“I would’ve liked to hear that in Pria, but I don’t know if I would’ve believed you.”
“Well, Trinee doesn’t always believe me, either.”
Alina smiled and looked at him. “For different reasons, I’m interested in hearing your speech now. I worry my looks will be all others see in me.”
He studied her. “Maybe, if it’s all you think about. But keep showing the bravery you did last night, and people will see your true character.”
“Bravery? You mean with the nightstalk?”
“Yes.”
“How is it brave when I can’t die?”
“Simple. You faced an awful scenario, and you fought back. Dying is a terrible prospect, but losing a loved one to death is much worse.”
Alina reflected on this for a moment, then looked back at Rex and Jade. Rex hovered over her, but Jade didn’t seem to mind. He kept a hand on her back as he guided her steps.
Baylor was on the lookout for anything unusual, and more than once he fired his dart gun into the grass. The brainwastes were so abundant, he constantly brushed them off his legs. Rex especially hated the creepy things and smacked them the moment they crept onto his or Jade’s legs. For some reason, the brainwastes left Alina alone.
No one complained of the heat, but as the sweat rolled down their necks and faces, Alina felt guilty for being so comfortable. She kept a sharp eye on Jade, who seemed tired but didn’t ask to rest. Alina wished she could carry her, but with one pack on her back already, Jade would be uncomfortable.
Rex caught up to Baylor. “I don’t think Jade can continue at this pace. Can we rest? The nightstalks don’t hunt in the day, anyway.”
Baylor wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “They don’t attack, but they travel and can still induce fear. They’ll be much closer to us when the night comes if we stop.”
“But the people from Millflower are on their way, right? Do you know how close they are?”
“I don’t. I can’t get a radio signal at the moment. If anything, we should be quickening our pace, not stopping to rest.”
“But Jade—” Rex started.
“Then carry her, for crying out loud!” Baylor barked. “We’re all hot, we’re all tired. But we have to keep going, so push yourself a little! Sheesh, you immortals can be such whiners.”
Alina stiffened. The statement had enough truth to bother Rex, and it did.
“I’d like to see you live hundreds of years without pain and see how you deal with mortality,” Rex snapped back.
Baylor rolled his eyes. “And you’ve lived hundreds of years?”
Rex paused. “I was referring to Jade,” he said coolly.
Alina spoke as she slipped off her backpack. “Let’s keep moving. If someone can take my pack, I can carry Jade.”
Baylor grabbed Alina’s pack and threw it on his back. “I’ll take it. I don’t want to burden any pampered shoulders.” He looked at Rex, who glared back at him.
“Come get on my back, Jade,” Alina called to her. “It’ll help us go faster, and we need to for safety.”
Jade agreed, and Alina lifted her onto her back. She stiffened with pain as Alina started walking.
Baylor marched ahead, trying to hurry them along. “The nightstalks move quickly,” he called back to them. “If any of you start feeling that paralyzing fear again, speak up. If there’s a group of nightstalks, we should sense them from a good distance away.”
Alina’s heart stopped. Did his words chill her, or was something else nearby? She skipped to catch up with him.
“I’m feeling the fear again,” she murmured. “It’s not too strong yet.”
“I feel it also,” Baylor said under his breath. He turned around. “Hey, Rex, how are you doing?”
Rex scowled. “I’m fine.”
Baylor chuckled. “Well, I’m glad I stirred him up a bit. Maybe his anger is overpowering any fear. If it is the nightstalks, then they’re still far away. Let’s move faster.”
“Rex, can you go any faster?” Baylor called out. In a flash Rex stormed past them and took the lead, still scowling.
They followed until Rex halted and Alina ran into him. “Do you sense something?” he asked, shuddering.
“No,” said Baylor casually. “I just thought I’d ease off in case my pace was too much for your delicate body.”
Rex fumed a bright red. “Now, listen here. I’m capable of doing anything your middle-aged body can do.” He stammered for a moment, searching for a good retort, then huffed off ahead of them. Baylor looked at Alina and smiled.
“If he mentions he feels scared through that anger, then we’ll know the nightstalks are close.”
“I doubt he’s going to admit anything now, no matter how scared he gets,” Jade piped up.
“We’ll see. I’m feeling better, at least. How about you?” Baylor asked Alina.
She thought for a moment. “Yes, I am. Maybe it was nothing.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Alina shifted Jade a little, who moaned with pain. Alina never felt tired, but Jade did slow her down. For the first time since leaving Pria, she felt clumsy.
The trail led them into a grove of trees. They welcomed the shade, but the stillness of the woods unnerved Alina.
She heard a soft rustle in the leaves and clasped Baylor’s arm. “Did you hear that?” she asked.
They all stopped, and Baylor raised his gun. “I don’t feel frightened enough for a nightstalk, especially a lot of them,” he whispered. “It must be something else.”
They stared for a long time. Alina’s skin crawled. She felt certain they were being watched.
Baylor frowned. “Quick, let’s move out of these trees.”
He held the gun steady, and just as they started to move, a gruff voice broke the silence. “Take one step, Baylor, and I’ll shoot.”
Baylor’s mouth dropped open. He froze.
“Drop. The gun. Now.”
Baylor lowered his gun. Alina spun around, her eyes scanning the trees.
“Don’t look so scared, pretty girl. I won’t hurt him so long as you do what I say.” They heard a dark chuckle. “What we all say.”
Alina was shaking, but she straightened her back and set her jaw. “Then show yourselves.”
She stepped back in alarm as the trees
