Xander's Cross, Oregon: a small town ringed with forbidding mountains and misty forest. The sky may be gray, but the townspeople are welcoming to people of all kinds...and things that are not quite human as well. Here the native shifters, aliens, werewolves, and witches live in peace. They have yet to find out the new business owners encroaching on the land are also vampires.
The peace has been broken by murder, however, and things in Xander's Cross are about to become quite a bit darker.
Welcome to your new home.
is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?
August 20, 2020
The mayor, Rowan Starkwood, was found dead less than a mile from his home. Rumors say his body was mutilated, but the state of the body has not yet been released to the public.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Apr 23, 2021 18:55:45 GMT -5
Isolde took a shuddering breath, breaking the steady rhythm of sleep. Sunlight pushed harshly against her eyelids, and she could feel that they had stopped. How long had she slept? With a soft groan, she pushed herself upright in spite of the protest of her stiff joints. Everything ached, though none as much as her injured arm, which she'd apparently been using as a pillow. A yawn forced her to stretch as best she could with the roof of the truck to interfere, and after her jaw and spine popped softly back into place, she forced her eyes open. She wound up squinting in the blinding light.
She frowned, slightly, at the building in front of them--a wall of nondescript doors with numbers on them. The dingy beige walls had clearly seen better days and the sidewalk along the way was littered with cigarette butts and gum spots. She'd never been to a motel before, but this matched the description she'd seen in books.
The fact that Marcus was missing sent a spike of panic through her that immediately cleared away the rest of her sleepy haze. She whipped her head around to look at the rest of her surroundings, only to see him approaching from what must be the office. The tension drained from her shoulders, leaving her feeling wobbly but relieved. He must have been getting a key.
The rush of emotion reminded her of the way Andie and Conor had reacted to Marcus helping them and sent another wave of hurt feelings through her. Without him, she didn't think they would have made it out of the house, let alone out of the state. The fact that Conor was so sure that Marcus was lying to her only made her angry. He might believe that the other guard was dangerous, but his insistence didn't cause even a flicker of doubt in her heart. She was sure of him. She would just have to trust that Andie and Conor would come around in time.
And, at the very least, they now had a destination. Xander's Cross.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Apr 23, 2021 22:06:21 GMT -5
Marcus drove for as long as he could once they crossed the border, until he feared he might get too close to falling asleep at the wheel. He wanted Isolde and Eddie to rest for longer, so he had carefully steered the truck into the first motel parking lot he came across and quietly slipped out to get a room. The place was scarce and wasn't the most glamorous, but it would do for at least a day and likely be a place no one would think to look for them. He had a decent amount of cash to get them far across the country, but it would all depend upon where the Greys were. That was their ultimate destination.
And where he would ensure Sol and the boy's safety before leaving. Marcus wasn't sure where he would go or what he would even do afterward, but it wasn't his top worry. It never was. His job was to protect them, nothing more.
He stepped out of the motel office with a paper cup dangling between his teeth while he slipped his wallet into his back pocket. When one of his hands were free, he was finishing off that lukewarm water before tossing the cup away into the nearest trashcan, then hustled back to the truck. As he was opening the driver's side door, he already noted that Isolde had woken up, but he remained quiet in case Eddie was still asleep.
"Hey," he said in way of greeting. "I got us a room for a few hours before we have to head off again." If it wasn't clear by now, they couldn't linger in one place for too long, but neither could they constantly take turns driving and struggling to sleep in the car. They would be okay this once if they didn't stay for more than half a day. They were already a couple of hours into New Hampshire, and Marcus felt like they already had a decent lead. He also wanted to check the progress of the poison flowing through her veins but didn't want to outright say that yet.
Taking out the keys he left in the ignition since the area was hardly populated (and in case something happened and she had to take off), he moved around to the truck bed to grab some of their bags before heading towards the door nearby with an old bronze 6 nailed into the wood. Unlocking it, the room wasn't anything to rave about. With two twin beds, the usual small table and chairs, and tiny television, it would have to do for now.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Apr 24, 2021 16:03:09 GMT -5
"Hey," she answered back with a smile. A few hours? That seemed odd, but honestly, she didn't mind as long as it meant they could both rest, instead of pushing farther and farther past their limits.
