Sparks

Chapter 39

Several seconds pass by before I can move. I shakily move my hand upwards to my cheek... it's wet. When did I start crying? Why am I crying? My legs move without my guidance towards the prone figure on the floor. Seems they know what to do better than I do...

I carefully clip one pair of handcuffs into place around its hands, and the other around its ankles with trembling fingers. At any moment it could wake up and kill me, but if Jacob and Carrie were smart they used a lot of tranquilizer. It theoretically shouldn't wake up anytime soon.

Carrie steps forward and laughs. "Good job. Did the gun really traumatize you that much?" I look at her in confusion and she uses her finger to scrape a tear off my cheek before flicking it away into who-knows-where. I grimace and nod.

"It's not been an easy day," I mutter. She scoffs.

"Come on. You did the easy work. Jacob and I had to do all the planning and the actual tranquilizing. All you did was patrol." I look down at my feet. "Anyway, let's get this thing loaded into the van. Oh, I'm so glad this is finally over..."

When I try to speak again I nearly break down in tears but I manage to turn it into a loud cough. Keep it together... wait till you're alone...

"Will... will I be driving with the two of you?"

Carrie looks over at Jacob and he shrugs.

"Doesn't matter to me. Nothing left to patrol for anyways."

She nods and responds, "Then it's settled. Aryn, you'll drive your car behind us. But first, help us load Sparky into the trunk." I move forward in a daze and kneel beside the prone figure wrapped in chains and nets. They really kind of went overboard... regardless, my arms force their way underneath it and lift the heavy weight.

"You're carrying it?" Jacob laughs. "Not like I'm complaining, but isn't it a little too heavy?" I shrug. "Alright. Suit yourself."

I look down at the body in my arms. It's kind of surreal seeing it this close. Its hair falls to the side closest to me and its light breathing moves the curly strands with every exhale. It's like it's just sleeping.

Carrie calls out to me and my feet move on my own towards the trunk of the main car.

"Good, now just put it in here." She pushes open the trunk lid and I comply, gently setting Sparky down. It's actually a little tall to be laying like that so I carefully fold its knees up and push it so it's laying on its side.

"Why are you being so gentle with it?" Jacob asks, laughing. I stare blankly back at him.

"We went through so much trouble to get it. Why would we waste all that by letting it die now?" He shrugs.

"Suit yourself. Anyway, go say goodbye to your old lady friend if you want. We're leaving. See you back at base." Carrie unceremoniously slams closed the trunk and the pair get into the front seats. They're driving away as I'm walking around to the front.

Delores hasn't moved from her rocking chair. That's normal. What isn't, however, is the somber, faraway look in her eyes. I cough and she looks over at me.

"Oh, hello, dear. I thought you left?"

"They left with the girl and the van."

"Oh."

I stand there in silence for a few minutes before she gently asks, "Are you okay?"

"W-what?"

She sits back in her chair. "You know I worked as a nurse in the war, right?"