Page 100 of Forged in Deception

As she clambered up the steep path, she could feel her feet slipping every minute or two, slowing her progress.

It was stupid to be out here. Her logical mind knew that, too. But to go back? To turn to him, after everything he’d just said? She couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t.

“I promise I won’t try and stop you from leaving,” Axel called up to her. “Just wait for the storm to pass first. Please.”

She paused where she stood, her fingers aching as she gripped a nearby branch, trying to keep her balance as anger coursed through her. It felt so much better than the pain and hollowness she’d been feeling.

She turned to look down at Axel.

He was trying desperately to catch up with her, but every time lightning flashed and thunder struck, he paused, touching the rocks with his palms. One of his shoes had come halfway off, and she could see blood leaking through the paper towel they’d used to try and bandage his knee.

“Let the storm pass, huh?” she called out, her voice thick with bitterness. “That’s how you deal with everything, isn’t it? Let the storm pass. Let the good times roll. Make your jokes and goof off and live your life, all while John–”

She struggled to get the rest of the words out. The rain mingled with her tears as sobs clutched at her throat.

She was so sick of crying over one man already.

Two was a real kick in the face.

Axel was gaining on her easily now that she’d stopped, but she was too tired to keep moving. Going back to the cabin seemed too difficult, too. Everything did.

“Just stay there, okay?” he was saying, his voice gentle, like she was a frightened desert hare that was going to bolt at any moment.

If he was smart, he’d realize that, if anything, she was a copperhead.

“I’m coming.”

She watched him through tears as he made his way up the final stretch of the path.

She was too exhausted to run away. She was too exhausted to fight, too, but all she wanted to do was to lash out, anyway.

The anger and pain was too heavy to keep inside of her anymore. Her head hurt, and her heart felt like it might give up on beating if she didn’t calm down. Every part of her was determined to let him take on the wrath she’d been burying for so many lonely years.

Axel was closer now, close enough to see the way he trembled a little with each clap of thunder, but they didn’t seem to be slowing him down anymore.

Maybe he was good at running away. But she had to admit it–he was also pretty good at pushing forward.

By the time he reached her, she couldn’t bring herself to yell at him.

She wanted to, but something inside of her had gone quiet and still.

Even her tears had dried. Somehow, the rain had slowed a little, though she doubted the reprieve would last.

She wasn’t crying.

But Axel was.

When the lightning struck, she could see the redness in his eyes. He kept swiping at his tears with his soaking wet sleeve.

“Karlin, I’m so sorry,” he said again. He’d said it so many times already, but the words hadn’t lost their meaning. He sounded just as sincere as he had the first time, not that she’d wanted to listen. “I don’t think there’s any way I can ever apologize enough, and I don’t expect your forgiveness, but please just…hear me.”

His voice broke on the final words, and her heart broke right along with it.

She slid to the ground, resting against a muddy rock, already so wet and uncomfortable that she didn’t think it could get much worse.

Even the wind seemed to be listening now.

It was still blowing across the desert, but it wasn’t as fierce as it had been a few moments ago. The lightning and thunder continued, but more slowly, as though they were taking turns to eavesdrop in between their bursts of fury.

---