Redemption (Night Marchers #2) Written by: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels (9 page)

"Yes I do." He says, his hand still under my
chin forcing me to keep my gaze on him. As if I can see into his
soul, I read the same hurt there, the concern and the love.

I break the intensity of the moment by
pulling my head back out of his grasp and standing up. "Thank you
Tristan. But, this was my decision and I'm going into this of my
own accord. I appreciate your help and all that you’ve already done
for me."

"Understood, but you will not try to run away
from me. I plan on being there every step of the way." He says. "I
looked up the moon phase schedule. Based on it, the earliest we
should expect to witness a Night Marcher encounter is possibly
tomorrow or the next day."

Feeling my spirit dwindle, I should have
thought of the possibility that we might have to wait a few days to
get to Kai and Noa. I start pacing back and forth along the length
of the table. For a moment I ponder the thought of where exactly
they might be right now. Where do the Night Marchers go when the
sunrises? I wish my phone could pickup a signal out here. I hadn't
thought about how little I know about the Night Marchers. It would
be nice to be able to do a little more research while we’re
waiting. I wonder if Tristan would care if I dig deeper into the
legend, or if he would prefer me to stay far away. My bet is on the
latter.

Tristan gets up from the table and moves over
to a blanket he spread out near the fire, motioning me closer. When
I get close enough, he grabs my arm and pulls me down seating me in
his lap. Squeezing me closer, he wraps his arms around my middle.
Letting go of any frustrations I have right now, I go with it and
nestle my back into his chest. He responds by putting his chin on
top of my head. We sit silently for a while watching the embers
crackle in the open fire. I love being like this with Tristan, but
the downfall is that it leaves me more time to think about all the
un-pleasantries: like Kai, and my relationship with Tristan. Just a
few weeks ago my life seemed so uncomplicated and in just a blink
of an eye I went from being an innocent girl with no care in the
world to a life where uncertainties and problems abounded at my
every turn.

Chapter 6

I must have dozed off, because the next thing
I know a foot is kicking me in the side. “Good morning
sleepyhead!”

“Crap,” I say trying to gather my bearings.
Tristan and I are intertwined like a pretzel and all I can think
about is what Kaylee must be thinking. I try and wiggle myself free
of Tristan only to feel his grip on me get tighter. He moans softly
in my ear and I blush knowing that Kaylee probably heard that.

“This isn’t what it looks like, I swear!” I
hurriedly tell Kaylee. I try and elbow Tristan but I only hear him
grunt in response. He must be a hard sleeper.

I watch in absolute horror as Kaylee
audaciously picks up Tristan’s canteen and pours it slowly over his
face. Tristan jumps up in response flailing his arms in the air.
I've never seen anyone get out of bed that quickly. I just duck and
cover hoping he doesn’t trample me in the process.

Kaylee is laughing hysterically at Tristan
and I find it hard not to join in. Tristan glares at us, then
grumbles, "What the heck?"

Kaylee just shrugs and I cover my face trying
to stifle the giggles that threaten to explode into all out
laughter. Once I'm sure that my giggle fit is contained I spare a
look up at Tristan. He is definitely sporting the bed head this
morning. I'm amazed though that he still looks good with his messy
locks and muddled expression. I can't help but smile at him,
swooning just a bit.

Kaylee interjects, "Sorry Tristan, I was just
worried for a minute there that you were going to suffocate Emma.
You had a really tight hold on her!" We both can't control our
giggles now.

"MmHm." He says sourly then turns to head out
into the woods.

Kaylee shrugs and says to me, "Guess he's got
to do his business." More laughter follows from the two of us.
"Speaking of which, where are the restrooms? Is there a public one
or a port-a-potty or something around?"

Smirking, I pick up a leaf from the ground
and hand it to her saying, "Nope."

"Gross, Emma! You so owe me for this!" She
stands there scowling at me with her hands on her hips. "Well?
Let's go!" She says.

"Argh, okay," I say getting up slowly. My
body filled with kinks and aches from the night spent on the tough
ground.

A few minutes later, with empty bladders, we
head over to the base of the waterfall to wash up. I look down at
my reflection in the water and cringe. My eyes are red and bags are
starting to form giving me a tired and weary appearance. I look
over to Kaylee's reflection to see her perfect little face staring
back at mine.

She puts her hand on my back and says, "You
really need to get more sleep Emma."

