riven, maggie morris [great book club books .txt] 📗

I knew what was happening, I was laying comfortably in Liam’s well-muscled arms.

“We need to hurry,” I grimaced, my leg throbbing. “The grachers…” I trailed off. Standing at the brink of the discolored dirt was a massive figure. Another howl filled the air, and I screamed.

The gracher’s head snapped toward us.

“RUN!” Grandpa shrieked. Liam broke into a sprint. How he managed to do it with me in his arms, I had no idea.

I could hear the gracher’s pounding footsteps behind us as we tore through the night. My chest bounced against Liam’s arm, and I sucked in a breath as waves of pain racked over my body. Liam and I were at the back of the group, and the scent of my blood made us the target of the gracher. And I knew what had to be done.

“Liam. Put me down.”

“No! You’ll be killed!” He huffed between breaths.

“Better me than you,” I muttered. Then, louder, I said. “I have a plan. Just trust me!”

He clenched his jaw. “No.”

“Well, then, I guess...I’m sorry.” I brought my elbow up, and heard a crack as it connected with his chin. He yelled, and I tumbled out of his arms.

Sitting on the ground, I knew I had little time until the gracher would reach me. I clambered to my feet, shifting my weight to rest only on my good foot. The agony traveled up my body and made spots dance before my eyes. Ignoring it, I reached up to my hair and pulled out the ribbon tying back my dull brown locks.

Standing there, I knew that if this didn’t work, I would die. Liam, who was starting to run towards me, and my family, would also die. That’s why my plan would work.

I felt hot breath on my leg and knew it was time to put the plan into action. Everything else seemed to be in slow-mo all around me. I sprang high into the air, and landed on the back of the gracher, who’s mouth was about to clamp around my leg. I held the ends of my ribbon and forced it into the open mouth of the gracher.

Time sped back up. I was sitting there, on the bristly fur of a wild animal, with my ribbon in my hands. I gave it a swift yank, and the gracher tensed. I expected it to try to throw me off, but instead, it stood there, calmly, waiting for my command. I turned it’s head towards, Liam, using the ribbon like reins.

I, too, felt calm, but Liam was frozen in place, his mouth hanging open.

“You might want to close your mouth before you get a fly in it. Climb on.” This broke him out of his trance.

“No way am I getting on that thing.”

“Oh, come on. I’m pretty sure he’s just as tame a house cat.”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Suit yourself. Have fun when the other grachers come to find you.” Liam started to say something, then thought better of it. Hesitantly,  he began walking towards me.

As he slid onto it’s back, I launched into an explanation.

“You see, when I saw the gracher’s silhouette, the resemblance he bore to a horse and a cat were quite obvious. I realized that he must’ve been the offspring of some sort of wild cat, which gave him the wild genes, and a horse, which gave him tame genes. I figured he would probably let me ride him, and who knows, maybe even become a pet.”

“You are the most crazy, stupid person that I have ever met. That is genius.” I grinned.

“Why, thank you,” I teased. “But on more serious measures, I really need to get us out of here before his friends arrive. They might not be as lenient as he is.” I squeezed his stomach between my legs, and wind rushed passed us.

It felt like we were flying. The gracher was moving impossibly fast across the rough terrain, and within seconds, we had passed the others. I guided the gracher back around and pulled up next to everyone.

While Liam was talking to the others, I gently rubbed the gracher. His stubby tail wagged slowly back and forth.

He was definitely big enough for everyone, including Shadow. He waited patiently as everyone climbed on, though one time he tried to lick the blood off of the makeshift bandage on my leg. It didn’t hurt, so I let him.

Grandpa shook his head in disbelief as they all settled onto the gracher. I looked back once, making sure everyone was seated, and whipped the reins lightly. Again, we raced across the ground.

Over the loud wind, I called out, “I’ve decided to give him a name! I’ll call him Bramble!”

Adam’s eyes widened. “You’re going to keep it?”

“Him! And yes, I am! I’ll need to train him to ignore blood and to be less ravenous, but other than that, he’s really just a big sweetheart! He’s also super fun to ride on!” Even Shadow looked like he was enjoying the ride, his tongue lolling happily out of his mouth.

Ben was the only one who looked scared. Paler than a piece of paper, he was visibly shaking. I wondered who had convinced him to get on.

My mind drifted to my parents. While I was very excited to see them, I was also nervous. I didn’t know how much might have changed in the years that I’d been gone. I’m sure they would still love me and everything, but what if… I didn’t know.

Bramble stopped abruptly in front of a trail, pawing at his nose.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “What’s wrong with him?”

Grandpa rubbed his grey hair. “We must be nearing home. Grachers hate to come near it, a we’ve set up a sort of...defense. You see ,while grachers love the smell of blood and food, they despise the smell of shoe polish. Something about the way it infiltrates their senses, making them temporarily blind, unable to taste things, and incapable of smelling anything but shoe polish.”

