Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (6 page)

Brick Wall

I stared at the
ceiling, forcing myself to stay awake. I thought through everything I knew
about my dad, the fire, and the boys, seeking answers, seeking inspiration for
what to do.

Having convinced myself
that I would likely never see the blue-eyed stranger from the library again,
Chase’s reappearance at the cabin was the last thing I expected. I played our
latest conversation over again and again searching for clues, trying to figure
out what was really going on.

Initially surprised and
excited in spite of myself, I asked, “What are you doing here?”

I saw the corner of his
lip twitch upward. “Haley, right? I’m Chase.”

“How did you know my
name?” I blurted out, not intending to say it aloud.

He shoved both hands in
his pockets. “I overhead the librarian call you by your name.” I couldn’t argue
with that explanation. The librarian was one of the few people who actually
knew my name and had most likely used it in front of Chase.

I couldn’t believe that
the two hottest guys I had ever seen were not only in the same room but seemed
to know each other. Chase’s blond hair and blue eyes contrasted nicely with
Ethan’s chestnut hair and brown eyes. Both muscular, they were equally
breathtaking in their own way, and I could feel my mind wandering as I studied
their impressive builds.
Focus, Haley!

I looked inquisitively
between Ethan and Chase, wondering what was really going on. I seriously
doubted it was a coincidence that Chase was at the library, then the fire, and
now the cabin. Ethan’s face betrayed nothing, while Chase’s suggested that he
was both bewildered and amused. Suddenly I remembered that I was wearing
Ethan’s boxers and Chase’s over-sized sweatshirt. Being alone with Ethan in
this state hadn’t bothered me as much as I thought it should, but being with
Chase now, I felt slightly awkward about it.

I crossed my arms,
attempting to smother how self-conscious I felt. Silence filled the room,
creating an awkward void.

Finally, I spoke.
“Thanks for rescuing me.”

I noticed a twinge of
red creep up Chase’s neck before he looked down at the floor. “Sure. I mean,
you’re welcome.” He gently kicked the air with one foot.

With my arms still
crossed, I pinched some of the fabric of the sweatshirt. “What did you see
yesterday? Do you know anything more about my dad?”

Chase looked toward
Ethan and I noticed the briefest nod from Ethan. Perhaps I was seeing things,
but it seemed like they were silently communicating. Chase took a deep breath.

“When I saw the house
burning, I wanted to make sure no one was inside. I didn’t see or hear anyone
at first. But when I got closer, I saw you laying on the ground, unconscious.
When you wouldn’t wake up, I carried you to my car.” He paused. “I brought you
here so Ethan could check out your injuries. I don’t know where your dad is,
but I wish I did.”

As the memory faded, I
glanced at the bedroom door. I had been in bed for a few hours, biding my time.
I closed my eyes, my ears focused and listening for any sound.
Now’s your
chance
, I thought.
If you’re going to do it, you need to do it now.
My pulse quickened.

I slipped out of the
bed as quietly as possible and gently picked up my bag, heavier now with a few
extra supplies I had surreptitiously gathered throughout the day. As I threw it
over my shoulder, I heard a creak. Freezing, I held my breath, waiting to see
if it was just the noise of the cabin or one of the guys moving around. After a
few long seconds, I grabbed my canvas shoes and moved toward the window across
the room.

I slowly unlatched the
window then lifted it as quietly as possible, fearing any sudden sound or
movement. Fortunately the drop from the window sill to the ground was only a
foot or so, and there were no bushes on this side of the cabin. After making a
space wide enough to fit through, I slid through the opening, taking care of my
sprained ankle.

The ground depressed
gently beneath me as I landed on my feet, well, mostly my one foot. The soil
was soft and moist but not so wet as to be muddy. The dampness from the rain
the night before lingered, accentuating the scents of the forest; pine, moss,
and damp earth mixed in the cool air.

