He laughed out loud and nudged me with his shoulder. “I’m thinking you’re more like the kind of girl that makes everything alright, even if it’s not.”
“There goes all my mystery,” I sighed. “I guess you have me all figured out.”
“Hardly,” he grunted. I opened my mouth to spout something witty or flirty or…. something, but he beat me to it with a, “You’re really worried about Hendrix, aren’t you?”
“And Nelson,” I admitted. “I don’t like that they’ve been gone the entire night. And I don’t like that we let them leave anyway.”
“I don’t either,” he said in a low voice.
We came to a wooded area that seemed to stretch on for a while. Light didn’t penetrate the thick canopy of branches above and the entire atmosphere seemed gloomy.
Okay, gloomy was the wrong word. These woods seemed f-ing haunted and I was a teensy bit reluctant to enter them.
“Nope,” I shook my head. “This is the fastest way to die.”
“Tracks,” Vaughan pointed down at the ground where the same set of footprints had reappeared near the edge of the forest. The mud was thicker under the shade and coolness of the trees, where the sun wouldn’t dry it out every day.
“It’s obvious why they never came back,” I grumbled. “They walked into these woods and were never heard from again…. because something ate them!”
“You’re not honestly scared of a bunch of trees and woodland creatures are you?” Vaughan turned to face me. He put both hands on my shoulders and peered into my eyes intently. I was comforted by that small touch and let out a deep breath.
“Vaughan, this place is where people come to die,” I insisted. “Look at it. This is probably where Freddy Krueger, Mike Meyers and the Wicked Witch of the West all hang-out. Can’t we walk around it? Find the road?”
“The tracks, Reagan,” he pointed out again. “And let’s look at it this way. I’ve never seen any of those guys kill anyone first thing in the morning. I’m thinking they like to sleep in.”
I cracked a smile because I couldn’t help it, “Sleep in?”
“Obviously their serial killer ways keep them up all hours of the night. They probably just called it a day. We’re safe.”
“We’re safe,” I repeated as if saying it would make it true.
“You’re always scared of forests?”
“Only ones with gnarled branches, closely planted trees and ghosts.”
“So all forests. Got it.” He grinned at me again and I took a step forward, closer to him. I couldn’t help it, he was like the sun on a leaden morning like this and I wanted to gravitate around him. “You’re safe with me, Reagan.” His voice dropped and his dark blue eyes brightened with sincerity.
“I know,” I whispered. A sudden thickness in my throat caused me to have trouble finding my words.
Abruptly a moment between us became charged and powerful. Then it dissipated like fog in the hot sun. It just fizzled out. And it wasn’t from my end. It was because of him. I felt him change and pull back and in another moment there were miles between us like continents that stretched us apart.
“Ready?” he dropped his hands and took a step toward the cocooned darkness.
“Ready,” I sighed.
But I did feel safer and maybe even braver.
The inside of the woods only borrowed enough morning light for us to be able to see where we were going, but it shrouded everything in the distance. A quietness wrapped around us that felt like a trap and a sanctuary all at the same time. We could hear anything and everything as it moved over the snapping dead leaves and sticks, but that meant we could also be heard without disguise. As light as our footsteps were, there was no muffling the crunch-crunch of our feet on the forest floor.
“Reagan?” Vaughan broke through the crisp sounds of our feet making a path. His tone was carefully thoughtful; a pang of nervous energy hit low in my stomach.
“Yeah?”
“I believe my brothers are fine, that they are alive and that they are well.”
“Ok.”
“I just wanted that to be clear before I asked you this question,” he held up a branch for me to walk under and when I had passed by, he continued. “If I didn’t think that, we wouldn’t have this conversation, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and swallowed over the huge lump in my throat.
“This thing with my brother… he’s really serious about you.”
“I know,” I laughed, trying to ease the tension.
He did not laugh.
“Reagan, there is almost nothing I would fight my brother over. I mean, nothing.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over us. “Except maybe one thing. I know he’s claiming you like a damn barbarian, but you still have a choice. You still get to decide what you want.”
“I know that.” I could barely hear myself so I had no idea how he heard me.
He cleared his throat and seemed to struggle a minute before continuing, “I need to know, Reagan. I’m not asking you for anything serious or a commitment of any kind, but I need to know before I let myself get invested. You’re independent and head-strong, so I’m not foolish enough to think you won’t drop Hendrix the minute you don’t think he’s right for you. But if you do think he’s right…. I mean, if there’s a chance you think he’s it, then I’m cutting my losses before I can’t.”
He left me speechless, completely without the ability to speak. Vaughan was not Hendrix. He did not attack my emotions the same way Hendrix did with a full on offensive assault. Vaughan was laid-back and non-invasive. He was slow and steady and made me fall into him because I got caught up in his sturdy current, not because he demanded I face my feelings and come to terms with them.
Eventually he apologized, “I know it’s a lot to ask you. And I honestly hate myself for putting you in this position, but you are rare. And not just because you happen to be the only girl available in years. But because you are this incredible person and I’m drawn to you. And if this were a different world or life, I would fight for you; I would go up against Hendrix and let the best man win.” He paused thoughtfully and let all those confessions settle in the air between us. Then he said, “I have to do what’s best for my family. I will always do what’s best for my family.”
