n

n

n~ SASHA ~

nShe was hysterical. Hysterical, and terrified, and simultaneously overjoyed.

nZev was here. He was holding her hand and leading her through the dark, and if she hadn't just seen two men die, or almost die, she would have said it was the best moment of her life.

nInstead she was cackling aggressively, and snorting so hard she wondered if she'd torn a sinus.

n

"Please,

" she gasped a minute later, when Zev tugged her into a little thicket and began pulling a dead tree apart. A tree that turned out not to be a tree at all, but a pile of branches taller than her head, hiding a jeep.

nOf course it was. Who didn't leave whole cars just lying around for later use in an emergency?

nAnother shrill giggle broke in her throat.

"P-please tell me you're going to shake a bush and reveal dinner for two?

" she snorted.

nZev didn't share her jollies.

"It's shock, Sash,

" he said quietly.

"Just breathe. It'll pass.

"

n

"I would, but I have a sudden urge to tug on the moss on that rock and see if a cellphone will fall out.

"

nZev raked a hand through his hair and turned to face her. He loomed over her, seeming as tall and immoveable as the trees that surrounded them. But he put his hands on her upper arms and leaned into her face, close enough that even in this dark she could see the whites of his eyes.

n

"You're going to be fine because I'm here,

" he said quietly,

"and I'm taking you to a safe place. And once things have calmed down, we'll figure out where to go from there.

"

nThe laughter died in her throat.

"What place is safe from men who can bug my apartment and send f-fake people robot things after you?

"

nHer teeth were beginning to chatter.

nZev tsked.

"It wasn't a robot. It was an Avatar, and… get in, and I'll tell you the story.

" He opened the jeep door, ushering her into the passenger seat. Then he threw the bags in the back and grabbed a blanket that was thrown over the backseat that he tucked in around her and her seatbelt.

"Keep yourself warm and hydrated. I'll give you a bottle of water in a minute. Drink all of it.

"

nShe nodded. Her whole body was shivering now, and she felt cold. She wanted to lay down. Suddenly desperate to lay flat, she felt around on the sides of the seat until she found a lever that let her seat sink back.

nBy the time Zev appeared in the driver's seat—even pulling himself into the seat was an act of strength and grace—she had curled up on her side, brought her knees to her stomach, and she was talking herself through finding a place of strength again. Because Zev had already proven he could protect her from strange men with guns, or who fought like crocodiles. But who was going to protect her from Zev?

nAs the car roared to life, Zev winced. He didn't turn the lights on, which seemed reckless to Sasha, but at this point she was beyond caring.

nThe car swayed and rumbled, finding its way over tree roots and rocks, weaving between large trees and pushing through gaps in the undergrowth.

nNeither of them spoke until Zev maneuvered the car through the forest to a dirt road that cut a line through the trees and undergrowth. The car began to run quieter and stopped rocking, only bouncing on puddle ruts.

n

"We'll follow this for a few miles and it'll take us out nearer Wilderville. There's no one out here except campers and animals. Do you want to talk now, or do you need to rest first?

"

n

"Oh, I want to t-talk,

" Sasha said.

nZev nodded and leaned over, his arm brushing her knees as he popped the glovebox of the jeep to reveal a line of water bottles and a first aid kit. He dragged out two of the bottles and passed one to her, placing the other in the cupholder next to her.

"Stay hydrated. It will help.

"

nShe nodded and took it obediently, turning onto her back so she could take a drink.

nAs soon as the water hit the back of her throat, she guzzled it, suddenly aware that she was dry as a bone.

n

"Are you sure this is the time?

" Zev started, but she swallowed the mouthful and nodded emphatically.

n

"I'll drink, you talk.

"

nHe sighed and ran that clawed hand through his unruly hair again and her stomach tingled. But she closed her eyes. She couldn't let her overheating brain get distracted.

nThe water was helping. She didn't want to meet this conversation in the fetal position. So she sat up and pulled the handle on the side of the seat to make the seat back raise almost vertical, then kept drinking, her head spinning only slightly.

n

"Okay,

" he said quietly, grimly.

"But you need to let me tell you this from the beginning. Because it's all linked. And none of what's happened tonight will make sense without knowing the other stuff, so… just be patient, okay?

"

nAnother snort broke out of her throat and she almost sprayed a mouthful of water all over him.

"I've waited five years, Zev. My patience is done.

"

nHe grimaced.

"Fair enough,

" he muttered. Then he took a deep breath and his hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel.

"So, the first thing you need to know is that I don't have a birthday.

"

nSasha blinked. It was such an odd, irrelevant thing to say, she stopped drinking.

"What do you mean? July 6th isn't your birthday? Or.. wait, were you adopted? So you don't know your real—?

"

n

"No, Sash,

" he said, his voice dark and hesitant.

"I mean, I don't have a birthday because I was never born.. I was made.

"

n