Chapter Nine

The first few days back in the caves were hectic. For me, at least. I stayed in a cave across the hall from Wanda and little Chase by myself. Doc explained that it was to give me a chance to adjust, but Ian and I both knew that it was because nobody would room with us.

On my third day in Ian's caves, I finally seen Kyle again. His face had been bashed in pretty good by the butt of the rifle, tape holding his nose in a semi straight line. Black shadows boxed in his eyes, which were constantly narrowed into slits whenever he came near us. I didn't understand why he hated me so much.

I brought the thought up to Wanda the next day. Holding Chase in her arms, she wandered slowly through the ruffling stalks of wheat that grew in one of the three large fields Jeb had cultivated and grown with the help of the wide mirrors that trailed along the ceiling. It was quite fascinating, seeing as I had never witnessed something like it before.

"Wanda?" I asked, rolling a head of wheat between my thumb and fore finger. She had stopped, having found a narrow rock ledge to sit on. Chase sat on her lap, his eyes wide, small hands clasped together.

"Wanda, why does Kyle hate me?" I rocked back on my heels, uncomfortable.

She sighed, her eyes full of sympathy. "He doesn't hate you, Running Water. He hates himself."

Hates himself? What for? Ian asked, just as confused as I was. I tilted my head to the side, drawing my eyebrows together. "What do you mean, he hates himself?"

"I mean what I said. The poor thing, he blames himself. Blames himself for you disappearing and for...for his brother."

It hurt, but I got what she was saying. Kyle blamed himself for me being placed into his brother. I hung my head, avoiding Wanda's eyes. Hey, don't blame yourself. You had no control over it. I sacrificed myself.

Wanda was staring at me. "I know he's talking to you. I can tell by your face. What's he saying?"

"He...he's saying that he sacrificed himself. That I shouldn't feel as guilty as I do. Wanderer, did you feel guilt when you were in Melanie's body?"

She pursed her lips, thinking. "In the end, I did. I grew to love her family and those she loved. I became attached to them, and I felt bad for keeping her from them."

I nodded. Ian had told me about the procedure that had split Wanda from Melanie. For a moment, I wondered. Could they do that with me and you, Ian? Could they take me out?

Stop! You aren't going to sacrifice yourself so I can have my family!

But I wouldn't be gone. They could put me in another body. Like Wanda.

Ian was reluctant. Running Water...Running Water, I don't know if they'd want you to stay. They might ship you out in a cryotank

Fear pulsed through me. No! No, I don't want to leave this planet! That Seeker - she'd have me killed. No matter where I went. She'd drag me back and try to torture information out of me, don't you see?

Then you need to stay, Ian closed firmly. I rolled my eyes at his cocky tone. I hated when he won arguments.

Wanda, who had been watching me the entire time, smiled sadly. "I know what you're thinking, and I disagree. I don't mind you being inside Ian. It's not your fault. Please, don't feel like you need to leave."

"You want me to stay?" I asked in disbelief.

Wanda smiled. "Yes. I'm not the only one, either. People will grow to love you too, Running Water. You're one of us now."

She patted the rock next to her, and I awkwardly stood up, walking to sit next to her. Despite what she said, I found it hard to believe that people would accept me as they'd accepted her and Sunny and Burns.

I felt like an outsider.


Seeker Strong rolled to a stop beside the parked car, pulling her sunglasses off. Getting out, she curtly walked around her black, sleek car. Running her fingers along the hood, she paused.

The silver car was coated in dust, but there were foot prints all around it, and a set of tire tracks that seemingly disappeared out of nowhere. To anybody else, it would have looked completely ordinary for the soul world. A car had went off the ditch, and someone had stopped to see if they needed assistance. Nothing wrong.

But she couldn't help noticing how deliberately the car had been nosed into the ditch. As if the driver had done it on purpose. And the tire tracks had come from entirely the wrong way to be passing traffic.

It was as if someone had literally pulled out of the desert and onto the road.

Which could mean...

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the cell phone. Flipping it open, she punched in a number. A man picked up.

"Seeker Strong? Are you in need of aid?"

"Hello, Seeker Irons. Please, tell your men and women to correspond to my current location," she quipped in a cheerful, bubbly voice. It would be impossible to tell how pissed off she really was unless you were standing next to her. Seeker Strong was a very good actor.

"Have you found a trace, ma'am?"

"Indeed I have. Oh, and tell your men to bring guns. We are not taking live prisoners."

Seeker Irons was quiet for a moment, then he responded. "As you wish. They are on route now. I say you should be ready to go at night fall."

Seeker Strong grinned widely. "Thank you,"

Closing the phone, she trailed her fingers along the silver car. She was still smiling to herself. "Oh, little Wanderer. You'll be in for a shock very, very soon." Returning to her car, she slid into the air conditioning.

She could hardly wait to find the rebel cell of humans. The look of pain on Wanderer's face when she watched her family crumble would be too good. Seeker Strong would take her personally. Make her suffer. Make her scream.

And it would all be done when night fell.