Returned (41 page)

“You haven't shown me that. How do we know you can do it? It's not worth the risk.”

“What? And it’s worth risking Cora who will be out there on her own?” Jack stormed.

“She will be safe. We will be there for her.”

“I don't like it, not one bit.”

“Jack, I know you want to protect her. What do you think we're doing?”

Jack sat silently, his jaw popping. She could see he didn’t like it; she wasn’t exactly thrilled about the whole thing herself.

“So, Cora, you will bring them to us through the woods.”

She did the maths in her head. By the time they got here the sun would have set. “I have to do it in the dark?”

“Yes. They need to follow you. I would suggest starting at Andrew Bruton’s field and then making your way to the circle. Can you find your way there okay?’

“I think so. How do I know which direction to head in? If it’s dark I’ll lose my sense of direction.”

“We will give you a signal, something that will light your way.”

“Great,” she huffed, slumping back into the sofa.

What was wrong with her?
She could possibly be facing death within the next few hours and she was worried about the dark?

“So I run to the circle and then what?” she asked.

The tone of her voice gave off a great deal of 'I'm not bothered' but really her hands were sweating and her heart was ready to fly out of her chest.

“Then we do what comes naturally. For now we need to make some weapons. The extra bark in the woods can be made into sharp weapons. Gather bags of stones, maybe they won’t expect such medieval methods of fighting, just gather anything that will help us.”

“So, all we have to help us is a bag of rocks and some sharp pieces of tree?” Clay scoffed.

“Do you have a better idea, Clay?” Eli asked.

Clay shrugged.

“Eli, Ayden and Clay go and look at what we can use for weapons. Clio you can come with me as we need some things from the shop. Cora and Jack, you wait here, we’ll be back.”

What? She didn't want to just sit here. Everyone stood up and left to do their tasks. She envied those who had something to do to occupy their minds.

             
She let go of Jack's hand and walked into the kitchen. She looked at the board of faces that threatened to change everything that she now loved so much about life. The Corenthio Coven didn’t know the full history of what happened back in 1612. They hadn't read the new information she and Jack had found out. Sadly, they couldn't read the information either. No one could, and they wouldn't believe them if they tried.

             
The ache at the back of her throat flared as the tears blurred her vision. She felt his strong arms go around her pulling her into his warm body. His head rested on her shoulder as they both looked at the board.

“I’m scared,” her voice shook.

He sighed. “I know.”

“We won’t win.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic. You can’t go into something believing you can’t do it. We have to believe we can. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

“Since when do people go up against a government type thing and live to see another day?” she questioned him. “It’s like attacking MI6 for God's sake. People who walk out of their homes with a gun in their hand are going to be riddled with bullets. No questions asked. We're metaphorically waving guns at the Corenthio Coven.”

They held each other in silence focusing on the last faces they would see before they died.

“I’m scared for my mum. What if she loses me and Ayden? God, what would she do? The baby,” she finished on a sob.

She could handle the whole dying thing. She could handle the pain, probably, but when she thought of leaving someone behind it made her heart want to painfully burst. He turned her around lifting up her chin which forced her to look at him.

“Listen, I need to see the Cora that smacked my arse into the ground and smirked about it. I need to see the fiery spark that flashes in your eyes when you’re pissed off. You need to be the bad ass out there,
my
bad ass,” he smirked.

She smiled as he wiped away the tears that were sliding down her face.

             
The kiss was slow until she began to build it. He allowed her to set the pace.  She could sense he was willing to go with whatever she had planned. Their tongues touched, danced, sending shivers through her body. The kiss slowed, she sighed wanting to remain like this forever.

“I need to go sit with Mum.”

             
He took her hand and led her into the room. She couldn't think about the goodbye she would have to say to her mother. How could she? Where could you even begin to thank the woman who had given up her own life to make sure she was cared for? 

LATE NIGHT MEETING

She sat on Andrew Bruton’s fence waiting for Tabitha and Eli. Jack was with her, their hands entwined. He hadn't left her side at all and she didn't want him to. She couldn’t hold it together if he left her.

             
The night had become cold as they'd waited, their breath mingled together rising into the night sky. Her stomach clenched when she heard crunching that sounding like feet, she held her breath listening. They weren’t here already were they? Her heart
nearly burst out of her chest.
Her eyes adjusted trying to focus on the shapes in the distance. Her muscles quivered with relief when she spotted Tabitha.

             
Tabitha came to a stop in front of her, placing her hands on her legs. Jack kept his hand in hers whilst Eli put his arm around Jack’s shoulders. Tabitha's leaf green eyes were focused on the task ahead portraying nothing but strength.

“Everything is in place. Everyone is in the training area waiting.”

“My mum, what-”

“Ayden has made sure she is safe,” Tabitha reassured her.

The knot of worry loosened a little in her stomach, only a little.

“Ember has been in touch, they are close. The car is silver, an Audi to be precise.” Tabitha must have sensed her confusion; she didn’t know what car was what. She didn’t even care.

“Just look for the silver car. Ember will speak with you to let you know the right one. Is that okay?” Tabitha passed out the ear pieces.

Her hand shook so bad she couldn’t put the ear piece in her ear. Tabitha took the piece from her hand and placed it in her ear securely. Jack gave her other hand a squeeze putting his own in place. She took a deep breath.

