Chapter Twenty

Lena is left to manage the fallout of Cass's decision to run. Cass and Billy make chilling discoveries in the wreckage of Stronghold. 

Tune in for a new chapter each week. Can't wait? Buy the book.

Visit tsdickerson.com for more about the author and her work. 

Follow T.S. Dickerson on Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky. 

Some of this podcast has been recorded on equipment from the Billings Public Library Co+Lab. Thanks to Renee Barratt of The Cover Counts for the cover design. Music by Mikhail Smusev from Pixabay.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Welcome back to the serialized podcast production of The Scarring Underneath, written and performed by T. S. Dickerson. Chapter twenty Lena took a deep breath. She wasn't a good liar. Everything she felt tended to surface on her face and in her voice. She'd never been able to help it. And now she had to lie for someone she didn't even like. The panic bubbled up from her gut as she heard the voices growing closer. What was she going to say? How could she tell them she had let Cass and Billy leave? Her breathing was coming faster and shallower. She heard the crack of branches and swish of grass from people entering the trees, and she darted away. She traveled in a half circle out around the scene of Drew's murder, picking up speed as voices called for her and Cass. She popped out of the trees and took a fumbling step into the lake, filling her boot with water. She cursed and bent to dump it out. As she did, she spotted a metal water bottle floating on the surface, jammed half under a branch of driftwood at the lake's edge. Empty, it must have drifted over here from the shallower sandy areas where people had been swimming yesterday. Her mind whirled as she came up with a plan. She snatched the bottle from the water and unscrewed the top. As she pushed it down beneath the surface, she realized she'd filled this bottle before. For Katie. Her hands froze as lake water slowly ran into the mouth of the bottle. With her breath still coming in short, ineffective gushes, she thought of Katie, recalled the woman's sweet face and large belly, her hands braiding the horsehair necklace, her infectious, eager laugh. Then the memory of her death came, the blank face with wide open eyes and blood smeared across her abdomen. They hadn't let Lena get too close, hadn't wanted her to see the reason they were so sure the baby couldn't be saved. Lena clenched her teeth and waited for the anger. She tried to picture Cass following Billy up the hill away from them that day. She'd conjured that image many times. But now all she could see was Cass's clothing soaked in Drew's blood and the paleness of her face as she clutched his body, refusing to be pulled away. She hadn't saved Drew either. But she hadn't been with Billy. She'd been with Lena, getting horses ready. The easiest image of Cass to summon was her covered in dirt, caring for the horses or hauling in meat, Cass sweating as she yelled at Lena not to fight fancy. Hit where it counts and end it. Show off and you'll wind up dead. Cass cursing her. Jesus Christ, Lena, never hold a gun like that. As she started to screw the lid onto the now full water bottle, she noticed the streaks of Drew's blood still on her hands, though partially rinsed away in the water. She remembered holding Billy's knife. She'd held it twice. Most recently she had held it out away from herself, gawking at the drying blood, but the first time she'd swiped it from Billy's grasp with ease. She remembered something she'd heard him say to Cass. I'm just glad I'm strong enough to set the saddle on her gently now. She hated me at first for lobbing it up there. She pictured Billy on his knees and clutching his gut as if he was about to be sick as he looked at Drew's body. She tightened the cap with purpose and skirted the lake, jogging back toward the woods. Derek burst from the trees and Lena almost crashed into him, stopping so suddenly the wet water bottle slipped from her grip and clanked to the ground. What's going on? she asked. I heard yelling. You were supposed to stay with her, Derek said, his voice booming. Others began to filter out of the trees. Where'd you go? Lena let her usual anger surface, hoping it would help her to be believable. What are you talking about, Cass? She wanted water. I went to get some. Lena bent to retrieve the water bottle and held it up. Trista stepped out from behind Derek and came to place a hand on Lena's arm. She's gone, Lena. We couldn't find Billy and we came back here, and Cass was gone. Lena was spared having to answer by Cam growling and spinning on his heel. He ran a hand through his hair and kicked a rock out into the lake. So help me if anything's happened to her, Cam said. Surely he wouldn't hurt her, Trista said, pulling Lena toward her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Lena stiffened. Trista was probably the nicest person left on earth, but Lena didn't like to be babied. Still, better this than questioning. She let the embrace continue. Why? Because he's hot on her? Derek asked. Like killing her best friend didn't hurt her, Cam said at the same time. The men exchanged a look. I can't leave without my sister. No, of course not, Derrick said. Like hell we can't, Adam said, forcing himself into the space between Cam and Derrick. Half an hour ago it was run or die. Nothing's