BLUE IRIS

Iris

MY HEART hammered in my chest a mile in a minute. I was a few yards away from running away to save them and at the same time a few yards closer.

The car was still parked at the same spot, patiently waiting for me.

"I mean it, Iris! Start walking back," Lois said firmly.

My mind wanted to protest, but my heart said the opposite. Maybe working together would solve our problems, but if in case something went wrong, I would be forever carrying this affliction and regret inside me.

"I hope you won't regret doing this, Lois." Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I started walking back toward the car.

Lois was still aiming the gun at me despite I already agreed with her demand.

Feeling the burden was gone, I stopped in front of them. "So, what's the plan?" Everyone sighed in relief.

"Find a safe place," Gael answered. "From now, we stick together. No one will decide alone. No one will leave any of us behind. As soon as we find a safe place in the meantime, we will plan our next move once we get our strength back. We're all exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally. And Iris, you should take a nap while we're on the road."

I nodded.

"Can you still drive?" Gael asked.

"Yeah," Frost replied.

"Darick?"

"I'm fine."

"Good, stay beside me. Lois, sit on the passenger seat, and be the lookout. If you see anything unusual or any car approaching, just yell out."

"Why should I sit there?" Lois protested, and I didn't miss the glare she threw to Frost.

"I don't bite, Heloisa. Come over here," Frost seethed and glared back.

"Don't start! Just do what I say, Lois," Gael ordered. "And good job back there."

"So, it's you, huh?" I watched Lois slammed the passenger door shut.

"No one asked her to-she did it by herself," he answered. "Colt, stay beside Iris and sort things out between you two."

The moment Gael finished talking, everyone moved to their places except for me and Colt.

"Gael, can we take the back seat instead?"

"No. No making out in the car when we are around." Gael was amused.

"We are not gonna make out, and do you think anyone of you can stop us if we want to?" Colt stared blankly at them. Everyone shrugged. "That's what I thought. I just want her to lie down for a while, please?"

"Fine. I want you two on the same page before the sunrise."

I looked at Colt who was still wearing the blank expression on his face. I couldn't help but felt guilty for making him felt this way, but what I did earlier was I thought was right.

I broke his trust and probably his heart. I sighed helplessly, knowing from today onward, this was going to be the rough days between me and Colt.

The car moved smoothly. Colt held my shoulders, and I tried hard to stay still, but the car crash did a number on me. I relaxed and laid my head down against his abs as he wrapped his strong arms around me possessively and protectively. After all the emotions swirling inside me, they had been replaced with something else that I couldn't put my finger on, and it had me confusing the most.

"It's okay, twig. We'll figure things out," he whispered and planted a kiss on top of my head.

My lids flutter closed as Colt snuggled me in his arms. I sighed, and my muscles relaxed against the large hand stroking against my skin. I could feel his muscles relaxing as well, his heartbeat lowered down, and he even leaned his head back and stretched out his long legs in a relaxed manner.

And for the briefest moment, I felt safe.

***

STRETCHING OUT, I winced at the contraction of my sore muscles. The smell of dust and burning candles hit my nostrils. I squinted to the light from the nightstand assaulting my pupils.

I realized I was comfortably lying in a soft bed-this must be made of cotton-it was a queen-sized, and I was actually tucked under the multi-layered quilt.

My breathing caught in my throat at the Sika deer's head nailed on something like a stone wall-the thing was staring back at me. I must be in a hunting cabin. Hurriedly, I sat on the bed. Where is everyone?

I reached my feet down the floor-it was damn cold that seeped through my bones. Colt must have removed my socks.

Colton? Where is he?

My heart raced against my ribcage.

Tiptoeing, I slowly opened the door and sneaked my head out.

"Going somewhere?"

I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. "Thank, God." I let my shoulders relax. "I was alone in the room, and the damn deer scared the shit out of me."

"You must be starving. Come with me. I cooked something for everyone." I followed Lois, and she may be headed toward the kitchen.

It had a lit kerosene lamp, a dented aluminum pot on the wooden chipped table, a small stainless sink, a couple of dusty cupboards, and a single gas burner stove.

I pulled a chair out and sat down. "Where are they?"

Lois scooped a soup from the pot that smelled burnt tomato. Still, it made my stomach grumble. I couldn't remember the last time I had a proper meal-two nights ago? "Checking the parameters. There's no fence surrounding the area." She placed a still steaming bowl in front of me.

I scooped and slurped the sticky liquid quickly. "I'm hungry. How about you?"

"I joined the guys earlier. Colt stopped me from waking you up." She sat beside me. "How are you feeling?"

