Twisted Stars (Hardest Mistakes #3) (5 page)

As soon as we’re far enough away, Jayden lets go of my hand and turns to face me. “I need to leave Black Pike. You can stay and find somewhere safe to hide, or you can come with me, but we can
never
come back.”

I don’t even pause before I answer. “I’m coming with you.”

“You have to do everything I say. If you don’t listen, you might put us both in danger. Do you understand?” I nod. “Good, let’s go.”

He turns and starts walking again. I struggle to keep up with his brisk pace, not to mention I can’t fully see him in the dark. Before long, I’m lagging behind, and Jayden has to stop so I can catch up.

“Where are we going?” I ask, out of breath.

“There’s a hunting cabin up here somewhere. They stock it full of supplies,” he answers over his shoulder. I stumble over a tree root and fall forward, landing on my hands and knees.

“Are you okay?” Jayden’s hand appears in front of my face, offering to help me up. I grasp it, and he pulls me to my feet with little effort. “It’s not far.”

I nod and follow as he starts walking again.

We emerge into a small clearing on the next hill. The cabin sits eerily quiet and dark in the center. To be completely honest—it looks abandoned. Jayden walks up to the door and shoves it open, turning back and waiting for me to enter first.

It smells musty and unused. I can’t see a thing; the darkness is so thick and suffocating. Something brushes against my arm, and I let out a loud yelp.

“Shhh, it’s just me,” Jayden’s voice mumbles close to my ear. I can feel his breath on my neck. For a split second, I’m convinced this is a terrible idea and I should just run home to my mom.

Oh god, Mom.

How could I forget my own family? They’ll be crushed when they realize I’m missing. How could I do that to them? What kind of a heartless, selfish person am I?

Light illuminates the corner of the cabin. Jayden holds a gas lantern out in front of him. “Are you okay?” He raises an eyebrow at me in question.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” He doesn’t need to know the direction of my thoughts.

“I heard your heart speed up. Usually that means you’re upset or afraid,” he explains softly.

I frown. “You can hear my heart beating?” He looks away, shutting his mouth.

I shake my head and look around the small cabin—a sink, small table and a chair, cupboard, and bed. Jayden heads over to the cupboard and looks inside. I walk up behind him and grab the cans and bottles as he passes them to me. He then drags a bag out from under the bed and loads up the supplies.

“We will rest here for a bit and leave before sunrise.”

“Okay.” I walk over and sit on the hard bed. Jayden sits on the floor across from me, leaning his head back against the wall and letting out a loud breath. I watch him curiously. “So, super hearing then?” He closes his eyes and smirks without answering. “What else do I need to know about? Can you read my mind too?” I joke, leaning back on the bed.

He opens his eyes and stares at me, his mouth hanging open slightly.

“What?” I jolt back up. “Can you?”

He looks away uneasily. “Maybe.”

“
Maybe
? What’s that supposed to mean?” He shrugs, pulling his knees up to his chest. “Jayden, if you can, don’t. I’m serious. That’s a huge breach of privacy that I am not okay with.”

“Don’t worry about it—it’s more like emotions rather than thoughts anyway,” he tries to reassure me. I narrow my eyes and lie back on the bed. “Besides, it’s not like I can just turn it off.”

“Maybe you should try,” I mumble, annoyed.

Silence descends on us. I stare up at the wood ceiling, thinking. I have to let Mom know I’m okay; she will be so worried when she returns from her vacation. Maybe I should leave her a message. I tug my cell phone out of my jeans pocket and flip the screen open.

“No.” Jayden jumps up and snatches the phone out of my hand, dropping it to the floor and stomping it under his foot.

I’m shocked for a split second before anger overtakes me. “Hey! What did you do that for?”

He looks at me as if I’m stupid. “They’ll be tracking your phone. This isn’t a joke, Ashlee. If they catch us, they will kill you.”

I shut my mouth and turn back to the ceiling.

