Chapter 6: I Will Follow

The air remains damp and there's still no sound of crickets or even birds, but after my eyes adjust I can just barely see. I don't have time to think any further because the Watchman is darting in and out of trees and brush so quickly I have to stay aware of his every move. And like before, we're definitely following a well-established, albeit hidden, path. Occasionally, he looks back to make sure I'm keeping up.

I swear we've jogged a mile and we're still going. My side is beginning to cramp and I need to take a break so I slow down and stop, leaning against a tree as I try to catch my breath. Out of nowhere, I'm scooped up under a black cloak or a wing or something. I can't be sure because as quickly as I'm up we stop and I'm down on my own two feet again.

What the...

I hear shuffling and what sounds like flapping, as if a giant bird is nearby. My attention is drawn to a flicker of light on a torch anchored to a stone wall. Then another. My eyes quickly scan the area and I realize we're back at the cave. The Watchman stands before me. As usual, I only see his black shape and of course, he's silent. I'm scared but not in a frantic way, even though he makes me nervous as hell. For whatever reason, this feels safe.

"W-who are you?" I get out.

"I told you who I am." His familiar deep voice resonates throughout the cave.

"The Watchman? Yeah, um, you're gonna need to give me more than that."

"I was sent to protect you," he says, not moving.

"Okaaay. But, why? And by who?" I ask, trying not to offend him with too many questions.

"Zack," he responds, walking toward the large rock with the lines of crystals surrounding one side.

It feels like my heart drops into my stomach I'm instantly nauseated. Then it picks back up, beating so fast and so loud I'm sure he can hear it. "Wait, what? My brother? That's impossible. He's dead."

"No," the Watchman replies, "he is one of us."

"You aren't making sense!" I shout as I stomp toward him, every emotion I haven't let go of for months slamming to the surface. "Stop screwing with me! My brother was my life and he's buried in that grave I visit almost every single day!" My screams echo loudly along the walls.

His head shifts and he looks over at me, locking his eyes with mine. I see their slight yellow glow underneath his black hood.

"He has come for you..."

"What do you mean, he's come for me?" I spit out. "Who's come for me?"

The Watchman turns around, kneeling to pick something up, then takes three long strides in my direction. He reaches out, and without thinking, I open my hand, allowing him to drop a cool metal chain. I know exactly what it is and my face gets hot as my heart begins to pound with fury. It's the gold necklace Aunt Kelly gave Zack to commemorate his graduation from the fire academy. He wore it every day and I know without a shadow of a doubt he was wearing it the day we buried him. I squeeze the necklace in my hand, slammed with a flood of emotions as my entire body starts to shake.

"Where did you get this?" I ask as tears stream down my cheeks.

"You must trust me," he says quietly.

"Trust you? Are you insane? You stole my brother's necklace off his dead body and you want me to trust you?" I shout, the heavy echo of my shaky voice catching up a second later.

The Watchman's eyes go from a brownish yellow to a deep red when he jerks his body several steps away from me, almost like he had to stop himself from hurting me. I flinch and back up against the rocky cave wall, my fingernails digging into the flesh of my palm as I grasp Zack's necklace with all I have. I don't care what he does to me, there's no way he's ever going to take it away from our family again.

"Katie." A familiar voice comes out of nowhere.

My breath hitches and I barely notice the cry that escapes. I know that voice. I know who called my name. My eyes frantically scan the cave. I heard him. Where is he?

"Zack?" I get out as a flash of brilliant light illuminates the dim cave, making me cover my eyes. I lower my arm cautiously, squinting at the figure of a man standing only feet away, dressed in the same kind of cloak as the Watchman.

"Yes," he answers and before I know what I'm doing, I'm running, jumping straight into his arms as mine go snugly around his neck.

"Oh my God, Zack!" I whisper between sobs. His arms pull me closer and the tears overtake me. I can hardly catch my breath. A distant fluttering of wings clips my attention but I don't care. My brother is alive and that's all that matters right now.