While Marcus moved to grab a few things from the bed of the truck, she went to the back seat and coaxed Eddie into her arms. Goodness, he was getting big, and asleep like this, he was dead weight. She didn't mind, though--the way he instinctively wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face in the curve of her shoulder melted away any complaint she might have half-formed.
She hesitated in the doorway, seeing that there were two fairly small beds, but she quickly decided that she and Eddie would do just fine on one together--she'd stayed the night in his room before after he'd had nightmares. She moved carefully to get him through the door without knocking him against the frame and whispered a quick spell to move the covers of the far bed back so she could set him in it. She tugged off his shoes and set them alongside the bed.
Looking around once more, she spotted a door in the back, which led to a small bathroom. What she could see through the doorway was about the same quality as the rest of the room, but she was too pleased it existed at all to worry about that.
Be right back--" she murmured, making a beeline for the bathroom.
Once she'd taken care of the obvious, she found herself standing in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She looked even more exhausted than she felt, there was dirt and twigs in her hair, and blood was creeping through her bandage in a crescent to match the 'dog' bite. She sighed and combed her fingers through her hair, getting at least the worst of the nonsense out of her hair, washed her hands, and used one of the washcloths to wipe the dirt and mystery blood from her face. Her jeans were torn and one knee was bloody, too, but there wasn't much she could do about that other than wiping the worst of it.
Oddly, even that much had helped, and she smiled softly at Marcus as she returned to the room feeling a little more like herself.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Apr 24, 2021 20:43:10 GMT -5
Marcus had paused at her smile, just for a split second to take her in. Having just woken up, it seemed, her hair was softly mussed and there was still a bit of sleep in her eyes; the mere sight of her making him catch his breath until he forced himself to move again. If he wasn't careful, he was going to get caught staring, especially with how little sleep and energy he was running on.
But yes, only a few hours. Maybe he was just being paranoid, however, the fact that Thornton would likely kill him on the spot and put Isolde through lord knows what, he wasn't going to chance remaining in one place for too long. They had to keep moving, even if they didn't have a direction to go in yet. He just had to rest for a short while, that was all. He'd keep them moving. He had to.
The plan was that he would just sleep on the floor. He didn't mind, because again, the job was to take care of her and the boy; his own comfort always came second. Marcus would do whatever it took. Shutting the door behind them and locking it, he nodded when she slipped into the bathroom after tucking Eddie in who was still out like a light.
He nearly smiled, but it was barely there, only crinkling the corners of his eyes as he regarded the kid. Then it was gone, because he couldn't help but wonder what David would have put him through...or what he already had. Marcus had seen many things in that house and he had been privy to information he wished he'd never known. Yet, like a good guard dog, he kept himself quiet. It was a habit he couldn't seem to break, even now being away from it all. Perhaps he'd always be "socially awkward".
Slumping down into one of the chairs, Marcus leaned forward to rest his elbows on his thighs; glancing down to that tattooed forearm with the inky blackness filtering through his veins. It was beginning to hurt, but he knew his exhaustion was simply making it worse. He flexed his fingers before his attention lifted to Sol when she emerged. "I'm fine," he lied coolly. Those dark eyes then shifted focus to her own arm. "What about you?" There was no way he could hide the etchings of concern from his face, so he didn't bother trying to.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Apr 24, 2021 22:44:01 GMT -5
A frown flickered across Isolde's face at his answer. She didn't believe him for a second. It was a standard reply...but something about it didn't sit right with her. "I don't think either of us are fine, Marcus," she scolded softly, raising an eyebrow at him.
Without quite realizing it, she'd drifted closer to him, but once she was close enough to see the shadow creeping in his veins, she moved more purposefully to crouch in front of him, taking his hand in both of hers without hesitating. Her thumbs rested along the outside of his palm as she tilted his hand back and forth, trying to get an idea of how far the venom had made it in his system.
"If I'd known it would spread to you…" she muttered, wishing she hadn't let him absorb the thing. Logically she knew that was ridiculous--if he hadn't, she might already be dead. Still, she wouldn't have wished this on him, not in a million years. He'd done so much for her already, and yet at every turn, he took on more.
She turned his hand over to look at the back, next, and without thinking she trailed her fingers along the vein, tracing to where the color returned to normal, nearly at the base of his tattoo.
The tattoo.