Jayden lifts himself off the floor, and I make room for him on the bed beside me.

He drops his head to stare at his shoes. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I’ve been on the run for so long now that sometimes I forget how to speak to someone else. It’s been just the road and me. I’ve always been alone. I can’t even remember what home looked like.”

I sit up with a frown and lean over the edge of the bed towards him. His dark gaze studies me as I reach out and touch his cheek. “I promise you’ll never be alone again. Not while I’m still breathing.”

He lets out a heavy sigh, and we lay back on the bed, side by side. His eyes glitter in the dull lamplight, making them look like fire and the sharp planes of his face stand out. Our hands find each other on the mattress between us.

After a while, Jayden turns off the lamp and curls his body around mine on the small bed. I sigh in contentment at the warmth coming from his skin against mine.

I’m drifting off, the day’s events fading into nothing.

Suddenly his breath is close to my ear. “Ashlee?” I mumble something unintelligible under my breath, already slipping from reality and into a deep, exhausted sleep. I barely hear his next words. “Please, don’t leave me. I need you…” I suck in a sharp breath but pretend I’m still asleep as he settles in behind me.

I’m wide-awake now. Wide-awake and about to cry.

***

I’m shaken awake. I must have drifted off on the hard, uncomfortable bed. Sitting up, I groan at my sore back. Jayden throws the bag over his shoulder with a grunt and slowly strolls over to the cabin door, pausing to wait for me. I drag myself off the bed, my legs protesting at having to move again. The sun is just below the horizon, casting a pink glow across the sky.

I stand beside Jayden and glance up at the dried blood on the side of his neck and across his shoulder. Frowning, I reach out to touch the deep wound on his cheek. It’s still bleeding. “We need to get you a first aid kit or a doctor.” I look up at his impassive expression. He stares at me, his eyes roaming my face. For a brief, silly moment, I think he’s about to kiss me, and then he turns and marches through the door.

We walk for what seems like days. My feet are sore, my back aches, and my throat is dry.

The sun is slowly sinking behind the horizon, casting us in shadow, when Jayden decides to stop.

Pushing our way through the dense growth, we suddenly emerge into a small, dark grove, complete with babbling brook and mossy rocks. I spin in a circle, looking up at the thick canopy of leaves.

“It’s beautiful.”

By the time we’ve eaten our share of canned peaches, the sun has completely set and the stars are out.

Jayden shifts his backpack and lies back on the grass with a soft groan. I lie down on the undergrowth beside him. Light plays over his face where the starlight leaks through the canopy, creating a soft glow around us. I watch him as he stares up.

Suddenly, he turns his head, and we’re staring into each other’s eyes. I don’t want to look away—if I do, I might break whatever small connection we’ve made and tumble back into our scary reality.

I move closer and wrap my hand around his between us. He stills as our skin makes contact. I try to pretend I don’t notice and turn my attention to the glittering lights above. It feels as if we are the only two people left on earth. It’s so quiet.

“Do you think they’ll find us all the way out here? We must be halfway across the freaking state by now.”

He drops his gaze to mine. “They’ll find me. They always do. They’ll never stop searching. Ever.”

“Why are they chasing you? Is it because…” I don’t know how to finish. It’s not as easy as asking someone their age. I’m trying to ask
what
he is
. As in, what species. I’ve never asked anyone before, but it sounds rude to ask someone’s species.

He flinches. Maybe he just heard what I was thinking? “That’s half the reason.”

“And the other half?”

He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

I frown but leave it be. He’s told me so much already, and I don’t want to push it.

“Do you think they’re looking for you?”

“Who?”

He shrugs. “Your friends? Your parents? You just left without a word or note. Won’t they be worried?”

I glance at him and look away. “I guess? I mean, Mom won’t notice I’m gone until she gets back from her holiday next month. And I was serious about my dad. He has a new family now. He doesn’t care about me.”

“Your friends?”

