Mania by J. R. Johansson Page A
Authors: J. R. Johansson
Tags: Fiction, YA), Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult, stalker, crush, sleep, dream, night walker, night walkers, night walker series
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shone in her eyes before I chucked the box out of the pit as hard as I could and pulled her down into the dirt with me.
The booming shockwave tore across the ground toward us. Chloe and I were showered with dirt, rocks, shredded pieces of paper, and bits of carved wood from the box. We ducked down low in the hole as the secrets I needed rained down around us in hopeless chaos. A few flying bits of jagged wood sliced the side of my face and I wrapped my arms tighter around my head.
The world settled back to normal and I stood up slowly to take in the destruction. There was nothing left. Anything that could have helped me had been destroyed. My jaw clenched and I swore as I stared at the dark scar on the ground where the box had exploded.
Then anger pumped like a living beast through my veins. I wanted to grab her, to hurt her for what sheâd just done. Instead, I forced myself to hold perfectly still until I could calm down. Until I could be sure I wouldnât do something I might regret. I heard Chloe coughing beside me, but for once, she didnât speak.
I hadnât even thought about whether to pull her down and save her. It was pure instinct. I hadnât needed to consider it, and there wasnât time. Itâs what Dad wouldâve done for me, so itâs what I did.
And Chloe was lucky for that, because if Iâd had time to think about it, I mightâve thrown her out of the pit with the bomb sheâd just set off. It might have been the better option ⦠for both of us.
I recoiled inwardly at the thought, but it sounded crueler than it was. In reality, it might have been a kindness. At least then I wouldnât have to see her sitting at the edge of my field of vision, a mixture of horror combined with the dwindling of all hope printed plainly across her face.
At least then I wouldnât have to confirm for her that sheâd just ruined the only chance I had of saving her life.
âI ⦠Iâm so ⦠â She didnât finish, but her eyes were wet and she was blinking rapidly. âI didnât think ⦠â
Unless interfering with my plan had somehow been her intention to begin with.
âWhy did you come?â With immense effort, I kept my tone as flat as I could.
âI ⦠I told you ⦠â She shifted away from me, looking uncomfortable.
âNo. Why did you really come? What did the Takers send you to do? Slow me down? Make sure I would fail?â I moved over until she was sitting in my shadow. For the first time ever, Chloe was nearly cowering. She was afraid of me. She should be afraid. I took several deep breaths, deliberately restraining myself, keeping my anger in check like Iâd been taught to do. âI will never agree to even try to make Eclipse again, whether this new formula fails or not. You know that, right? You know that whatever youâre trying to pull just ensured the destruction of you and every other Taker?â
âBelieve whatever you want to about me, I donât care. I came because I want to help .â She jumped to her feet, her anger abruptly matching mine.
â That was your idea of help?â I growled. Her hair moved from my breath on her face.
She lifted her chin, determined not to show her fear. âHitting the wire was an accident and Iâm sorryâbut Iâm not ready to give up yet. Are you ?â
I didnât respond. There was no need. She knew what sheâd done. I walked toward the car. Not that I had anywhere to go now, but I had some water bottles in the back and I needed something to drink. If she was telling the truth ⦠then she could probably use a drink, too. If water was our only option, then so be it.
When I came back with the bottles, Chloe was kneeling in the debris, crouched so far forward it looked like she was trying to smell the earth. For a moment, I thought she was crying, but then I saw her hands moving right below her face.
âWhat
The booming shockwave tore across the ground toward us. Chloe and I were showered with dirt, rocks, shredded pieces of paper, and bits of carved wood from the box. We ducked down low in the hole as the secrets I needed rained down around us in hopeless chaos. A few flying bits of jagged wood sliced the side of my face and I wrapped my arms tighter around my head.
The world settled back to normal and I stood up slowly to take in the destruction. There was nothing left. Anything that could have helped me had been destroyed. My jaw clenched and I swore as I stared at the dark scar on the ground where the box had exploded.
Then anger pumped like a living beast through my veins. I wanted to grab her, to hurt her for what sheâd just done. Instead, I forced myself to hold perfectly still until I could calm down. Until I could be sure I wouldnât do something I might regret. I heard Chloe coughing beside me, but for once, she didnât speak.
I hadnât even thought about whether to pull her down and save her. It was pure instinct. I hadnât needed to consider it, and there wasnât time. Itâs what Dad wouldâve done for me, so itâs what I did.
And Chloe was lucky for that, because if Iâd had time to think about it, I mightâve thrown her out of the pit with the bomb sheâd just set off. It might have been the better option ⦠for both of us.
I recoiled inwardly at the thought, but it sounded crueler than it was. In reality, it might have been a kindness. At least then I wouldnât have to see her sitting at the edge of my field of vision, a mixture of horror combined with the dwindling of all hope printed plainly across her face.
At least then I wouldnât have to confirm for her that sheâd just ruined the only chance I had of saving her life.
âI ⦠Iâm so ⦠â She didnât finish, but her eyes were wet and she was blinking rapidly. âI didnât think ⦠â
Unless interfering with my plan had somehow been her intention to begin with.
âWhy did you come?â With immense effort, I kept my tone as flat as I could.
âI ⦠I told you ⦠â She shifted away from me, looking uncomfortable.
âNo. Why did you really come? What did the Takers send you to do? Slow me down? Make sure I would fail?â I moved over until she was sitting in my shadow. For the first time ever, Chloe was nearly cowering. She was afraid of me. She should be afraid. I took several deep breaths, deliberately restraining myself, keeping my anger in check like Iâd been taught to do. âI will never agree to even try to make Eclipse again, whether this new formula fails or not. You know that, right? You know that whatever youâre trying to pull just ensured the destruction of you and every other Taker?â
âBelieve whatever you want to about me, I donât care. I came because I want to help .â She jumped to her feet, her anger abruptly matching mine.
â That was your idea of help?â I growled. Her hair moved from my breath on her face.
She lifted her chin, determined not to show her fear. âHitting the wire was an accident and Iâm sorryâbut Iâm not ready to give up yet. Are you ?â
I didnât respond. There was no need. She knew what sheâd done. I walked toward the car. Not that I had anywhere to go now, but I had some water bottles in the back and I needed something to drink. If she was telling the truth ⦠then she could probably use a drink, too. If water was our only option, then so be it.
When I came back with the bottles, Chloe was kneeling in the debris, crouched so far forward it looked like she was trying to smell the earth. For a moment, I thought she was crying, but then I saw her hands moving right below her face.
âWhat
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