Facing Reality

Chapter 9

    It was getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open. By the time Luke thought it was clear to leave, I was drifting off. "Riley," he growled. "Stay awake."

    I blinked slowly at him. "I don't think I can."

    "It's not an option," he snapped. Even though his tone was harsh, I could hear the fear and concern behind it. The makeshift bandage he had made was soaked through with my blood, and there wasn't much either of us could do about it.

    I felt my eyelids drooping again. "Luke, thank you for everything," I mumbled.

    "Ay! That sounded more like a goodbye than a thank you!" He was picking me up carefully as we talked. "And this is not a goodbye."

    I leaned my head against his chest and sighed. "Not a goodbye. Got it."

    I wasn't sure how he managed to get me outside, but the cool air soon hit my face, waking me up slightly. "It's cold," I groaned through chattering teeth.

    "I know," Luke replied. I realized as he picked me up once more that he was shivering.

    "You've got nothing but an undershirt on," I remembered groggily. "Maybe we should stay in that basement..."

    "No. We're going to find Grey."

    "Luke..." I could feel him walking as fast as he dared without trying to hurt me more. "Luke... I can't stay awake."

    "Stay awake. Stay awake! Riley!"

    My eyes drifted closed.

    The next thing I knew, I was waking up to a sensation much like a hot poker being shoved into my side and twisted over and over again. I cried out, thrashing against whatever it was that was hurting me.

    "Keep her still!" a voice growled.

    "I'm trying!" I instantly recognized the second voice.

    "Luke!" I screamed, reached out blindly.

    "Riley, try to relax. Grey is trying to clean the wound and take the bullet out," Luke told me, trying to sooth me with his calm voice.

    I whimpered and tried my hardest to stay as still as possible. The pain almost sent me back into unconsciousness.

    "And done." The Texan twang of the voice that I had first heard made me realize it was Grey. "Riley, I'm giving you a morphine injection, okay?"

    I nodded, still in a daze. Then the pain lifted, and I let out a long sigh. "Grey... that hurt."

    Chuckled filled the air. "And she's back!" Grey exclaimed. I felt his rough callused hand give mine a squeeze. "I'll leave you guys to talk this out together."

    I dragged my eyes open and smiled weakly up at Luke. "Hey."

    He looked exhausted, but he managed to smile back. "Hey to you too," he murmured, leaning down to capture my lips in a quick kiss. "You scared me," he told me when he pulled way.

    I nodded, not knowing what else to do. I couldn't imagine had scared I must have made him. "How did we get here?"

    "I hot-wired an old truck." He shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, and I just giggled. It was an action I regretted when I was reminded of my wound by a dull sudden ache.

    "Ow," I grumbled, pressed my hand gently against the bandage Grey had dressed the wound with.

    A comfortable silence fell between us, but I knew we had to address the important issues here. "Luke, we can't run again. I'm hurt, and you're exhausted. We need to stand and fight."

    Luke nodded slowly, the look on his face telling me he had been dreading voicing the reality of our situation. "I know, and we will. On our terms."

    I tilted my head to the side. "What are you thinking?"