After several more minutes of stomping through the muddy forest, I finally let out a breath of air. My chest felt constricted with too much emotion and oxygen; my stomach curdled with nerves. In the most honest part of my soul I knew I was not in a scenario where a love-triangle could be allowed to fester. It wasn’t right for either boy and it sucked for me. I had come to care for them both.
And so I was honest, “I don’t want to have to make a decision after only knowing you guys for a short time.”
I sounded petulant and angry, but I couldn’t help it. The worst part was, none of this attitude was directed at the Parker brothers. It was the Feeders who had ruined my love life, or at least changed it into something I wasn’t ready for.
“I’m sorry, Reagan,” Vaughan said sincerely.
“I like you, Vaughan,” I whispered. “And I like your brother. But I don’t like either of you enough to decide who I want to be with for the rest of my life. And honestly, I don’t know if I really want either of you at all.”
He laughed, surprised at my honesty.
“But it’s true,” I insisted. “How am I supposed to know who I’m compatible with? Or who pisses me off more?” I did crack a tiny smile for him after that one. “I can’t tell you that you don’t have a chance with me because I don’t know either of you enough for me to really have any idea. But I do care about you both. And I would never want to come between you and your brother. Never, ever. Sure, I like you both, but I also respect you both. And I think better of all three of us than that we could let something like this ruin our relationship.”
He didn’t say anything after that, just walked for a little while in silence. He was lost in his thoughts and I was tangled an
d tripped up by my own, so neither of us was making very good company. The silent tracking of Nelson and Hendrix’s footprints was the only thing that occupied us outwardly.
“They made these on purpose,” Vaughan finally admitted. “They gave us a trail to follow.”
“Like Hansel and Gretel?” I smirked.
“Exactly,” he chuckled. “But seriously, Reagan, if you’re ever separated from us, know that we will always leave behind clues to find us.”
“That is very good to know,” I replied sincerely. It didn’t surprise me though, to know that any of the Parker brothers could choose whether to leave a trail or blend in completely. They were like super-human GI Joes. At the end of this whole Apocalypse thing, I was petitioning to have action figures made of them.
A few more minutes in silence and Vaughan said, “It’s Hendrix.”
Quietly and with my heart in my throat I confessed, “For now, it is Hendrix.”
“I’m okay with that,” he shrugged. “I just wanted to know early, you know? I didn’t want this to get worse than it already is.”
“You’re not heartbroken are you?” I shoved him gently in the bicep.
He laughed some more, “Not this time. But you are a catch, Reagan. He’s a lucky guy.”
“He’s not anything yet,” I argued. “We are not together in any way. It’s not like I’m choosing him over you, it’s just like I’m not not picking him.”
After a minute of digesting that, Vaughan laughed and said, “He’s a little intense, right?”
I bounced up and down and agreed enthusiastically, “Right! What is with that?”
“He’s always been like that,” he explained casually. “Always. Even when we were younger he just took things more seriously. He doesn’t really second guess himself either, he just makes a decision and stands by it no matter what.”
“It’s unnerving,” I groaned.
“Yeah, I could sense that.” We walked for a few minutes in silence when Vaughan admitted, “You’re the first girl he’s ever turned his tractor beam of determination on though. It’s kind of interesting to watch.”
“So I’m like a sideshow?”
“More like reality TV.”
I punched him in the arm.
“Hey! It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
“No wonder you conceded.” I tried to joke about it, but he winced instead of laughed and I realized it was probably a little bit too soon to turn my sarcasm on his semi-unrequited feelings. Oops.
“You are understanding what I’m saying though, right?” When I shook my head he explained, “You’re the first girl he’s ever been into. Ever, Reagan. Not just post-Zombies. He has never been all that into a girl before.”
“Oh!”
“Oh, what? You get it?”
“Oh, I get that he’s a virgin. That makes a little more sense.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Vaughan put his hands up like he was offended by my conclusion. “I said you’re the first girl he’s ever been into. Not the first girl he’s ever noticed. Come on, spare my brother some of his pride.”
“You know what?” I asked sarcastically, after deciding very much that I hated all boys and if I had my choice right now between making out with an arrogant, womanizing, weird Parker brother or a Zombie, I was so going with the Zombie. “Boys are such pigs.”
“Because he’s not saving himself for his soul mate?”
“Because it should be important!” I was hot, blazing with anger. “It’s not something you just throw at the first person that drops their pants in front of you! It’s this thing… This thing that you’re supposed to give to someone, not lose by accident and indifference!”
“You’re mad because he’s not a virgin? Because I’m going to be honest with you, unless you’re interested in Harrison or King you’re not going to find-“
“Vaughan!” I exclaimed- as in the definition of exclaimed. I cried out both suddenly and vehemently; I was both surprised and outraged. “I’m not expecting you to be virgins! I’m just saying, Hendrix has never even felt close to something like love or affection for a girl, yet that didn’t stop him from giving away this huge part of himself. My point was that it doesn’t have to be like that, I mean, you should wait until it’s special.”
