by C J Singh
Dr. Hahn sat forward. “So that’s where those papers went.” He scratched his head with a chuckle then looked to Eden. “No. I didn’t disclose what I was doing. I had to make sure what I did to you wasn’t a fluke, but I didn’t want to chance them fighting it as well. Turns out, it wasn’t a fluke.” He frowned. “Even though I wasn’t able to replicate it after that due to—”
“It could have happened to the best of us,” LaRae said, putting a reassuring hand on his. He gave her a sad smile. She turned to the others. “I’m sure you all are very curious about life since you... escaped.”
I sat back and watched the conversation of old comrades catching up on the last eighteen years. Glancing over at Eden, I smiled to see her reunited with Ash. She slowly pet his head as it rested on her lap. Her cheeks turned rosy with my eyes on them, but I didn’t look away.
Can we talk?
Her hand stilled and she swallowed. So many emotions flowed through her, but the biggest was fear. She was scared of me... of us.
Eden... It’s all right. I get—
She stood so quickly her chair tipped and everyone turned to her. She cleared her throat. “I... I need some air.”
“Sure.” Old Bob started to stand. “Do you want company?” I put my hand on his shoulder shaking my head.
“I’ll go. You stay and talk. There’s a lot to get caught up on.” He nodded, then turned back to the others.
I followed Eden out of the tent. She was already halfway down the row of tents by the time I made it outside. I jogged to reach her side but didn’t speak. We walked in silence a moment until we reached the small clearing that we used for our training.
“Eden.”
She turned quickly to face me, keeping her eyes down. “I’m sorry. I just don’t...”
I chuckled and she looked at me confused. “Eden. Relax. I get it.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, of course, I do.” I stepped forward, keeping my hands at my sides. I wanted so badly to touch her, but I didn’t want to scare her away. “We have just been through something major. Life changing. You have changed; heck, I have changed more than I ever expected.” I sighed looking at how the sun hit her hair, making it shimmer. “Let’s just take it slow, all right? Let it happen... naturally.”
She swallowed again, watching me. “Really?”
“Yes really. God, Eden. Did you think I wanted to marry you or something?” I laughed again when her eyes went wide. “No. I don’t want to marry you. I mean... not now... I mean.” I needed to shut up. “Let’s just take it slow, all right?”
She let out a long sigh and smiled. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Eden, but maybe next time just... talk to me?” I gave her arm a little nudge, and she giggled. The tips of her fangs peeked out as she smiled. I was so happy the Eden I met wasn’t fully lost to the new one. Her confidence was still there—she was still Eden.
“There you are.” Tate walked up to us. “Everything all right?” He looked between us with a knowing look.
“Yeah.” Eden smiled and pulled his arm to her, resting her head on his shoulder. “Come. Let’s go for a walk.” He held her hand, feeling her claws with interest before placing it back on his arm. I didn’t breathe, waiting for him to say something, but he didn’t.
“Sure.” Tate smiled at her.
I watched them slowly walk away, arm in arm, reminiscing about their life, about what happened. I could almost see the relief and love flowing off Eden and just that alone was enough. Seeing her happy and safe was enough.
Chapter 70
Eden
Ash was curled up with me on the cot, and I stroked his sleeping head. He hadn’t left my side since I returned. I loved him, but these cots weren’t made for a human and a wolf. I had woken to the sounds of the camp and the sun warming the fabric of the tent walls. Laughter sounded from a nearby tent, and I smiled at the feeling of home. It wasn’t the cabin, but it was a home. Ash and I were alone as Tate, Old Bob, and Jace left to their assigned jobs as guards. The past few days have been all about planning and getting back to normal. Guards were increased in the fear that Zane may send people to bring us back, but so far, nothing has been seen except some scourges scrounging for food.
LaRae and Dr. Hahn have made themselves at home with Sarah in the clinic. Dr. Hahn’s nervous twitches have slowly relaxed, and with the lack of constant threats from leadership, they may completely disappear over time.
After my talk with Jace, we have returned to normal. Teasing each other, which of course means him driving me crazy, but his beautiful eyes and single dimple still make my heart skip. I know he knows it, but I’m thankful he is giving me space to figure everything out.
