Stolen Lives: A LitRPG/GameLit Novel (The Underhill Chronicles Book 1) Keith Ahrens (best e reader for epub txt) 📖

Thorn sighs. “I understand your feelings and sentiments and even agree with them. However, wishing to be left alone will not protect us against the jealous Fey who will send wave after wave of fodder and mercenaries to capture or kill us. You see, they fought hard to gain this land, and they guard its secret closely. If they know that even one human can reveal it and jeopardize their home, they will stop at nothing to destroy that human. We are not safe even once we cross the gate.”

“And this Osmanthus knew people who could hide us?” I ask. “I for one don't want to hide. I want to get back to my normal life, salvage what I can, and forget this whole nightmare ever happened.”

She smiles sadly at me and our whole group. “Alas, they will not let you.”

“Well, we can cross that bridge when we get there. One problem at a time. For now, everyone get some rest,” says Haynes, making it clear the conversation is over.

The group begins to break up and drift back to the wagons to figure out sleeping arrangements and vantage points for lookouts. I casually walk over to where Jesse's vacated seat. His MRE is still sitting on a small log next to where he was. I crouch down and pick up the torn plastic foil package and dump it out. All the items inside are still sealed and untouched. Jesse hadn't eaten anything at all.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I can get a little paranoid at times, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't exercise a little caution here. I catch up with Olivia before she's worked out all the watch assignments.

“Hey, put me on watch with Jesse, okay?” I say to her.

She stops and looks at me with some scrutiny. “You got a thing for crazy, bearded men, or is there something I should know about?”

“Probably not, but I just want to keep an eye on him to be sure.”

“All right, you two take second watch. I'll take third with Grayson. We'll let Haynes and Thorn take first so they can get a solid block of sleep. Those two are wiped out. Then Miles and Jimmy. Des and Vince can take last watch. The Gnolls can take any watch they want; they don't seem to sleep much. Wake me up if something else seems 'off' to you, okay?” She stares hard at me.

From her experience as a cop, I think she knows I'm withholding some information, but I don't want to cause Jesse any more problems. Maybe he's just holding out for better food. Maybe he's just a little more mentally deranged than I thought. Yet, I can't get past the pistol in his hand when he snuck up behind me. Until then, he seemed very loyal to all of us. Now he just seems off. Was this his real personality truly coming out? Had all the fighting triggered something deep inside of him?

Even though the sun is just starting to set, I find myself a spot inside one of the wagons and stake a claim to it. After a short mental debate, I compromise and take off my chest armor, gauntlets, and helmet. It would be impossible to get comfortable wearing all that. I pile everything on the floor next to me with the mace on top, leaving it within easy reach. I lie down on the bench and do my best not to think about the trail of dead and injured people that we… no, the ones I have left behind.

Too tired to dwell much on that thought, I'm asleep before I realize it, my dreams starting up right away.

22

A few minutes or hours later, I feel a hand on my shoulder attempting to rouse me. I sit up with a start, confused for a second, until I remember where I am. Haynes has taken a step back, just out of reach.

“Sorry, Sarge. You just surprised me.”

“No problem. Your turn for watch. We went through the dead bodies and found some useful gear. And these,” he says and hands me two smooth rocks, but it’s too dark to see how deep their color is. “Thorn said you were out of healing stones. Look through the weapons and armor; see if there's anything better than what you have.”

I rub some sleep crust from my eyes. “Okay, cool. Hey, Sarge… anything strange happen while you and Jesse were out scouting the trail?”

“Strange? Like what?” I can almost see the puzzled expression on his face despite the gloom.

“I don't know… like anything weird or unusual?”

“I don't think so. You'd have to ask Jesse. We separated for a while to cover more ground. He found the horse, and I found the MREs. I took the horses after that, and he scouted the woods on the way back. What’s going on, Caleb?” He looks at me, suspicion in his voice as his countenance darkens.

“Really, Sarge, it’s probably nothing. I just noticed Jesse was acting a little… weirder than usual when you guys got back. Maybe I'm just being a little paranoid.”

“Yeah, maybe. Keep in mind that Jesse is a good man and has had my back for a long time. You'd better be sure there's something really wrong before you do anything. The last thing we need is dissension in this group. And one more thing I'd like you to remember, I consider Jesse to be family,” Haynes finishes, a hard tone in his voice and a bit of a threatening look in his stern gaze.

“5x5, Sarge." I gather my gear as Haynes leaves. Great, I may have just alienated the leader of our little cadre, and if I'm wrong, I’ll also look like a giant jerk. I mean, I haven't known Jesse all that long, maybe this is how he really is. You know… sneaky and quick to pull a gun on a friend.

Stiff