After glancing around
to make sure no one was about, I hesitated, debating whether to attempt to
close the window. I took a deep breath and didn’t exhale until the window
rested a few inches above the sill. Crouching near the ground, I paused to
reorient myself, and the pine needles shifted under my feet. The waning moon
was high overhead by this point, but thanks to the dense trees, the area around
the cabin remained dark.

Keeping my body low, I
made my way north to the road behind the house. My ankle was aching, but rest
and painkillers had helped some; adrenaline helped even more. After putting
what felt like a safe distance between myself and the cabin, I paused behind a
large tree. Having made it this far, I drew a few breaths to still my beating
heart before briefly closing my eyes to recall a dog-eared map of the area that
I had found in the cabin earlier in the day.

My goal was to head
east to Highway 89 and then figure out my plans from there. Not wanting to get
too close to the road and risk discovery, I planned to skirt the creek that ran
parallel to the road until I hit the highway. If I was right, it was a little
over three miles to Highway 89. Normally three miles would be no big deal, but
tonight my progress would be slow, hampered by unfamiliar terrain, the dark,
and my injured ankle.

Away from the immediate
threat of discovery by Ethan or Chase, I noticed for the first time how cold
and dark it was. I was still wearing Ethan’s boxers and T-shirt as well as the
sweatshirt he had given me that morning, but goosebumps raised on my bare legs.
The night was so cool I could almost see my breath.

Burying my nose and
mouth into the sweatshirt for warmth, the scent of cedar drifted to my nose,
recalling the images of Chase and Ethan. At that moment, I half considered
turning around to go back to the cozy cabin. They said they wanted to help me;
maybe I should have stayed.

Tempting as the idea
may be, I knew I couldn’t go back; I had no idea who they really were and I
couldn’t take the risk to find out. Instead, I headed further north in the
direction of the creek. Crossing the small, two-lane road, the pavement felt
hard beneath my feet. This far away from town, the houses were few and far
between, and with no cars in sight, the forest was quiet.

Occasionally the trees
thinned out enough for the moon to filter through, casting long shadows on the
ground. When I heard the movement of water over stones, I knew the creek
couldn’t be far. The air felt more humid and I was calmed by the sound of the
flowing water. Once I was close enough to the creek, I turned right to head
east toward Highway 89.

Feeling simultaneously
tired and on edge, I was startled when an owl hooted nearby. I rolled my eyes
at my jumpiness; I had been alone outside at night countless times before.
Stay
calm, Haley.
Telling myself to remain calm and rational was one thing;
doing it was another. This was unfamiliar territory, and I felt more alone and
afraid than I ever had.

I picked up my pace, my
ankle burning in fiery protest to the movement. My heart was beating faster,
and I struggled with the terrain, encumbered by the small rocks, pine cones,
and fallen branches that littered the ground. My limbs felt rubbery, each step
forced and clumsy.

Focused on reaching my
destination, I pushed myself to keep moving despite the pain and exhaustion.
Time seemed to drag on, and while I knew I was headed in the right direction, I
wondered why it was taking so long.

Suddenly I flew
forward, falling to the ground. Surprised and slightly winded, I quickly pushed
myself off the ground, brushing pine needles and dirt from my shins and palms.
Don’t
stop, Haley. You can do this,
I reminded myself, forcing back tears. But
the words felt hollow. My life was out of control, and I was frustrated by the
situation, by my ankle. Tired and scared, I just wanted to go home to my dad.

I decided to sit down
on a log to rest. Shivering, I held myself and tried to rub my arms and bare
legs. My mind and body were at war; I knew I had to keep moving, and it would
help me stay warm, but I was so tired.

A twig snapped and I
practically leapt out of my skin. Clasping my hand over my heart, I took a few
deep breaths.
You’re just tired, stop being so jumpy
. Straining my ears,
I didn’t hear anything at first other than the sounds of the forest. My eyes
darted around the surrounding area until something caught my attention. Not far
away I could see a small light bouncing around in the dark, and my stomach
dropped.