“Eden?” Sarah peeked her head through the tent flap. I sat up, meeting her eyes. “Eden. You need to come. Something—”
I was on my feet moving toward her with Ash at my heels. “What happened?” I pushed past her, heading toward the medic tent.
Her short legs worked fast to catch up with me. “It’s... It’s—”
“Who!” I turned to her and she stepped back, scared. Sighing, I closed my eyes taking a long breath. Turning, I started again toward the tent. Images of Tristan shot, then Tristan sick, then Tristan dead flashed through me. I couldn’t lose anyone else I love.
She grabbed my arm to a halt before I entered the tent. “Here.” She handed me a face mask.
Slowly taking it, I looked at her. “What’s going on?”
“Just put it on. We need to be careful.” She put one over her face and entered the tent.
The elastic of the mask tugged at my ears, and I immediately hated it. After making sure it covered my nose and chin, I followed her. Lying on two cots were LaRae and Dr. Hahn. They glistened with sweat and wheezed with every breath.
Sarah stood next to LaRae’s cot, and I slowly approached. “I don’t understand. They have the cure.”
Sarah nodded. “Yes, but viruses morph. They have the cure for the original virus. It cured them of the virus they were injected with. It’s been eighteen years since that virus, so the one that’s out here is most likely different. They must have now come down with the one out here.” She put a cool cloth on LaRae’s brow. I could see her body relax into her cot at the cooling sensation. I remembered the overwhelming fire that burned through me, the heaviness, and the throbs.
“Then why don’t I get it?” The thought of going through the Fever again made me cringe.
“You lived in the woods your whole life. Your body has built up some immunity. Now, I’m sure you could still get it, but chances are much less.”
“Jace?” My heart froze at the thought.
“Again, unsure. Since Jace contracted the virus when he was in the woods and given blood from Ash, who has lived in the woods his whole life, he may be more resistant to it, but like you, there is a chance he could get sick as well. ”
I turned back to LaRae. Her eyes fluttered open and her finger lifted ever so lightly. Pulling up a chair next to her, I took her hand.
“Run.”
“What?”
LaRae swallowed and I could hear her dry tongue slide across the roof of her mouth. “You run.”
I met Sarah’s eyes. “Do the others know?” She nodded.
“Get them, please.”
She left the tent, and I turned back to LaRae.
“Why should I run?” I squeezed her hand gently, trying to pass any strength I had on to her.
“Zane... won’t give up. You need to... Get far away.”
Her words sent a chill through me. Zane won’t give up. I ran my tongue over my pointy fangs and imagined sliding them into his throat. The same image I have had over and over. I should have killed him when I had the chance.
“She’s right,” Derek said from the tent flap, pulling me from my vision.
He entered with everyone in tow. Jace and Tate came to stand near me while Old Bob stayed by Derek, and Brian held Sarah’s hand. “You and Jace need to go. If people start getting sick, he will want you.” He adjusted his mask, which seemed almost too small for his large head.
“What about you two?” I looked at Derek and Brian. “Zane now knows you are alive. Won’t he come for you?”
“Probably, but we can take care of ourselves. Plus, we have some unfinished business with him,” Derek said.
Gently releasing LaRae’s hand, I stood. “Why shouldn’t I just fight? I mean. I am stronger now. Faster.”
“It’s suicide, Eden. You are stronger and faster, but they have weapons that can take you down in a second.” Jace touched my arm. I looked to him and then back to LaRae.
“We could go back, try and help the people who get sick.”
“What? Why?” Tate yelled. “After everything they did to you!”
“Because Tate! You didn’t see them. All those innocent people whose lives are gone because of Zane. Now people trusted him, got his cure, and may still get sick. Maybe we can help.”
“No, no, no, no, Eden. Stop. You don’t have to save the world.”
“But—”
“No!” Jace moved in front of me. “You can’t always be the savior, Eden. You have to let others do their job. They have scientists. They will figure it out.”
“They didn’t for eighteen years!”
“It was a simple overlook. That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again.” He lowered his face level with mine, peering into my eyes.
Please. I can’t lose you. Remember?
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I just got back.” The hole in my heart started to grow more. The thought of leaving them again made me ache already.
“I know, but it’s the only way,” Derek said.