I let off an exhausted laugh, "Yeah, I look
that bad huh?"

"No honey, you could never look bad. You just
look tired and overwhelmed." She turns towards me and says
seriously, "No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to
carry the world. So you need to get it off your shoulders before
you break your back."

Looking at her, I think about how good she is
at making up analogies. Although it would make a great quote, I'm
not trying to carry the world. I am just trying to save the people
I care about. "I know, but as long as I'm here...as long as I'm
alive, I need to try Kaylee. I will rest when this is over
with."

We both stare each other down, trying to
decide if we need to continue with this conversation. Kaylee nods
and is the first to break eye contact, turning back towards the
water to wash off her face. I follow suit.

The smell of bacon and coffee wafting over to
us draws our attention back towards the camp. Stomachs growling in
return, we both smile at each other and head back to the site.
Nothing speaks better to a teenager than food.

Tristan has set up a portable two burner, gas
camp stove near the table and he's slaving diligently over it
making a bacon and egg scramble that makes my mouth salivate. On
the other burner he has a Coleman camp coffee maker brewing up a
fresh pot of aromatic coffee. Knowing how expensive camping
equipment like this can cost, I say to him, "You really went all
out Tristan; I hope you didn't purchase all of this for me."

He turns around and smiles at me, which is
nice to see since our wake up call this morning was none too
pleasant for him. "I may love you Emma, but I'm not rich. I
borrowed it from the Kealoha's."

Kaylee jabs me in the side with her elbow and
gives me an expression, which silently says,
awe, how sweet
.
I don't have time to really appreciate his words; instead nervous
anxiety starts pounding through my brain. "Tristan, you told the
Kealoha's?" I say, not so nicely.

"Of course not Emma. I'm not stupid. They had
it in the garage and I just borrowed it. My mom knows I took it. I
told her I was going on a camping trip with some of the guys from
my Army Reserve unit who were in town." He says with a hurt
expression.

Feeling like a total jerky face, I apologize.
"I'm sorry Tristan, I'm just a little on edge. I'm also sorry that
you had to lie to your mother for me."

"No big deal Emma. As for my mom, yes I hate
lying to her, but what I said wasn't
entirely
false. I
am
on a camping trip and some of the guys from my unit
are
in town. They are staying at the Marriot though.” He
says nonchalantly. “We have to rough it all the time in training,
so the last thing they would want to do on vacation is camp." He
flashes me a smile showing off his perfectly white teeth. I return
it with a well lacking half smile.

Tristan finishes up the food while Kaylee and
I start setting the table. Our breakfast was perfect and the
conversation at the table was kept to lighter subjects, which was
nice.

After we finish our meals and put everything
away, Kaylee excuses herself so she can go and change out of her
pajamas.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I ask
Tristan now that we’re alone.

"I have an errand to run. I got a lead from
one of the guys who helped your dad with some camera work while
they were island hopping getting interviews for his documentary."
He says.

That well-known guilt that has been my
constant companion lately rises up when I think of my dad. I wonder
what my life would have been like if my dad wasn't a paranormal
investigator and if he never got offered to do that documentary on
the Night Marchers. While I wouldn't be going through all of this
danger and pain, I also wouldn't have gotten the chance to meet
Tristan or Kai. "So what kind of lead?" I ask.

"A possible lead on how to bring a Night
Marcher back. I don't know if it will result in much of anything,
but it's worth a shot. I've been calling and emailing basically
anyone I can think of who has any types of dealings or knowledge of
the Night Marchers. This guy emailed me yesterday telling me that
he has a book that was passed down to him from his great-great
grandfather. He is going to loan me the book, but I have to drive
out to get it and he lives near the airport." He looks at me
concerned then asks, "Do you think you two will be okay without me
for the day?"

Before giving him a solid answer I think back
to all the ‘interesting’ situations Kaylee and I have gotten into
over the years. I can’t say we are very good at staying out of
trouble; it’s more like trouble finds us, but that doesn’t mean we
can’t at least try. "We’re big girls Tristan, we can handle
ourselves. Just go get that book. Anything can help."

"I know you two can handle yourselves. I just
don't know if you can stay out of trouble." He pokes me in the rib
with his index finger to show that he's joking. Feeling he’s
getting too close to the truth I try and dissolve the
situation.