The light was too faint
to be a car and too small to be anything but a flashlight. My suspicions were
confirmed when I saw a large figure approaching. Heart pounding, I ducked out
of sight; in my attempt to hide, I lost sight of the light.

I froze, struggling to
hear anything that stood out from the usual sounds of the forest. Crouching
near the ground, the smell of damp earth intensified. My ankle burned and my
leg muscles felt tight, ready to sprint into a run.

I looked around, attempting
to see where the light had gone despite my limited viewpoint. I counted to
thirty in my head, trying to wait out the figure, hoping it had turned to go a
different direction. After a few long moments, I glanced around again and
slowly stood up, exhaling quietly.

Feeling lightheaded, I
sat back on the log, trying to gather enough strength to continue. Seemingly
out of nowhere, a hand appeared in front of me and I heard a gruff voice say,
“Here, let me help you.”

Without thinking, I
reached down and grabbed a fistful of dirt before standing up to fling it at
the man’s face. Surprised, he growled and reached out an arm. I was too slow to
react, and his massive hand closed around my wrist. I was struck by the raw
strength and power it contained.

Instinctively, I
squatted down into a strong stance then leaned forward with all my strength. I
bent my elbow all the way toward him until he was forced to release my wrist.
Free from his hold, I stumbled backwards, scarcely avoiding tripping as I
fumbled in my bag. My fingers found what I was searching for, and I grasped the
corkscrew firmly between my index and middle finger with the point out.

Instead of pursuing me
further, the stranger stopped moving and held out his hands, palms up. He
sighed, sounding exasperated. “Listen to me, Haley, you can’t get anywhere on
that ankle and you’re clearly worn out.” Startled at hearing my name, I stopped
dead in my tracks.

I didn’t think it was
Ethan or Chase, but now I took a better look. His height was close to Chase’s,
over six feet. While Chase’s body was definitely chiseled, it was the
streamlined physique of a swimmer. The man before me was built like a brick
wall.
I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley
, I thought.
Too
late for that,
I laughed darkly to myself.

He stepped into a
clearing between trees, allowing what little light there was from the moon to
shine on him. I felt my grip on the corkscrew tighten, the handle practically
becoming one with my palm. I couldn’t make out much about the imposing stranger
other than his dark jacket and jeans and hair just light enough to gleam in the
moonlight.

Although I didn’t know
him, he clearly knew me; cold and afraid, my teeth were chattering
uncontrollably. He removed his jacket and threw it on the ground near my feet. “Put
it on.” His gravelly voice said it as an order, not a request. I hesitated for
a second, but I was too frozen to argue.

I grabbed the jacket
and put it on quickly, grateful for the instant warmth. His body heat lingered,
and I caught the scent of leather, gasoline, and spice. I sat silently,
wondering what to do or say.

He backed away and
slipped his hands in his pockets, making him appear slightly less intimidating.
“I’m Knox. Ethan and Chase were really worried when they realized you were
gone.” I pulled my legs toward my body and wrapped my arms around my knees.
Seriously,
who are these guys and what do they want with me?

Knox paused and I let
the air fill with silence. He took a breath, and I could tell he was working to
maintain his patience with me. “Look. I know you don’t know us. But we do want
to help you.”

“Why?” I asked,
noticing an edge to my voice.

“What if I make you a
deal?” I looked up at Knox, waiting for him to continue. “I know Ethan and you
have talked, but he hasn’t shared much about why the three of us are involved
in this mess. If you agree to come back with me, I promise that we will tell
you the rest of the story first thing tomorrow.”

I wanted to believe
him, but I still wasn’t sure. But what choice did I have? Outrunning Knox didn’t
seem like an option even on the best of days.
What would he say if I told
him thanks, but no thanks?
Considering he was wandering the forest at night
looking for me, it didn’t seem likely he would agree. And even if he did, how
far was I from the road?