"This is our stop." Mason pulled off to an unpaved road.
"There is nothing here." Skylar gazed at the surroundings.
"We need to hike the rest of the way," Amanda informed her, opening her side of the car.
When Skylar got out of the vehicle, she saw Kayla stretching her long arms and legs. She rolled her eyes at Skylar, indicating she didn't like it there. Then she turned to link her arm with Nick's. When Everett got out, Skylar looked away. She hated him, hated him for what he had tried to do.
After the boys slung their camping gear onto their backs, Nick led the way. Twigs snapped underneath their feet and the sound of shuffling footsteps was all that could be heard as they headed down the path in silence. Though it was summer, the weather was perfect.
"Where are we going?" Kayla asked, looking down at her feet.
"Camping. Don't worry, babe. You'll have fun," Nick answered.
"This isn't my idea of fun. Whose idea was it, anyway?"
"Amanda's," Mason and Nick blurted in accord.
Amanda shrugged her shoulders. "Don't be wimps, guys. Embrace Mother Nature."
After what seemed like a couple of miles, they finally stopped to take a rest.
"Is it time for lunch yet?" Kayla whined. "I'm starving."
"Me too," Amanda agreed, seeing Everett roll his eyes. "What, tough guy? Don't tell me you're not hungry?"
Everett dropped his huge backpack and so did the others. "Here." He handed out sandwiches. Instead of handing one to Skylar directly, he gave two to Mason. Nick passed out water bottles and Mason passed out bags of chips. They had it all planned as if they had done this many times before. After lunch, they were on the move again.
Skylar jumped from her phone vibrating in the back pocket of her jeans. The text was from Kayla.
I want to go home. I don't like this.
Skylar felt horrible. She hadn't meant to drag her cousin with her. Skylar regretted not having said anything on Kayla's behalf, but they couldn't have left her behind at the cabin all by herself. Being with the children of gods was safer, she guessed.
Sorry! Did you call your mom?
Yes. I felt bad lying to her again.
I called my mom too, just before we left. Everything will be okay.
I know. I just hate camping.
But you've never been.
I'm here. I don't like it.
"What are you doing?" Nick asked Kayla.
Kayla giggled. "Texting Skylar."
"Wow, she can do two things at once," Everett commented.
"Shut up," Nick snapped.
"You gonna make me?" Everett challenged.
"Come on," Nick dared him, jumping from side to side with his fists up like a boxer.
"Are you serious?" Amanda stood between them. "Guys, we need to get going to safer ground before it gets dark. Stop acting like kids and keep your testosterone in check. Grow up," Amanda scolded while rolling her eyes and then took the lead.
After about another mile they stopped. It was dusk and as the sun was setting, the air became cooler. While the guys pitched the tents, the girls got dinner ready. Amanda set the fire and placed a small flat pan on top of several overlapping thick twigs. By the way she arranged the wood and got everything ready, Skylar knew she was an expert camper.
"Do you guys camp often?" Skylar asked, sitting on the ground next to Amanda, watching her poke the twigs with a long thin branch as she tried to get the fire bigger.
"We used to go more often, especially when we needed to get away," Amanda replied.
Skylar understood the meaning behind needing to get away. Mason had mentioned they would move from town to town to get away from the vultures. They must have gone to the woods to hide as well.
Amanda reached inside her bags and pulled out several cans.
"Beans." Kayla frowned.
"Beans and bread." Amanda shuffled her hand inside her bag again.
"The joy of camping." Nick was now standing behind Kayla. "Don't judge me if I fart all night."
"Gross," Kayla teased and pushed Nick away.
Then Mason and Everett showed up, holding flashlights. "It'll be dark soon," Mason muttered, handing one to Amanda.
When the beans were ready, Amanda passed out the paper plates. With the wooden spoon she had used to stir the beans, she placed a lump on everyone's plate. Nick broke bread and handed a piece to everyone. Dinner was tasty since hunger had pained Skylar. She had never walked this much before and had worked up an appetite.
