Excerpt: Kidnapped (tentative title)

His eyes seemed to glint strangely in the firelight. “You’re an interesting person, Morgan Campbell.”

For a moment, their gazes held and then, oddly, Morgan felt herself relax. “So are you, Malcolm Rees.”

“Mm, glad we have that straight,” he said with a small smile before turning to pull out something to sleep on.

Morgan watched him move with her eyes as she munched her bread and cheese thoughtfully. There was something very…comforting about Rees, and something secretive about him too, but somehow that didn’t bother her in the slightest. Morgan realized abruptly that the last exchange had made them friends. How didn’t really matter, they just were.

“Hey, Rees.”

“Yeah?” he asked, turning slightly in her direction.

“Thanks for coming along.”

She could see a smile itch the corner of his mouth. “As if you could have stopped me,” he said before nodding shortly once. “My pleasure,” he added in a softer voice. He turned all the way back, holding a blanket. “You know,” Rees said, glancing up at few stars and moonlight that managed to break through the tree cover, “I’ve never much liked the dark. It’s got that element of mystery, you know? I guess it’s because you can’t really see things.”

Morgan followed his gaze, not answering for a long moment. “Chris left me in the dark a lot. Me and Matt both. He let us have light after Russ joined us, so I could keep him alive. To give me a chance to fulfill my half of the bargain.”

Rees touched her shoulder gently. “I’m sorry, Morgan.”

“I never hated the dark until then,” she said, shaking herself and making an attempt to sound brisk. “If I hadn’t seen him die, this would scream his signature. I guess that’s why I’m thinking about him a lot tonight. But I saw him die. I watched the life bleed out of him,” she said with a sudden fierceness, turning on Rees with tears in her eyes.

“Nothing’s going to happen to you tonight and Chris is dead, Morgan. We’ll get everyone back, safe and sound. Sage included. I promise you. If I have to fight the whole damn Nerian army, we’ll get them back.”

“I’d help you fight them,” Morgan said, relieved to find her voice was coming back stronger and the memories were again receding. “I’m sorry, Rees. I’m…I’m pretty messed up and I’m having trouble hiding it today. Too much has happened, I guess.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being messed up and there’s nothing wrong with not being able to hide it either. You’re allowed to have issues. It’s only natural, so don’t worry about it.”

“I barely know you!”

“Why does that matter? Sometimes it’s easier not to know the person. You don’t have to worry about any preconceived notions or thoughts on the situation. I’m not saying I need to be that person, Morgan, but it might be good for you.”

“Unburden my soul on you? You don’t want that.”

“The world is a strange and often funny place, that’s all I’m saying,” Rees said with a shrug as he lay out the blanket on the ground and then sat down on it, yawning. “Just think about it and wake me up anything comes up.” He met her gaze. “Anything at all. I’ve gone plenty of nights with no sleep over the years.”

“Thank you.”

“Not a problem.” He grinned, stretching out on his back. “I think I like you.”

Morgan felt herself laugh before she could think about it. “I’m flattered.” She paused. “G’night, Rees.”

“Goodnight, Morgan.”