changed. We can't leave Cass, Trista said. Adam glanced at Trista with distaste, and then, seeing Lena tucked beneath her arm, he advanced on the two women. How can we be sure he took her anyway? Maybe she went willingly. Maybe she's a part of it all, huh? He was pointing his finger at the women, and Lena felt Trista tense. She shrugged away from the pregnant woman and met Adam. I don't know, do I? I wasn't there. She flung the water bottle to the side and met Adam's gaze. The man shook his head and backed away. It was easy lying to him, she thought. Shouldn't we send out a search party? Hank asked, while there's still light. We should, Derek said. If Billy's the mole, he'll be heading for New Danville. He'll tell them we're leaving and they'll be here in force. Which is why we should leave now, Adam said. It's our only chance of getting away before they get here. I'm not leaving my sister. Cam's voice was quiet, but it held a note of danger and assurance. I can't believe Cass would ever hurt Drew or do anything to help his killer, Trista said. She didn't leave of her own free will. I agree. This voice was Lena's father's. Lena felt her cheeks and neck burning at their words. They were both right and wrong. Lena glanced at Cam. He had separated himself from the discussion and looked out across the lake as if he could see through the trees and spot his sister. This might be the only chance Lena would have to talk to him alone, to tell him the truth without revealing it to everyone. The argument continued as Hank agreed with Trista and Weylon. Adam protested loudly, calling Cass's character into question. When Derrick's voice raised over everyone's, suggesting every able bodied fighter should get a gun and a horse to go rescue Cass, Lena saw her chance. She darted over to Cam and clutched his arm. What's wrong? he began, but Lena cut him off, her words quiet and frantic. She couldn't get it out fast enough. I was there when Billy came to Drew's body. Cam's eyes widened and Lena charged ahead. Cass left with him to protect him. What? Cam said, his voice a whisper. Cam, she said Billy didn't do it, and I believe her. Tears welled up in Lena's eyes, an unfamiliar feeling. She said the killer is here with us still, and she said she'd find out who it was and come back. Cam let out a deep breath, and Lena watched his expression. He was relieved, he was angry, but he was not all that surprised. Cam, I this time Lena was cut off as Adam and Derrick barged up. Cam, we need to go after them. We need to catch them before they get to New Danville, Derrick said. They're on foot. We could overtake them and get your sister back. Adam's eyes were hard on Lena's face. She looked away. What? Does she know something? he asked. Do you know something else? Adam moved toward Lena, but Cam rotated his body, blocking Adam's path. She was apologizing, Cam said, for leaving Cass. Cam cleared his throat and turned to Derrick. I appreciate you wanting to go after my sister, I wish we could, but this is their territory. We can't split up. For all we know, Billy could have had a horse or others from New Danville waiting nearby. He might have had a way to signal them. The ridges of the frown on Derrick's forehead were deep. Lena had to drag her eyes away from his harsh face. We have to either run now or stay and fight. If we run, they will probably catch us anyway. Who knows how far we'd get, and it will be dark soon. Besides, I won't leave my sister, Cam said, voices raised in agreement and support. We're stronger here. This spot is defensible. Cam continued to plead his case, but Lena couldn't focus. She glanced from Adam, all fire and anger, holding his strength above his head on display, to Derek, whose scarred face and massive upper body contrasted with his mild and relaxed demeanor, and yet she'd seen his eyes change, seen him become a tornado. A chill ran down her spine as Cam concluded. I believe we could win if we fought them together, Cam said. But I won't blame anyone, even members of my own band. Here he paused and looked around, if they choose to leave. For a moment no one spoke. Derrick's eyes flicked back and forth almost as if clockwork moved behind them, rather than a brain. He nodded. Cam is right. Adam turned on Derrick in a fury, and one or two voices protested. Derrick turned to face the crowd and raised a hand over his head. Once Billy warns New Danville, they'll be after us in force. If we split up, they'll run over the people here and come after the rest of us anyway. If we all leave, they'll run us down, just like Cam said. Our only option is to fight together. Derek let his words sink in for a moment. Murmurs of discussion passed around the crowd. Finally, Derrick turned to Hank. Hank nodded. We'll stay and fight, he said. Thank you, Cam said. He started giving orders, assigning people to set up watch points, and putting others to work at protecting supplies and building defenses. Lena stood by his side, staring straight ahead, not seeing anything and not hearing much. They were talking about war, and the realization chilled her. She jumped when Cam's arm came down over her shoulder. He steered her away toward the lake. I just need to speak to her for a minute, Weyland, she heard him say. She blinked and focused her eyes on his face. Tell me everything, he said. Billy had been outrunning Cass for quite a distance. He was so focused on getting away, keeping