(26) When all else is lost the future still remains

Race looked at the torn and devastated landscape in front of him and wondered why the hell that Kayne dude had listened to Addie instead of Shan and brought them here. From what he could see, under the vegetation which had begun taking over, all that was left of the place they called the Compound was a huge hole in the ground.

Addie and Kayne were standing at the edge of it, the tall, blonde man with his arm around her waist. It appeared as if they were having a very serious discussion. Probably, Race figured, about the validity of being here after all.

Shan stood a few yards away with his back to them, his head bowed as he stared at the ground in front of him. Tentatively Race walked over to join him. Shan glanced up, his jaw clenched, and then he strode away.

Oh no you don’t. Race went after him, not letting him out of his sight as Shan walked into the trees surrounding the area. He was well aware that all Shan had to do was shift and he’d be left behind, but it didn’t stop him from following.

Shan turned, growling at Race. “I don’t want company. Go back.”

“You may not want it but you need it, so get off your high horse.”

“I’m serious Race, leave me alone.”

“And if I don’t what are you going to do, shift and run away? You can’t run from your feelings, Shan, no matter how hard you try.” Race took a deep breath, wondering how far to push this. “I know that you lost someone you loved. So did Addie. Do you see her trying to hide from the fact? No way. She’s hurting as badly as you are, I’m sure, but she’s come to terms with it, in her own way. You on the other hand are wallowing in self-pity.”

Shan froze. “Look you little son of a bitch. Until it’s happened to you, you have no idea what I’m going through.”

Race stood his ground. “And you think you’re the only one who lost someone they loved? Admittedly I haven’t, personally, but others have and they don’t bury themselves in their misery and pretend to the outside world that it never happened. Okay, I hardly know you, really, so I’m only guessing from what little I’ve seen but that…that shrine of pictures in your office…” Race stopped suddenly, realizing exactly what he had been doing. He looked at Shan for a moment, whispered, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…” then turned, starting back towards the destroyed Compound and Addie.