he was leaning in toward me, and I felt my body tense up. Half of my brain was begging for me to rip my hand out of his and run. But the other half was telling me to stay put. He had done so many bad things to me—terrible things that maybe I should have ran. But he also had gone to the City of Crystal, knowing he would be chained up to the energy sucking crystal ball, all so I could try to get my mother out of The Underworld. There were still small wounds in his skin where the tubes had been inserted. It wasn’t pretty, and he had done it to help me.
So I didn’t move away, watching, waiting, knowing I was going to let him kiss me.
“Gemma.” His voice was soft and shaky. A moment later his lips brushed mine, and electricity spun through me.
But the kiss lasted only a split second, because right as our lips touch, someone shrieked from outside. Alex and I both pulled away, and both our gazes shot toward the ladder.
Alex’s eyes scanned the room. “Where’s Laylen?”
“He said he was going to go check to make sure no one was outside.” My heart raced as I stood up. “Don’t you remember?”
He shook his head and slowly got to his feet. “How longs he been gone?” he asked as he walked over to the ladder.
“I’m not sure…I lost track of time,” I said stupidly. “Not too long…I don’t think.”
Another shriek ripped through the air, and this time I knew what it belonged to.
A Death Walker.
Alex’s eyes practically bulged out of his head. He ran over to the small little trunk in the corner and threw open the lid.
“What are you doing?” I asked, watching as he dug around in the trunk. “We need to do something—Laylen’s out there.”
“I am doing something.” He took a small pocket knife out of the trunk and flicked open the blade.
“Why would you ever hide a knife in here,” I asked, gaping incredulously at the knife.
“Why wouldn’t I,” he replied, brushing passed me.
Well, look at him, all Mr. Prepared.
I followed him over to the ladder. “Yeah, but that tiny things not going to help us much if there’s a Death Walker out there.”
He stared up at the top of the ladder with his thinking face on. “You got a better idea.”
“I…no.”
“Well, then.” He placed his hands on the ladder and then said, “Stay here.”
“No,” I told him firmly. “I won’t. There’s no reason for you to go up there alone. And besides, even if I stay down here, it doesn’t mean I’m going to be safe.”
He shook his head, and I suddenly felt the prickle. I was sure what emotion was trying to surface, but a voice inside my head whispered, take the knife. So I did, quickly snatching it out of his hand.
“I’m not staying here,” I said, moving the knife behind my back. “You’re still weak from being in the City of Crystal, and I can help.”
He looked surprised by my sudden take charge attitude. But then he just looked pissed.
“Let’s go.” I tried to sound confident, but I was scared, and it showed through my voice.
Despite my lack of confidence, Alex climbed up the ladder, and I followed, wondering what would be waiting for us outside.
Chapter 22
After we climbed out of the hiding spot and slid down the hill, I gave the knife back to Alex because, let’s face it, I was no Keeper.
Another shriek rang through the forest, and out in the open it sounded louder and more terrifying.
“If you’re scared, then you can go back in there,” Alex told me, his voice urging—begging me to please go back.
I eyed him over. His skin was so pale. The little holes dotting across his body looked like they had to hurt. He also had shadows under his eyes, and although he did look a bit better than when we’d first found him in the City of Crystal, he still wasn’t his strong, normal self. And the voltage of electricity flowing off of him was still so muffled.
“No, I’m going with you,” I told him. “You need my help. You’re not strong enough yet.”
“I’m fine,” he snapped. “I don’t need your help.”
“Yeah, you do.” My voice shook a little, but I stood firm. “I can feel that you’re not okay.”
He held my gaze powerfully, like he thought if he stared at me for long enough, I’d back down. And you know what, a week or