I had a feeling that Adam wasn't in this cave, but we could return to this one after we went through the others if he didn't turn up. My phone was about dead, and it needed to be charged soon. Anyone who found Adam was to notify me immediately, no matter what Adam said. I was pretty sure, if anyone mentioned my name, he would give them an ear full about just what he thought of me.
I could picture Aven finding him. Both of them were hating on me right now. Maybe they would start a Hater's Club and have my picture in the center of the dart board.
"Stop it, Kendra," Rhyan whispered so low that I was the only one who understood what he'd said. I sighed, then I caught sight of the dim light from the mouth of the cave. I felt helpless and broken. I felt like I had already failed. "It isn't over until Friday. You can be angry at yourself then if you want, but I need you to keep yourself together right now."
I nodded, and knew that no one but Rhyan had noticed.
We all exited the cave then made a circle of standing bodies beside my Land Rover to discuss what direction we needed to go next. I suggested that we get fast food and a case of water because I knew everyone wanted to, but no one was going to say it. I had a backpack in my vehicle and I knew Kobhye did as well. I could carry half the water and she could carry the other half. Our load would get lighter the longer we walked and the more we drank. Everyone agreed, and we all headed out for the closest fast food and convenience stores.
We pulled through a Burger King drive thru; Rhyan even ordered food. I shot him a questioning glance, and he had responded with, "I miss food. I can eat while I'm in this form." I had nodded then gone back to paying the pimpled-faced teenager in the window, and then we were on our way to the Exxon station at the edge of town.
I went in and bought a case of water and four packages of "D" batteries. I didn't want any of the flashlights going dead on us. When I walked out, Kobhye was waiting at my Land Rover with her backpack open. We were at the back of my rig where she thought Rhyan couldn't hear. "He's hot, Kendra. Hook me up." She nodded toward the back of Rhyan's head.
Dammit! "Ah, I would, but he's seeing someone." I knew what was coming next; that kind of thing didn't bother her. It didn't bother her conscience at all to sleep with a guy who was dating someone else or even married, for that matter. It made me wonder how in control her guardian angel was. "Yeah, so, he can tell his girlfriend that he was here looking for Adam the whole time. I only need an hour of his time, not a marriage."
Kobhye was just as opposed to a serious relationship as I was. I shook my head. "I think he loves her or something, Kobhye. You can try, but I don't think his interests are the same as yours."
She grinned. "A challenge…perfect." I turned my head to put some water bottles in my backpack and closed my eyes. I was so not going to enjoy watching this.
I heard Rhyan laughing in my head. "Now you know how I feel." His voice turned softer. "I promise not to do anything with her."
"Do what you want, Rhyan. You aren't my soulmate." I said as I shoved the last water bottle that would fit into my backpack. He didn't say anymore to me about it, so I didn't know if he would change his mind or not about Kobhye.
She loaded her pack and as she walked by Rhyan's side of the vehicle, she winked at him. I rolled my eyes and climbed into the driver's seat. We were off to the next cave. My phone was plugged into the car charger, and I planned to leave it there until we got to the next cave. It needed the juice. I checked it and realized I had three text messages. Marc and his crew were moving on to the second cave to the south. The second was from my dad. He was off work and was headed to the western caves to help Aven. Was it already after four? I looked at my clock radio; it read 4:13. The last one was from Aven; they had finished two caves. They were getting a bite to eat and fueling up with water before tackling "The Devil's Den." "The Devil's Den" was the most dangerous cave. It wasn't as big as some of the others, but there were steep drop-offs that wouldn't just land you in the hospital. I whipped the Land Rover to the shoulder of the road and slammed on the brakes. I glanced in my rear view mirror just in time to notice that Kobhye had done the same.
Suddenly, I knew for certain that's where Murry was holding Adam. The name of the cave alone would peak his interest. It would be very bad if I pulled out of the north caves to head to The Devil's Den, and it turned out my instincts were wrong. I just had such a strong feeling that he was there.
