Page 77 of Senseless
“I insist.” He set the case on the bar and opened it, revealing a black handgun inside. “It’s the one we’ve practiced with. I left ammo in the safe too, but you’ll need to restock eventually.” Shadow gave her a hard look. “You’re the best shot here. You shouldn’t have anyone bothering you anytime soon, but in case someone does, you should be ready.”
Jen’s smile wobbled a little. “You have too much faith in me. I cowered like a baby and nearly got dragged away last time.”
“No, Jen,” he told her kindly. “You’re brave. I’ve seen how you protect everyone here. Those assholes won’t be coming for you again. Keep working with Doc, you’ll be just fine.”
She nodded, blinking away tears as they leaned across the bar to hug each other.
“Oh, uh.” Shadow dug into his bag when they released each other and pulled out a stack of books. “Can you make sure Telisha gets these back?”
“You can hand them back yourself!” The pretty librarian herself walked through the dining room, a toddler with a curious stare on her hip. “Thanks, Iv—er, Shadow. I’m kinda mad to lose my tattoo artist, but I guess I’ll live,” she joked.
“Go see Phil, he’s just as good as me,” Shadow told her. When she pouted and held an arm out for a hug, his eyes slid to me first.
I snorted and helped myself to coffee and breakfast to allow them their parting hugs and words. Doc came down when we were finishing up, taking a hug from me and a handshake from Shadow.
“Just remember what I told you,” the older man said, clapping him on the shoulder.
“I know.” Shadow nodded. “Thank you Doc, for everything.”
Doc just beamed like a doting father. “You did the hard work yourself, son. I’m proud of you.” He handed Shadow a small slip of paper. “That’s my colleague’s information. She’s actually a bit northwest of Four Corners in currently neutral territory, but well worth the visit, should you need it.”
We ate our fill, packed up Shadow’s bike, and said our final goodbyes. Horus screeched from a fence post in the junkyard, where Shadow’s growling engine filled the air as we prepared to leave. I watched the bird sail off, becoming smaller as he flew higher. Aside from when I first came upon this service center, I’d barely seen him. Apparently the sky god was content to be our guide and nothing more.
Itwasthe right time, I realized as we began a slow, gentle drive out of the yard.Just as he said it was.
I hugged my arms and legs around Shadow, my heart swelling when he released one of the handlebars to rest a gloved hand on my leg. The smile I wore against his back was uncontrollable. For the first time in so long, I felt overcome with happiness. I had Shadow back. Nothing was perfect or completely fixed by any means, but we were on the right track again.
The world flew by us on his motorcycle, the wind whipping as we took winding roads home. We rode hard, but the way back seemed easier than the journey to find him. Maybe I just found comfort in having someone with me, but the long hours in the saddle with Shadow weren’t nearly as lonely or painful as being on my little dirt bike. The first couple of days even felt like a vacation. We took scenic roads winding through the southern territories, stopping to sleep at service centers for the night.
Shadow made sure to book us separate rooms to sleep in, but every morning when I started to ask, he told me no. He had the occasional nightmare, but still did not sleepwalk. My hope grew with each passing day, but he wanted a second opinion from Doc’s colleague and I’d give him that before broaching the subject again.
The air whipping past us on the bike started to feel different on the fourth day. Humidity turned to dryness. The winter cold hurt more, but didn’t seem to cling to me like it did when we were further east. When I saw the faded, discarded Welcome to Texas sign next to the road, the pang of longing and homesickness shocked me. I hadn’t considered this place my home in years, or so I thought.
Observant as always, Shadow held me close and squeezed my hand during one of our pit stops. “Do you want to take a detour? Maybe see your old home?” he asked.
I thought about it for a bit, then shook my head. “No. I already know my parents aren’t there. There’s nothing for me to see here.”
“You’re sure?” He nudged me and placed a kiss on my temple.
“Yeah, let’s keep going.”
My parents were out there somewhere, just not here. Absently, I looked to Horus in the sky when we hit the road again, and he spoke to me for the first time in nearly two weeks.
They are not far, daughter. But your instincts are correct.
I swallowed down a hard lump with that knowledge, more questions filling my head.Does that mean they’re together? What instincts, that they’re alive?
Horus didn’t provide any more insight, and we rode on like normal. I got nothing from him again until near the end of the day, when we had to be nearly out of Texas and near the Jerriton and New Ireland borders.
I was leaning against the back of Shadow’s shoulder, fatigue taking over, when I was suddenly flying over a darkening landscape.
Look, daughter. You must see.Horus’ voice in my mind was as clear as my own, as certain as if I had wings outstretched to the sides and eyesight that could spot mice in tall grass.
What am I looking for?It was freaky that Horus just seemed to pull me in whenever he wanted me to see something. Unlike Gunner, who was able to see through him at will.
Look below.
I first saw us—me and Shadow on his bike. Somehow I stayed upright, arms still wrapped around his waist despite no longer being in my own body. Speaking of freaky, watching myself from an outside view had to top the list.
