Their Scars (COMPLETE)

Chapter 35

"Collin..."

"I'm here baby. I'll be there soon. Just stay with me. Stay with me."

She smiled. "I love you.

Collin tensed. He could feel her slipping. He had to hurry. He kept his eyes on the road, desperate to make it to the base. She reached feebly for the blanket. She coughed. He kissed her face.

"I love you. Kayla. I love you." He said. "Stay with me....just stay with me.

Kayla smiled. She coughed again. "I love you." She said again. Her voice was faint.

"I love you." Collin pulled her close and held her, kissing her cheek and holding her hand.
"I'm right here."

She closed her eyes, and he kissed her cheek. He turned up the radio. He reached over, running his fingers through her hair.

"You're so strong....you've been through worse. You can make it." He said, squeezing her hand.

He took a few corners too fast, trying to make it to the base. He was losing her. He was losing her.

Her eyes opened, and she took a shuddering breath. She opened her eyes again. They remained fixed on his.

"Kayla, it's okay. I've got you." He said, trying to smile at her. His voice shook.

She took a deep breath.
Kayla didn't respond.
He stroked her hair.
It was so hard for him to let go. He didn't want to give up, but she was dying. Her body had turned to Jell-O. There was no fight left in her. Why was she so weak? Why didn't she fight?
"Stay with me. I'm not going anywhere."
Collin felt her chest shudder.

"You can do it. Stay with me. Fight. I'm not leaving. Don't you understand? I'm not letting you go. " He whispered.
His hand shook. He didn't want her to go. His faith in mankind had been completely shattered.

"You have to stay awake," Collin said. "Hang on, Kayla, please hang on." He said, unable to hold back the tears.

"Think of the other kids we have to rescue! They need you so we can find the prison." Collin said, pressing on the gas.
"Stay awake!" He pleaded. The speedometer was climbing. He was almost at a hundred. He was going to lose her. He raced down the road with the pedal pushed down. He was trying to jump ahead of the pain and sickness. To win. To be a hero and save the girl.

"They need you...." She murmured.
"AND I NEED YOU!" He shouted.
Kayla's eyes were closing again. How much longer could she hold on?

"Stay awake. Kayla, stay awake!" Her eyes were half-closed. Her body had frozen in his arms.
What was he supposed to do? He loved her. He had to do something. He had to save her.
"Kayla...." He sobbed. "Please...please," He said, squeezing her hand. "I need you. Don't leave me," Collin said.
He wasn't giving up. How could he lose her? She was his reason for living.
"Stay with me!" She didn't respond.
Collin placed his hand on her heart. "You're tired, aren't you?" She didn't answer. "Fight, Kayla. Fight!"
His hand shook as he stroked her hair.
"This isn't real. You're not going anywhere." He said through sobs. He kissed her cheek, her forehead. "You're not going anywhere."
Her breath came in short gasps.

"You're not going anywhere." He repeated.
Her eyelids fluttered.

"You're not going. You're not." He repeated.
Her eyes remained closed.

"This isn't real!" Collin said, letting out a grunt in frustration and rage.
Her eyes opened slowly. She was still breathing. She took his hand.

Kayla's eyes stared straight ahead. She didn't respond.
"Kayla," Collin said, his voice breaking, "please don't leave me."
The truck jostled; he was going to drive off the road. His heart was breaking, and he was still talking, begging her to stay.
He grabbed the bottle of water. He gave her a sip, letting it dribble down her chin. She started coughing, but he didn't stop.
He went to grab her hand, but she jerked her hand away, making it hard for him to keep hold of the bottle.
"Kayla, please...you have to stay awake." Collin pleaded before grabbing her hand again.
She looked at him, her eyes wet.
"Collin......it hurts.....let me sleep...."
"No!" Collin said. "It's just the morphine. It'll wear off. You'll be okay."

She looked away.

"Kayla!" He said, squeezing her hand. He dabbed the bottle under her chin and squeezed.

She opened her mouth and took a sip, but she couldn't swallow. She coughed.
"No." He said, shaking his head. "Don't give up!"
She looked at him, her eyes pleading.

"No....." He whispered.

"Stay with me." Collin pleaded. He stroked her cheek and tried to push back tears, struggling to even form words. "Just hold on...."

Collin pulled over to refill the gas. The truck was covered in a fine layer of dust. His body ached, and his legs burned. He wanted to curl up and sleep, but they hadn't gotten very far.
As soon as he filled the tank and climbed back into the driver seat, he heard the crackle of static, then an all too familiar voice calling out to him.
"Hello, Collin?"
"Johnny? Did you get the message about the attack on the post?"
"Yes...What's your position? Maybe we can send out a rescue team."
"I'm on the main road...but in the middle of nowhere. I don't know how long Kayla and I can make it...." The radio transmission faded out in a burst of static. He'd lost the signal.
"Dammit!" He yelled, slamming the steering wheel.

He took her limp hand and placed it on her chest.
"Do you feel that, baby? That's your heart beating.....you're getting stronger....we're almost home..." He leaned closer to her ear and whispered to her quietly. "I love you....don't give up...I won't let anything happen to you...."
She smiled softly at him, her smile reaching her eyes. How many hours ago were they smiling, making love in the river? Imagining themselves living happily ever after?
He held his canteen to her mouth. She drank the water slowly, and then her breathing evened out again.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"Of course, Baby. Always."
She smiled weakly and closed her eyes. Her breathing was slow and steady again.

"You're so damn strong, Kayla. So fucking strong. Please don't leave me alone...." He pressed another kiss to her brow.  The smell of dried blood made him sick. He turned onto the side of the road and vomited. He couldn't bring himself to watch her die.
Collin wiped his mouth. He ran his hands through his hair, wiping away the sweat from his forehead.  He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. He felt her soft breath against his face.
He opened them, looking into her face, watching her breath. Her blue-green eyes were now dark like the night sky. She was beautiful.
Her eyes fluttered open slightly. She looked at him. He looked back at her,  waiting for her to say something. But she just lay there.
"Hey...hey," Collin said, touching her cheek. "Come back to me. We're almost there." He whispered.
Suddenly, her eyelids fell shut and her lips parted slightly.
"Baby, come back to me. Please..."
"Collin...make it stop..." She murmured. "Please...make it stop. Make it go away..."
"Okay...okay...." Collin answered, taking a deep breath. "I'm going to stop everything. I'm going to save everybody. I promise."

"Take my pain away ...." Her voice trailed off. Her head lolled against the window.
Collin closed his eyes.
How was he going to do this? What could he do? She was fading. She wouldn't last much longer. He would be left behind, without his wife...without her. His body ached, but he forced himself to keep driving. Stopping for even the briefest time could be too late.
"I will, baby. Just hold on a little longer. You're going to make it," He murmured. "I'll take care of everyone else, and then I'll take you to the place where we belong together....where we were meant to be."

His voice broke.  He took a moment to catch his breath.  A tear fell onto Kayla's forehead.  "I've got to save you, Kayla...."
he sobbed.  "I can't lose you, Baby. Not now....not after everything."
He wiped his tears away and drove on. Hell was nothing compared to this road, even if it was their only route to safety.