“I guess that’s smart, but how are we supposed to get in?”

“We’ll go the rest of the way on foot. We’ll have to leave Bramble here and hope he stays. As soon as we can, we’ll come back with some rope and tie him up while we make a shelter. Everybody off.”

I slid off Bramble’s back and turned to face him. “Stay,” I said sternly. I faced the trail once more and began to walk. Pain instantly shot up my leg and I fell to the ground.

“Alice!” Ben and Liam chorused together. Shadow came over to lick my face, and I smiled tensely. I had forgotten that I couldn’t walk.

“I’ll carry you again,” Liam said, not waiting for an answer. He delicately scooped me into his arms, and this time there was no pain in my chest. Grandpa gave me a quick, worried glance, then started off down the path.

As Liam paced behind him, I saw Ben sneak him a glare. It was probably not meant to be seen by me, but he wasn't discreet enough.

Time seemed to be passing in long increments, and I had nothing to do but stare at the ground. I tried looking at the view, but there wasn’t one. It was just wasteland as far as the eye could see. Until it wasn’t. As I stared ahead, bunches of shadows began to take place. After trudging a bit more, voices were distinctive, and there was a little light to be seen as well.

“Hurry, Liam! My family! They’re here!” Though he didn’t break into a sprint, Liam quickened his pace, sensing my anxiety. My ribs pulsed and pounded, but I ignored the hurt and focused on my parents.

At last, we reached the sanctuary. It was just like I had remembered-a circle of about twenty house, with a tall wall surrounding it. A guard was posted at the entrance of a thick fiberglass gate.

“Who’s there?” He questioned, his voice hard.

“Alice. Tell the Forgies that Alicia Hillman-Forgie has returned,” I said softly. The guard’s eyes widened.

“Is it really you, Alice? It’s me, Lol. Your dad’s best friend,” Lol said, shocked.

“I know, Lol.” I smiled as the gate slid open and I entered the Sanctuary. Eyes turned toward me as I walked through. My large group trailed behind me, though Shadow dutifully walked beside me.

Collective gasps rippled through the audience. Little kids ran forward to get a better view, and, (so cliche) their parents put out protective arms. I bowed my head. I completely understood. We were unknown, and in a place full of fear and danger.

And then the crowd parted. A couple with graying hair and perfect teeth stood fifteen feet away from me.

“Alice? Adam? Dad?” The woman’s voice broke, and her eyes shone. “Is that really you?” She gripped her husband’s arm so tightly that his skin was turning white around the area she was clutching.

“Harriet?” Grandpa said, as Adam and I chorused at the exact same time, “Mom?” I started running.

Everyone collided at once and we sank to the ground in one big, huge hug. Liam and Ben stood awkwardly behind us, while Shadow ran after us. Shadow licked me, then, hesitantly, everyone else.

“Who’s this?” Mom asked, bewildered.

“Shadow,” I replied. “I found him at the White House.”

“Sounds like you’ve had quite the journey,” Dad chimed in. “You’ll have to tell us about it.”

We broke apart, thought Mom’s eyes were still watering.

“And who are they?” Dad pointed at Liam and Ben.

“Acquaintances,” I smiled. I winked at the boys to let them know I was kidding.

“I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

X

I snuggled against Dad, a blanket draped around my shoulders. The blanket was grey, just like everything else at the camp.

But it couldn’t be helped. Things are different after an apocalypse. And this apocalypse was no different.

I wearily brought my spoon to my mouth, slurping up the clear soup. I barely had enough energy to keep my eyes open, let alone eat food. Still, I didn’t want to hurt my parents feelings, excited as they were.

So, I sat on the frozen ground, listening to the voices and laughter that surrounded me. I threw in my own comments now and then, but soon I was too tired to even think.

My half-eaten bowl fell to the ground as my hold on it loosened. My body collapsed, and as Liam’s arm shot out to catch me, I let my eyes finally fall closed.

 

* * * * *

 

I was standing on a hill. The sun was setting, and an ocean lay before me. I stood still for what felt like forever mesmerized by the rhythmic waves lapping against the bottom of the hill.

A voice suddenly broke the peace.

“Alice? Don’t forget me. I still love you.” The voice was drowned out by more voices rising.

“How could you, Alice! I trusted you!”

“Come home, baby. I won’t let them hurt you.”

“Why him? Why did you choose him?”

“Everyone you loved is dead. They are gone, Alicia.”

I screamed, unable to take it all at once. I sank to my knees and covered my ears. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, faces appeared, too.

Heads were bobbing in the waves. Bodies may have been attached, but I couldn’t tell. I could see everyone. Everyone who I ever loved and knew. And the voices were coming from them.

There was