In the daylight, it was tugging at her memory even more. She'd almost forgotten again, in the chaos of the night. But how could she have forgotten it at all? She'd been infatuated with him for weeks, the mysterious boy who'd come to her rescue. She'd hardly seen him after that, only here and there at meetings for the coven. Father always kept her away from the others, acting like his family was better than the rest despite treating them like prisoners in their own home. She'd never even known the boy's name. But...
She looked up to his face, brow furrowed slightly as she tried to remember the boy she'd met, to see him in his future self. He was older now, of course, but the eyes were the same--dark, but somehow comforting. Soft and smooth as polished obsidian. She tilted her head slightly to the side, and her face softened.
"That wasn't the first time you've healed me, was it?" she framed it as a question, but the certainty was there. That must have been how they'd first met--that day he'd helped pull the fragmented crystal from her arms.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Apr 25, 2021 17:43:58 GMT -5
It was possible he looked worse than he felt, so he shouldn't have been surprised to hear her gentle scold. A part of him nearly grinned at it, but instead he let his gaze drop to the ugly colored carpet beneath his shoes, because that was how a good dog behaved. He didn't argue back.
The moment he realized she was nearing and crouching in front of him, Marcus made a move to get up to his feet before she could because she shouldn't be kneeling on the ground in front of him. He was too late, however, and he sat there a bit tense as she took hold of his hand. Isolde's touch was gentle, immediately stilling him while those dark eyes rose up to her face in quiet surprise. He was afraid he might shake or shudder, needing to remember that there was no overpowering coven with eyes everywhere, ready to shut him down or suppress the innocent need to simply look at her this time.
"I still would have done it," he added. His voice would have been almost inaudible were she not right there. And he would have still done it, as he said, even if he had to be forceful about it because it meant her life. Hers was important. Always was and always would be. What worried him was why he hadn't been able to completely absorb it properly, why it hadn't simply dissipated during the spell. Instead, it lingered and mixed with his blood, and he couldn't help but wonder if the goddess was testing him somehow.
Or this was punishment for his deceit.
With the sensation of her fingertips along his forearm, he could feel the rise of bumps across his skin and he nearly shuddered again. His attention finally dropped down to the tattoo- only partially covered by the rolled up sleeve- that was quite obviously Egyptian in nature, even if one did not know the deity. The ink that permanently stained his skin had been there from such a young age. Sometimes he forgot just how long ago it had been.
Marcus was hesitant to look at her when she was suddenly studying his tired features. After a moment, though, brown eyes flickered up to find her own right before she spoke. It was barely there, and it would be missed if she wasn't really looking, but a hint of a smile lifted a corner of his mouth as he quickly reminisced before it was gone. Marcus glanced back down to their hands. "Where there is shadow...it also means there is light," he spoke quietly. It had been what he told her all of those years ago, as a way of comfort, to let her know that there was always hope at the end of a dark tunnel.
His other hand moved as he once again looked down to his tattoo, tracing gently across the image. "Sekhmet is a warrior goddess, sometimes depicted as a destroyer...but is also a goddess of healing." Whereas his father and sister followed the warrior way, Marcus always tried to be both.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Apr 27, 2021 20:27:56 GMT -5
Marcus glanced back down to their hands. "Where there is shadow...it also means there is light," he spoke quietly.
She thought she'd seen the ghost of a smile cross his mouth for a moment, but what he said confirmed it. A slow smile bloomed on her face as she remembered that he'd told her the same thing back then. She hadn't remembered the exact phrase, but the idea had stuck with her--she'd always tried to be that light in the shadows of the Thornton house.
She didn't realize she was still cradling his hand in both of hers, she was busy watching his face, and then his other hand as he brushed it across the image. Sekhmet...Isolde thought she'd heard of the goddess, perhaps once, a long time ago, but not in detail. Perhaps the library in Xander's Cross would have more information...or perhaps Marcus would be willing to teach her more himself.
How he described the goddess, though, struck a chord in her. She found herself saying, "Just like you," with a tone that implied it was as simple a fact as the sun rising each day. It certainly made perfect sense to her.
She looked back to his face with a soft look of wonder. "I don't know why I didn't recognize it sooner...but I had almost convinced myself I imagined it all."