them out of trouble long enough to convince her he hadn't killed Drew. All he cared about was making her believe. His lungs were burning, and he felt detached from his own legs. He was utterly spent by the time he realized they should stop. They could talk here and then turn back, get Cass back to the safety of a group, and let them deal with him however they pleased. He came to an old gas station and pushed his body through one more surge of speed to collapse against the building. He turned around and let his back slide down the wall, the cinder blocks scratching his skin. A panting brick trotted into the shade beside Billy and flopped onto his belly. Cass was further behind than he'd thought. When she saw he'd stopped, she stopped as well, though she was still a couple hundred feet away in a field. He wanted to tell her to come closer, to get some cover instead of standing there exposed, but before he could catch his breath to call out, she crumpled to the ground. He jumped to his feet, his heart rate, which hadn't had time to slow anyway, skyrocketed again. He ran for her, skidding to a stop near her feet. She wasn't unconscious, just sitting with her head between her hands, sobbing. She gasped for breath between agonized cries, and Billy wanted to hold her. But what right did he have? He braced his own arm on his knees and rested his head on it, listening as her crying slowly slackened and stopped. She sat there sniffing, her breath steadying. When he lifted his head she was looking at him through swollen eyes. She seemed to be waiting for something, so he said it. I didn't kill him. I know. I swear I didn't, Cass. Billy charged on desperately, only wishing he could talk faster. I would never hurt Drew. I needed to be alone for a bit just to think about us. And we can go back. I didn't intend to run. I just needed you to know I didn't do this. We have to get back where it's safe, and let them do what they want to me. I'm fine with it so long as you know I didn't do it. Billy, I said I know, Cass said. And she clapped her hands over her face, pressing the tips of her fingers over her eyes as if to soothe them. So you're gonna give up? Billy grappled for a response. He stuttered for a moment before he could speak. I want you safe. Cass gave a dry huff of a laugh. I'm not safe there. No one is until we figure out who she trailed off and looked away. We have to find out who did it. She stood up, and Billy followed suit. She wavered on her feet for a moment and reached a hand out to him, her eyes shut tight. He grabbed the hand and gripped her arm as well. You okay? he asked. Cass took a deep breath before answering. I haven't eaten today, that's all. She clutched his hand for a moment longer until the dizziness seemed to pass, and then she pulled away and looked around. The grass swished as Brick rejoined them. Come on, she said. We need to find some place to hold up for the night. Billy watched her get her bearings and adjust their direction, then followed her forward, his eyes taking in the unpleasant amount of Drew's blood still staining her clothing. Where are we going? he asked. Stronghold. Billy looked up at the horizon. He saw now what he'd missed while running blindly. Just a mile or two away there was a wall. A couple of taller buildings were visible over the top, and a thin trail of smoke still moved lazily heavenward on one end of the city. Though he wished he knew her plan, he took comfort in the steady swishing of her feet in the grass beside him. He took comfort in her trust, and decided the time to pick it apart would come all too soon. For now he was just happy to be free, and not alone. Stronghold's once intimidating wall now featured at least two new entrances. They crouched in the shadows of a play structure at a park just outside the city for nearly half an hour. Then Cass led Billy and Brick through the rubble of stones, shards of metal, and splintered wood that had once been a solid barrier. No one was guarding the city. In fact, the only movement was that of scavengers, carrion birds and wild dogs who were feasting on and fighting over the bodies. Cass paused just inside the wall to take it all in. Buildings, a courthouse, maybe, an apartment, a library, judging by the books littering the ground, had been reduced to piles of debris not much taller than Cass. Houses had become foundations covered in rubble, but the bodies were the most disturbing thing. I'm guessing the whole sister city claim was a bit of a stretch, Billy said, crouching to hold a brick, since they didn't have the decency to take care of the bodies. Billy's voice, usually silk in her ears, was more like gravel. Every movement he made, every irritating shift of his weight echoed around in her. His words nagged at her brain. I would never hurt Drew. Just a reminder Drew was dead, a fact she was trying to ignore to avoid falling apart. Let them do whatever they want with me, stabbing her heart. He was a survivor, and after everything he'd lived through, everything they'd been through together, and even after she'd given him forgiveness, how could he just roll over? How could he just give up? She glanced down at Brick. Billy's hand held the dog in place with a firm but gentle grip on his leather collar. She remembered Drew's hands fastening the collar there, and she gritted her teeth. She turned to the bodies, so many. She spun in a slow half circle, earning a growl from a matted dog once golden haired, now covered in soot. It was guarding a human corpse from her, its muzzle covered in gore. She frowned at the body. Not all of these people died in the explosions. Cass cleared her throat and bent to pick up a chunk of concrete. She held it firmly in one hand while she pulled her pistol from her belt with the other. She advanced on the dog confidently. Get, she said. Go on. The dog shied back at first, and then barked and moved to the body again. Cass chucked the concrete toward the dog. The animal ducked away as Cass's crude weapon struck the ground beside the body and bounced. She kept her pistol aimed at the dog as she moved to within a few feet of the body. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the still growling animal and what was left of the corpse. She backed away, allowing the dog to return to its meal, and would have stumbled over Billy and Brick had Billy not reached out and touched her calf, stopping her. Gunshot, she said. They were here when it happened. To finish off the survivors. Billy let out a grunt of disgust. It'll be dark soon, Cass said. We need to find a map and someplace intact enough to stay for the night. A map? She ignored Billy and moved on down the street. Cass's tension grew as building after building was either demolished or too damaged to hide out in. She was beginning to doubt her decision to come here. She'd wanted to see for herself what had happened, but she hadn't imagined dead bodies would be littering the ground or half hanging out of shattered windows. She'd thought this would be the last place anyone would look for them, but she hadn't understood how right that judgment was. She felt fragile, worn by Drew's death and weakened by hunger. The carnage wasn't helping. Look at that, Billy said after they'd walked for a bit, picking their way through rubble and the discarded belongings of those who'd tried to escape. Cass followed Billy's gaze and squinted into the setting sun. Just a block ahead of them was an area that seemed untouched. There was a larger building with no sign, but it appeared to have been a natural grocery once, a high end place. Around it, a cluster of three or four houses was miraculously unharmed. Cass picked up her pace. Why aren't they blown up? she wondered aloud as she jogged forward. If it weren't for Brick cautiously sniffing a blackened shoe that lay in the middle of one of the yards, this could look like a picture of a street corner from before. The glass front doors of the grocery store were boarded up, but a series of yellow reflective arrows, once road markers, indicated a path around the side of the building. You don't suppose there's food left in there? Billy asked. Cass glanced at him and shrugged, not feeling quite as hopeful as he looked. Let's find out. She followed the arrows around the building to a side door. It was glass, and Cass peered inside. There were a number of skylights, but with dark coming on she couldn't make out much. There did appear to be rows of shelving in the center of the store. She pulled her pistol from its holster and turned to Billy. She had opened her mouth to ask if he had a weapon on him when she remembered the antler handled knife, white and tan striations covered in Drew's blood. Her mouth snapped closed, and she took a deep breath before pulling her own knife from her arm sheath and passing it wordlessly to Billy. She pulled the door's handle. It was unlocked and swung open with barely a sound. Once inside, Cass scanned the area. The place was empty. She stood for a moment listening and watching Brick as he trotted in without concern and took to sniffing the merchandise. Cass considered motioning to Billy to check the place, but it was a fairly small store, and she finally decided she had no energy for the tension of waiting. Hello, she called out. Anyone in here? We've come to help. Billy stared at her wide eyed and tensed, bracing for a violent response. His expression eased as a minute passed with no sound but their own breathing and the clicking of bricks toenails on the tile. Cass wandered over to the checkstands, holstering her gun as she walked. The computers were missing, of course, and the long, unmoving belts were in disrepair. She found a lantern underneath a counter and felt around its base until her hands clasped a box of matches. When it was lit, she saw small metal lock boxes where the computers would have been. Cass lifted the lid on one of them and found a mixture of paper types inside. There was some money, she hadn't seen a lot of it since the end. She picked up a five and raised her brows. There were words and numbers scrawled across the bill. She glanced down at the other slips of paper and cardboard. They were similarly marked. Some kind of rationing or trading system, she said. She traded Billy the bill and the lantern for her knife, and sheathed it. There's food, he said, indicating the shelves with a nod of his head. You should eat. Cass nodded and followed his direction. She picked an apple from a full crate and bit into it as she walked down the aisle. There were some fresh fruits and vegetables, loaves of bread and clear containers filled with jerky. There were shelves and shelves of preserved foods of all types. chips and glass canning jars, each neatly labeled and dated. Cass's mouth watered as she looked. Can't stay here, she thought. This