L. Weatherly - Angel Fever

HOLD STILL,SAID ALEX.

I cant!Willow gasped. She was leaning over the stream, her long blonde hair a slithering mass of shampoo. She shrieked, half laughing, as Alex poured a canful of water over it.Oh! That is so cold!

Alex started laughing too.Youre the one who wanted to wash it.

I had to; it was getting disgustingIs all the shampoo out?

He grinned as he scooped more chilly water from the stream.Nope. Not even close.

As Alex woke up, Willows laughter faded into silence.

There was no stream, no ramshackle cabin nearby. He was lying in a sleeping bag in a tent, its nylon walls a deep blue in the predawn light. Even Willow was different. The girl asleep in his arms had short red-gold hair now; it framed her face in untidy spikes.

A dream. Alex smiled as he stretched, remembering that day up at the cabin and then everything came slamming back and his smile vanished. Christ, no wonder hed been dreaming about the cabin: back then their biggest problem had been hiding out from the Church of Angels. NowAlex let out a breath and rubbed his temples with one hand.

Now things were a little different.

The uncertainty was the worst part, he thought grimly. If they just knew what the hell was going on, they could start to deal with it. But it had been three days three days and he and the rest of his team still had no clue.

They were finally almost out of the Sierra Madre; their journey north through Mexico had been spent mostly on mountain back roads so they could keep out of sight. Three days of the truck lurching over rough terrain; three days of dust and plummeting views. Three days of sending Seb, the only native Spanish speaker, ahead to high, isolated farms to purchase gas.

They dont know yet that something has happened, Seb had reported each time he returned, lugging enough gas to keep them going along with food pressed on him by the farmers wives. All they know is that the TV stations arent working and the internet is down.

Alex had felt his teams tension increase with every rendition of this. The words didnt begin to tell them what they were all so desperate to know. Homes up here had generators; it meant nothing that the farms still had electricity. What was going on everywhere else?

Did dead TV and internet mean that more of the world than just Mexico City was gone?

With a soft rustle, Willow stirred in his arms. As her green eyes flickered open, they at first held only sleepy confusion and then Alex saw her remember.

She swallowed and shifted so that her arms were folded across his chest. She rested her chin on them. Morning, she whispered.

Morning. Alex stroked her spiky hair, smoothing it from her face. Did you sleep okay?

Not really. She pressed her cheek against his palm. I I still cant stop seeing it, she admitted in a small voice. Every time I close my eyes.

I know. Me too, Alex said roughly. The sight of Mexico City as it had gone down buildings shuddering into nothing; cars and people tumbling into gaping cracks was one that would never leave him.

Willows eyes were haunted. And I just keep thinkingif Mexico City was the only place affected, then we should be seeing helicopters heading down there to help. The Red Cross or the army or She trailed off. She didnt need to add how silent the skies had been.

Alex gripped her hand hard. The US could still be okay, he told her. If only one or two cities were hit there, theyll be focusing relief efforts on those for now not here. Hed been saying the same thing for days, trying to keep his team calm. Besides please, god it could actually be true.

Willows gaze was steady. If shed psychically sensed his jumble of hope and dread, she didnt comment. Looking down, she trailed a finger across his chest. Finally she cleared her throat.

Sotell me something about you I dont know, she said.

Surprise touched him; it was a game theyd played back at the cabin. You already know everything about me, he said softly. He pulled her fully on top of him and wrapped his arms around her.

Her voice was strained. Oh, I bet there are still one or two mysteries left, if you try Please? she added.

Alex knew she was trying to take his mind off what had happened and her own, for that matter. Okay, give me a time frame, he said at last.

Preteen, suggested Willow. Say, between nine and twelve.

His fathers training camp in the New Mexico desert: cement buildings, burning white in the sun. Alex thought, stroking Willows spine. Have I told you that I broke my arm when I was ten?

She shook her head. No, how?

I crashed Juans motorcycle. Hed just taught me how to ride it, and I thought itd be cool to go for a night drive through the desert.

Willows body relaxed a little. You mean you stole his bike?

Alex nodded, remembering. Yeah, pretty much. There was a full moon, and I was doing donuts in the sand and then these two headlights came at me out of nowhere, and I skidded and hit my arm on a rock.

Your dad?

Yeah and, man, he was pissed. Especially since he had to take me to Alamogordo to the hospital.

Silence fell. With an effort, Alex kept his thoughts from what might have happened to the world. Your turn, he started to say, and then they heard the echo of a truck door closing.

Willow glanced up. Someone else must be awake.

Wed better get moving, said Alex.

Their eyes met. Once they were out of the mountains, the plan was to return to the main highways; with luck theyd be back in the US by noon. The question was, what would they find?

Willow licked her lips. Sohow long do you think itll take us to reach Nevada once we cross the border?

Normally less than a day, Alex said. Now, though I guess it depends.

Willow started to say something else but didnt. She nodded tensely, and sat up and reached for their tangle of clothes.

Watching her get dressed, there was suddenly so much Alex wanted to say: that no matter what had happened, their group of Angel Killers would somehow be all right. That as long as the two of them were together, theyd get through anything. The words felt hollow, even to him.

At least Raziels gone, he reminded himself harshly. The angels fiery death above Mexico City had been the one positive in all this.

Willow pulled on her blue hoodie; her tousled head emerged. Alex touched her face, caressing her cheekbone with one thumb. You are so beautiful, you know that? he said in a low voice.

Abruptly, Willow looked close to tears. She clutched his hand. Itll be okay, she said. Oh god, Alex, it just has to be.

He had no answer. He cradled her face and kissed her deeply, and for a few seconds lost himself in the feel of their lips together.

The low, worried buzz of voices came from outside. Seb, Liz and Sam were all up. He and Willow drew apart, and Alex let out a breath.

Wed better go, he said.

The journey to Nevada took three more days.

On his first glimpse of the small brick building in the middle of the desert, Alex was so tired that all he could think was, Oh, shit, were in the wrong place. Then his brain cleared a little, and he realized this was it after all.

What the hell? Sam demanded from the back. This is just an electricity substation! They could see pylons clustered in the buildings yard, stabbing at the sky.

Thats all its supposed to look like, Alex said sharply as he steered the 4 4 over the uneven dirt road.

Willow glanced at him from the front passenger seat but didnt say anything. They were all exhausted, on edgeand hardly any wiser about what had happened to the world.