Post by Marcus Kanaan on May 2, 2021 17:48:54 GMT -5
His vision seemed to clear a bit more at her slow smile, and it hadn't occurred to him that she had not known it was him all of those years ago. Marcus chalked it up to the tension within that household, how she was a caged bird without freedom, and he had rules to follow...and that included not talking or looking at her unless it was absolutely necessary. Also, that he was invisible, because that's what the job had required of him.
Perhaps it should bother him that she hadn't realized it, but honestly, who would? He was also becoming distracted by her gaze on him, and he almost couldn't lift his eyes from the tattoo to glance back to her.
'Just like you.'
That caused a gentle huff of a laugh as he tiredly grinned. "Yeah, maybe." That was the goal anyway, what he strived to be. Reflecting both sides of the goddess while the rest of his family chose one. His family. It shouldn't have been the first time he was truly thinking about them, but he was wondering if they were somehow alright. He wondered if Mr. Thornton knew what he had done. If he didn't, it was only a matter of time.
Suddenly, his mind was full of so many thoughts, and it was only Isolde's voice that drew him away from it all, halting every single one immediately. Those brown eyes softened a little when they met her own, and he hesitated before speaking, "I'm an easy man to forget." There was no sorrow in his voice, he wasn't looking for her pity in anyway. In truth, he sounded so matter of fact about it, like the very idea was completely normal. "It was the job," he added a few seconds after. Keeping quiet and to himself wasn't the job anymore, either. It was just a hard habit to break. Which was why he lowered his attention from her face, but looking at her hands still holding onto one of his own wasn't making this any easier.
last edited May 2, 2021 17:49:21 GMT -5 by Marcus Kanaan
Post by Isolde Thornton on May 2, 2021 20:00:57 GMT -5
"I'm an easy man to forget."
Now, why did that make her so sad? She felt like someone had reached into her chest and squeezed her heart and her throat was tight as if she might cry. She hated the way his eyes dropped away from her again. She didn't want them to be strangers again. She wanted to keep seeing him smile. Desperate to argue, she squeezed his hand firmly in both of hers.
"I won't forget. Never again," she promised vehemently. She'd been alone for so long that to believe that the boy had existed had seemed like a fairy tale, something to comfort herself against the nightmare she lived in. But she was no cowering child anymore, and now that she knew there truly was someone out there who cared whether she lived or died, she wasn't letting go. Try though he might to act like everything was the same, it had all changed the second he walked into her room that night.
Too late, she realized she'd just squeezed the hand that was being affected by the venom. She paled and released his hand. "I'm sorry I--I got carried away. Did I hurt you?"
Post by Marcus Kanaan on May 13, 2021 22:10:41 GMT -5
There was no one else there to judge him, to watch him and make sure that he did his job. There was no overbearing leader keen to ensure his loyal dog didn't step over the line, that he wasn't sneaking glances at his daughter when he very well knew he shouldn't be. When Thornton found him leaving Isolde's room only a couple of nights ago, Marcus feared death, he feared it would be misconstrued. And now? What would the man do once he realized he helped Sol and the boy escape?
Where could he run that David wouldn't find him? How long would he even bother to before he accepted his fate?
Despite it just being them, and Eddie asleep in one of the beds, Marcus still couldn't look at her for too long. In ways, he was afraid to. He already worried his mask would slip.
'I won't forget. Never again.'
Against everything, against knowing better, he hesitantly glanced back up to her in soft awe. Not that he felt she was an unkind woman in any way, but that seemed to surprise him even still. Perhaps because he felt like he didn't deserve it- any of it.
If the squeeze to his hand hurt, he hadn't noticed it. Maybe he was just numb to everything else in that very moment because nothing else seemed to matter. Isolde had garnered his complete attention until she was apologizing and his hand suddenly felt cold from the absence of her touch.
Marcus blinked, sitting up straighter in his seat. "No...no, it's fine. I can barely feel it." That was mostly a lie again, but he was used to ignoring pain. At a quick glance, the venom seemed to stop at the tattoo, as if the ink was absorbing it, removing it from his body. It very well could be...if the goddess allowed, if she hadn't abandoned him, and thought this a worthy enough cause. Marcus was almost afraid to roll up his sleeve more to check to see if the darkness had crept any further but he would do that in private.