“Can you hear me?” She heard Ember’s voice loud and clear through the ear piece.

“Yeah.”

“They are just approaching the hill, ETA seven minutes.”

“Right, Eli, Jack, we need to go.”

Cora looked desperately at them, silently pleading with them not to go. She felt the urge to cry. Pathetic considering she was a High Priestess. She bit her lip fighting back the tears.

“Cora the signal will fire, so follow it. Get to the training area and bring them with you. Do not stop running, do you hear me?” Tabitha urged. “You keep running until you are with us. I can only assume they are travelling towards the shop as that is the only place they know where to find you, with me.” Tabitha tucked some of her hair behind her ear and stoked her face.

“Tab?”

“Yes?”

“Has anyone ever....” She couldn’t continue. Why had she even asked? She knew the answer.

The silence was so heavy she struggled to breathe. Tabitha looked at Eli, who nodded.

“No, love. No,” Eli spoke, shaking his head.

That was all she needed to know. She would die tonight and she accepted that, but she would die making sure she saved the others.

“Right, Eli.” Tabitha motioned for him to move.

Eli hugged her, kissing her cheek. He stepped aside and hugged Jack whispering things in his ear. They did a lot of male slapping on the back and coughing.

“I love you,” Tabitha whispered. “You’ve made me so proud. You’re Alizon’s daughter and don't forget that,” Tabitha smiled, tears twinkling in the corners of her leaf green eyes. “I will be there with you until the end.”

Cora nodded, not trusting her voice. The tears were already falling down her face.

Tabitha and Eli walked towards the woods leaving her alone with Jack. He kissed her, wiping the tears from her face. What could she say to him? He had become so important to her, so much a part of her life, she refused to say goodbye to him.

“See you there,” he murmured, his lips brushing gently against hers.

“Jack... I just want to say...” She couldn't go on; her throat tightened making it painful.

“I know, beautiful. I know”

His lopsided grin calmed her. He gave her one last soft kiss, took a deep breath and then turned and walked towards Tabitha and Eli. She watched them leave until they disappeared.

             
The darkness seemed to creep in closer now she was alone. Every little sound was magnified, the snap of a twig, the whoosh of wings as birds flew above. Everything set her heart racing.

“Cora, they are nearly here.”

She hoisted herself off the fence and tried to stand on wobbly legs.

             
Headlights lit the road ahead casting distorted shapes around her. She walked towards the middle of the road as the light pushed the shadows back and illuminated her, a lone figure. The car stopped. The engine purred for a moment and then cut dead. She felt temporarily blind as the darkness hit her. The silence engulfed her making her more alert to her own panting.

             
She blinked her eyes rapidly to focus on the car and stiffened when a door opened. The blonde hair was the first thing she saw.

Melitta.

The door slammed and another opened.  She clenched her fists. Four dark shapes were stood around the car. The air above them became misty with their breath. This was it. She couldn’t stand here any longer. She took a great big breath and willed her legs to move. She sprinted towards the woods hearing a male voice shout behind her.

             
Cora sprinted into the darkness
digging deep, trying to push faster. The cold night air burned deep in her throat making her lungs scream in agony, demanding she stopped running. Twigs snapped loudly behind her. The pursuer was gaining ground and fast. The huge black trees towered dominantly over her. They stood tall like a huge prison, the walls unbreakable, taking away any escape from what was to come, enclosing her and forcing her to face
them
.

             
The signal was all she had to wait for. She searched the dark sky, when that signal fired she needed to get to the waiting place, everyone would be there. She had to keep going; Tabitha had told her to keep running, no matter what.

             
A terrifying thud of feet struck the hard ground behind her. The sharp crack of frozen branches echoed, she knew they were gaining ground. She couldn’t run any quicker. Each snap sent her heart into overdrive, it jack hammered as it fought against her crushing fear.

             
She feared that her lungs would give out and she would stop running, she feared who she would meet when her legs finally crumbled beneath her. Her biggest fear ripped the little breath that her lungs had managed to grasp. That fear, would it hurt when she died?

             
Her lungs struggled to inhale the oxygen she needed; they begged her to stop running. She hissed as a sharp pain tightened in her ribs. She wasn't fit, she never exercised. It was ironic really; that the only time she ever runs in her life is when it makes the difference between life and death.

             
The night was silent other than the pounding of their feet and her harsh, panicked breath. She tried, unsuccessfully, to wheeze in enough oxygen to keep going. She pushed past the burning frenzy that was alight in her chest and her legs, and dug her feet into the ground. Dragging the back of her hand across her forehead she flicked away the sweat that was building there. She surged forward praying for some distance from her attacker.

             
Why were they being so silent? She had expected curses or name calling. She could feed off their taunts; knew that they would push her further, faster. This silence made it more daunting, more terrifying, if that was at all possible when someone was hunting you with only one thing on their mind. To kill.

             
She gasped, sucking cold air into her stalling lungs and realised that the somewhat blurred line that separated life and death was, at this precise moment, nonexistent. It felt like one great big wallop up the side of her head. One minute you lived, the next, eternal blackness. Was there something after this life? Would she see the ones she loved again or was this it? Why had she never given this much thought before? She knew the answer; seventeen year olds didn’t usually give death much thought. With a full life ahead of them, why should they worry about death?