Revolution (Collide, #4)(3)

I knocked and Danny answered, all groggy and agitated as usual.

"What do you want?" he asked angrily. I took me a split second to remember that I wore that horrible man's face. I pasted on a sad smile and told him my little story. It wasn't as surreal as meeting Sherry, but Danny was animated and eager. He believed me right away, kind of making me peeved at him for it. He was too gullible, always had been.

He ran to the car and jumped into the driver's side. I explained that I had somewhere to take them and he drove us there quickly, breaking the speed laws I was sure. I would chastise him for such an act if the Lighters hadn't been so close to coming and getting Danny.

We arrived and I hoisted Sherry's small weight in my arms and led the way to the underground warehouse. Danny went off to explore and I tried not to explore his sister in his absence. I smelled her hair as I set her down in the chair.

Without any permission of mine, my body's hands took her face gently. I wanted to gasp at the feel of it. I had wanted to do that so badly that I had let my human emotions control me. Oh, well. She was aware and had already felt me do it, might as well keep going.

“I know you can still hear me in there. I’m sorry I had to do that to you, but I had to get you and Danny to safety. It’ll still be a while until you wake up. Listen, I know how this sounds and looks and I can explain everything to you both when you wake up, but I’m not Matt. Matt is dead and I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that. I’m not here to hurt you or Danny. We’re underground in a warehouse with only one way in and one way out. The elevator and I have the key. I promise you, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help. We are going to be here together for a while so it would be nice if you’d get use to the idea... Sherry,” I breathed her name with every ounce of reverence in me.

I inched closer and once again stopped myself from letting my lips touch her forehead. Instead, I did the stupidest thing I'd ever done. “I can’t believe I’m actually here, actually touching you.” I let my thumb rub back and forth over her cheek to let her feel, even for just a second, the power of my words. “You don’t know how long I’ve..." Enough, Merrick! "Just try to get some sleep. We’ll go over everything together later. By the way, my name is Merrick. I’ll be around when you wake up.”

I let my fingers slide reluctantly from her face and stood. I gulped and left her before I made an even bigger fool of myself. I went in search of Danny and just hoped beyond hope that when she woke, she'd at least listen to what I had to say.

I was remembering…

The past, from when I first came to get them all those months ago. One of my favorite memories because all of my dreams became real that day.

All of a sudden, there was this strange light blocking my way. Cliché and bright and beckoning for these types of situations. I didn't remember there being a light before when I thought back to what had happened that day.

I took a deep, thinking breath. The light barreled toward me and I just let it engulf me. I remembered the bunker, I remembered the Lighter, I remembered the knife, I remembered Sherry's face as I fell, my Lily.

I didn't want to go into that light, it felt final and pulling, but I couldn't stop it from taking me…

A Love So Deep



Chapter 2


Sherry



I could feel the wind on my face as Merrick and I drove down the highway. The top on the Rabbit was down, and my cheeks were getting wind burned in the Chicago chill, but I didn’t care. I leaned my head back on the scratchy leather and soaked it all in.

“Are you happy?” he asked me and smiled as he waited for my answer, his gaze switching from me to the road and back again.

“Yeah,” I sighed with no hesitation. “You’re so good at driving now.” I giggled. “It’s pretty funny.”

“What’s that, sweetheart?”

“How you were so, so bad at it before.”

He mock scowled at me and then smirked. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Why?” I said coyly and fiddled with my necklace. “What would you do to me?”

“Something fun…for me.” He grinned at his humorous threat and I laughed, throwing my head back and leaning over to rest my head on his shoulder. He pulled me the rest of the way with a hand on my thigh and then slung his arm over my shoulders. “Well, I’m happy.” His fingers squeezed affectionately and he kissed my temple and spoke against it. “God, thank you…I’m so happy here with you.”

“I’m happy about that.” I looked up at him, seeing the glow of joy on his cheeks. Not that he could lie to me anyway, but still. “I don’t know if I ever told you this or not, but I’m so glad that you broke the rules. I’m so glad that you came here to save Danny…and me. And I’m so glad that you want me, with all my weirdness, brokenness and shortness.” He snorted, but I kept going. “I just can’t wait to be at our cabin in the hills, away from everybody and everything. Be normal. Watch Lily con you out of everything she ever wanted.”

He laughed. “Oh, that’ll definitely happen.”

I smiled at him and then looked back to the road…just in time to see Mrs. Trudy standing in the road. “Watch out!” I yelled, but I wasn’t sure who I was yelling it to.