"Stick with the north caves, Kendra. If they find him, they will call you."
I nodded. "You're right. We'll stay here and search the next north cave." I stepped on the gas and we were off again.
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Chapter Thirty-four
I stalled outside the cave as long as I could. I just knew that as soon as we were deep into the cave, my phone would ring, letting me know that they'd found him.
Rhyan started for the cave and Kobhye walked up beside him to start her notorious flirting. "C'mon, Kendra, what if you are wrong, and he's in this cave? He may need water. They will call you if they find him; you know they will."
I huffed then followed my crew into the cave. This wasn't a very big one, and it wouldn't take more than thirty minutes to cover the whole thing, so getting out quick wouldn't be that big of a deal.
We were no more than five minutes in when my phone beeped. I pulled it from my pocket and checked the text. It was from Lennie. He thought they had found him, but he was behind a rock wall that Aven, my dad, and everyone else were trying to get through.
"Stop!" I said, and could hear the excitement in everyones' voices, but I tuned it out as I tried to call Lennie. The call rang once then failed. I looked at my phone; it was jumping in and out of service. I turned and ran for the mouth of the cave without stumbling once.
When the sun hit my face I tried again. It went through this time. "Kendra, there is definitely someone in here. We were shouting through the rocks and he shouted back that he was okay, but we should hurry the hell up and get him out of there."
I closed my eyes and sighed as I hit my knees. "Thank God. We're on our way, Lennie. Has anyone called for an ambulance?"
"Yeah, I did that right before you called. I don't have any reception in the cave."
"Okay, how long do you think it will take everyone to get to him?"
"I don't know. I don't know how thick the rock wall is, but we can hear him through it, so it shouldn't take long with so many people digging. We can't figure out how the hell he got back there. It doesn't look like the ceiling caved in; it looks like the rocks were placed there to keep him in." I rolled my eyes; I knew they were placed there to keep him in.
"All right…" I sighed. "I'm on my way, if you get him out before I get there, call me and let me know where the ambulance is taking him. He will probably request the trauma center, even if he doesn't have many injuries; it's where he works."
"I'll call you. Bye, Kendra."
I hit the end button on my phone and turned to my crew. "They found him. They're digging him out now and he sounds fine." There were cheers all around, but Rhyan just stood there looking at me. We both knew that rock wall wasn't the final obstacle we would have to circumvent this week.
We loaded up again and hauled ass west to The Devil's Den. I turned my emergency lights on and prayed that I wouldn't pass a cop, because the gas pedal was on the floor. I decided to go around the city because it was a little after five. Traffic would be at a standstill in the city. It was a longer route, but it would get me to my destination sooner.
I looked in my rear view mirror; Kobhye and Kevin were keeping up with me, sort of. Kobhye was right behind me, but Kevin's car couldn't go as fast as ours. He was slowly slipping back, but he knew where The Devil's Den was, so I wasn't worried about him getting lost. The only thing I was worried about right now was Adam, and if Murry had any more surprises in store for me.
"Of course I have more surprises, Kendra." Just then my left front tire blew, and there was no way to stop what happened next; I was going too fast.
My Land Rover swerved out of control then began to flip. The air bags deployed, and that was the last thing I remembered before blacking out.
"Kendra, can you hear me?" It was Rhyan's voice, and he sounded strangely calm. I didn't know if I was dead or if I was going to make it through yet another miracle this week. "Another miracle, but I couldn't get you to wake up, and it's Wednesday night. It's been twenty-eight hours. There's nothing wrong with you, but Murry has done something to keep you knocked out and me out of your mind. I just now regained access."
"Where is Adam?" I said. "I only have about forty hours left to help him."
Rhyan sighed. "He left the city. Murry isn't holding him hostage this time. Adam left for his lake house yesterday morning."
"Did he know that I was in a wreck on my way to save him?" I asked.
"Yes." he said, but didn't elaborate further.