I open my mouth to answer, but no words come. They will be worried. I can just imagine Sammy freaking out when she finds me missing. I should have left a note. But then, wouldn’t the people chasing us use it against me?

Maybe they won’t notice? I purse my lips and shake my head. No, they’ll definitely notice. I just hope they don’t blame themselves for my own selfish choices.

Jayden shifts beside me, bringing my mind back to the present. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset.” He looks uncomfortable. Then I remember his whispered words the previous night.
Please, don’t leave me. I need you
…I roll over on the crunchy, damp leaves and wrap my arm over his stomach. He freezes, sucking in a sharp breath.

After a minute, he lets out a long sigh and pulls me closer.

He needs me.

Chapter Seven

Loud voices and footsteps wake me from where I’ve curled up at the base of a tree. I stay completely still, hoping whoever it is doesn’t notice me. Why are there people out here? It must be the middle of the night.

Someone comes up behind me. One hand clamps over my mouth, and the other grabs a handful of my hair, yanking me to my feet and pushing me into a group of foul-smelling men. No. Soldiers.

I twist in the soldier’s tight grip, searching for Jayden among the dirty faces.

“Look what I found.” The stinky male standing behind me pushes me to my knees and lets go of my mouth. I’m getting really sick of being pushed around. My hands are pulled behind my back and tied with plastic ties.

“Isn’t she the one the boy’s been hiding with? She’ll make pretty bait. Let’s take her back to camp and set a trap tomorrow.” The soldiers standing around all agree with various nods or grunts before pulling me to my feet and pushing me through the trees ahead of them.

They push me too quickly, not allowing me enough time to walk without tripping over the undergrowth. When the trees thin and eventually clear, I finally see their campsite.

I jerk my arms and struggle against my captors’ hold.

I’m pushed to the ground again beside one of the tattered tents, and my hands are tied to a post sticking out of the hard earth. They all touch me as they walk past, running their grimy fingers over my shoulders and hair. I squirm and flinch away from them.

They leave me alone to gather around the roaring fire in the middle of the camp, drinking and eating like the monsters they are.

Where is Jayden?

I can’t believe he just deserted me in the middle of nowhere while I was sleeping.

Well after midnight, I watch the last of them slink into his tent with a bottle of rum. I sit still and watch until I’m sure they’ve all retired to their tents before turning my attention to the plastic ties around my wrists. I need to get free.

I’m so close.

I can feel it.

The plastic is starting to weaken, I’m sure of it.

Okay, maybe not. I slump down in defeat and close my eyes. If what Jayden has told me about these people is true—then I’m as good as dead already.

The bushes at the tree line rustle, and I jerk upright, holding completely still, listening.

Jayden suddenly appears out of the shadows beside me, making me squeak in surprise. He grins and holds a finger to his lips in a shushing motion. He reaches over me and starts cutting the ties with a pocketknife.

Once I’m free, I rub my sore wrists and frown at Jayden. “I weakened them for you.”

He pauses with his eyebrows raised and smirks, holding out his hand to help me up.

I scramble to my feet just as a drunken soldier walks out from behind one of the closer tents. He spots us and lunges at Jayden with a big hunting knife he pulls from his belt.

I watch on in horror as they both tumble to the ground, wrestling with the knife. I glance around quickly, looking for something to use as a weapon. Spotting a branch hanging dead from a nearby tree, I run over to it and pull it down with a grunt.

The soldier has Jayden pinned to the ground with his legs.

Running at them with a battle cry, I swing the branch at the soldier’s head. It cracks against his skull, and he collapses on top of Jayden.

I look down at my branch, impressed. Who knew I was that strong?

The unmistakable noise of people moving around in the tents closest to us kicks my brain back into gear. We have to get away from here. Now.

Dropping the branch, I kneel down and help Jayden push the man off. His shirt, face, and arms are streaked with blood and dirt. I can’t tell if the blood is his or the soldier’s. He groans in pain as he sits up.

