Remnants of Tomorrow by Tayler Kassy

Author:Tayler, Kassy [Tayler, Kassy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-03-18T07:00:00+00:00

17

I knew Pace and Levi would be waiting for my return. I wish they weren’t. I wish they were asleep so I could slip inside and curl up in a corner and go to sleep and pretend like tomorrow would never come. Mercifully, everyone else is asleep. Colm and Tobias stretched out on their backs and Ellen and Jilly curled together, on a blanket and under one. After what just happened to me with Wulf I really do not want their attention. Especially since I know the memory of their care will soon be replaced by something more horrible.

But I can’t hurt them. I’ve hurt them enough. Both of them.

As soon as I enter the hut Pace takes me into his arms for a bone-crushing hug that makes me grunt in pain. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I just didn’t think you would be back.”

All I can do is nod. My emotions are such a jumble, and my mind still does not want to accept the fact that I barely escaped being brutally raped, again. Meanwhile I have the realization that my reprieve will be over soon. “I’ve got to get out of here,” I say and realize that I am babbling. But I can’t help it. I cover my mouth with my fingers to keep anything else that sounds crazy from slipping out.

“What did he do to you?” Pace demands. He has his hands on my upper arms and he is just short of shaking me.

I have reached the point where I have had enough. I shrink away, pulling myself free of Pace’s touch and go to a corner of the hut, as far away from everyone else as I can get. I sink to the ground, put my hands to my head, and drop my head to my knees, wishing with all my might that I could remain unseen and unnoticed. That everyone would just leave me alone. Funny, was it just a few days ago that I was so lonely in my room and consumed with worry for everyone?

Even though I have shut my eyes to block them out I can still hear Pace and Levi talking quietly. I can’t make out the words, and I don’t want to. I know they are talking about me. I keep my head down and try to think of something, anything, other than where I am and what is going to happen. I concentrate on my bed in the cavern, on the weight of a cat on my legs, on the way the water sounded as it went on its course, and on the steady creak of the waterwheel.

Someone touches my hand. Levi. I recognize the rough feel of his fingertips. He does nothing more than squeeze my fingers, and I regretfully open my eyes to find him crouched down in front of me.

“Wren,” he asks quietly. “We have to know. Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?”

I look up and see Pace standing away and to the side. He

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