"Has the venom stopped?" he asked, turning his attention to her own injury. It had been so dark and everything had been a rush that he worried he hadn't been able to get it all.
Post by Isolde Thornton on May 13, 2021 22:35:33 GMT -5
Sol wouldn't have believed him that it didn't hurt if he hadn't looked so surprised that she asked. He must not have even thought about it. And before she could give it too much thought, he was asking about her. Now it was her turn to look startled and straighten up a little. She lifted her arm for a closer look, then shrugged. The venom showed as spidery little lines, hardly pushing past the edges of the wrapped bandage. She traced her fingertip over them absently, wondering how long they would take to truly spread. It seemed slower, now. Perhaps because her heart wasn't pounding from a panicked run through the forest?
She looked back to Marcus and gave him a smile she hoped was reassuring. "Seems like it's at bay for the moment," she answered, rising smoothly to her feet. "We should worry about resting, for now, since you said we've only got a few hours. I should be alright for a while longer."
Standing this close, her hands itched to touch him again, even just her fingertips on his shoulder, some small way to reassure herself that he was still there, still living and breathing in her space. She stepped back, instead. She shouldn't be so invasive. Even so, it was difficult to pull herself away.
She slowly turned and went toward the bed where she'd left Eddie, stopping to gently trail her fingers over his arm. He seemed so small and fragile, like this. Just a little boy in a strange place, with only the two of them to look out for him. Gods, please...watch over him. He deserves so much more.
With a sigh, she toed off her shoes and emptied the crystals out of her jean pockets onto the nightstand between the beds. She turned once more to glance wistfully at Marcus, then climbed carefully into the bed behind her brother, pulling him into her chest and nuzzling her face into his hair. Gods, she loved this little boy. More than her own life.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on May 13, 2021 23:32:38 GMT -5
There. He could see those lines, the traces of venom still in her veins and he nearly paled. If he hadn't of interfered, she certainly would have been dead by now, so the process had at least slowed. Still, that wasn't good enough for him. All of it had to be out, because if nothing was done, it would eventually reach her heart...
He wanted that smile of hers to reassure him, yet he knew better. He knew what it would do if it wasn't taken care of. Regardless, there was little he could do now without completely sapping what was left of his energy. He was still recovering from the spellwork, and whatever sleep he managed in the truck wasn't nearly enough to bring him back to full health. He needed time, and he prayed Isolde lasted fine until then.
'We should worry about resting...'
Marcus blinked tiredly again, following suit and getting back to his feet. "Right...yeah, sorry." He didn't entirely know what he was apologizing for, and he pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. "I think we're ahead, but...we shouldn't linger for too long in case." But they all needed proper sleep, which was probably very clear at this point.
Standing there, suddenly silent, he was faltering. He didn't know what else to say or what to do except watch her with tired eyes as she finally turned away from him to join her brother. So exhausted, he couldn't explain fast enough that he was willing to take the floor before she was already climbing into bed with Eddie; leaving him standing there for a couple of seconds in that quiet awe again.
Double-checking that the door was locked, he drew the curtains closed and headed over to the other bed. Kicking off his shoes and slipping the handgun beneath one of the pillows, Marcus slowly lowered himself onto the bed. He didn't bother going beneath the covers, only lazily rolled onto his back where he would stare up at the ceiling for what felt like an hour. It wasn't until he looked back over to the two's sleeping forms that he finally drifted off to sleep.
Post by Isolde Thornton on May 17, 2021 20:11:57 GMT -5
Isolde slept without dreaming for the first time in days. The slumber that took her was warm and deep, and it wasn't until a car horn honked outside that she was jerked awake. She sat up sharply, already turning to reach for the crystals on the nightstand when her mind caught up to where they were. Not at the house. No danger in the room. Outside some teenagers laughed, apparently pleased that they'd scared their friend.
She deflated, equal parts relieved and irritated. It was good that it had nothing to do with her, but damn if she couldn't have used a bit more sleep…
Eddie was stirring next to her, slowly pushing himself up and rubbing his face with his hands. He looked around the room blearily, obviously confused. His bewildered little face made Sol giggle. "Just a hotel, honey. We needed some rest before we drive again." The boy relaxed and wrapped his arms around her middle in a sleepy hug. "Do you need to use the bathroom? It's over there." Eddie yawned and nodded, lingering for a moment before he peeled himself away from his sister. He waved sleepily at Marcus before trundling off to the bathroom. He was beginning to like the man, although it would take a while for him to be as comfortable with Marcus as his sister.