was a valuable place, should rovers or men from New Danville come looting. Find a bag and fill it with whatever you can, she called to Billy. We need to find someplace else to sleep. Cass felt juice from her apple drip down her forearm, and she moved to wipe it. Glancing down before her fingers made contact she froze. She'd almost forgotten she was covered in blood. The apple juice ran clear down to her wrist, and then turned a rusty brown. Cass glanced down at her front, suddenly acutely aware that Drew's dried blood stiffened her shirt and pants. It scratched her skin as her breathing picked up. She ran a shaking hand through her hair and felt patches caked with blood. The apple dropped to the floor as she leaned forward and gripped the nearest shelf in both hands. She shut her eyes and focused on her breathing. Footsteps approached and stopped a few feet away. She opened her eyes to see Billy's boots, illuminated by the gently swinging light of the lantern. She looked up to find him holding out a pile of clothes balanced on his hand. They should fit you, he said, and here he produced a jug of water that had been tucked under his arm. To clean up Cass pit down on her lip, as tears stung the back of her eyes. She nodded and took the items. The restroom sign had been taken off the door, but it swung open, allowing Cass a view of a shadowed room full of boxes, chairs and other furniture. She slipped in and fished in the bottom of her jeans pocket, removing the horsehair necklace and carefully hanging it on the door handle. She stripped out of her clothing, finding her skin sticky in places with more than sweat. There was a hand towel among the clothes and she soaked it with water and began to wipe her skin clean, struggling not to remember whose blood darkened the cloth. When she'd squirmed into the clean clothes she replaced her boots, belt, pistol and knife sheath, and left without retrieving the bloodied jeans and t shirt. They could rot there. Outside the door she stared at the necklace for a moment, took a deep breath, and slipped it over her head. She found Billy filling a backpack and a canvas tote with food and supplies. He looked up as she approached and spotted the horsehair necklace. His eyes dropped back to the floor You said we needed a map, he said, I couldn't find one. Cass rolled her shoulder and let herself enjoy the feel of clean cotton on her skin for a fraction of a second. I don't know how to get to New Danville, she said. I have a general idea, but I'm gonna need a map We're going to New Danville Cass knelt to zip up the backpack and slung it over her shoulders. We'll have to split up She headed for the door, bricks skittering along beside her. She stepped back out into the warm evening and paused for Billy. Facing the undamaged street she set him the task of searching houses on one side while she searched those on the other. Cass's frustration boiled near the surface when the first small house she checked proved nearly impossible to search. More than one family had lived there, and though there were thankfully no bodies in the house, it was littered with stuff, board games and extra blankets, reams and reams of paper and hundreds of books. She tore through the place but found no map. The last light was fading as she moved to the next house. She passed through the yard toward the back door, only to freeze in place when Brick whined and refused to go further. What Brick? Cass asked. She watched the dog pace for a moment and then looked in the direction Brick was trying not to look. She squinted in the low light. There was another body in this yard she started to head into the house but paused with her hand on the railing. They would need weapons they hadn't been checking the bodies but some of them might be armed. She headed over to the body. It was laying atop a rifle and she let out a sigh of relief. There was also a pistol in a shoulder holster. It looked as if the man had just stepped out of the large tool shed behind him when he was shot. The door stood ajar. What was he doing in the shed? Cass had let Billy take the lantern she called out for him now. She waited, shouting once more to let him know which direction to go. He arrived in the yard breathless and clutched her shoulder in his large hand. Cass shrugged away. I'm fine, she said. She nodded into the darker part of the yard I want to see in that shed. Cass reached for the lantern get his guns She walked up and pulled the door open. The shed was apparently just for storage. Small shelves held boxes of tools, books, vases and knick knacks. There were also document boxes filled with paperwork, but Cass's attention was drawn to a small table under a window. The window itself was odd as it faced another window. Cass could see into the house, though what room it might be was obscured by the descending darkness. The shed was close enough an occupant in the house could have reached into it and taken an item off the table. It was the items on the table that were the most interesting. There were stacks of notebooks, and on top of the tallest group was a tiny pyramid made from balls of off white clay. What the hell? she mumbled What is it? Billy's footsteps approached the shed door as she bent toward the balls, swinging the lantern lower. On closer inspection they weren't so small, and there was something metallic sticking out of each one. The metallic pieces had