While she ate, she looked up to the sky, mesmerized by the glistening lights. It was a moonless night and a multitude of stars captured her eyes. Complete darkness engulfed them and the only light was from the campfire burning, providing warmth. Under normal circumstances camping wouldn't have been such a bad experience, but they weren't there for pleasure. Their lives were at stake-or so Skylar kept hearing-but why and how? Conversation was minimal, especially since Kayla was around.
"Are we going to tell scary stories and roast marshmallows?" Kayla giggled. "Isn't that what people do when they go camping?"
"We're not people," Amanda said flatly.
That would've been a funny statement, but knowing what Skylar knew, she realized Amanda meant her words.
It was awkward for a second until Nick spoke, glaring at Amanda, "What she meant was that we're not doing the scary story thing, but you and I can roast our own marshmallows privately." He winked.
Everett rolled his eyes, most likely grossed out by them flirting. He stood up and dusted off his pants. "We need to wake up before the sun rises, so I suggest we all go to bed. See you early in the morning." He headed for his tent.
"Who's going into whose tent?" Mason asked, twirling a stick in his hand.
"Don't even think about it. I'm not sleeping with you," Nick joked. He got up and tugged Kayla to him. "Come on, let's go fire up those marshmallows."
"Good night," Kayla said, walking backward, smiling at Skylar.
"I'm going to Everett's tent. See you in the morning. Don't forget to set your watches." Amanda disappeared into the darkness, but light shone from the direction she'd walked, growing dimmer with her every step.
Mason raked his fingers through his hair. "I guess it's you and me." He got up and led the way, beaming the flashlight on the ground.
"This? This is our tent?" Skylar stammered. The tent was small, smaller then she'd imagined. She hadn't paid much attention when they were assembling it. Mason unzipped it and crawled inside.
"We only have one sleeping bag, but it's big enough for us both." Mason unrolled the sleeping bag that was tightly bundled, laying it out.
"We only have one sleeping bag?" Skylar repeated.
"Echo, that is exactly what I said."
Skylar heaved a heavy sigh. "Don't call me that."
Mason ignored her request. Unzipping the bag, he tucked himself in first and lay sideways. He patted the empty space next to him. "Come. I won't bite. Or if you prefer, you can sleep out there with the bugs." Then he turned off his flashlight.
Jerk! Having no choice, she slid in. Without the heat from the fire it was cold. Shivering, Skylar snuggled and graciously took the warmth from Mason's body-or was it the heat brewing inside her from his touch? Though her back was to him, his chest rising and falling made her stomach flutter, and she was weak all over.
"Why do we have to wake up so early?" Skylar asked.
"We need to pass the swamp. We'll be crossing over to another dimension and when we get there, time is reversed. Though the sun will be rising here, it will be setting there."
"Oh." Skylar tried to grasp that such things could happen.
"I forgot to change your bandages. The medical kit is in my bag." Mason turned on his flashlight. Skylar moved at the same time Mason did, and in the tight space her body tangled around him and she ended up on top of him. The light shone between them, allowing her to see Mason's piercing eyes. She lay there lost as his lips were inches away. The deep breath from Mason traveled to her. She could see his lips leaning toward hers. Hot sensations coursed through her body like an untamed flame, wondering if he was feeling the same.
With a deep sigh, he looked away. "My bag is there. You think you could get off me so I can get it?"
What was wrong with her? She was falling for this jerk. Snapping out of his lure, she unzipped and grabbed the bag. "Here," Skylar huffed, practically throwing it at him.
With limited space, they sat face to face with their legs crossed. Skylar was glad it was dark so she wouldn't show her blushing and irritated face.
"Hold out your hands," Mason commanded.
Placing them out in front of her, Skylar rooted her eyes on the ground. She didn't want to look at him, afraid that if she did she wouldn't be able to turn away, and he would know she had feelings for him.
Mason held her forearm and carefully unwrapped one of the swathes. "Impossible. Have you always healed like this?"