Perilous Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #2)(16)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“No, that’s okay, but thanks for the offer.” My pack was heavy, but I didn’t complain. I was the one who’d insisted on not being treated differently because I was a girl. I wasn’t going to go ahead and prove them right. I could just imagine the teasing I’d hear, especially from James.

“Who wants to cross first?” Liam asked.

“Wait. We’re crossing here? Isn’t there a bridge or a more shallow section?” I didn’t know what I was expecting, but definitely something that didn’t involve treading through water.

James smirked. “It is only three or four feet. If you are worried about getting that dress wet, just take it off.”

Monty smacked James in the back of the head. “The dress will dry, Charlotte.”

“I will go first.” Lawson pulled out a rope from his nearly overflowing pack. Throwing the bag down, he wrapped the rope around him and dove into the river.

I watched expectantly as Lawson pulled himself out on the far shore. Tying one end of the rope to a tree, Lawson tossed the other end over to Monty, who secured it to a tree beside us.

Lawson grinned, shaking out his damp blond hair, and called, “I hope someone will pick up my pack for me.”

“Showoff,” James mumbled while attaching Lawson’s pack to his own. “Do you want me to hold your bag, too, Charlotte?”

“No, I don’t need your help.”

“Well, then, I will go next. You should follow.”

James grabbed the rope and started crossing the rushing river. I tentatively grasped the rope. James made it look easy, but the current was strong, and I knew that one misstep would have me floating downriver. Crossing itself would have been challenging, but doing it while wearing a bulging backpack made it even worse. By the time I reached the other side, my hands were raw from holding the rope so tightly. Nearly frozen from the cold water, I wanted nothing more than to curl up in a nice warm bed. I had to settle for taking a deep breath while we waited for Monty and Liam.

“How are you holding up?” Monty asked, watching me squeeze water from the bottom of the skirt of my dress.

“I’m fine.”

“Fine? Please, at least let me help you with the backpack. I know you can handle it, but I would feel more useful if—”

Before Monty could finish the sentence, I had swung off the pack and placed it on the grass. “If it would make you feel better, take whatever you want.” I wasn’t letting the opportunity to lighten my load pass again.

Monty smiled as he shifted gear from my bag into his own. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness. It is just like you to worry about how I feel.”

With a much lighter pack on my back, walking was tons easier. It was getting colder, so I pulled on a cloak over my dress. It helped keep out the cold, but nothing could quell my disquiet. The closer we got to Icentris, the harder it became to pretend that I didn’t know the end result of our journey. I wanted to see my mom desperately, but I also wondered if I would be strong enough to save her.

“I still cannot believe I am walking with the Essence.” Lawson surprised me with his comment.

“Very funny.” I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not, so I decided to assume it was a joke.

“My entire childhood, the Essence was missing, and then we went through a period of darkness. It is incredible that you are here. I do not really know how to behave around you.”

“How to behave around me?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “I think you’re doing fine. Pretend I’m any other girl.”

“Any other girl? If only it were that easy. It is strange, though. I am not used to feeling so much respect for such a young woman.”

“Respect? Um, thanks… I guess.”

“That is enough awkwardness.” Lawson smiled as Liam came up behind me and pulled on my ponytail.

“You are so much like Kevin, it’s scary.” Kevin was the only other person who would have dared pull my hair like that.

Liam looked a little bit upset. “You think I’m like Kevin?”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“I just didn’t know you thought of me that way.”

“I never said I thought of you like Kevin; I said that you were like Kevin. Get the difference?”

Lawson seemed amused. “Liam, I see you have no problem talking to her like any other girl.”

Liam shrugged. “I’ve known her forever. She’ll always be just Charlotte to me.”

As the sky darkened, we came upon a small village that reminded me of Rawlins, the town where Calvin grew up. It was nothing more than a dozen buildings and lots of farmland. Still, there was something charming about it. As I looked around, Lawson pulled Monty aside, and they gestured for me to stay with James and Liam. Exhausted, I sat down on a tree stump.

A few minutes later, Monty returned and motioned for us to follow him. We walked over to one of the small homes around the village center. Monty would only take us to stay with someone who was loyal to our cause, but I couldn’t completely shake the nerves.

We were ushered through the back door of the small farmhouse. James and Liam were each stuck to my side like glue. As weird as James acted, he still took his job to protect me seriously.

The door opened into a cramped kitchen. When James turned, his backpack fell into me, pushing me into Liam.

“If you wanted to get close to me, you could have just asked.” Liam had a twinkle in his eye as he teased me.

Usually, I wouldn’t rise to his comment, but I couldn’t resist. “Yeah, you know how shy I can be.”

Before Liam could respond, we were led over to a long table. Once seated, I realized how hungry I was and hoped the food was good. Bright tapestries covered the walls, a sharp contrast to the austere outside of the house. The effect was impressive, a beacon of color in an otherwise dark place.

“Essence, it is quite an honor to have you at our table.” A pretty girl who couldn’t have been more than a few years older than I was smiled as she brought a large bowl to the table. “If you would like to wash up first, there is a basin in the corner.”

I looked down at my dirty and blistered hands. I grinned, thanking her before getting up to quickly wash my hands and rinse my face. I returned to the table feeling much better. Spending time in Energo made me appreciate the little things in life, including running water.

I took my seat just as the backdoor opened again, admitting a man who was probably in his early twenties. He walked over to the girl and kissed her forehead before taking his seat beside her. Similar to how I had been struck when I first saw Tara, it surprised me how different the timeline was in Energo. I felt extremely young compared to the couple who already lived together. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, I realized everyone was waiting for me to say something.