The Rhythm of Rain Read Online Free Page B

man was nowhere in sight. Rain heard sirens in the background.
    When they reached the car Jaron set her on her feet. Rain hammered her fist against his cheek. It barely nudged him. The car door was flung open, and Jaron shoved her in. Rain landed sideways and kicked her foot at him, barely missing his throat. Jaron dove into the car, grabbed her shoulders and turned her roughly around and pinned her with ferocity against the door.
    Rain was screaming while she struggled. She was unable to stop him from snapping handcuffs on her wrists. When he finished he spun her back around; with his face only inches from her own he snarled at her.
    "I'm trying to save your life…again," he ground out.
    "My grandparents are in the house," Rain said through gnashing teeth.
    Jaron grabbed her hair and turned her head. Rain gasped as she watched Telor stumble from her house. In his arms was her grandmother. Jaron released her hair and started the car. Telor set Grams onto the ground; she remained in a sitting position. Rain's thoughts were racing. Telor would go in again for Papa—then again for her. He wouldn't come out until he found her. But she wasn't in there…
    Oh God, he would never stop looking for her.
    What should she do? She didn't want him to go in after her and die, but he needed to get Papa out. If she called for him he would try and rescue her. Flames from the roof were rising higher. A window exploded. Papa didn't have much time. Jaron would be gone before Telor came out again with Papa. Telor would go back in. He wouldn't come out again if he went in; she knew it. Telor would die looking for her.
    Telor was stumbling to the house again. Something was wrong with him. For a second he pressed his hand to his head and wobbled unsteadily. Jaron had the car in gear; the tires were spinning. Rain struggled to climb into the backseat. She went over, headfirst, onto the backseat and slipped to the floor with a bang and struggled up. On her knees on the seat she came as close to the back window as possible, pressing her face against it.
    "Telor," she screamed. Again she called to him, begging her angels to let him hear her. Telor stopped and looked around. "Telor, I'm not in there. Save Papa. I'm not inside; don't go back in for me. Don't go in for me."
    The car sped away with Rain screaming she wasn't inside the burning home. Telor began running after the car, and Rain screamed louder. He couldn't save her; he needed to get Papa out of the house before it was too late. She saw Telor slow down. His hand reached in her direction and she watched as his head lifted to the sky. He clenched his fists. He howled like a man possessed. Telor spun on his heels and raced back into the burning home.
    The car rounded the corner and she heard a loud crash. A massive amount of smoke billowed into the sky up past the treetops that were hiding her view. Rain thought her heart would burst from the pain she was in. Did the house explode? Oh God. Were they dead? Papa, Telor, my Telor . Rain slumped on the seat and began sobbing.
    "Damn you, Jaron. Damn you to hell."
    "I've already been there," was his response. The car raced into the dark night.

Chapter Four
    They drove for hours. Night turned to morning, then afternoon. Jaron didn't stop at a station for gas. He pulled over in a remote area and filled the tank from a gas can. When done, he opened the backdoor. Rain was huddled in a ball. Her face was void of fear, void of expression. Jaron grabbed her arm and yanked her outside. He pinned her to the side of the car. She refused to look at him.
    Jaron pulled out the key to the handcuffs. "If you need to take a leak, now's the time."
    Rain turned her head ever so slightly and spat in his face. Jaron grabbed her throat and raised a balled fist. Rain didn't flinch. Her look was hollow. If his fist smashed into her slender cheek, he would break her bones. Jaron lowered his hand and wiped his sleeve across his cheek, ridding it of moisture. He twisted his