“Even in the Zombie Apocalypse?”
“Even in the Zombie Apocalypse,” I nodded with feeling.
“You’re a strange, surprisingly sentimental girl, Reagan. I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
“Then don’t,” I quickly ordered him. “It’s weird talking about my virginity with you, even if it’s in the context of saving your immortal soul.”
Vaughan’s head dropped chin to chest and I couldn’t tell if he was irritated with me, or laughing at me. “It’s weird talking about my brother’s sex life too. Probably that breaks some kind of man code.”
“Probably” I giggled.
“Stop moving!” A deep but young masculine voice shouted from a to-be-determined location. “Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air!”
“Shit,” Vaughan cursed under his breath, but immediately complied. His two handguns hit the forest floor with a dull thud.
This surprised me some, but only because I expected him to pull out an oozie from somewhere hidden in his cargo pants and engage first. Obviously that was not possible and the few guns a piece with limited ammo was not going to cut it when we couldn’t even see the body attached to the voice.
Vaughan lifted his hands above his head and shot me a look that demanded I do the same. I shook my head.
“No way,” I bit out.
“Reagan,” he growled in a warning voice.
“Drop your weapons!” A second voice shouted, angry and demanding.
“That sounds like a terrible idea,” I taunted. “Why don’t you come get them?”
Silence.
From them. Not from Vaughan.
“Reagan, do you trust me?” he whispered. His eyes were pleading with me to do just that, but my stubborn pride was getting in the way. I wanted to feel fear and anxiety over yet another new threat, but the irritation that we had somehow managed to get caught, again, was pumping through my blood louder and fiercer than the appropriate terror I should be experiencing.
“Vaughan, your brothers,” I whispered.
A haunted look of panic crossed his expression but his jaw clenched with frustration. “Trust me.” It was a silent plea and I was almost ready to submit.
A snapping branch to our left had us both swirling around when a strong arm clasped around my waist from behind and the cold metal of a large-barreled gun pressed against my temple. We were completely distracted; they had managed to trap us. This was so not how I imagined our gallant rescue going.
In a smug and somewhat arrogant voice I declared to Vaughan, “I told you the woods were a terrible idea!”
Chapter Two
“Son of a bitch,” I hissed, loathing the feel of captivity and helplessness.
“Instead of talking about my mother,” a growly voice I’d never heard before warned in a slow southern drawl. His voice rumbled against my head, rolled down my neck and skittered across my spine. I hated him instantly, whoever he was. But even my hatred could not outweigh the suffocating feeling of foreboding that carried in the air as he spoke. “Why don’t you obey the command?”
The muscled arm tightened around my waist and my breathing picked up with the pulsing fear I finally felt. Vaughan spun around and took a lunging step forward. He plucked his remaining gun from the back of his pants and had it cocked and aimed at the stranger pressing his chest into my body in half a second.
The other two voices appeared then, both behind Vaughan, and as if out of thin air. Their guns were aimed at his head in another breath and their threat and intent clear. Their arms were straight and steady, their bodies wound for the attack.
I shook my head and pressed my lips together. With a steadying breath, I clicked the safety on the handgun
I was holding with my right hand and dropped it to the ground. I reached into my waistband and pulled out my second weapon, dropping it at my feet as well. Both of my hands felt empty and useless. My entire spirit deflated with defeat and frustrated tears pricked at the corner of my eyes, but I would in no way give into them.
The rest of my guns were pressed against my back in my canvas backpack as my captor leaned into my body and held me close to him. Fractures of anxiety sparked and crackled all over my skin. I did not like this guy touching me.
Not at all.
Vaughan’s arms and hands were steady although he did not remove his threat, even after I lost my weapons, or at least some of them. I looked at him, begging him to lose his final gun. I was stubborn before, but the tables were turned. I wouldn’t lose him. I wouldn’t be responsible for something happening to him.
“I trust you,” I promised in a low, vulnerable voice. My stomach churned with anxiety and my breathing was quick and panicked.
Vaughan’s dark blue eyes fell to mine and flashed with pain. He seemed to make the decision now as if it physically hurt him. Relaxing his shoulders he clicked on the safety and released the gun so it slid around his finger and hung limply upside down. He stepped back into a more submissive stance and kept his eyes trained on me.
The guys behind Vaughan, both no older than eighteen or nineteen, took a step forward and detained him. One retrieved his gun and the other handcuffed his hands behind his back. A feeling like ice cold water doused my insides, coating my blood and drowning my lungs.
Real f-ing handcuffs. Not rope. Not plastic ties. Handcuffs.
Damn it.
“There’s a good girl,” the asshole behind me murmured close to my ear. His gun fell from my temple and after a few more agonizing moments he took a step back and released me. On his way, his obnoxiously deft, fast fingers nabbed my thin backpack straps and pulled them easily from my body. His rough fingers brushed against my lower back in an all too familiar gesture and I stifled a shudder of revulsion.
Love & Decay (Season 1): Episodes 1-6 Page 26