Chapter 13
I pushed Lachlan behind me as I stared at the people milling in the area in front of the ruined church. Much of the rubble had been cleared away and they continued to work to remove the rest.
One of them turned around and spotted us. ‘Rose,’ she said, a smile wreathing her face. The smile quickly faded when she took a good look at Lachlan and me in our bloodstained clothes.
‘Oh my God, are you two okay?’
‘We’re fine. We’ve been healed,’ I said, not recognising her for a moment. Then I looked past the streak of dirt coating one side of her face. ‘Bernice?’
She gave a nod. ‘We were so worried about you, after the police said you’d gone missing. I’m so glad to see you’re okay. I hope you don’t mind us staying here. We’ve tried to be useful.’
I looked at the others, who had
