Their Scars (COMPLETE)

Chapter 37

"I love you," Kayla said, sleep fogging her mind.
Collin felt relieved.
"I'll wake you up in a few minutes. Just stay with me."
Kayla sighed. She closed her eyes and seemed to breathe more relaxed.
"Stay with me," Collin said, kissing her head. He shook her shoulder gently about a half hour later.

Kayla's eyes fluttered open.
"Baby?" Collin said. Collin checked her temperature. She felt clammy. Her fever was rising. He needed to get her to a doctor. He tried to assess her, but he didn't know what to look for.
"Don't leave me." Kayla whimpered, looking at him.

Collin couldn't let her go. He wouldn't give up. His heart was breaking, watching her slip away.

"I'm thirsty...." Kayla gasped. The fever was making her dehydrated. She was slipping away. She was fading. She was so weak. She loved him so much. Collin held the canteen to her mouth as he cradled her head.

She took a sip of water. She drank it slowly, feeling herself getting weaker and weaker.
She knew it was only a matter of time before she died.
"Are you alright, baby?" Collin asked. He could see she was in pain.

"I'm cold." She said, her voice weak.
"I'm sorry, Kayla." Collin shook his head. She couldn't leave him. Not like this. He held her close.

"Kayla, I love you. Please don't leave me. Hang on, baby." Collin was adamant. He pushed the rusted pedals to the floor; feeling a yell in his gut as the engine whined in protest.

"Don't you die on me!" Collin begged; he didn't know whether he was yelling at the truck or Kayla. He couldn't lose her. "I can't lose you. I need you."

Collin was shaking now, but he refused to stop moving.
He wiped the tears from his eyes. He tried to concentrate on the road.
Collin made it to the main road, the strain on the engine letting him know it was close to failure. He needed to keep Kayla alive.

The truck stopped. It wheezed. It coughed, but it finally caught onto some life.

"Collin," Kayla said, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to die."
Collin leaned over, trying to keep her alive. If the loss of blood didn't kill her, the pain or the fever would.

Collin wasn't ready to lose her.
"Hang in there, baby," Collin whispered against her neck. "I'm right here with you. I'll always be right here."
Tears slipped down Kayla's cheek. She opened her eyes. She saw Collin, but his eyes weren't focused on her. He noticed she was shivering and pulled over long enough to dig some extra blankets out.
"I'll wrap you up, baby. I'm not leaving you. Do you hear me? Don't even think about going anywhere else without me." He promised as he wrapped her up in the blanket. "I love you. I love you, Kayla. Stay with me."
"I love you...I love you." Collin said. He pressed kisses to her forehead. He looked around. There were no other vehicles on the road. He hoped they hadn't been followed. He looked back at Kayla. "We're almost there. Hold on. I've got you."
Collin made it to the main road, the strain on the engine letting him know it was close to failure. He needed to keep Kayla alive. He held his canteen to her mouth.
"Here, you haven't had a drink in a while." He said, trying to sound normal. Kayla was still shaking.
Collin wiped the tears off her face, trying to calm her down. He kissed her forehead. He kept trying to keep her awake. Her eyes were heavy.
Kayla whimpered, tears almost gone.

"I just want you to be alright." He said, cradling her in his lap. "I need you to be okay. I need you to be here with me. I can't lose you. I won't. I won't. I will find a way to keep you." If something happened to him, She would die alone and in pain with no one to help her.

"I love you, Collin." Kayla managed.
"I know. I know, baby." Collin ran his fingers through her wet hair. "Just hang in there."
"Please....don't go. Stay with me."
"I won't ever leave you again, Kayla. Never."
He tried his best to keep her warm. But there was only so much he could do. Her skin was cold and clammy. His eyes began to sting.
He didn't dare blink. He would not allow himself to cry. He did not want her to see him crying. He was doing everything he could to keep her alive.  But her body was failing. And it scared him. He wasn't ready to lose her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Kayla. He wanted to wake up every morning next to her. He'd watch her smile when she woke up next to him. He'd laugh and kiss her. He'd make sure her every meal tasted just like heaven. He wanted to take care of her, love her, protect her, and grow old with her. He needed her by his side forever.
But if he lost her......he wasn't sure how he'd survive. He knew he had to rescue the kids. He had to find a way to help them. He had to fight to keep them safe and save the girls. He needed them.
But if she died.....he would never forgive himself. He didn't think he could live with himself knowing that she'd been tortured, hurt, and raped. And he'd failed her. Failed to save her. What kind of man was he? A coward? A coward who couldn't stand to let her go?
There had to be another way.
"God, please." Collin panted. "Don't let her die this way." He gripped the wheel tighter, driving as fast as he could.

"I'm going to make it," Kayla said; she loved him so much; she had never felt anything like it. She was so tired. She was too tired to fight it.