Zack finally lets go and I reluctantly pull back to study him, still in shock that he's standing right in front of me. Something is off. The shape of his face is different, or maybe it's his hair. I squint, hoping it will help me focus a little better, but it's difficult-the light in here is dim as hell. I see it when we lock eyes. His are no longer a deep brown, but a luminescent cobalt blue. It's as if they're somehow backlit.

Holy shit.

Had I not heard his voice before I saw his face, I'm not sure I would have recognized him right away.

"What happened to your eyes?" I blurt out.

Zack looks over to the Watchman then back to me. "Everything will be explained to you but for now, you must listen to me," he answers, confusing me even more.

"Wait, what the hell is going on, Zack? I saw your body in the coffin! How are you alive?"

"Katie," he says in a calming whisper and instantly my stupid tears are back. He's the only person in the world who calls me that.

"I have sent Dominic to protect you," he explains.

I glance over at the Watchman, who remains expressionless, then jerk my eyes back to Zack, his crazy-beautiful stare distracting my thoughts for a second before I remember what I wanted to say.

"I don't need protection," I insist. "I'm fine. I-"

"Actually, you do, trust me." He pauses and takes my hand. It's cool to the touch, making me question if he's even real.

"Why is everyone saying I need to trust them? Trust you for what? Is there gonna be some kind of zombie apocalypse or something?" I don't try to disguise my frustration or sarcasm.

"I have to go," he says, patting my shoulder. He looks past me and nods. "Dominic, take her back."

"Wait, no!" I shout. "You can't leave! I just got you back!"

The Watchman does what he's told. Without hesitation, he drapes his cloaked arms around me, cocooning me against him. This time I can actually feel wings fluttering as they shape around my body. What is he-some kind of giant demonic bird? I try to wiggle and call out to my brother but it's too late. I can't move or speak. There's no sound, not even wind, and I'm completely surrounded by blackness. It feels like I'm floating or maybe flying. As soon as I try to scream, I'm jarred to my feet as a cool breeze hits my face and my eyes flash open. We're outside, because I can smell the musty, damp earth but a cloud of disorientation blankets my vision like a thin veil. I shake my head, hoping to clear the remaining fog. I'm pretty sure we landed next to Zack's grave but it's difficult to keep my balance. Everything is wobbly as the landscape winds down, spinning at a sickening speed. I stumble forward, rocking against a hard chest. Strong hands catch me under my arms. I turn around and look up, trying to focus on the Watchman holding me.

"Easy..." he says in his low, rich voice, steadying me as I desperately attempt to keep myself from throwing up.

Somehow his words steady the rotation, or maybe I'm distracted, but for the first time there's enough moonlight (or maybe I'm close enough) to make out his entire face. His strong, rugged features captivate me, sending a quick pulse between my legs as his caramel-colored eyes gaze down at me with obvious concern.

"It will pass," he says.

"Um, how...?" I get out, but he's already let go, scanning the area like he's making sure we're alone. To my surprise, I'm not entirely sure I want him to release me, so I grab his hand. His face jerks back to me. We lock eyes and I can see the alarm in his gaze.

"Do you need more time?" he asks, cocking his head at my unexpected move.

"Yes...I mean, maybe. I'm not sure," I admit, still gripping his massive hand. My next question is out before I know I've asked. "Where's Zack?"

The Watchman looks at his feet, as if trying to find the right words. "He is not your concern right now," he answers in a controlled, almost matter of fact, tone.

"What? Not my concern? He's my brother. Where is he?" I pause, waiting for him to answer, but he doesn't. He lets go of my hand and backs away, like he's afraid to be so close to me.

"We don't have much time. You need to go," he says, darting his eyes around again and suddenly, I'm pissed. Really pissed.

My hands automatically go to my hips but he doesn't notice-he's still being weird, watching every wind-blown leaf as if it's about to attack us.

"I'm not moving until I get some answers. This cryptic shit needs to stop!" I shout, realizing that raising my voice was a really bad idea. It's the middle of the night and we're in a public place. I watch his face change and what I see next makes the hair on my neck stand up. His eyes go from caramel to bright red as something from behind him, maybe on his back, lifts his body. He quickly crouches over me like he's shielding me and my world goes completely black.