“We’ll get back.” The words ground out between Keleon’s clinched teeth. “Tell them we’re on our way.” He winced when Colli dug her fingers into his arm.
Before she could complete the communication, they descended from the clouds. Wind shook the craft. Driving snow pelted the hull.
Numbing fear spread through her. “But—“
“Tell them,” he commanded.
Colli sat back and closed her eyes. She reached out, fighting the demand for answers from the voices that shouted in her mind.
“Keep them calm,” Sung whispered.
A whine and jerk vibrated through the hull. Colli fought to do as Keleon and Sung asked of her. It wasn’t easy. By the time the rubber of the tires met the winding road, the voices were whispering support to her. The final seven miles to McAllister found Colli being reassured by her new friends. When they rolled off the blacktop onto the rough gravel road, the vehicle slid precariously from one side to the other.
“Colli. Help me. I can’t see anything. The sensors are frozen.” Keleon turned a round knob on the dash. A whoosh blasted a blanket of warm air into the cabin and down through the floorboard. “This won’t help for long.”
“Wait. Let me catch my breath. The voices are fighting to guide us to the encampment. Visibility is basically non existent.”
A loud bang followed by a jolt brought them to a stop.
“Wh…what happened?” Mary’s words were accompanied by hissing steam from a hole that vented into the confined area. Cold flooded in.
“We’ve got to get out of here. She’s getting ready to blow.” Keleon reached over to push Colli against the door. With a creaking groan it gave way. She tumbled out into a snow bank. Thin clothing that had been comfortable during the trip offered no protection. Where she had felt a numbing cold before, a sharp ache spread through her.
“Colli? Where are you?” Keleon’s voice, hoarse with pain brought no direction for her.
She stood and turned in a circle. “Keleon? Mary? Sung?” she called out.
“Next to you,” Mary’s whisper seemed to freeze in the air.
“Here.” A thick warm jacket draped over Colli’s shoulders. “Put your arms in the sleeves,” Keleon instructed.
Colli fought to obey, first with the left sleeve. Before she could force her arm into the right one an explosion shook the ground. Once more she found herself face down in the snow. This time she sat up, rather than trying to stand.
“Trevan? We’ve got to get inside.” Colli could not make out Illianna’s form, but knew she was close.
“Give me your hands.” Jovan’s strong voice forced Colli to reach up.
With an easy movement, Colli was pulled to her feet.
“What are the voices telling you?” Sung asked.
Colli listened.
“Help. Help. Help.” Voices, large and small whimpered.
“We have to get to them.” Colli turned away from the flaming vehicle. “Trevan is inside the structure. Something is trying to get to him. Let’s go.” Cold soaked through Colli’s shoes, numbing her toes. “We have to get in there.” She started to walk. Twice the snow gave way, swallowing her leg. She climbed out and continued. The crunch of the others’ footsteps comforted her.
Together they stumbled down the road.
Close. You’re so close. The voices resounded in Colli’s mind.
“Wait.” Sung called out.
Colli continued. “I… I’ve got to get inside.” Need drove her.
“Colli listen to me.” Sung grabbed her elbow. “Stop. Think.” He would not be denied even though his voice exposed his weakness.
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