“You didn’t need to do that. I had him,” he gasps out, throwing me a quick smile. I roll my eyes and take a hold of his hand to help him up.

“Come on, let’s get out of here before the rest of them wake up and I need to save you from them too.”

We stumble as quietly as we can through the dark trees toward the mountains. Jayden trips over nothing and starts wandering off in the wrong direction. He’s out of energy, and he’s hurt. The adrenaline must have worn off.

I grab his arm and pull him toward me as I search the surrounding area. Hidden behind a thick clump of trees, I spot a large rocky outcrop carved into the cliff side. We make it to the small cave, and I push Jayden in ahead of me.

He trips and sits heavily on the stone floor before he falls over. “I have to get away from you,” he spits out, trying to move away from me. I open my mouth in shock. Where did this harsh attitude come from? His words hurt, but I ignore him and shake my head.

Kneeling down beside him, I reach out to touch his arm. “I need to check you over to make sure you’re not going to bleed to death.”

“I’m fine.” He pushes me away and tries to stand up. “I need to get out of here—it’s not safe.” He fails to lift himself up and collapses onto his back, breathing heavily, his eyes unfocused. What is wrong with him?

I scowl at him and lift up his right arm to find a large bleeding gash on his chest. “This needs to be dressed.”

He tries to push me away again, but I ignore him and rip a shred of cloth from the bottom of my shirt.

“Ashlee, stop—you need to get away. I can’t…control—” His words cut off with a sharp intake of breath. I snatch my hand away from his arm and stand.

He tilts his head back to look at me. His eyes aren’t dark anymore.

He groans, his gold eyes rolling back into his head as he turns onto his side, curling into himself. I have to get out of here. This isn’t right—something’s wrong.

I pause beside the entrance of the cave to look back at Jayden’s trembling body before spinning around and dashing into the forest.

What have I gotten myself into? Where am I supposed to go now? I should have trusted my instincts—the ones that said he was dangerous.

I run through the trees. Branches and leaves smack and scratch me as I pass, but I don’t stop. I can’t…

I slow to a walk and take a breath. I have to be far enough away by now, don’t I?

I tilt forward and brace my hands on my shaky knees. I need to rest, or I’m going to collapse.

I lift my head and glance around at the trees. Where am I? I straighten up and turn around slowly. In my haste, I’ve lost my way. Which way did I come from? Which way do I go now?

Dammit…okay, stay calm.

I just have to make it to sunrise, and then I can climb a tree and find out where I am. But first, I need water.

I push branches out of my way and stumble over the rough undergrowth, searching.

I just have to make it to sunrise.

Something moves the bushes beside me. I jump away and sprint off like a startled animal. My foot catches a rock, and I go down, landing on my hands and knees.

I can’t do this…

I’m not cut out to be on the run…

I never should have left…

I miss my mom.

Tears dribble down my nose and onto the forest floor. I close my eyes. The sobs get caught in my throat. I give up, lying down on the soft undergrowth.

Let them find me—I don’t care anymore. I shouldn’t have run off in the first place. What was I thinking? That I could somehow help Jayden? How could I be so stupid?

The sun begins to rise; I tilt my head to the side to see its beautiful light streaming through the leaves and onto my face. It gives me a small sliver of hope.

Dragging my heavy body off the ground, I stand on shaky legs and walk toward the closest tree. I glance up at its large, thick limbs; it should be strong enough to hold my weight.

I suck in a deep breath and wrap my arms as far around its trunk as I can reach. The climb takes every bit of energy I have left.

Puffing, I settle on a sturdy branch and peek through the thick green foliage. Something sparkles close by in the early morning light. Water? No, a waterfall. If I listen carefully, I can hear the tumble of water over stone in the distance. That’s the way I need to head. I twist on my branch and look back the other way. Most of the trees are too tall to see past. Maybe if I keep walking, eventually I’ll make it to a town.

Surely I can find my way to a town from here?

