@@@@@One of the dirty men stepped around Jared
@@@@@One of the dirty men stepped around Jared and
caught her as she nearly fell over Wes?Oh, Andy!? she sobbed, the tone of her voice reminding
me of Melanie'sPaige's outburst changed the atmosphere momentarilyThe silent crowd began to murmur,
most of them rising to their feetThe sound was one of welcome now, as the majority went to
greet the returned travelersI tried to read the strange expressions on their faces as they forced
grins onto their lips and peeked furtively back at meI realized after a long, slow second?time
seemed to be congealing around me, freezing me into place?that the expression I wondered at
wasguilt?It's going to be okay, Wanda,? Ian murmured under his breathI glanced at him wildly, searching for that same guilt on his faceI didn't find it, only a
defensive tightening around his vivid eyes as he stared at the newcomers?What the hell, people?? a new voice boomedKyle?easily identifiable by his size despite the grime?was shoving his way around Jared and
heading toward? me?You're letting it tell you its lies? Have you all gone crazy? Or did it lead the Seekers here? Are
youall parasites now??
Many heads fell forward, ashamedOnly a few kept their chins stiffly in the air, their shoulders
squared: Lily, Trudy, Heath, Wes? and frail Walter, of all people?Easy, Kyle,? Walter said in his feeble voiceHe walked with deliberate steps toward me, his eyes, the same vibrant cobalt
as his brother's, glowing with rageI couldn't keep my eyes on him, though?they kept returning
to Jared's dark shape, trying to read his camouflaged faceMelanie's love flowed through me like a lake bursting through a dam, distracting me even more
from the enraged barbarian closing the distance quicklyIan slid into my view, moving to place himself in front of meI strained my neck to the side to
keep my view of Jared clear?Things changed while you were gone, brother
Kyle halted, face slack with disbelief?Did the Seekers come, then, Ian??
?She's not a danger to us
Kyle ground his teeth together, and from the corner of my eye, I saw him reach for something in
his pocketThis captured my attention at last
