Redemption (Night Marchers #2) Written by: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels Read Online Free Page B

we knew if
needed, we could find a place to spend the night out there. It was
about that time that we began hearing drumming in the distance. We
honestly didn't understand where it was coming from. We thought
that perhaps there was another camper out there or maybe even a Boy
Scout troop or something. Curious, we began to shuffle through the
forest towards the noise. As we got closer and closer we were able
to see several lights shining through the trees. My friend took the
lead as we rounded over the hill. What we saw next made my stomach
churn. It was a procession of Night Marchers headed straight for
us. I grabbed his arm and began pulling in the opposite direction
but he wouldn’t move. It was as if his eyes were locked in on what
was ahead of him grounding his body as well. I pulled with all I
was worth but it was of no use. I ran behind a tree and covered my
face with my hands. I prayed and prayed hoping God would hear my
pleas. I felt guilty for having left him there, but I had no other
choice. My mother had told me legends of the Night Marchers since
before I could walk and I knew I was running out of time. I just—I
didn’t know what to do. I kept hearing screaming—someone was
screaming over and over and over. I couldn’t look up, because I
knew what would happen.”
    Tears began streaming down Tristan’s face. I
reach up and wipe a single tear away holding my hand there in
comfort. As he exhales a shaky breath he continues. “I just didn’t
know what to do. From the legends my mother told me, I knew that if
I were to just run after him it wouldn’t do any good. You can't
reason with a Night Marcher. It was one of the worst feelings you
could imagine, to not be able to help your best friend when they
needed you most. When the drumbeats faded off I ran towards the
spot where I had last seen my friend. I had heard stories of Night
Marchers trampling over people that got in their way. I feared the
worse, which was that I would find my best friend trampled to
death. Instead I found nothing, no sign of him, no sign of what may
have happened to him, nothing!" Tristan stands up and starts pacing
the cave. I watch his shadow move back and forth furiously across
the cave wall. I'm not sure if he's furious with the Night Marchers
or himself for not being able to save his friend.
    He turns towards me almost too quickly and
says earnestly, "I spent the night looking for him Emma. I did not
just abandon my friend! I was the one who had to tell his parents,
the Kealoha's, what happened." I gasp as I connect the dots.
Tristan looks at me then resumes telling me what he needs to say.
"I told the Kealoha's that I would not stop trying to find a way to
get Noa back. I am the one that found your dad when I was doing my
research online. I needed to find a way to undo the curse. I was
hoping that your dad would help me. Or if he couldn't help me break
the curse, then I was hoping that eventually he could lead me to
them. I have tried to hunt down the Night Marchers by myself. I
never found them; tonight was the first time I had seen them since
I started searching. With you in danger, I couldn't stop and try to
find a way to help Noa, I had to get you to safety." His expression
softens as he gazes at me.
    "Tristan," I say softly. I’m in complete awe
of his story. Not so much the story itself, but the way he put his
heart on his sleeve. I want to comfort him but I have no idea how.
After all I’m in the same exact position as him. Both of us need to
save someone, a Night Marcher. Tristan obviously isn't aware though
how unnervingly similar our stories are to each other.
    He sits back down in front of me. His
aquamarine eyes look as if they are trying to stare into my soul.
"Emma, you are what matters to me. Out there...tonight, I couldn't
imagine what I would have done..." His voice breaks and the look on
his face has me on the verge of tears.
    "Tristan..." I barely choke out as well.
    "No, let me finish. I don't know if you