Sol watched him until he closed the door behind him, then turned to Marcus. "Good morning. Or, um. Afternoon?" she shrugged and ran her hands through her hair, trying to tame it back down. "Not the nicest wake-up call, but not the worst, either."
Post by Marcus Kanaan on May 17, 2021 23:03:06 GMT -5
They likely could have gotten away with another hour at the least, but fate didn't wish for that to be the case.
Marcus had slept without issue, if only because of how much energy he had lost, and he expected to be woken up by the alarm he set on his phone. Instead, it was an obnoxious car horn that had him waking immediately; instinctively reaching beneath the pillow for that handgun. He was barely awake, barely able to make much out in the dim room, yet it didn't take him long to push away the surprise and realize everything was alright.
Hiding the weapon away, he nodded slightly in way of greeting as Eddie padded his way to the bathroom before running a hand down his face. There would be no getting that extra hour. Once he was up, that was it.
'Good morning. Or, um. Afternoon?'
Marcus nearly grunted in displeasure, but instead he huffed a tired, inaudible laugh through his nose before climbing off the bed to step to the window. Drawing a curtain aside a little, he squinted against the pouring of sunlight as he spotted the noisy teens in the parking lot.
"Once we get you two to your sister, things will be easier." He still sounded so tired and groggy but he was waking up quickly now. "Just have to keep moving...in case." In case Thornton was on their trail, but he didn't want to say it, not that it would be difficult for her to assume.
Marcus refrained from a sigh as he let the curtain fall back into place and he deftly began to unbutton that shirt. He was realizing now that the sleeves were caked in dried blood, and he couldn't recall if it was only hers. The manor blazing on fire rushed back to his mind as he slipped the shirt from his shoulders, leaving him in a white tank as his attention immediately dropped down to his arm. Specifically the one with the tattoo.
A wave of relief and the slightest of smiles, he noticed the venom didn't seem to travel past the ink. Sekhmet had stopped it. She allowed this, to keep his life. A hand pressed against a hidden pendant beneath his shirt, the dulled chain visible around his neck as he murmured to himself.
But how did Sol fair? With that thought, he was looking back to her in question.
Post by Isolde Thornton on May 18, 2021 11:33:02 GMT -5
Isolde nodded. Being caught would be a fate worse than death; she knew that as well as anyone. She was sure even Eddie knew, given how he'd helped them. The only way out was forward.
"That reminds me--I got distracted when we were coming in," She watched him drop the curtains and start to unbutton his shirt, unaware that her words were slowing as she was distracted once again. "But I was able to reach… Andie...um, while I was dreaming..."
Marcus was Marcus and Sol was Sol; she'd never been the type to daydream over the men in movies or magazines, and he was someone she trusted, a friend, now, but always a steady part of her life as constant as any part of the family. She'd never sat and thought to herself 'Marcus is handsome' because she simply didn't think about anyone like that. Apparently, she just hadn't been paying attention.
It wasn't that she suddenly had the desire to do anything lewd, or that any romance novel fantasies sprung to mind. No… she simply watched him with wide-eyed awe as he turned in the warm shaft of sunlight that still fell from between the curtains, looking like a figure from a renaissance painting; a tragic hero lost in time and space. It had been him undoing his shirt that caught her attention, but despite the sculpt of his arms and the way the tank-top fit close to his torso, it was the little smile when he checked his tattoo that had a matching smile creeping onto her own face. Little by little, she was seeing more of him. The person he'd hidden so long beneath the impassive mask.
When he looked to her, she quickly dropped her gaze to her hands in her lap, picking at what little remained of her cuticles. She would just have to hope that the pitiful amount of light coming through the curtains wasn't enough for him to see the blush that was spreading across her cheeks and up to the tips of her ears. She had been too lost in her own thoughts to realize that he'd been checking the progress of the venom and was wondering about hers--and she didn't look to her forearm to see the way the spidery ink had crept past the bandage to the joints of her wrist and elbow.
"Andie said, um, that they're in Oregon. I think that's why there were so many trees when I first talked to her. Trees so high they drown out the sky."