"Well, we’ll try not to do anything too wild
and crazy." I reply giving him a smirk.

"Good cause, while it may be spring break,
this isn't the best place to go all
Girls Gone Wild
on me.
At least, while I’m not here." He gives me that incredibly sexy
half smile of his. I swat him on the arm jokingly. "I’ll be back
well before night falls. Please stick around the site though, I
don't want to risk you two getting lost." He adds seriously.

I nod, but he gives me a look that says he
wants more of a commitment than a simple nod so I cross my heart
and say, "I promise, we won't venture off from this area."

Looking conflicted, like he's torn between
going and staying here to play protector, he nods. We both stand up
and he gives me a quick unexpected kiss on the lips then heads back
to his tent to grab his things to head out.

Even though the kiss was short and sweet, it
still sends my head into a dizzy spin. I must feel something big
for Tristan if I get all fluttery when he kisses me.
Right?
I don't allow myself to ponder on it more because I know that will
just send me back to thinking about the confused circle of feelings
I have for both Tristan and Kai. Instead, I head over to the tent
to change out of yesterday's clothes and to talk with Kaylee.

Unzipping the tent I duck inside to find
Kaylee dressed only in her bathing suit, lying on the air mattress
messing with her phone. "You get reception out here?" I ask her
amazedly.

"Nope, I wish. Just playing a little Angry
Birds while I was allowing you two lovers some time to chat or get
all kissy-kissy, or whatever it is y’all do."

"Ha! Well thank you Kaylee for being so
considerate. So are you going swimming or something?" I ask.

"I figured I might as well. It's not like I
can go to the mall or watch a movie. Our entertainment options are
a bit limited out here. Want to come?" She asks.

"I guess. Friends don't let friends swim
alone, or so I’ve heard." I say thinking about the lectures both
Tristan and Kai gave me when I went for a swim in the Pacific. That
was before everything got so crazy.

"Cool." She says and then gives her attention
back to the game while I change into my swimsuit.

Towels in hand we both head out of the tent.
We catch Tristan just as he's about to leave and he gives us a
whistle, waves goodbye and heads out towards the trail that leads
to his Jeep.

"You're it!" Kaylee tags me and starts
running towards the base of the waterfall.

"Oh my gosh, are we in like seventh grade or
something Kaylee?" I yell after her.

Kaylee turns around, sticks her tongue out,
puts her thumbs in her ears while doing that childish hand waving
thing and says, "Nana-nana, boo-boo." Then she dives into the water
giggling.

"OMG Kaylee, you are such a total dork!" I
say laughing hysterically. I run after her and dive in trying to
tag her back. We may be nearly adults, but I guess nobodies too old
for a good game of tag.

I swim after her around the base of the
waterfall for a few minutes trying to tag her. When I nearly catch
up to her, she diverts me with a huge splash to my face. The water
rushes up my nose and stings my eyes. It takes a few seconds for me
to rub the water out of my eyes so I can open them again and
continue our childish game.

When I open them though Kaylee's nowhere to
be seen. I stay still, dog paddling to keep afloat while I search
around the small area of water waiting for her to re-appear from
underneath. Thirty seconds pass, then a minute. Knowing how hard it
is to hold your breath for a minute, I start getting nervous.
"Kaylee?" I say and then I yell louder, "Kaylee!" I don't hear from
her. My heart starts pounding furiously as I think about my best
friend possibly drowning while I am bobbing around here calling her
name like a fool.

When I still don't hear her or see her, I
dive under trying to grasp at anything. Nothing. Kaylee is nowhere.
I come up for air and then repeat. I dive deeper this time,
straining my eyes to try to see as far as I can under the water. No
Kaylee. I stay under for as long as I can, scanning the area around
me. Having no choice but to come back up for air, I start kicking
for the surface. I break water and look around to see if Kaylee may
have re-appeared. Not seeing her, I take a deep breath ready to go
under again but this time I'm pulled under by my ankle! I swallow
some water in surprise as I submerge. Kicking violently trying to
free my ankle from whatever has a hold of it, I finally break free.
I take that moment to push myself away from whatever or whoever had
a hold of me and in my retreat I feel my foot make contact with
something...someone. With the knowledge that I'm in danger I don't
allow myself to worry about who or what I kicked. I just swim as
fast as I can to the surface and away from whatever pulled me
under.