Woody’s memories. The detective had addressed him as Captain Jones.
Seven?
Their search party had to consist of more, maybe at a camp, or searching elsewhere.
The detective motioned for the others to circle around her. Hushed voices carried on the breeze. Angela pointed to the crushed grass, then toward the tree line on the opposite side. Afterward, in one team of two and one of three, the party split to cover the expanse, leaving Detective Petersen and the captain alone.
Slightly confused at these actions, Ellyssa watched as the detective spoke to the captain. She bent down and touched a blade of grass, then lifted her head and looked straight at the rocky overhang where the mineshaft lay hidden.
Ellyssa stilled, her breath nonexistent, as Angela’s cold stare pinned her in place. Even though it was impossible, Ellyssa couldn’t help but wonder if the detective could see her.
In a matter of minutes, their haven would be found.
Her heart smooth and steady, her pulse light and unhurried, Ellyssa backed away down the tunnel. No padding, no sounds of movement as her pace quickened. When she rounded the second corner, she flipped on her flashlight and hurried to Jason’s room, where Woody waited. He leaned against the stone frame of the entrance with his eyes closed.
“Woody.” Ellyssa touched his shoulder, then quickly covered his mouth, cutting off his squeal of surprise. “It is me,” she whispered in his ear. “Understand?”
Wide-eyed, he nodded. She let go of him.
“I didn’t even hear you.”
“Yes, I know.” She nodded. “We need to move. They’re in the field.”
Together, they walked into the room where Jason lay on a pad. His cot had already been moved to the evacuation cavern.
Under the yellow beam of the flashlight, Jason looked worse than the last time Ellyssa had seen him. His body was thin, skeletal, underneath the flimsy green blanket that was pulled up to his chin. His pasty face emphasized the dark circles around his sunken eyes, and his skin stretched tight over his skull. The blanket rose and fell as he gasped and his breath rattled in his lungs.
“We need to hurry,” Ellyssa said, moving to Jason’s side and grabbing the corners of the pad. “On the count of three,” she said. “One, two…”
“Wait.”
She looked at Woody, but he just shook his head and glanced down at Jason. The sickly male looked at Ellyssa, his eyes clouded and unfocused.
“Wait,” Jason repeated, the word barely above a whisper. His tongue flicked out and licked his cracked lips.
“Jason, we have to go.”
“No.” Jason paused for a long time. His unfocused eyes jerked from side to side, and his tongue tried desperately to ease his dry lips. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
Jason’s apology meant nothing to Ellyssa. She looked away. “We do not have time for this.”
Grasping Ellyssa’s hand, Jason squeezed, his fingers barely applying any pressure. He was burning up, his fever out of control, and his touch made her skin crawl. She still despised him. He was very lucky her thought processes had changed. “I want you to know how sorry I am.”
Ellyssa fought a shiver. “We will talk about it later.”
“There will be no later.”
“They are coming. We do not have time.”
Jason dragged in a noisy breath and released it. “I’m dying.”
“You will be fine.” She tightened her hold on the pad and prepared to heft him up.
“Don’t.”
Her patience wearing thin, Ellyssa snapped, “Do you not understand? They are coming.”
“Ellyssa,” Woody said, his face sad, “let him finish.”
The corner of Jason’s dried lips curled into his a grimace, and his bottom lip split into a fresh sore. “I know I’m dying. We don’t have medicine. Leave me.”
Ellyssa shook her head. “We cannot do that.”
“You have to. I can detain them.”
She glanced at Woody and saw the debate raging behind his eyes.
“I’m dying,” Jason said, as if those two words gave all the reason in the world. And, perhaps, they did.
Jason squeezed her hand again, this time with surprising strength. He paused, swallowing. She watched his Adam’s apple struggle under his skin.
“Let me do this one last thing. Please,” Jason whispered. “Dying wish.” His lids fluttered closed, and his hand loosened its grip and slid to his side.
After all the times Ellyssa had read his mind, with his selfish, sick nature shining through, she’d never thought him capable of such an act.
Ordinary humans never ceased to amaze her with their raging emotions and turmoil. Compassion? Forgiveness? Such things went against every fiber of her upbringing, but that had been before she’d joined this family.
Ellyssa reached out and, tentatively, touched his cheek. There was no doubt Jason was dying. His mind was slowing down, the electric pulses firing weakly. Would leaving him be the most humane thing to do? In his current condition, neither the detective nor the police would bother capturing him. Wasted effort. As a matter of fact, they might think him contagious, and end his suffering more quickly.
“What do you think?” asked Woody.
Indecisive, Ellyssa nibbled on her bottom lip. “I do not know,” she responded, as she lifted her gaze to Woody. “He is dying.”
Woody smoothed out Jason’s blanket and tucked it tight under his body. “I think we should do as he requests.”
“But…”
Woody reached over and brushed her cheek. “He wants the opportunity to right his wrong.”
Ellyssa closed her eyes and nodded. “I forgive you,” she whispered. Without another word, she stood and left the room. She waited as Woody said his goodbyes.
“It was the right thing to do,” assured Woody as he entered the main tunnel. He rested his hand on her shoulder. “It was nice of you to forgive him.”
“I had to.”
His fingers trailed down her arm and found her hand. “I know—”
Ellyssa stifled his words by covering his mouth and cocked her head to the side. A soft scrape flowed through the tunnel and reached her ears. Woody stilled when she did, a hint of fear masking his features.
She placed her finger to her lips. With a flip of her hand, she motioned him to follow, and led them toward their refuge. Surprised at the ease with which Woody moved, she glided beside him, silently. If she couldn’t hear him, neither could they.
They escaped down the tunnel to the faux dead end, where Ellyssa paused to listen for footfalls. No sounds followed them, but the rustling of people echoed below her, voices, shuffling, and scraping.
“We have to get them quiet,” she whispered.
Quickly, Ellyssa slipped to the back of the passage behind the overlapping wall. Within the confines of the enclosed space, the commotion clamored. She glanced over her shoulder at Woody and motioned for him to go first. He disappeared into the hole.
By the time she emerged into the cavern, Woody was already gone, hopefully spreading the word. Soft steps whispered from the crossing passage ahead.
Trista appeared around the corner of the intersection, holding a small plastic container. Dirt smudged every bit of her skin and clothing, and her cheeks were pink from exertion. Ellyssa motioned Trista closer.
“Hi,” Trista said, oblivious to the danger. “Guess what? I’m a contender for the council.”
Ellyssa held her finger up. “Do not say anything else. Do not talk. Do not work. They are in the cave,” she
