The Life Beyond Read Free Page B

hands pushed my hair back from my face to keep it from getting dirty and then a strong arm wrapped around my waist. I hadn’t even heard him running after me.
    “Shhh. It’ll be okay.”
    I wanted those words to be true. God, I wanted nothing more. But I knew they were only meant to comfort me – without a flicker of truth behind them.
    Joshua tried to pull me into his arms but I resisted.
    “Let go.” I tried to push him away, but he pressed me against his chest, tightening his arms around me until I could barely breathe. And it still wasn’t tight enough.
    I buried my nose in his neck. My eyes fluttered shut but tears still managed to squeeze past my lashes. “I can’t lose him. I won’t. I can’t just let him die. We have to do something,” I whispered.
    He held me while I sobbed, held me while I soaked his shirt with my tears, held me as the rain started beating down on us. And for that moment I never wanted him to let go.
    A beacon of silver streamed through the window and illuminated Mia’s face as she slept, catching the lines tears had drawn on her skin. It was silent in the house. I could have watched her forever, but now wasn’t the time. I peeled Mia’s arms off my middle and sat up. Her eyelids fluttered. I held my breath but after a moment she snuggled against the pillow. I dressed before I sneaked into the corridor. It was dark and quiet but I knew someone was on guard duty on the roof.
    Snores came from Geoffrey’s room, but I thought I could hear movement coming from Rachel’s. I crept downstairs. Every creak of the boards made me wince. I tiptoed toward the front door when steps rang out above. I was so close to the door. Maybe I could make it.
    A figure appeared at the top of the steps and descended, holding onto the railing. They reached the ground floor and stepped into the bathroom. I held my breath, hoping the shadows would keep me hidden. Dim light hit Rachel’s face before she closed the door. I stayed frozen to the spot. I could hear Rachel retching. Sometimes the nightmares did that; woke you with a sickness that hit you suddenly and violently. But I couldn’t stop. That was my chance.
    I left the house and tiptoed across the courtyard. I felt bad for leaving Mia alone. The horizon was turning gray. Soon everyone would wake, but I’d be gone by then. I hurried toward the Lincoln and slipped behind the steering wheel. A figure appeared at the passenger window and I had to stifle a scream as my hand shot toward my gun. The door opened and Bobby poked his head in, blonde hair dishevelled.
    “What are you doing here?” I whispered.
    “Same as you. Going to find Dad.” He slumped into the passenger seat and buckled up. “You’re going to look for him, right?”
    “Yeah.” I paused. “But I should do this alone.”
    He set his jaw in that stubborn way. “He’s my dad too.”
    That was true. He had just as much right to search for Dad as I had. “You’re still in your pajamas.”
    “If someone had caught me, I would’ve pretended to be sleepwalking,” he said. In spite of everything I smiled. It made me proud that he wanted to be at my side and I was glad to have someone with me I could rely on. We were family.
    I started the engine and drove through the gates.
    “So are we going straight to the house?” Bobby asked.
    My fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “I guess so. I think I can remember the way back.”
    The sun peeked over the horizon as we drove on. Every broken down car made my heart stop and every carcass filled me with dread. As the minutes ticked past, I realized with increasing certainty that our plan was hopeless. Even if we found Dad in our old home, we couldn’t do anything to help him. My foot on the gas pedal eased until our car came to a halt.
    Bobby glanced over to me. “What’s up?”
    I rested my forehead against the window. “The others were right. We can’t help him if he’s turning into a Weeper. Not without a cure.”
    Something