Free Storm Season by Nessa L. Warin Page A

with his fingernails digging into his palms, and Jasper had the feeling that if he could speak, Tobias would be screaming. He couldn’t let Tobias continue, no matter how determined―or delusional―he was.
    “You can’t walk there. You wouldn’t make it, even if you knew the way, not with the storms just starting and those men looking for you.”
    That got Tobias’s attention. He stopped, his spine straight and his expression pained, and held a hand out toward Jasper. Desperation and pain flooded Jasper’s mind as he took it.
    I have to find her! They’ll be mad I got away and if she can’t do what they want her to do this year they’ll hurt her, I know they will! I have to find her and figure out how to stop them or she’ll never come home! Tobias sank to the ground, still babbling, and wrapped his free arm around his knees, but made no effort to free himself from Jasper.
    It was impossible to know what to say. Jasper sat as well, rubbing Tobias’s back until the sense of desperation slowly receded from his mind. “Better?”
    Tobias nodded again, but kept rocking. I have to find her.
    “I know.” And he did. He’d felt Tobias’s frantic need and knew it would not be assuaged by platitudes or logic. It was a burning need Jasper knew he would feel the ghostly echoes of until it was filled. “But not like this, okay?”
    How, then? He turned wide brown eyes toward Jasper and at that moment Jasper remembered why he’d originally thought Tobias was just a boy. He looked so lost and innocent, Jasper wanted to gather him in his arms and protect him from the world.
    “There are trains that will run to Shaleton in the dry season.” Even as he said it, Jasper knew it wouldn’t be acceptable.
    No. Tobias shook his head violently, sending his curls bouncing and making Jasper wonder if his head was going to stay attached. We have to go now.
    “We’ll figure something out, then, but we can’t walk. It’s too far, and your feet―” He broke off as he really looked at Tobias’s shoes and noticed the red tinge slowly spreading up Tobias’s socks. “Sleet! You’re bleeding!”
    I am? Tobias’s gaze followed Jasper’s and with trembling fingers, he touched the bloody fabric. Oh. I am.
    “Let’s go inside and take care of that.”
    But―
    “We’ll figure something out,” Jasper promised as he helped Tobias to his feet and put an arm around his waist to help him limp inside. He just wasn’t sure what.
     
     
    D ARIUS was a true country driver, speeding along single lane roads, swinging the car over the middle line every time they rounded a curve. Jasper had never ridden with Darius before, and would have been quite happy to keep it that way, except Tobias was slumped against him, his breathing shallow and his expression oscillating between terror and confusion.
    Where are we going?
    “Into town.” Jasper kept his voice low and his answer vague. The idea of meeting new people had already sent Tobias into a panic once, and Jasper didn’t want it to happen again while they were in the car. They all still had headaches from the backlash of his first outburst.
    Tobias blinked and shook his head. Why?
    “To take care of your feet, remember?”
    When Jasper had gotten Tobias inside, they discovered that it wasn’t just one cut that had re-opened, but all of them. Tobias’s feet were a bloody mess, and the cuts were too numerous and deep to be handled using the first aid kit. Tobias had cooperated as they’d slowed the bleeding with towels, but the moment Darius had mentioned taking him to the doctor, Tobias had flipped, emitting a wordless scream that had driven the others to their knees.
    When he’d recovered enough to stand again, Jasper had chased after Tobias, only to find him sitting on the back stoop. He’d looked at Jasper with a puzzled expression, complained that his feet hurt, and let Jasper lead him inside. They had been careful not to mention the doctor again, though that was where they