Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 40

NADINE’S P.O.V

Jennifer didn’t attempt to speak to Rowan or me again.

She kept to herself, choosing to isolate instead of having a civil conversation with us like Dan did. A part of me felt bad, I couldn’t imagine the kind if things she must have gone through to make her harbor such resentment towards me, but at the same time, I also knew that it wasn’t my fault and I wasn’t going to be responsible for her actions.

I tried to push her out of my mind and focused on the other two. Dan was more fun than I thought he would be. Unlike Rowan who was stoic and cold most times, Dan was a breath of fresh air. He was sweet and kind and told the most amusing stories while we walked. He made the entire situation much less daunting than it should have been.

When we got to the train station, he took one look at the train and frowned. "That’s going to be an uncomfortable place to sleep."

"Do you have any better ideas?" Rowan asked and he instantly went silent. "It’s getting dark. We can spend the night in one of the coaches. There has to be at least one that’s open."

We started our search for a way onto the train.

The sun was beginning to set and I could tell that the exhaustion weighed heavily on each of us. When I finally found one door that had been left ajar, I called out to the others. Rowan pressed a kiss to my temple in relief while Dan ruffled my hair playfully. Jennifer just watched me with her narrowed eyes before scoffing and storming in.

"Ignore her," Dan told me softly. "She just needs to sleep off the crankiness."

"I can hear you," she mumbled.

Dan smiled before going in after her. "That was the entire point."

I watched them argue in whispered breaths as they walked over to the far end of the coach. I glanced over at Rowan who still hadn’t said anything, he just nudged me forward with his hands. The seats were nowhere near big enough to sleep in. Even if we did manage to fall asleep in then, it would be an uncomfortable and fitful sleep.

We did the next best thing and curled up on the floor.

It wasn’t comfortable either, but it was far better than sleeping in caves.

Rowan lay behind me, his hand wrapped around my hips as he pulled me close to him. We didn’t bother with a sleeping bag and it was a bit chilly but his body provided much needed warmth and heat.

I felt his fingers brush my hair back from my neck as his lips ghosted over my bare skin. Goosebumps erupted over my skin, my nipples pebbling from the tiny action.

"I would never have pegged you for a cuddler," I teased. "Who knew that the formidable Rowan Caine likes to be held." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

I could almost see him rolling his eyes. "Shut up."

"Do you cuddle with everyone or am I just special?"

"Go to sleep, Nadine."

His voice, although bland, held no malice or anger. He just pulled me closer, his lips ghosting my skin as I found myself drifting off to sleep.

I woke up to an unsettling feeling at the base of my neck. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched and the more I tried to brush it off, the worse it got.

I tried to sit up slowly, hoping not to rouse Rowan in the process, but it was already too late. His hand on my hip gripped tighter, letting me know that he was awake.

"Don’t move," he whispered and I stilled.

"What’s wrong?"

"I think there are monsters outside. I’m sure they can already smell us but if we’re quiet, they may leave."

I swallowed deeply, trying not to panic. "Do the others-"

"I’m sure they’re already awake."

"Why didn’t you wake me?"

"I didn’t want you to worry," his hand left me. "I need you to get on your knees very carefully and crawl over to them. Do not make a single sound, do you understand?"

"I’m not sure if I-"

"Now, Nadine."

I slowly did as he asked, being very careful to weave through the eats without touching anything. Sure enough, Daniel and Jennifer were already awake and seated up by the time I got there. Dan gave me a smile despite the precarious position that we were in.

"Do we just wait them out?" I asked once we were huddled together.

"Do you have a better idea, genius?" Jennifer snapped and my cheeks turned pink.

"She was just asking a question, there’s no need to be rude," Dan chided, albeit gently. "Everyone grab a bag and let’s get as close to the exit as possible."

I nodded, reaching out for my bag. I didn’t realize it wasn’t closed properly or else I wouldn’t have tried to pull it down. I got the bag successfully, but a lone can rolled out of it. I tried to grab it but it was too late, it fell to the ground with a loud sound before rolling to a stop at my feet.

"You stupid-" Jennifer began but Rowan stopped her.

"They may not have heard-"

The words were barely out of his mouth when I felt something slam so hard into the side of the train that the entire thing shook.

"Run!"

The words were barely out of Rowan’s mouth when I heard the slam again and one of the train doors flew open.

The snarling creature filled the entrance, baring slimy and blood stained teeth at us. I barely had time to focus on it before I was being pulled towards the exit by Rowan. Behind me, Jennifer was muttering curses under her breath and calling me every name under the sun.

For once, I didn’t blame her or even try to stop her.

Dan jumped out of the train first and Rowan started to help me out when I heard a scream. I turned to find Jennifer being yanked back by her bag. One second she was coming towards us and the next, she was being thrown hard against the wall of the train.

"Dan!" she screamed just as she crumpled to the ground.

Dan stilled, torn between wanting to go back for her and wanting to run.

"It will kill us all," Rowan hissed. "We have to go."

I watched the monster turn on her and for the first time since I met her, I saw something akin to fear in her eyes. She couldn’t stand, whether from injuries or from the fear, I wasn’t sure.

Rowan tried to usher me out but I pushed past him, grabbing the dagger he kept strapped to his side.

"Hey fuck face!" I screamed and the monster turned to me.

I threw the knife with all the strength I could muster and watched it go straight through the head of the monster. It twitched and howled, letting out a scream of pain before crumpling to the ground.

"Fuck," I heard someone whisper as I rushed over to Jennifer.

"Are you alright?" I asked but she just stared at me in shock. "We have to go."

I stretched out a hand to her but she just slapped it away. "We have to get out of here. More of them are coming."

I stared at her in shock for a minute, wondering if I had just imagined the interaction.

I saved her life. A ’thank you’ would have sufficed. Instead, she stared at me like I was an inconvenience.

I didn’t have time to think about it much because Rowan was at my side. He retrieved his dagger before shooting me a look that could’ve put me six feet under.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll fucking kill you myself," he hissed out. "Now come with me. We need to get out of here, now."