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An ache bloomed in his chest as he held her at arm’s length. “Well, I can’t watch you martyr yourself. I won’t.” He released her and dragged his feet to the door. “I have to go—I can’t be here right now.”
“Krieger, no. No, don’t.” She was moving toward him, but he held his hand up to stop her.
“I don’t know if I can live here with the memory of you—of what could have been. I need some time to think.” He gripped the molding of the doorway. “Will you do me a favor though?”
Choking back another sob, she said, “Anything.”
His vision became blurry—the tightness in his throat made it hard to get the words out. “Take care of yourself first. Remember, you can’t be there for others if you don’t.”
She sniffed quietly and nodded.
“Okay. . .” He turned back to the doorway, took a deep breath, then said, “Goodbye, Eva.” He didn’t trust himself to look at her one last time, so he stepped outside and into the rain.
He flew over the landscape as he leaped over downed branches and dodged boulders. After grabbing his survival gear and food, he made his way to the ground level of Everwood. Going through the front gate wouldn’t work since he’d have to clear that with her father. No, he’d use the back door.
The pouring rain made a perfect cover and allowed him to sneak to the shed. After he stepped onto the forest floor and closed the wall, he stopped and gripped his chest as memories of Eva from the night before seared him to his core. An agonizing moan left him as he turned around and started running until he was catapulting himself through the woods.
As he slowed a while later, he tugged at his hair and clenched his teeth. He should fight for her, shouldn’t he?
Hell, she had a will of steel. This was her choice. He spoke his truth to her, and she...
A sharp pain danced across his forehead, and he covered it with his hand. Why did he feel like he was walking away from the best thing in his life?
He swallowed hard and yanked his bag around, pulling a map and compass from the front pouch. He didn’t even know where he was going, but he had to get away.
The ground squished beneath his boots as he read the compass and pushed on. West it was.
He walked for hours, and his legs were fatigued by the time he stopped by a running stream. He removed a couple hard boiled eggs he’d packed and began to peel them. Maybe there would be a hunter’s lean-to around here where he could stay the night.
As he ate, his eyes wandered to his surroundings. It really was a whole different world up here compared to the villages. He finished off the second egg, then took a long pull on his canteen when a branch snapped behind him.
Jumping to his feet, he got into a crouch and removed his knife from its sheath in his boot. “Who’s there?”
He scanned the area, the filtered light through the trees casting eerie shadows throughout the forest. Slowly, he turned in place. The leaves rustled as two squirrels ran past his feet, then circled up the trunk of a nearby tree.He breathed a sigh of relief. It was just squirrels.
Krieger returned his knife, then slung his pack over his shoulder. He had a little more time before he’d have to stop and set up camp.
As he hiked, Eva consumed his thoughts. The way her long, golden hair fell over her shoulders, the sound of her angelic voice—shit, the way her lips felt against his.
He shook his head. There had to be something he could say to her, something to change her mind, wasn’t there?
Don’t think of her, she doesn’t want you...
A thick fog began to settle over the landscape as the light of day dimmed. He drew both sides of the collar of his coat together around his neck, as the temperature began to drop; an indication that he’d have to make camp. He assessed the area, spying a large boulder wedged into the forest floor. That would be as good a place as any.
He collected kindling and made his fire, then rolled out his tarp and pelt in front of the rock. The fire crackled as he removed a couple pieces of jerky from his bag. When he took his first large bite, a rustling of branches drew his attention to the right of his camp. Was he being followed?
He eased his hand into his bag and gripped the butt of his pistol, but before he could take it out, the click of a gun cocking near his temple stilled his movements.
“Easy there, son, no need for that.”
Two men emerged from the shrubs, and the one holding the gun took slow steps to face him.
Krieger eyed the older man with the weapon, then watched the man’s eyes widen. His jaw dropped open, and he lowered his arm. “I don’t believe it. You’re... dead.”
The men gasped as they looked upon him.
What the hell was going on? Krieger shook his head. “You know me?”