“I’m going with you.” Tate stepped toward me. “I just got you back, and we are safer together.” I reached out and squeezed his hand.
“I agree. If you both go, then I go too,” Old Bob said. The hole filled just a tiny bit knowing they would be with me. There were only two spaces left, spaces only Ellie and Tristan could fill.
“Where will we go? Since the war, there isn’t anything left?” I asked.
“We don’t really know that. No one has ever explored. We might as well go see. The four of us,” Old Bob replied.
“Five,” I corrected, looking down at Ash.
“Five.” Old Bob laughed, giving Ash an apologetic pat on the head.
“Well, you better pack. You don’t want to take too much time,” Derek said.
I looked down at LaRae, who watched our conversation with slitted eyes. Her cheek twitched as I reached down to squeeze her hand again. “Thank you.” She gave me a long blink back. We watched each other a moment, a silent goodbye. We both knew that this may be the last time we would see each other. I glanced at Dr. Hahn. He was sleeping as peacefully as he could. Sighing, I exited the tent after the others.
***
“Remember everything we taught you,” Brian said as he set the pack on my back. “And stay focused.”
“Got it.” I faced him and he smiled down at me, the grey flecks of his scruffy chin catching in the sunlight. “Thank you.”
“Ah, no. Don’t thank me.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Show me. Be safe.”
I nodded and moved into him, wrapping my arms around his thick neck. “I’ll see you again.” He tightened his arms around me.
“I hope so.”
But I didn’t hope, I knew. I would see them all again. When, I don’t know, but I would.
After giving Derek and Sarah both goodbye hugs, I turned to my family. With everyone ready, packs on their backs, even Ash, we set off into the unknown. For the first hour of walking, I clutched my butterfly necklace, feeling the spirits of Ellie and Tristan walking with us. Even though we were no longer living in the cabin, we were together. Wherever they were was home.
Thank you
This is only the beginning of Eden’s story. I hope you fell in love with Eden and Jace as much as I did when I was writing them. Thank you for taking the time to read my first novel in a world filled with amazing stories. I am honored you picked up my book.
Authors wouldn’t exist without readers, so thank you for making me an author.
I would greatly appreciate your review on this book, since that is the best social proof a book can have.
Acknowledgments
There are so many people to thank for the development of this novel. First, my grandmother, Elizabeth Harri. She was my first reader and always had positive things to say about my six-year-old writing.
Thank you to my friends, Melissa Williams, Katie Ginivan, Vanessa Barnes, and Anna Lynch. You all helped me so much in the creation and flow of this story. It wouldn’t be what it is today without all of your help.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Katie Chambers at Beacon Point LLC for your expert editing. You not only edited my work, but you made me a better writer with all of your help and insight. My book went to you as a caterpillar and came out a butterfly. I will be forever thankful.
Thank you to Ellen Bitterman, my proofreader. Your sharp eye and positive nature helped me get my book over the last hill before publication.
Thank you to my parents who always kept my path open so I could be whatever I wanted. To my brother, you will get a signed first edition. Don’t worry.
To my husband, thank you for encouraging me and letting me make this dream a reality. Now you get to read your fourth book!
To my daughters, you have thrown my life upside down with both your wild spirits, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you both to the moon and back.
Last, but not least. Thank you to my dog, GCH CH Chrisan Playing for the Ashes, ‘Ash’ You are my inspiration for Ash in the book. If it wasn’t for you, the seed of Eden’s story would not have bloomed on our walk in the woods. Thank you, buddy.
About the Author
At a young age, C. J. Singh was enraptured with books and the art of storytelling. She would write little stores about animals for her grandma to read. As she got older, she enjoyed reading fantasy, romance, and thrillers in between studying for tests for her master’s in education. Longing for a real-life adventure outside the pages of these books, she traveled around the world, learning about other cultures and ways of life. To date, she has been to twelve countries. While out on one of her adventures—walking her dog, Ash, in the woods—she got the idea to write about a girl living in the woods with her pet, Ash. She tested out her ideas by telling short made-up bedtime stories to her daughter. Eventually, she decided to embark on one of her greatest adventures: writing this book. She may have just been destined to be an author; after all, she shares a birthday with her favorite author, Beatrix Potter—how cool is that?