As waves that chase each other's track
The thread hung between them.
Six inches of grey wool. Connected his fist to her sleeve.
Emily didn't pull away. Didn't look down. She watched the ground. Roots. Rocks. Mud.
He walked ahead. Back straight. Shoulders tense. Hand clenched at his side. The thread pulled tight when she lagged. Loose when she caught up.
Like a leash.
Or a lifeline.
Trees got thicker. Branches low. They had to duck. Sun tried to break through. Failed. Grey light filtered down. Cold.
Alex stopped.
Emily bumped into his back. Hard.
"Sorry," she said.
He didn't answer. Head tilted. Listening.
"What is it?"
"Water," he said.
"I don't hear anything."
"You will."
He moved again. Faster. The thread snapped.
Emily stopped. Looked at her sleeve. Loose end dangling. Looked at his hand. He still held the broken piece. Crushed in his palm.
"Keep moving," he said.
"Wait." She stepped closer. "Your hand."
He opened it. The wool was damp. Red. He'd been bleeding where the thread cut into his skin.
"It's nothing," he said. Closed his hand.
"Why did you keep it?"
He looked at her. Amber eyes cloudy. Confused.
"Didn't want to lose you," he said. Simple. Honest.
Emily felt her throat tight. Swallowed it down.
"Okay," she said. "Let's find water."
They walked ten minutes. Found the stream. Wide. Fast. White water over stones.
Alex crouched. Drank from his hands. Washed the blood off his shoulder. The wound was closed. Only a silver scar remained.
Emily sat on a rock. Took out the granola bar. Broke it in half. Gave him one.
He looked at it. Didn't take it.
"Eat," she said.
"Not hungry."
"You need energy."
"I need memory." He stood up. Wiped his mouth. "This place... I know it."
"Have you been here?"
"Maybe." He pointed across the stream. "There. A path."
Emily looked. Nothing but bushes.
"I don't see a path."
"It's there." He stepped into the water.
"Wait! It's cold."
He was already across. Shook water off his legs. Like a dog.
Emily sighed. Took off her boots. Socks too. Cold bit her feet. Numb instantly.
She crossed. Slipped on a stone. Alex caught her. Arm around her waist.
Warm. Solid.
He let go fast. Stepped back.
"Sorry," he said.
"It's fine." She put her socks back on. Wet. Squelched in her boots.
They reached the other side. The path appeared. Narrow. Dirt packed hard.
Alex walked onto it. Stopped.
Body went rigid.
"Alex?"
He grabbed his head. Groaned. Low. Painful.
"Hey." She touched his arm. He flinched. Didn't pull away.
"Fire," he said. Voice strained. "Snow. Red snow."
"Sit down."
"No." He pushed through the pain. Eyes wide. Staring at nothing. "Someone... called me. Said run."
"Who?"
"Voice. Female." He looked at her. "Like you."
Emily's heart skipped. "What did she say?"
"Protect... the key."
He blinked. The moment passed. He swayed.
"Key?" Emily asked. "The hunter said I was the key."
Alex nodded. Slow. "You."
"Why me?"
"Don't know." He started walking again. Stiff. "But they want you."
"Who?"
"The ones in the black coats."
Emily stopped. "How do you know about the coats?"
"See them." He pointed ahead.
Emily looked.
The path ended. Blocked.
Three men. Standing in a line. Black coats. Silver badges. Masks.
Not chasing. Waiting.
The one in the middle stepped forward. Same voice from last night.
"Going somewhere?" he asked.
Alex moved in front of Emily. Shoulders broad. Blocking her.
"Move," Alex said.
"Or what?" The man laughed. "You're wounded. She's human. We have three guns."
Emily's hand went to her bag. Scissors inside. Not much. Better than nothing.
"We don't want her," the man said. "Just the wolf."
"Then let her pass," Alex said.
"She's the key," the man said. "Can't let the key walk away."
Emily stepped out from behind Alex.
"I'm not a key," she said. Voice shook. Stopped it. "I'm a nurse."
"You're a hybrid," the man said. "Smell the blood on your boots. Wolf blood. Human blood. Mixed."
Emily looked down. Mud. Blood. Her own? His?
"Doesn't matter," Alex said. "She walks."
"Try us."
The men raised guns. Blue barrels glowing.
Alex looked at Emily. Quick glance.
"Behind me," he said.
"No."
"Now."
She moved. Behind a tree. Thick trunk.
Alex charged.
Fast. Blur.
Gunfire. Loud. Sparks flew where bullets hit the ground.
Alex didn't stop. Hit the first man. Shoulder check. Man flew back. Cracked into a tree. Didn't get up.
Second man fired. Hit Alex's leg. He stumbled. Kept going. Grabbed the gun. Twisted. Metal snapped.
Third man ran.
Alex didn't chase. Fell to one knee. Breathing hard.
Emily ran to him. "Alex!"
"Fine," he said. Pushed her hand away. Checked the leg. Bullet went through. Meat wound.
"They'll come back," he said. "More."
"Can you walk?"
"Yes."
"Liar."
She helped him up. He leaned on her. Heavy.
They left the path. Went off-road. Into the bushes.
Thorns tore her jeans. Branches whipped her face.
Alex didn't complain. Just walked.
After an hour, they stopped. Hidden in a ravine.
Alex sat. Head in hands.
Emily checked his leg. Bandaged it.
"You remembered something," she said.
"Pieces," he said. "Not clear."
"Red snow," she said. "What does that mean?"
"Battle," he said. "Lots of death."
He looked at her. Eyes clear now. Focused.
"You dreamt last night," he said.
Emily froze. "What?"
"David," he said. "You said his name."
Emily looked away. Picked at a loose thread on her knee.
"He's my brother," she said. Quiet.
"Where is he?"
"Gone." She swallowed. "Two years. Went into the woods. Didn't come out."
"Same woods?"
"Same woods."
Alex nodded. Slow. "He didn't walk out."
"I know."
"Maybe he didn't die."
Emily looked at him. Hope hurt. "Don't."
"Smell is strong here," Alex said. "Wolf. Human. Mixed." He pointed at her. "Like you."
"My mother was human," Emily said. "Father too."
"Maybe not."
He stood up. Tested the leg. Held weight.
"We need to move," he said. "Night comes."
"Where?"
"North. To the light."
"I still don't see it."
"You will." He started walking.
Emily followed.
She looked at her sleeve. The thread was gone. Pulled out completely.
She looked at his hand. Closed tight.
He was still holding it.
She didn't say anything.
Just walked.
Behind them, the stream flowed. Fast. Cold.
Waves chased each other. Gone.