The Three by Meghan O’Brien

Author:Meghan O’Brien [O’Brien, Meghan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781602820562
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2012-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

As much as she had wanted to explore cities, Anna was happy to leave Owensboro. It was not a moment too soon, she decided as they took a much-needed break on their second morning outside of the city. They were perhaps twelve miles from the city limits; not a bad pace for Elin, who still limped from her injuries. She was uneasily aware of an additional weight in her backpack and still couldn’t believe Kael had entrusted her with the gun she’d taken from the old man in the bookstore. It had no bullets, but the mere sight of it would probably keep a threat away. Anna wondered how Elin would feel about it if she knew they had it.

Kael hadn’t wanted to tell her.

Wincing from an upset stomach she’d had all morning, Anna buttoned her jeans and stared at the woods around her. The brilliant purples and reds of autumn had only another week or so to flourish before the dogwoods would start losing their leaves. Beyond the trees lay a clearing of grass and weeds. Elin and Kael had said they would wait for her there, allowing her some privacy to do what she needed to do. Anna swiped the back of her hand across her sweaty forehead, picked up her bat and her gear, and started walking. It must have been breakfast. That just…wasn’t natural.

Her head snapped up as a loud distress whistle broke the silence of the day. Her blood froze at the sound. What the fuck?

She stumbled forward on trembling legs, only making a few steps when a second whistle sounded. This was one she had only heard once before, when Kael and Elin had taught her their alarm system during her first full day of traveling with them. Instantly, she dropped her pack and reached inside for the gun. As she fumbled, she heard a distinctive low, loud whistle and her stomach hollowed. The final whistle contradicted the distress call before it, signaling her not to come.

They’re in danger. One of them wants me to come help, but the other wants me to save myself. Or maybe at first they thought they could handle the situation, and then something happened… She left her bags behind, and started to run to them, her mind racing with the possibilities. They’re in danger. I can’t ignore that.

She tore into the clearing without thought, running in a low crouch, scanning the area for Elin and Kael, though she suspected that they must have reached the forest at the other side. There were trees, gravel paths, and picnic tables scattered intermittently across the entirety of the clearing. She saw nothing to raise her alarm. But if her lovers were facing a threat serious enough that one of them had whistled for her to run and hide, she needed to be careful.

Slipping into the trees, Anna stealthily moved toward some muffled sounds she could just make out. As she drew closer, she could hear shouting, the clanging of weapons. A woman sobbing.

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