seems like Jamie and I have been with Jared every bit as long as we were alone。 Two or three years；
maybe。
“We’ve got time；” Jared says again。
An abrupt panic； like a warning premonition； makes it impossible for me to speak for a long moment。 He
watches the change on my face with worried eyes。
“You don’t know that。” The despair that softened when he found me strikes like the lash of a whip。
“You can’t know how much time we’ll have。 You don’t know if we should be counting in months or days
or hours。”
He laughs a warm laugh； touching his lips to the tense place where my eyebrows pull together。 “Don’t
worry； Mel。 Miracles don’t work that way。 I’ll never lose you。 I’ll never let you get away from me。”
She brought me back to the present—to the thin ribbon of the highway winding through the Arizona
wasteland； baking under the fierce noon sun—without my choosing to return。 I stared at the empty place
ahead and felt the empty place inside。
Her thought sighed faintly in my head：You never know how much time you’ll have。
The tears I was crying belonged to both of us。
CHAPTER 9
Discovered
Idrove quickly through the I…10 junction as the sun fell behind me。 I didn’t see much besides the white
and yellow lines on the pavement； and the occasional big green sign pointing me farther east。 I was in a
hurry now。
I wasn’t sure exactly what I was in a hurryfor； though。 To be out of this； I supposed。 Out of pain； out of
If I could find a way； I would keep Melanie out of the Seeker’s hands。 It would be very hard。 No； it
would be impossible。
I would try。
I promised her this； but she wasn’t listening。 She was still dreaming。 Giving up； I thought； now that it was
too late for giving up to help。
I tried to stay clear of the red canyon in her head； but I was there； too。 No matter how hard I tried to
see the cars zooming beside me； the shuttles gliding in toward the port； the few； fine clouds drifting
overhead； I couldn’t pull pletely free of her dreams。 I memorized Jared’s face from a thousand
different angles。 I watched Jamie shoot up in a sudden growth spurt； always skin and bones。 My arms
ached for them both—no； the feeling was sharper than an ache； blade…edged and violent。 It was
intolerable。 I had to get out。
I drove almost blindly along the narrow two…lane freeway。 The desert was； if anything； more
monotonous and dead than before。 Flatter； more colorless。 I would make it to Tucson long before
dinnertime。 Dinner。 I hadn’t eaten yet today； and my stomach rumbled as I realized that。
The Seeker would be waiting for me there。 My stomach rolled then； hunger momentarily replaced with
nausea。 Automatically； my foot eased off the gas。
I checked the map on the passenger seat。 Soon I would reach a little pit stop at a place called Picacho
Peak。 Maybe I would stop to eat something there。 Put off seeing the Seeker a few precious moments。
As I thought of this unfamiliar name—Picacho Peak—there was a strange； stifled reaction from Melanie。
I couldn’t make it out。 Had she been here before？ I searched for a memory； a sight or a smell that
corresponded； but found nothing。 Picacho Peak。 Again； there was that spike of interest that Melanie
repressed。 What did the words mean to her？ She retreated into faraway memories； avoiding me。
This made me curious。 I drove a little faster； wondering if the sight of the place would trigger something。
A solitary mountain peak—not massive by normal standards； but towering above the low； rough hills
closer to me—was beginning to take shape on the horizon。 It had an unusual； distinctive shape。 Melanie
watched it grow as we traveled； pretending indifference to it。
Why did she pretend not to care when she so obviously did？ I was disturbed by her strength when I
tried to find out。 I couldn’t see any way around the old blank wall。 It felt thicker than usual； though I’d
thought it was almost gone。
I tried to ignore her； not wanting to think about that—that she was growing stronger。 I watched the peak
instead； tracing its shape against the pale； hot sky。 There was something familiar about it。 Something I
was sure I recognized； even as I was positive that neither of us had been here before。
Almost as if she was trying to distract me； Melanie plunged into a vivid memory of Jared； catching me by
surprise。
trees。 I tell myself that it is not as cold as I think it is。 My body just isn’t used to this。
The hands that are suddenly there on my shoulders do not startle me； though I am afraid of this unfamiliar
