bad,” said John.
“You wouldn’t say that if it was you.” She got up and went to the other end of the tent. She hated everything about the last few days. This illness, the work problems, and Travis. What else did the universe have in store for her before the week was out?
A soft hum came from behind. John must have turned the clippers on again, probably to clean them. The noise made her uneasy. She turned to look at him. Ask him to stop. But there, grinning like a child, stood John, holding the clippers clumsily in his hands, pressing them against his head.
“What are you doing?” she asked quickly.
“Hang on,” he told her. He swiped his scalp and clumps of charcoal hair glided down. “I’m almost done.”
She watched in awe as he ran the clippers side to side, front to back, until there was nothing left. He set the device aside and swept his hand across his skull, a look of satisfaction on his face.
She ran to him, touching his head. “You’re crazy! Why would you do that?”
“You know why,” he said. “We’re in this together, the same as we’ve always been.”
“You’re an idiot.” She punched him in the arm, then hugged him.
“Maybe so,” he said, kissing her forehead. “But now we’re both doorknobs.”
******
Unknown
April 22, 2350
Terry watched as his captors built a fire, preparing to camp for the night. They re-tied the rope binding his wrists and attached the other end to a nearby tree. He couldn’t help but think they were right for taking such precautions. Too bad for them it wouldn’t do any good.
Throughout the day, Terry toyed with the idea of escaping, but chose to stay patient instead. The chance to run would come when most of them slept.
He watched them each lie on the ground, their backs on the dirt with only their clothes to cover them. Over the next hour, they each fell asleep, one after the other. Only one remained awake to guard him. Scar, who seemed less interested in making conversation or doing much of anything. Instead, he chose to sit in the darkness, staring into the wild valley before them, saying nothing.
Terry pretended to sleep, waiting for the right opportunity. A short time later, he opened his eyes, afraid he would pass out if he wasn’t careful, only to see the man still there, motionless. Terry’s eyes drifted to the sky. Based on the moon’s position, he gathered it must be close to midnight. Maybe now was a good time to—
They found you before, said the voice in his head. They’ll find you again.
No, not this time. He’d find a way to stop them if they came after him a second time. He could fight them if he had to…maybe set a trap. He’d head in the opposite direction they were going now. If he kept a good pace, they would have to give up eventually.
Wouldn’t they?
Terry fidgeted with the rope, nudging it loose. The knot was firm, but he eventually managed. Several minutes later he had one hand free, followed by the next.
He stared at Scar, who seemed to be ignoring him. The man only sat there staring, his eyes distant and empty. What could he be doing? Earlier in the day, this man and his friends had been so loud and energetic, ready to kick Terry’s face in. Here in the dark, however, he’d changed. He was like a stone, still and quiet, as though his soul had gone away, leaving only the body behind like some kind of hollow shell.
Terry shook his head. None of it mattered. He was about to leave, and he’d hopefully never see these people again. He’d have to pull on his power in order to make the run, but he could do it.
He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, and in a moment, he felt the change take him. The world seemed to slow around him, and suddenly the darkness turned to light, brightening as it had deep in those underground tunnels. He heard the other men’s breathing, listening to them suck the air in and finally release it, louder than if they were next to him. He looked at Scar and waited but was
“You wouldn’t say that if it was you.” She got up and went to the other end of the tent. She hated everything about the last few days. This illness, the work problems, and Travis. What else did the universe have in store for her before the week was out?
A soft hum came from behind. John must have turned the clippers on again, probably to clean them. The noise made her uneasy. She turned to look at him. Ask him to stop. But there, grinning like a child, stood John, holding the clippers clumsily in his hands, pressing them against his head.
“What are you doing?” she asked quickly.
“Hang on,” he told her. He swiped his scalp and clumps of charcoal hair glided down. “I’m almost done.”
She watched in awe as he ran the clippers side to side, front to back, until there was nothing left. He set the device aside and swept his hand across his skull, a look of satisfaction on his face.
She ran to him, touching his head. “You’re crazy! Why would you do that?”
“You know why,” he said. “We’re in this together, the same as we’ve always been.”
“You’re an idiot.” She punched him in the arm, then hugged him.
“Maybe so,” he said, kissing her forehead. “But now we’re both doorknobs.”
******
Unknown
April 22, 2350
Terry watched as his captors built a fire, preparing to camp for the night. They re-tied the rope binding his wrists and attached the other end to a nearby tree. He couldn’t help but think they were right for taking such precautions. Too bad for them it wouldn’t do any good.
Throughout the day, Terry toyed with the idea of escaping, but chose to stay patient instead. The chance to run would come when most of them slept.
He watched them each lie on the ground, their backs on the dirt with only their clothes to cover them. Over the next hour, they each fell asleep, one after the other. Only one remained awake to guard him. Scar, who seemed less interested in making conversation or doing much of anything. Instead, he chose to sit in the darkness, staring into the wild valley before them, saying nothing.
Terry pretended to sleep, waiting for the right opportunity. A short time later, he opened his eyes, afraid he would pass out if he wasn’t careful, only to see the man still there, motionless. Terry’s eyes drifted to the sky. Based on the moon’s position, he gathered it must be close to midnight. Maybe now was a good time to—
They found you before, said the voice in his head. They’ll find you again.
No, not this time. He’d find a way to stop them if they came after him a second time. He could fight them if he had to…maybe set a trap. He’d head in the opposite direction they were going now. If he kept a good pace, they would have to give up eventually.
Wouldn’t they?
Terry fidgeted with the rope, nudging it loose. The knot was firm, but he eventually managed. Several minutes later he had one hand free, followed by the next.
He stared at Scar, who seemed to be ignoring him. The man only sat there staring, his eyes distant and empty. What could he be doing? Earlier in the day, this man and his friends had been so loud and energetic, ready to kick Terry’s face in. Here in the dark, however, he’d changed. He was like a stone, still and quiet, as though his soul had gone away, leaving only the body behind like some kind of hollow shell.
Terry shook his head. None of it mattered. He was about to leave, and he’d hopefully never see these people again. He’d have to pull on his power in order to make the run, but he could do it.
He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, and in a moment, he felt the change take him. The world seemed to slow around him, and suddenly the darkness turned to light, brightening as it had deep in those underground tunnels. He heard the other men’s breathing, listening to them suck the air in and finally release it, louder than if they were next to him. He looked at Scar and waited but was
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