Capturing Today (TimeShifters Book 2) by Jessica Keller, Jess Evander Page B

there.” He points over his shoulder. Even in the dark of night, his face has gone pasty white. “That should have been me.”
    I lean around him and see four, no, five bodies lying in the bottom of the trench. If we hadn’t been speaking, one of those men might be Eddie. My eyes widen, and he nods as if he’s able to read my mind. Saving Eddie has to be the mission. Still, I take no joy in the fact that another man died in his place.
    This whole system of Shifters saving some people and not others is so messed up.
    “I’m really sorry.” I’m not sure why I’m apologizing, but it feels right.
    “Are there any Shades near?” Eddie whispers.
    I peek around him again. Scan the trenches and No Man’s Land. “Not that I see.”
    “You need to get back to Michael.”
    “I’m glad I got to meet you.”
    “You’ll see me again. And next time it’ll be for a better reason. My wedding.” He starts to smile, but the weight of the dead soldiers behind him seems to stops the motion. Our goodbye is quick. A part of me wants to hug him, but it would weird Eddie out. Friends in his time don’t go in for hugs. Especially friends of the opposite gender.
    Dodging puddles, I head back to Michael’s tent and wrench open the door flap. Anger surges through my veins, making my temples ache. My whole body feels warm. He knew there was a Portal this whole time. And didn’t use it. What on earth was he thinking? That he was capable of single handedly turning the war? Michael’s amazing, but he’s no Captain America. He knows that, right? Well, if not, I’ll be more than happy to enlighten him.
    I stomp over to the bed and shake his shoulder. “Wake up. You need to wake up.”
    He stirs but only to pull the blanket up to his shoulder and turn away from me.
    “Michael. Get up.” I grab his arm and yank him to sitting.
    He makes eye contact with me, raising his eyebrows as he rubs the side of his head. I probably made him dizzy again. I’m sure he feels like a semi-truck hit him, but seeing him that way, all drooping shoulders and scrunching eyes, only makes my blood boil hotter. 
    I shove his boots into his stomach. “Put these on. We’re leaving. Now.”
    “What’s going on?” He finally speaks. “I need to sleep.” Still groggy, he starts to lie back down, but I grab his arm and keep him upright.
    “Sit up. And put your shoes on.” My voice has a deadly calm quality, like when a father tells his kid, “we’ll deal with this when we get home .” 
    It works. Michael takes forever to slip his foot into his shoe, but he starts.
    I trudge over to the trunk and pull out his backpack. Sling it on and cross back to Michael. I push his hands away from where he fumbles with his laces. “How dare you not tell me there’s a Portal nearby.”
    He groans. “Gabby—”
    “Not now. We’ll have it out later after Darnell fixes you.” I lean down and grab his arm, looping it around my shoulders to help him stand. “But be ready.” I wrap my arm around his waist. “Because the second you’re well, I’m going to slug you. Do you understand?”
    Michael scrubs his hand over his face a few times. “We failed. Didn’t we?”
    “It’ll only be failing if we don’t get you back to the Portal. Now tell me where it is.”
    We’re out of the camp and heading into woods on the edge of town when I realize I might not be able to do this. Michael is weak. Much weaker than I guessed. Once we started, he agreed with me and gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move. Every step requires concentrated effort on his part. He’s sweating up a storm as he leans heavily into me. And I’m not strong enough to shoulder his weight for much longer. I’m just not.
    He steps into a puddle and slips. Dragging me down with him, we hit the ground. My knees sink into mud. Michael’s flat on his back. He starts to cough and can hardly keep his breath. My muscles are shaking. I try to stand, but my legs give way.
    That’s when the tears