"Did he care?" I asked, aghast.
"If you open your eyes, we can go to him." He seemed to ignore my question and it pissed me off.
"Did he care?" I asked more firmly.
He was silent for a moment then he finally finished shattering my heart. "The ambulance brought you in a few minutes before Adam got here. I'm not allowed to interfere, but I had to do something. I told him who I was and tried to tell him what happened to you on our way here, but he wouldn't listen to me. He asked me if you needed surgery. When I told him that you didn't, he turned away from me and left the hospital."
I opened my eyes and realized I couldn't see anything; they were blurry with tears. I sat up in bed, but Rhyan wasn't in the room with me, he was only in my head. My parents, Kobhye and Aven were sitting in chairs around my bed. They were all asleep in the uncomfortable-looking chairs, judging by their awkward postures. I wasn't hooked up to a lot of machines this time; there was only an I.V. in my arm. I removed the tape holding it against my arm with some difficulty. Man, they really wanted this thing to stay in my arm, I thought. I could hear Rhyan laughing. I held my breath, then pulled it out slowly and grabbed some tissue to put over the blood from the needle hole. My mom opened her eyes as though she'd heard, or sensed that I was awake.
"Kendra?" She rushed to me and hugged me hard. "Oh, baby, you have got to stop scaring me like this."
I looked over at the table beside my bed. I had a change of clean clothes and shoes there. I was betting Rhyan had brought them for me so we could leave as soon as possible.
"You would be betting right. Now come on, let's get out of here."
I pulled away from my mother and got out of bed. "I have to go, guys." The rest of my friends and family had woken up, and they were all looking at me like I was crazy as I grabbed my clothes and headed for the bathroom. Kobhye walked in behind me. I expected as much.
"You wanna tell me what's going on?" she said.
I quickly got out of the hospital gown and began to put my clothes on. Rhyan had chosen clothes for comfort. "Thank you, Rhyan."
He snickered. "You're welcome, now either tell her, or leave; we don't have any time to waste. Adam's lake house is a three hour drive."
Shit! My Land Rover had to be totaled. "Yeah, it is, borrow Kobhye's."
"I need your truck." I said as I tied my shoe.
"Oh no," she shook her head. "You aren't leaving here without me. There is some major shit going on with you, and I'm not letting you out of my sight. So, if you want my truck, you're going to have to take me with you."
I stared at her for a moment. She was my best friend and had been since the sixth grade. I had never kept anything from her, including Aven. We'd only had two fights, and neither of them was caused by her not believing or trusting in me. Maybe she would believe me now as well. "Would you believe anything I told you if I swore it were true?"
"You know I would," she replied.
"Good, then come on. You're about to get an earful." We walked out of the bathroom and turned to leave. Aven was blocking the door, so I stopped and scowled at him.
"Where are you going?"
I couldn't tell Aven; he wouldn't understand. "I need to be somewhere."
My dad spoke up. "You've almost died twice now, Kendra. The only place you need to be is in that bed."
"Look, I don't expect any of you to understand, but I have to go; I have to." I pleaded with them.
I walked over to my dad. "Daddy, I have to go. Please understand."
He met my eyes. "Help me understand, Kendra."
I sighed and my eyes misted over. "I'm in love, Daddy, and if I don't get to him now, I'll lose him forever." It was the truth, and it surprised me at how easy it was to admit that I was in love.
He looked at my mom then I turned to her. She nodded with tears in her eyes. "Let her go, Robert. I want grandchildren."
"Haley has two children, Diane. You already have grandchildren," he said.
She shook her head. "Not from Kendra." My mother was getting angry with him, and she never got mad about anything.
He seemed to realize that too, but he glanced at Aven. I looked over at him too. He had a pissed off look on his face, but he shrugged at my father then looked away from us. My dad looked back at me and nodded as he took my hands in his. "If this boy hurts you or gets you killed, I will personally knock his head off his shoulders." My dad was tall and muscular from years of hard labor, so I believed him. It surprised me that he was talking to me like I was sixteen and about to go on my first date though.
