Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,21

murmured. “Unlimited ice cream bar or free designer handbags or something.”

Holding hands, we stepped between the trees and into the shadows.

My senses were flooded with forest sights, sounds, and smells. Birds chirped. Critters rustled in the undergrowth. Branches swayed in the breeze. The scent of pine permeated it all. This place would be lovely if I wasn’t terrified.

“It’s over here,” Levi called.

We followed his voice down an incline littered with pine needles, logs, and leaves. Here, two hills met and formed a small valley. At its center, a man-made entryway led to a very dark interior.

“What the hell is this?” True asked. “Your woodland bunker, Ted Kaczynski?”

Levi walked to the entrance and put his hand on one of the cement supports. “I wanted to show you this in case you need it. It was built during the Cold War as a nuclear bomb shelter. Once the door is shut and the bolt put in place, nothing can get to you. Nothing.”

“Why in the hell would we need this? You think a nuclear war is going to happen during summer camp?” True’s voice had risen with incredulity.

Levi turned around, his eyes finally meeting ours.

Mine.

“It’s in case of...bears.”

It felt like an electric shock. My heart skipped a beat, then began thudding an erratic rhythm as my palms began to sweat and my vision tunneled.

Was he saying...? Did he know?

My father. The cabin. The sounds of a struggle. The boots on the floor.

The blood.

Was he saying that whatever killed my father was here? That I needed this bunker just as I needed that crawl space?

No.

I reached up with trembling fingers as I felt the blood trickle down my cheek.

“Piper?” True’s voice found me, but it came from far away.

The world was spinning, everything narrowing to a single pinpoint as I felt my legs giveaway. The ground rushed up to meet me.

Then it all went dark.

My body swayed back and forth, my head lolling against something hard and muscly. A chest. Arms cradled me. I was being carried. My father was carrying me from the couch to my bed.

My father.

My father was dead.

Startled, I woke up, lids flying open. Even the dim light burned my eyes, causing them to snap shut again, but the fear wouldn’t let them stay that way. Squinting, I was able to make out the grassy field that led to the path back into camp.

Camp. I was at camp. We were in the forest. I saw the bunker and passed out.

Levi.

I craned my neck and saw him carrying me as if I weighed nothing. Two strong arms held me aloft as he walked steadily back toward civilization. His body was pressed to mine, and I was keenly aware of the solid muscles of his chest and his hand resting against my thigh.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice rumbling beneath me.

“What happened?”

“You fainted. True ran to get help. I’m taking you to the nurse’s station.”

“Oh.”

He swallowed hard. “It was too much. I shouldn’t have… I should have been more careful.”

Was he apologizing for showing me the bunker?

“It’s okay,” I managed. “I’m just oversensitive.”

God, how embarrassing to faint in front of him. Yet, he seemed to be the one who was embarrassed.

“I’m not good with considering how my actions and words might make people feel. It’s something I’m working on with the Dean.”

“Oh. I didn’t know the dean was a therapist, too.”

Levi tensed but finally nodded. “He’s good at a lot of things.”

“Sounds like a nice guy.”

Levi nodded, but his jaw was tight. I got the sense that he was mentally berating himself for his slip up, and I knew what it felt like to be one’s own worst critic.

“Hey, look. It really isn’t your fault what happened back there. If you’re worried that I’m going to say something to the dean, I’m not. Also, you can put me down. I can walk now.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t like my body pressed up against his. I might have liked it too much, but the other counselors seeing me being carried into camp would be an embarrassment I might not ever get over.

Levi’s hands tightened as if he were resisting the idea of releasing me, but finally, he lowered my legs until my feet were safely on the ground. Only when he was certain I was steady on my feet did his hand leave my back.

I straightened my outfit and pushed hair out of my eyes. “Thanks.” I offered my hand for him to shake.

His serious expression didn’t change, and he made no