Page 74 of Property of Quake

The cabin smells stale and dusty, like nobody has truly lived there in years. Every step makes my stomach churn harder.

For one terrible moment, I think we're too late, but then I hear something that nearly sends me to my knees.

"Whitney?"

I scan the barely lit room. "Melissa?”

A pounding reaches my ears, and I lunge past Quake and down the hall toward the sound.

"Whitney!" Melissa screams from beyond a closed door, fear radiating through her voice.

I don't think, only act. Shoving the door open, I burst inside and see Melissa sitting on the bed. She’s pale, exhausted, and terrified, but she’s alive.

Dear God, she’s alive.

The little girl launches herself at me so hard we nearly both end up on the floor. I gather her into my arms immediately, holding her as tightly as I can. I need to feel her. I need to know she's real.

For several long seconds neither of us can speak. We simply cling to each other. I feel Quake behind me, tapping my shoulder, but I make no move to let go.

"You're okay," I whisper.

Fresh tears spill down her cheeks.

"I thought you weren't coming."

The words destroy what little composure I have left. I pull back just enough to look at her. "Sweetheart, I was always coming."

She starts crying harder, and so do I. And Quake’s tapping becomes more insistent.

“Stand up, Whitney,” he orders, his tone deathly calm.

I open my mouth to argue, not wanting to let Melissa go, but a voice cuts through the room, startling me.

"You shouldn't have come."

Every ounce of relief vanishes as I stand, shoving Melissa behind me, between me and Quake. Then I focus on the woman standing against the far wall, a gun trained on us.

Carrie barely resembles the woman who used to visit Sacred Haven. Her hair is tangled, her clothes wrinkled, and dark circles shadow her eyes. Yet none of that is what unsettles me most.

It's her expression, the way her eyes tell me she believes we’ve done something terribly wrong by showing up here.

"Carrie,” I say calmly. “Put the gun down.”

Her gaze shifts toward Melissa. "They don't understand. I’m saving you.”

"You kidnapped her,” Quake bites out, his own gun aimed across the room, just in case.

The accusation visibly offends her, and she scoffs. "I rescued her."

Melissa steps out from behind me, brazen as can be. "You didn't rescue me."

Damn, I’m proud of her.

And scared for her.

Melissa’s words surprise everyone, including Carrie. She flinches as if the girl had slapped her across the face.

“You don’t understand, Melissa. I rescued you because they were going to destroy everything.”