I took a deep breath. "I'll be fine as long as you all are." I put the spoon down, slurped the bowl empty, and licked my lips clean.

"Want more?"

I shook my head. "I'm good. It's even hard to eat, but I'm hungry, and I don't want you guys to worry about me."

Silently, Lois stood up and took the empty bowl. She started washing until she spoke. "I'm sorry for what I did earlier. I thought it was the right thing to do-to save you from killing yourself."

"You don't have to apologize. I would do the same thing if I was in your position. Knowing that they died because of me, I felt the guilt is eating me up every second and I couldn't help to not blame myself. It kills me if something bad will happen to all of you, you know. That's why I wanted to turn myself in."

"You don't have to shoulder it alone anymore, Iris. You have us, and we'll figure this out together."

"I wish I know what you all are fighting for." I glanced down at my hand, feeling useless.

"We already know, Iris. It's you, the woman we met weeks ago. Our friend, our family."

"I would have been dead if not because of you. All of you. I owe you all my life."

"Let me ask you one thing. If something goes wrong, are you gonna leave me alone?"

I stared at her, scowling. "Why would I do that?"

She shrugged. "Then you got the answer. We care about you, and so as Colt."

"I didn't know you care so much about Colton. Until earlier."

"He saved me more than I could count. He and Frost."

"It just... I don't know what they want from me. I've been asking myself many times, but I couldn't still figure it out. I'm nothing important to them, believe me." I nonchalantly rubbed the pendant on my chest. "You are important enough for us. That's what matters."

I scanned the cabin and found a halogen lamp hanging at the ceiling. "Why are we not using the light? There's a generator, right?"

"Those motherfuckers might see the light from a distance." I stilled to the voice at my back, and as thuds of footsteps got closer. My heart raced in anticipation to see him again.

I turned to face Colt, studying him he was wearing Camo gear. "Where did you get that?" He discarded the uniform back at the lake when it got soaked.

"I'm a very resourceful man." He smirked, and that smirk alone made my blood pump so fast against my veins-I could feel the sudden rush that shot straight to my chest and neck.

"I can see that now." I smiled. "Where are they?"

Colton leaned down to kiss my forehead. "Outside. Have you eaten something?"

"Now you're here, I got to go and take a nap. Wake me up if you need anything," Lois said.

"We got it from here, Lois. Thanks."

Colton took a seat beside me, gripping my thigh. "How are you feeling?"

"I got a lot that kind of question lately, but I'm good as new aside from having some sore muscles. Thank you for asking. And don't worry, I'll live." I covered his hand with mine, letting the warmth feeling seep through my palm. I leaned my shoulder on his arm.

"Do you need painkillers? I think Frost has some."

"I'm good." I lifted my gaze, meeting his. "Did you go and scavenge while I'm out?"

"No. They went to scavenge, remember?" he answered softly. His breathing was warming my face. The softness of his voice alone had a ripple effect down my spine. He studied me, from my eyes, nose, down to my lips, then he gulped-pain gleaming in his eyes.

"What is it, Colton?"

"I thought you chose to leave us. To- to leave me."

I flinched, but I managed to smile lightly. "I want you all to live. Maybe when all these will be over, and I'll live, I might still get a chance to see you again even you might have already moved on with someone else."

"That easy, huh?" He smiled-there was no laced of joy on his face.

"I would do it in a heartbeat. I mean turning myself in."

"Don't be selfish, twig."

"I'm sorry if I had to decide it on my own," I whispered, reaching for his face.

"Apology accepted. I almost lost you once, and the feeling was hard to bear. I don't wanna be in the same position again, twig. I can't let that happen." He leaned closer-our noses touched.

God, this man will be the death of me.

I angled to get access to press my lips on his, but he was a damn teased and eased back. I watched his eyes darken, but he seemed to have it under control.

We stared at each other for a while and let the sexual tension bank in until the atmosphere around us suddenly changed. I wished the time would slow down and gave us a few moments together before things would crumble down again. "You've got to be kidding me," I groaned, grabbed the back of his head, and crashed my mouth on his. My body felt alive, and I let it burn. My nipples hardened and felt sensitive against my bra. A dull ache set on my sex-almost painful. Colt groaned, taking my mouth with a fierce and rough claim. His hand slid south, cupping my jeans covered mound.

I gasped, and it gave him access to slip his tongue inside my mouth as he palmed my sex at the same time. Then his mouth and hand were gone, leaving me hot and bothered. My face flushed with arousal and embarrassment, still shocked and aching.

He abruptly stood up without excuse, checking the small dirty window covered with cobwebs.

"Hold still. Don't move." With his unexpected action, it caught me off guard.