strings attached, and for a moment Cass thought she'd simply stumbled upon some child's artwork. Holy shit, she said as the truth came to her. Suddenly Billy was beside her, guiding her lantern arm away from the table. Let's not get the flame quite so close, he said. That's a bomb, Cass said. Billy nodded. C four Really? She frowned as she bent over the table, sniffing the explosive can people still make that? I mean they'd have what they needed? Billy nodded again. Yeah, if someone knew what they were doing they could find it. Looks like John wasn't lying about their explosives expert. He crossed his arms and looked out the shed window, his frown deepening. Doesn't make sense though. They'd need a lot of C4 to do the damage that's been done to this town. This bit here is barely enough for the house it's maybe six pounds. He rubbed the stubble on his chin. How do you know this? Billy raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat you know the film I was in Blackwatch? No. He cracked a half smile. Guess you weren't that big a fan, he said I played the son of a demolitions expert. It wasn't a big role, but I still did my homework. Nodding, Cass felt a perverse sort of pride in him. I think maybe they intended to take out this house specifically he was looking through the window again. Cass approached the table and again brought the lantern closer, this time more carefully the notebooks appeared to be journals. The covers bore sets of dates all after the end The house in the shed, she said, maybe this was the house of someone important to stronghold. She rolled her shoulder We can't stay here. It won't explode until someone lights the fuse, Billy said. But I could try to disarm it No, Cass said. They might come back for it. They have to know it didn't go off. She turned and stepped out onto the grass. Brick waited as far from the dead body as he could get without leaving the yard, whining. Billy gathered up the rifle and Cass set a brisk pace away from the bomb and the body. We need to find a map and I've got one, Billy said. Cass stopped and turned to stare at him it's in my bag. Cass let out a sigh and suppressed the urge to hug him. Thank you. She lifted the lantern as if to light up the nearby houses. It was useless Now we just have to find a place to sleep. Billy cleared his throat follow me Lena sat on a rock, listening to the continued arguing as she watched the horses move about nervously in their corrals. The animals were tacked up and Lena's excuse was keeping an eye out to make sure they didn't chew on their saddles really she just didn't want to hear anymore. People were confused. If Billy had gone straight to New Danville, he'd have been there for a while. Everyone had been expecting the attack to come before now everyone except herself and Cam anyway. As far as she knew Cam hadn't told anyone, not even Trista, what Cass and Billy were really doing. She wanted to tell her father. Weylon was upset by Cass's disappearance and insistent that the reason no attack had come was because Cass had discovered Billy's plan and killed him. While the others waited for an army, Weylon expected a distraught but victorious Cass to return alone. She wanted to tell him he was half right, but Cam had given her strict instructions to keep quiet, to avoid tipping off the real mole and giving him or her time to escape. So Lena waited Weapons were propped up in lines along the back walls of the Lean Twos, the tents were folded and packed with almost all of their other supplies in one of the wagons, which stood down the road a bit, ready to be hitched up and moved out. The others formed a makeshift blockade near the lake. There was little else to do until the fighting started. The group slept and ate in shifts, their anxiety growing as they prepared for an attack that would not come for quite some time if at all Lena willed Cass luck. Lena's expression softened as a gray cat leaped onto the top rail of the nearest corral fence and started to make its way across. The cat had been around camp all evening, making friends here and there, earning the occasional scrap of food for a purr or a well timed butt lift. Everyone seemed to appreciate the lightened mood the animal inspired, especially since Brick had disappeared with Cass and Billy. At least she hoped the dog was with them. She stood and crossed over to the cat, lifting it into her arms as its claws gently gripped her jacket. This isn't a good place to hang out, cat, she said. She rubbed the animal's neck for a moment and turned, intending to walk it back over toward the crowd. But the cat stiffened in her arms and cranked its head around, staring. Lena turned to see Derrick and Cam approaching. Derek's voice was raised to match his gesticulating hands. The cat hissed and dove out of Lena's arms, scratching her as it went. Ow, she said, sucking in a breath and putting hand over the place where the scratch would be. It had sliced her through the fabric. She watched the cat dart into the darkness of the nearest trees. Cat has good sense, I guess, to avoid him. Rubbing her arm she wandered back to the gathering of people, beginning to feel exhaustion pulling at her senses Hello listeners, thank you so much for tuning in to chapter 20 of the Scarring Underneath a new chapter releases each week. Learn more about me and my work on Facebook, Instagram and Blue Sky. Links are in the podcast description