Ravenous

   “We don’t know how to use scuba gear,” one of the other group insisted firmly. “We would never be able to do it.”

   “And we are never going to be able to do this!” I insisted.

   “I know how to scuba dive.” My attention was drawn to a young woman in her late teens or early twenties. Her long reddish hair, so dark that it was nearly brown, hung in thick curls to the middle of her back. Her cat green eyes were bright as she surveyed the group. “My father and I used to go lobster diving. I’m not an expert, but I do well enough with it. I could help.”

   Hope sprang through me, I looked eagerly to Aiden, but his jaw was clenched and I could tell he was still against it. “We don’t know for sure that the store will have rental gear.”

   “It’s worth a shot,” Abby said softly.

   “There may not even be enough for all of us, and then what?” another woman in the group inquired.

   I sighed loudly, growing impatient and frustrated. “Then we come back here tomorrow night, but at least we would have tried,” I said sharply.

   “You can stand here and debate this all you want. I’m not waiting any longer. The closer it gets to dawn, the less likely our chances of getting across are going to become,” a man amongst the group insisted. “And we may not have another night. This may be our onlychance to escape, and I am not going to blow it.”

   “But this isn’t a chance, this is death!” I insisted angrily. “Please don’t do this. It’s foolish.”

   I didn’t understand their absolute instance upon this course of action. Was it because it was the only plan they believed in? Was it because they believed the other side of the bridge was magically better? Or was it simply because they finally had something to do, something to cling to and hope for other than fear and uncertainty? Because they finally had a firm plan, and a course of action?

   Whatever it was, I knew that I was not going to be able to stop them, and I was terrified that I would not be able to talk sense into Aiden either. Would he leave Abby and I here just to do this? Just to prove a point?

   “You’ll see Bethy, when we get to the other side, you can join us.”

   “No Aiden, please no.”

   My heart was hammering. Abby was shaking even more, her fingers dug painfully into my arm. “Aiden don’t,” she pleaded.

   He looked at her in surprise; apparently he’d thought that she would be eager to go across too. “Why don’t we just think over what Bethany is saying,” Cade said softly.

   “What is there to think about?” The burly man shoved his way through the group to us. He hoisted his spear higher as he swung his pack onto his back. “This is the plan.”

   My heart was hammering, my mouth was completely dry. There didn’t seem to be any way to stop this. They were fixed on their course. “At least stay with us,” I urged Aiden. “If they make it to the other side then maybe we’ll consider going.”

   Aiden looked torn; he glanced back at the group of four that was starting to gather near the road. “We are in the third group, we’ll go then.”

   Apparently I had already been divided without my knowledge, or approval. “Why are we even splitting up?” Abby asked softly.

   “Smaller groups will be harder to notice.”

   “Yeah, that’s go

   “You know I love you Bethy, but optimism has never been one of your stronger qualities,” Aiden said quietly.

   I glared at him, fighting to keep control of my rising temper as my hands fisted at my sides. He may be my brother, and one of my best friends, but there were times when our personalities completely clashed. Unfortunately this was one of those times, and his stubborn insistence may very well get us killed. No matter how much I did not want to cross that bridge, I knew that I would not let him go alone. I couldn’t. “Realism is not the same as pessimism. You’re being foolish Aiden; you’re not even listening to reason.”

   “This is a good plan.”

   I bit my lip, arguing with him was getting me nowhere. He wasn’t listening; he wouldn’t listen, not until something bad happened. I looked toward Cade, but his attention was focused upon the people already leaving the woods. I closed my eyes, made a silent plea for their safety, and then forced myself to watch. I couldn’t keep my eyes closed against this; I had to know what was going to happen no matter how awful it might be. I couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t going to happen.

   “No, it’s not,” I whispered.

   Bret stepped closer to me and slid his hand into mine. “I’ll keep you safe.”

   I managed a tremulous smile for him, but we both knew that it would be nearly impossible for anyone to stop the kind of murderous intent that we had seen earlier. His hand was warm in mine, gentle and strong. I knew every callous on it, every small scar that marked it. It was familiar, well loved, and so very trusting. Yet as I held his hand, I didn’t feel the strong pull, the strong needthat tore at me whenever Cade was near.

   The next group stepped forward, entering the street as the first group reached the far side of the rotary. They were only five feet from the begi

   “Ok, let’s go.”

   Bret took a step forward; apparently he was in our group while the other man and woman would be the last ones to go with Je

   My heart was hammering, I could hardly breathe. My hand tightened around Bret’s. The second group was almost at the begi

   “We have to go Abby, it’s the plan,” Aiden seemed slightly a

   “Just wait until the second group gets a little further Aiden, please,” Abby whispered.

   I decided to let her try to persuade Aiden, he had a harder time saying no to her than he did to me. He looked hesitant but he waited until the second group was already on the bridge. The first group was only twenty feet from the end, and begi

   He started moving forward, his jaw locked. The fierce determination in his gaze was a sign of impending trouble. I knew he wasn’t going to make me cross that bridge if I really didn’t want to. I shivered in response to the fire burning in his coal dark eyes. “Aiden wait,” he ordered coldly.

   Aiden spun back toward him, but the other two members of Cade’s group were also coming forward. One of them was the girl who had claimed to know how to scuba dive. “Molly,” she said, thrusting her small hand forward to shake ours. I took hold of her hand, surprised by the strength in her firm grip as I introduced myself.