I nodded, and he let me go. I turned around. Aven was still blocking the door with his arms crossed over his chest. He shook his head. "You aren't leaving without me."
"Fine. You can come, but if you start calling me crazy, I'll slam on the brakes and kick your ass out. It's a three hour drive. You feel like walking?" I crossed my arms, imitating him.
He looked nervous, like he hadn't expected me to just let him come along. He must have thought I would give in and stay because he said so. He sighed in defeat and moved out of my way. I guess he realized we'd just spend the entire trip arguing with each other. I walked out of the room and left him standing there.
We made it to the ground floor and the same receptionist was sitting behind the desk when I walked up. She looked up in horror. I nodded, and she handed me the form I needed without taking her eyes off of me. I signed and dated it, then handed it back to her before heading to the parking lot. Kobhye followed me, trying to keep up with my long strides. I stopped on the drivers' side and looked at her. She rolled her eyes and tossed me the keys. "Keep it under eighty will ya? You seem to be a little accident prone this week."
She got in and I was pulling out of the garage before she even got buckled-up. I was trying to figure out how to start the whole conversation when I heard the pop. I rolled my eyes. I guess I could start there.
"Holy, Shit!" Kobhye screamed and I drove on, waiting patiently for her hysterics to calm. "Kendra, tell me what the fuck is going on!"
"Kobhye, meet Rhyan…my guardian angel." She had thought Rhyan was Adam's best friend; boy was she about to find out otherwise. Rhyan was sitting in the backseat of the crew cab truck smiling at her with his fingers laced together behind his head. I guess he thought this would be the best way to handle this.
When she didn't look like she was going to faint anymore, I started at the beginning with Saturday when I had died and made the deal with Adam's guardian angel. Then I told her everything in between about Mason/Murry and Adam not believing me about the soulmate thing, and how he'd left me. I told her about also loving Rhyan, and Murry letting Adam watch me and Rhyan getting all hot and heavy with each other, and then about Murry putting Adam in the cave. She'd been along for the ride, but she hadn't been aware of the why. I told her that I would die for real on Friday if I couldn't get Adam to trust me and believe in God.
She took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly and looked at me. "You do know this is some really fucked up shit, right?"
I nodded. "Rhyan, where are we going?"
"North to the lake," he said.
I was confident he would give me more detailed directions when we got closer to the lake.
Kobhye looked at me. "So, I guess this means that Rhyan is off limits too, huh?"
I laughed. "Yeah, I guess you don't get any of the men I've met this week." Then I had a thought. "Aven is available."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "That will so never happen," she said, and I laughed.
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Chapter Thirty-five
We headed north to the lake and only stopped once to pee. Rhyan gave that typical male eye-roll that guys do when a girl needs to make a pit-stop on a trip. Whatever. I needed to pee; I'd been in a hospital bed for twenty-eight hours.
I grabbed a package of peanuts and a coke while I was in the store. I knew Kobhye would roll her eyes. She always thought it was gross that I put my peanuts in my coke. I got behind the wheel and opened the package. I looked at her and she shook her head then looked out the window. I could see her roll her eyes in the reflection. I smiled then drank a little of the coke before adding my peanuts.
I got back on the highway and looked at the clock on the radio. It was a little after eleven, and we were making great time. We only had about fifteen miles to go before we got to the first of the camping areas. It was still hot, and there was a little more than three weeks of summer vacation left for the kiddos, so I assumed the lake would be one big party spot.
I drank my salty coke and chewed on the peanuts. I'd been trying to decide what to say to Adam when we got to his house the whole damn trip, and I'd come up with nothing.
"Make a left turn in a quarter mile," Rhyan said. It surprised me. I was expecting to drive another ten miles then have to drive through town before Rhyan had to start giving me directions. I saw the paved road and turned left onto it.
Save My Soul Page 15