I slowly lower myself down the tree. By the time I reach the bottom, my arms are shaky and weak from holding up my weight. I can’t believe I thought this was a good idea. I can’t survive out here. And where were we going to go, anyway?

I shake my head and stomp through the bushes, heading for the waterfall.

I reach the river leading to the falls just after midday and sigh happily at the sight of water. Finally. I kneel down on the rocky bank and slurp greedily from the clear liquid. It feels amazing going down my throat. After I’ve drunk my fill, I sit up and leisurely glance around the trees.

Suddenly, a horn sounds close by. Hunters? The soldiers? Or something worse?

I jump up and take off along the bank of the river, pushing myself to sprint over the slippery rocks.

A soldier jumps out of the trees ahead of me. I have to stop myself from screaming. The rest of them will hear me. I take a sharp turn and dive into the water, crossing the icy cold river. I can’t swim, but I can hear the rest of them crashing me through the trees. If I don’t make it across, I’m as good as dead anyway.

As I struggle through the water, I take it all back, everything I said before. I don’t want them to catch me. I don’t want to give up. My head goes under, and I come back up sputtering for breath. I move my arms, pushing myself through the rapids.

I reach the opposite bank and haul myself out, not stopping for air—I start sprinting again into the trees.

I reach a small grove and push myself inside.

Please don’t find me.

Please don’t find me.

Heavy footsteps crunch over the undergrowth. I can hear them surrounding the grove of trees I’m hiding in. They know where I am. They’re just playing games with me now.

I step backwards as quietly as possible, immediately smacking into something solid. I freeze and suck in a breath. Reaching behind me, my fingers touch the rough bark of a tree. The breath I was holding comes out in a relieved whoosh.

The soldiers are getting closer, and I have nowhere to go unless I want to fling myself off the waterfall and fall to my death. The rocks at the bottom of the shallow pool would almost definitely kill me.

Although…what have I got to lose? Either way, I’m about to meet my end.

Something shifts in the shadowy trees beside me. I squeak and move around the tree away from it. A low rumbling growl echoes through my chest, and I peek back around the tree to see a huge white tiger crouching low, ready to pounce.

Oh god. This is it.

As the first soldier breaks through the trees and spots me, the tiger leaps, knocking him to the ground and closing its jaws around his throat. Then, as the next soldier crashes through the trees, it launches itself at him as well.

This is my opportunity; I have to run, right now.

I sidestep the dead soldier and start making my way down the side of the waterfall. I move slowly—the rocks are covered in wet moss and extremely slippery. All movement in the trees above me has stopped suddenly. They’ve either retreated or they are all dead.

Thoughts about the tiger coming for me next distract me, and I misplace my foot, slipping off the edge of a rock and falling. A sharp sting in my shoulder slams me into the rocks and stops my descent. I tilt my face up and suck in a scream. The tiger has its mouth over my shoulder, its teeth digging painfully into my shoulder and ripping into my skin, drawing blood.

I use the tiger’s weight to haul myself back up onto the stone ledge beside it.

I immediately shuffle as far away from it as I can on the rock ledge. It just stares at me with its eerie gold eyes. It doesn’t look like it’s going to attack.

Down is probably not the best way to go. Wary of the tiger, I turn and cross the slippery rocks until I reach the tree line. Glancing over my shoulder, I notice the tiger has followed me. Its gold eyes follow my movements as I find a rock close to the water to sit on and assess the damage to my shoulder.

I peel back my shirt to feel the punctures on my shoulder. It feels superficial rather than damaging. I can handle it. The tiger grunts a few feet away, and I tilt my head to the side as I watch him try and lick clean the bleeding wound on his chest.

If I am to believe what I think I saw back in my house…I glance back at the big cat—at Jayden.

This is just weird—like Kai all over again. I shake my head and stand, walking over to the water and kneeling down. I turn back to the tiger and motion for him to come closer.

“Come on, Jay-kitty.” I try at light and unafraid, but I’m not really feeling it. My hands shake at my sides.