensils scraping plates eases the tension around my shoulders. My stomach growls. Mmm, everything smells more delicious and buttery than I expected.
Several individuals stop eating to stare at the two of us, but one glare from River turns their gazes away. I look from them to him, trying to see what they find so scary, but all I see is a charming smile and handsome face.
A wooden sign points right. Restrooms. I pivot toward them, but River grabs my elbow.
“We need to get in and out. They’ll be looking for us,” he tells me, bursting the little bubble of safety I’d found in the moment. He glances at the parking lot. “Don’t talk to anybody. Five minutes. I’ll meet you right here.” His eyes are intense as he relays the message.
“Be quick. Got it,” I tell him with a reassuring nod, knowing he has more experience with our enemy than I do. “Back soon.”
With those words, I enter and beeline to the nearest stall, stripping off my jacket and the hidden go pack underneath and dumping them on the floor. I’ve had to pee forever. Once I finish, I grab my stuff and head to the sink. When I see myself, I shake my head. River didn’t tell me leaves were sticking out of my hair, my collar was torn, or there was a line of blood from my ear to my shoulder. No wonder everyone was staring at us. I look rough. Chuckling, I reach up and pull out a couple more leaves and get hit with the strangest sense of déjà vu. The last time I stood in front of a mirror disheveled, picking dirt and leaves out of my hair, was the day I collided with Trent in front of the library.
I stare at my tear-stained face, trying to internally compare the two moments, and even though I try hard to point out the differences, they feel exactly the same. Last time, the harmless collision led to Trent trying to kill me. What if I’m making the same mistake all over again? Will I stand in front of another mirror in the future and regret meeting River? I sigh, completely unsure of what I should do.
Quickly cleaning my face and hands, I make myself more presentable, then I pull out a few bills from the go pack and place them in the front pocket of my dirty jeans. Putting on the go bag and my jacket, I then grab the larger backpack by the handle and carry it out. I’m sure River’s realized I’m carrying something on my back, but I refuse to let him think it’s more than a large purse.
When I open the door, he’s leaning against the wall, waiting for me. His hair is wet and roughly combed back from his face, and the dirt is gone. He immediately steps forward and takes my hand in his.
“Someone cleans up nice. I wish we had time to sit and eat. Talk. Get to know each other. Unfortunately, we have to keep moving.”
As I was also thinking about his good looks, I can’t help the blush that spreads across my face. “I know, but I need food. We’ll get something to go.”
The thought of running without him is still lingering in the back of my mind. I hesitate for a second and stare up at him, knowing I should drop his hand and hitch a ride out of here. I open my mouth to let him know, but not a single word leaves my lips. I can’t find the will to let go of my only security. Even if it turns out badly later, I’m willing to take the chance. Mind made up; I follow him to the counter.
We grab a couple of stools to wait for our food. His bare wrist makes me pause. “You got rid of your jewelry.”
“Didn’t want anyone to think I was the bad guy,” he murmurs in response. His eyes find mine and he winks.
Several truckers sit down at the counter next to us to eat their breakfast while they swap the latest route and road updates. I lean over and quietly ask them where they’re headed. Most are going north, but one guy, an older trucker with kind brown eyes, tells me he’s headed south toward Birmingham, Alabama. I glance at River, and he gives a slight shake of his head, so I say nothing. My lips turn down at the thought of walking all day and night in the chilly weather.
With a sigh, I turn toward the parking lot to watch for any sign of the black SUV.
Minutes later, the trucker gets up to leave. He stops at my stool and looks us both up and down. “If you need a ride, I’m leaving in ten minutes. Should be enough time for you to get your food and join me.” He leaves, heading to the parking lot on the right.
“We need to catch a ride,” I tell River. When he shakes his head, I throw up my hands. “Why not?”
“Do you want to get him killed?” he whispers in my ear. “If they find us with him, they won’t hesitate. Trust me. I’ve seen it happen.”
The thought of being responsible for that man’s death is sobering, but it doesn’t deter me. “No, but I also don’t want to die. It’s only a matter of minutes until they catch up to us. We can’t outrun them.” Frustrated, I flag down the server. “Excuse me. Can you tell me where we’re at?”
She studies us for a second. “South of Greensboro. Why?” Her eyes dart between me and River. “Are you lost?”
“What’s the next big city?” I ask her, not wanting to tell her our destination.
Her eyes narrow. “Next big city is Charlotte. Why don’t you just tell me where you’re going? I’ve got customers waiting.”
I take a deep breath. “How far is Atlanta?”
She thinks about it for a second. “Roughly four and a half hours, give or take, by car. Is that all?” When I nod, she huffs and speeds off, coffee pot in hand.
River groans. “You might as well put a neon sign out front.”
My cheeks flood with embarrassment, but I defiantly shrug. “I don’t care. You can stay here. Or go your own way. I need to get to Atlanta.”
The server comes out of the kitchen and hands us our food. “Well, what’s it going to be?”
Gut clenching in knots, but completely prepared to leave without River, I hand him his breakfast sandwich. My fingers scrunch the bag tightly, waiting for him to answer.
He stares down at me with a strange look on his face. “Fuck it. Let’s catch a ride in a big rig.” I laugh and he shakes his head. “Haven’t you ever heard of stranger danger?”
I glance down at the glass of water on the counter and motion to the server. “Can we get these two waters to go?” I don’t know how to use my powers, but it couldn’t hurt to have a little water with us.