Free The Killers Amongst Us: Chimera Dawn Chronicles by Declan Conner Page B

sniffing the air. Amy looked over in
the direction Gyp was staring. Johno walked through the tree line with an
armful of logs. Gyp must have sensed he was there before he appeared. Amy was
grateful for the chance to change the subject.
    “Shall we go and help him?” Amy asked. “He seems to be
struggling with the logs, and his rifle strap’s slipped off his shoulder.”
    “Yeah, you shout for Ted to join us. I’m starving. I hope
he’s caught plenty of fish to grill.”
    “No, you shout for Ted. I’ll play it out with him a little
while longer.”
    They rose to their feet, then collapsed their chairs.
    “Johno’s back, Ted. Bring the fish,” Louise called out, and
they set of walking to the campfire.
    “Cut it out you two,” Amy said, as they approached the
campfire, “or you’ll have no lips left to suck on the fish bone.” Oliver and
Tanya sat up, straightening their clothes.
    “Jealous?” Tanya said. “Have you made up with Ted yet?”
    “Not until he says sorry.”
    “Why should I say sorry?” Ted asked. Amy’s body lurched;
surprised that he’d caught them up so quickly.
    He slipped the straps of his fishing basket and rifle from
his shoulders, but they caught on his fishing rod.
    “Someone grab the twelve-pack, it’s slipping,” Ted said
    Oliver scrambled to his feet; apparently only too willing to
oblige and secured the pack from under his arm.
    “You know why, it’s just one simple word,” said Amy.
    “Okay I’m sorry you acted like a soft ass, but you scared
the crap outta me with all that screaming, and then acting like a baby wanting
to go home to Dad.”
    Amy ignored him. Johno arrived and dropped the logs.
    “Thanks for the help, guys,” Johno said.
    “Sorry, we meant to help, but we got distracted,” said Amy.
    Amy unfolded her chair and sat. The sun wasn’t due to set
for another hour around eight o’clock, but it had already sunk behind the
mountains and it was getting dark.
    “Yeah, I’m sorrytoo,” Louise said, and cuddled
Johno. “See, Ted, it’s not difficult. Just say the ‘sorry’ word without all the
crap you said after, and to mean it. Then after we’ve eaten, we can play your
stupid game.”
    “You don’t know what it is yet, so how do you know it’s
stupid?” Ted said.
    “Oh, yeah, sorry. Oops, there I go again, saying sorry,”
Louise said.
    “And I’m like, sorry , for saying you were jealous,
Amy,” Tanya said.
    “Ted threw his fishing rod on the pebbles. “This is
pathetic. Okay, I’m sorry.”
    Ted walked up to Amy, put his arm around her shoulder and
softened his tone. “We’re good, right?”
    “Say you’re pretty sorry,” said Amy, and turned her head
away.
    Ted whispered, “I’m pretty sorry.” He blew softly in her
ear.
    Amy turned her head and their lips came together in a
lingering kiss, to the sound of applause from the gang.

    The feasting over, the beer flowed to the sound of music
from Louis’s portable CD player, until all the cans were empty. Ted reached out
to his garbage bag, pulled out a bottle of vodka and some plastic cups. Ted
handed the cups around the gang.
    “No thanks,” said Amy, as he attempted to give her a cup. “I’ve
seen what strong liquor can do.”
    “Oh yeah, I forgot you live over the drunks’ tank. Still,
you’ve only had one can. Come on, we all need to get into the mood for the game,
and your dad’s not here to lock us up now is he?”
    “Don’t worry, I won’t spoil your game.”
    She wasn’t about to tell him that she had poured the
contents of the can away when they weren’t looking.
    “Okay, your choice,” he said, and filled each cup in turn
that the others thrust in front of him.
    “What’s the game?” Louise asked Ted, and slurred her words.
    “A Halloween game.”
    “In July?” Johno said, stumbling as he held out his cup for
more vodka.
    “Halloween’s for kids,” said Oliver.
    “We’ll see,” Ted replied. “It’s just a bit of fun.” Ted
reached into his