place and I did not hear his silent approach。 Their weight is too familiar。
“You’re easy to sneak up on。”
Even now； there is a smile in his voice。
“I saw you ing before you took the first step；” I say without turning。 “I have eyes in the back of my
head。”
Warm fingers stroke my face from my temple to my chin； dragging fire along my skin。
“You look like a dryad hidden here in the trees；” he whispers in my ear。 “One of them。 So beautiful that
you must be fictional。”
“We should plant more trees around the cabin。”
He chuckles； and the sound makes my eyes close and my lips stretch into a grin。
“Not necessary；” he says。 “You always look that way。”
“Says the last man on Earth to the last woman on Earth； on the eve of their separation。”
My smile fades as I speak。 Smiles cannot last today。
He sighs。 His breath on my cheek is warm pared to the chill forest air。
“Jamie might resent that implication。”
“Jamie’s still a boy。 Please； please keep him safe。”
“I’ll make you a deal；” Jared offers。 “You keepyourself safe； and I’ll do my best。 Otherwise； no deal。”
Just a joke； but I can’t take it lightly。 Once we are apart； there are no guarantees。 “No matter what
happens；” I insist。
“Nothing’s going to happen。 Don’t worry。” The words are nearly meaningless。 A waste of effort。 But his
voice is worth hearing； no matter the message。
“Okay。”
He pulls me around to face him； and I lean my head against his chest。 I don’t know what to pare his
scent to。 It is his own； as unique as the smell of juniper or the desert rain。
“You and I won’t lose each other；” he promises。 “I will always find you again。” Being Jared； he cannot
be pletely serious for more than a heartbeat or two。 “No matter how well you hide。 I’m unstoppable
at hide…and…seek。”
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter； processtext/abclit。html
”
“Without peeking。”
“You’re on；” I mumble； trying to disguise the fact that my throat is thick with tears。
“Don’t be afraid。 You’ll be fine。 You’re strong； you’re fast； and you’re smart。” He’s trying to convince
himself； too。
Why am I leaving him？ It’s such a long shot that Sharon is still human。
But when I saw her face on the news； I was so sure。
It was just a normal raid； one of a thousand。 As usual when we felt isolated enough； safe enough； we had
the TV on as we cleaned out the pantry and fridge。 Just to get the weather forecast； there isn’t much
entertainment in the dead…boring everything…is…perfect reports that pass for news among the parasites。 It
was the hair that caught my eye—the flash of deep； almost pink red that I’d only ever seen on one
person。
I can still see the look on her face as she peeked at the camera from the corner of one eye。 The look
that said；I’m trying to be invisible； don’t see me。 She walked not quite slowly enough； working too
hard at keeping a casual pace。 Trying desperately to blend in。
No body snatcher would feel that need。
What is Sharon doing walking around human in a huge city like Chicago？ Are there others？ Trying to
find her doesn’t even seem like a choice； really。 If there is a chance there are more humans out there； we
have to locate them。
And I have to go alone。 Sharon will run from anyone but me—well； she will run from me； too； but
maybe she will pause long enough for me to explain。 I am sure I know her secret place。
“And you？” I ask him in a thick voice。 I’m not sure I can physically bear this looming goodbye。 “Will
you be safe？”
“Neither heaven nor hell can keep me apart from you； Melanie。”
Without giving me a chance to catch my breath or wipe away the fresh tears； she threw another at me。
Jamie curls up under my arm—he doesn’t fit the way he used to。 He has to fold in on himself； his long；
gangly limbs poking out in sharp angles。 His arms are starting to turn hard and sinewy； but in this moment
he’s a child； shaking； cowering almost。 Jared is loading the car。 Jamie would not show this fear if he were
here。 Jamie wants to be brave； to be like Jared。
“I’m scared；” he whispers。
I kiss his night…dark hair。 Even here among the sharp； resinous trees； it smells like dust and sun。 It feels
like he is part of me； that to separate us will tear the skin where we are joined。
“You’ll be fine with Jared。” I have to sound brave； whether I feel that way or not。
I flinch。 When Dad didn’t e back—though his body did eventually； trying to lead the Seekers to
us—it was the most horror and