I sat up, the blanket falling off my shoulders. We were in Constance, making our way down the small main street of the town. It was late, way past the prime hours of Constance, which meant that most of the stores were closed. There were no Awakened, which made me wonder if Constance really was safe. We passed the elementary school, and the truck came to a stop.
“Where am I taking you?” the man asked, leaning out the window to call to us.
“There are a few houses on the outskirts of town,” I called back. “About a mile or two.”
He continued driving, passing a few houses. I pointed out my mother’s house as we came closer, my heart slamming harder and harder in my chest. It looked perfect, exactly the way it always looked. There were a couple lights on in the house, and my mom’s jeep was parked in the long driveway. The man made the turn off and drove the bumpy road up to the house.
Ash hopped out of the back of the truck and held his hand out to me to help me jump down. There was wet, white crunchy show underneath my feet, and I shivered. He leaned through the window to thank the man, and after a few exchanged words, he pulled away, the truck groaning and coughing back down the road.
“Are you ready?” Ash asked, holding out his hand to me. “We made it.”
“I’m terrified,” I admitted to him, grabbing his hand and holding it like a lifeline. We walked up the frozen steps and crossed the porch to the front door. I raised my free hand, hesitating before knocking on the door, afraid of what I would find on the other side.
MY MOTHER OPENED THE DOOR slowly, peeking out. Her eyes fell on Ash first and narrowed in suspicion. He stepped back, letting me step forward into the light. She threw the door open and stepped outside, a shiver going through her as the cold wind bit on her bare skin. She was wearing a long white sweater and jeans, with her long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. She looked tired but so young, so beautiful. It felt like it had been so long since I’d seen her.
“Zoey?”
“Hi, Mom,” I said.
“Oh my god, Zoey,” she said, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me into a hug. A flash of pain went through my face as it was pressed firmly against her chest. She pulled back and looked from me to Ash. “You made it. You were supposed to be here days ago. What happened? Where’s Frank?”
The words got caught in the back of my throat, and I shook my head, pressing my lips tight together.
“He…he didn’t make it,” Ash said, softly.
My mom’s hand flew to her mouth, tears in her eyes, and I felt a surge of anger. She didn’t get to feel that way. She wasn’t allowed to be sad. “Oh my god,” she repeated.
“Where’s Caspar?” I said sharply, pushing past her to get into the house, immediately warmth seeping over me. I pulled my coat off, tossing it aside.
My mom and Ash followed me inside. Her eyes were still full of tears. “Caspar…he isn’t here.”
I faltered, turning back to look at her. “What do you mean, he isn’t here?” I asked, looking around the entryway.
“He was…he was in Los Angeles when the Awakened hit the city. He was meeting with his publicist; he had just finished a book. He tried to get a flight out, but there were no flights leaving.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I don’t know if he got out when the bombs hit. The phones don’t work.”
I wanted to say something, anything. But I had nothing to say. What did you say about the man who you had held responsible for ruining your family? “Sorry,” I managed to say.
“Who is this?” my mom said, looking over at Ash.
“This is Ash Matthews,” I said. “He lives…lived next door.”
“Ash Matthews,” she repeated, looking up at him. He smiled at her, a hesitant, shy smile but containing all that Matthews charm nonetheless. A small smile played on her own lips, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I remember you. You’ve grown up.”
“Yes, ma’am” he answered, nodding his head.
She nodded and reached for the light switch. The lights came on and threw us all into clarity. She gasped as her eyes fell on my face. I turned away, a blush rushing through my cheeks.
“I’m tired,” I said, avoiding her eyes. “I think I’ll go upstairs and sleep.”
“Zoey, what happened to your face?” she asked, horrified.
“Nothing,” I said, heading for the stairs.
“We got attacked on the way here,” Ash started to explain before I shot him a dark look. He was silenced immediately. He looked awkward for a moment, his hands sinking into the pockets of his jeans.
“Oh,” my mom said, softly, sounding sad. “My poor baby. My poor little girl. You were so beautiful.”