Ruin, The Turning Read Free Page B

something.”
    Ruin turned and kept walking. “I think he was an old friend.”
    She caught up to him trying to keep pace with his strides while watching his face. “A friend?”
    He shrugged. “Something like that.”
    “Something like that.”
    “Stop repeating me.”
    “I mean I just…” she stalked and huffed along. “Feels like you’re…”
    “Like what, just say it.”
    “Lying. I feel like you’re lying to me, there.”
    He made this snort sound and shook his head then pointed. “There’s the road.”
    Isadore looked and sighed at seeing a passing vehicle through the sparse tree line. “Thank God.”
    “Let’s hurry before it gets dark. I don’t want to be on the road at night.”
    “What is your plan? We have nothing, I mean where is the truck? Is it in the belly of that beast or what?”
    “Not sure.”
    Isadore had to run to keep up as he picked up his pace, sounding like he didn’t want to ever think about it. She could definitely oblige him.
    By the time they got to the road, she was winded and her side hurt. Bending over, she held a finger up silently asking for a moment.
    “You want me to carry you?”
    She straightened, halfway tempted but shook her head. “I’m fine.”
    “Hurry. Where do you think the nearest town is?”
    Ruin straddled the ditch with his long legs and reached to transport her over. Too tired for pride, she let him then pulled him across, where they looked up and down the road. “I know this road.” She was sure she did. “It’s familiar. I think.”
    “Which way is town, do you know?”
    “I think…” She turned left and right several times. “This way, maybe.”
    “Ugh,” he said, taking off.
    “What’s your hurry?” she demanded, running to catch up.
    “I told you, I don’t’ want to be on the road in the dark.”
    Fear stung her spine. “Why, what’s wrong?”
    “It’s more dangerous to be on the road at night as a general rule, Angel.”
    “You sound annoyed.”
    “I’m pissed, yes.”
    “At what?”
    “Nothing,” he gritted.
    “Oh my God,” she gasped, coming to a stop.
    He turned, looking at her, his green eyes bright and narrowed on her.
    “You just lied!”
    His jaw hardened and he turned and took off walking again. “It’s nothing I want to talk about, Isadore.”
    “I thought you can’t lie. Is it something I did?”
    “Of course not!”
    The bite in his tone stung her. “Why are you talking so mean to me?”
    “This isn’t me being mean, Angel, this is me worried, okay?”
    “Worried?”
    “Fuck, Isadore,” he turned to her. “Stop repeating me, yes, I’m worried.” He spread his arms out at his sides. “Don’t you think I have a little something to be worried about with you? You’re just a tiny little breakable human in an ancient power play. And you happen to be my wife that I need to protect, but that’s like trying to shelter a wall of crystal while the earth is blown to bits.”
    She gave a snort and rolled her eyes. “I’m not that fragile, geeze.” She walked past him, ignoring his angry glare. “Oh look, maybe we can hitch a ride.” She stood on the side of the road and stuck out her thumb at the distant vehicle.
    “What are you doing, don’t do that!”
    “Why? Who could possibly pick us up that you can’t handle?”
    “I don’t know, the Devil maybe?”
    She jerked her hand back to her chest and regarded his exactly glare as he continued walking, pulling her with him now along the side of the road.
    “We should be walking on the other side, lawfully. And slow down, I can’t keep up with you if you’re going to drag me behind you.”
    He hurried across the road, still dragging her behind him.
    “Ruin let go, I’ll keep up.” She eyed the vehicle rumbling toward them, the sound of the engine growing louder, like a souped up race car. Isadore fought to peer around Ruin and see the vehicle.
    The car finally flew by, speeding like nobody’s damn business and Isadore was shocked to see