Earth(73)

He was starting to shiver. I threw another blanket over him, then crawled under, wrapping him in my own body heat.

"Did I do this?" I asked.

He nodded, finally getting his breath back. "I think you stole my energy."

My hand went to my mouth. "Oh, man. It was the Great Rite."

"What?"

I turned on my back, staring up at the shattered window. Two years of anarchy, and the observation tower remained intact. Until I arrived. "It was what Shawn did to me on the Galapagos. It wasn't just rape – he was absorbing my energy; my magic, through the Great Rite." I sat up. "I can't believe I just…Shawned you!"

His hand went to my shoulder, pulling me back down. "You didn't 'Shawn' me. This was consensual. Totally different."

"Was it?" I wasn't sure.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes. The moon crept into view outside.

"It gave you power," Micah finally spoke.

I nodded. "Instant Akasha."

Neither of us said it in the open, but the possibility was there. The Great Rite would give us what we needed to defeat Shawn.





Chapter 46





Giving More





I watched the sun rise from the other side of the observation tower. All around us, the park was slowly waking up. Dozens of people exited the park buildings with packs on their backs and push carts in tow. They headed east, toward the rising sun.

I heard Micah cough. His heavy footsteps made their way around the circular tower to me.

"Did you sleep at all?" he asked, joining me at the window and rubbing his temples.

"Maybe an hour," I answered. "I kept seeing Natasha's face."

He put an arm around me.

I leaned into him, "How about you? Are you doing okay?"

"I feel…hung over. Probably just need some food." He yawned, then looked at the stream of people leaving. "Heading to the silo; first group of many. I'm supposed to go with the last of them."

I stiffened. I wasn't ready for this conversation yet. I had thought there'd be other things to do first – like breakfast.

When I didn't respond, he continued, "But I won't. I'm staying – I'm going to camp with you during the day."

I looked up at him. "You'll be recognized."

"No." He shook his head. "Nobody from One Less knows who I am. I wasn't at the battle at the caves, remember?"

"What about Shawn?"

"Yeah – that is the one we'll have to look out for. But I think we can handle it."

"But—"

"Not up for discussion," he said, interrupting. "If you're there, I'm there."

I sighed, running through all the implications in my head. None of them ended well.

"What river is that?" I asked, nodding to my left.

"South Platte."

"Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Platte," I whispered. The list of rivers ran through my head; my mantra to keep me sane on my road to Micah. Now I was here, and I had failed miserably in the 'sane' department.

"What?" Micah asked.

"Nothing." I sighed. "I have to say, it's awesome being up this high – until you have to pee."

He laughed, then shuffled over to the wall, "Every penthouse comes with its own amenities." He held up a large, round pan.

I put my hand over my mouth. "I am not peeing in that thing. Is that an old oil pan?"

He smiled, reached in, and pulled out a funnel.

I laughed, stepping toward him. "I don't think so, guy." I nudged his shoulder as I passed. "I'm going to go down, are you—" I stopped when I turned back to look at him. "Are you okay?"

He was leaning against a railing. Had I knocked him over?

"I'm fine. You go ahead. I'll get dressed and meet you down there." He shooed me away with one hand.

Under my scrutiny, he straightened up, pulling his shoulders back.

"Okay, don't take too long." I stepped into the stairwell.

When I turned back around, he was slowly sinking to the floor. I hesitated, and then I did what I had to do. I walked away.





* * *





Micah sat there for several minutes, using his hands to hold up his head.

It'll get better, he told himself. I just need to get some food.

There was no energy left. His limbs were weighted. Walking to Kaitlyn, then holding up an oil pan had left him shaking with exhaustion.

I can't make the walk back to the mall, but I can't let her go alone.

He'd just need to stall; time might bring him some strength. He crawled back to the other side of the observation tower. It was painfully slow, bringing a dull ache to his knees. Micah swore the path of the sun was moving faster than he could. Once back at the blankets, he rooted through the few bags he owned, pulling out crackers. He laid back, breathing hard. Before he could unwrap them, he closed his eyes.