has me stepping forward to grab his arm. “You don’t know that. We have to try and stop it. At least we’re trying, right?”
“Yes.” Nikon’s answer is quiet. “It’s just really hard to see this happen over and over.” His eyes lock to mine as he adds, “When will it end?”
Blinking, I consider different ludicrous statements and platitudes I could give, but when it really comes down to it, I’ve no idea. I barely know what’s going on as it is. Instead, I step forward and wrap my arms around him, turning my cheek to rest against his beating heart. The sound is soothing as he hugs me back, and we sway slightly under the warm spray, letting it soak our clothing and wash away the ocean water.
“Thanks for saving me there,” I finally mumble, realizing I haven’t said that yet. “Once that thing got ahold of my leg, I’m pretty sure it would’ve been game over without you.”
This has him stepping back quickly, almost jerking away from me. “I need to look at that!” He’s immediately pulling my shirt from my pants, reaching for the button and zipper.
Slapping his hands away, I back up more into the spray. “Okay, okay. I can do it.” It burns where the material sticks to my skin, and I know it’d be best to clean it out right away. Especially getting the dirty salt water out of it. At least then it won’t hurt any longer.
Kicking off my shoes, I finish unfastening my pants and peel the sticky, wet material down. I pull them down over my heels, and now that the tight material is sliding across it, it burns more than ever.
Dropping to my butt, I ignore the spray at my back and study the punctures. Only a little blood seeps out of the fine cuts that tingle slightly. Pulling my other leg out from under me, I glance up at Nikon, who’s slid down the wall across from me.
He looks terrible, and a strange expression I’ve never seen on his normally jovial features now dominates his face. He looks angry again. But there’s something else, too.
“Not bad.” I gesture to my calf, trying to make light of the silly cuts that seem so trivial compared to the fact that I almost drowned! Another couple seconds and I’d have marks like this everywhere on my body! “Nothing a little triple antibiotic ointment won’t make good as new.”
I watch his Adam’s apple bob, and he stares at me with a vacant expression. “It’s not the cuts I’m worried about.”
Nikon’s eyes focus on me before dropping to my calf. “It’s the disease they transferred through their scratches and bites.”
My automatic reaction is to downplay it. I’m young and healthy. I should be able to beat it. Right? I open my mouth to argue.
“Of course …” When his voice trails off, I kick him with my good leg. What the hell?
Ignoring my dirty look, his eyes snap to mine. “There’s a possibility that phasing here with me will help, but the only way to make sure you don’t get sick and transition for sure—”
“Transition like those cleaning ladies? Like Brad Nixon? That kind of transition?” My voice is shrill in the shower as I think about their white eyes and drooling faces. Like rabid dogs, they snapped their jaws over and over, baring their teeth grotesquely.
Beginning to shake, for the first time, I consider my mortality. I can’t die. Not right now!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
- Lilibeth
Eva needs me. I have to get her away from her father. Plus, I’m too young to die!
Strong arms wrap around me, and I’m pulled into the warmth of the water and Nikon’s embrace. His warm breath flutters over my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “I do know one way to make sure …”
Blinking, I look up at him and clutch his arm with a desperation that only the dying could experience. Not like that. Not like a rabid animal, attacking anything indiscriminately. I don’t want to hurt others when I die.
Of course, as an officer of the law, I’ve considered my mortality many times before. I always imagined I’d die violently in a shootout, quickly and with dignity in the line of duty. Not from some crazy disease brought here by aliens that’ll make me eat people!
“How?” I’ll do anything at this point to be reassured I won’t go home tonight and potentially wake up looking to consume my father.
When he hesitates, I smack him in the chest with my