One Deadly Night

Five

Skye opened her eyes.

She'd fallen asleep and dreamed about being in her bed back home. It was the vivid smell of pancakes that caused her to stir.

Realizing that she wasn't in bed, her eyes sprung wide.

"Grandpa?" She whimpered.

"I'm...h-here." Came a weak voice.

He was still lying on his back with his lower body buried.

Skye scampered to his side.

"My head hurts." She replied.

"I know, mine hurts too."

Her eyes studied his face intently.

"Why are your lips blue?"

The man closed his eyes for a moment, his breathing growing shallower.

"Skye." His eyes reopened and fixed on her face. "I-I need you to listen... to me."

"Yes, Grandpa?"

"I'll be asleep s-soon...and you'll be a-alone." He struggled with each word. "See that little ledge over th-there?"

She peered to what he was referring to and saw an indentation in the packed snow.

"Yes." She answered.

"You'll be scared but it's... okay...I need you to-ah- try push through the snow l-like...like you're swim...ming..."

His eyes had closed again.

"Grandpa?"

No response.

Skye gently poked his cheek, noticing how cold his skin was. With a finger, she held it under his nostrils.

No air was moving from them.

"Grandpa?" Tears filled her eyes.

**

Jon parked his truck next to the SUV. He noted the still visible tracks.

Several hours old.

On his way here, he attempted to listen to the radio for any updates on the so-called alien invasion. What he heard were a lot of panicked people from the community over the sudden termite infestation which has toppled several homes and killed nearly thirty in the Bozeman area alone.

Grabbing whatever gear and equipment he could carry, he picked up the hand-held radio and strapped it to his belt.

With a flashlight in hand, he began his hike down the main trail.

**

Skye didn't know how long she sat there watching for any kind of movement from Grandpa.

There were none.

He said he was going to sleep, but she knew better.

She noticed that it was getting harder to breathe and that her heart was pounding really fast.

What did he tell her to do?

Skye shook her head. She hated that she forgot things.

Her eyes drifted to the indentation in the snow off to one side.

Oh yeah, he wanted her to swim through the snow.

She crawled over to it and studied the narrow groove in the packed snow.

How was she going to swim through this?

She glanced to her Grandpa's body and exhaled.

She didn't want to disappoint him by not at least trying. Besides, who will help take care of Granny now?

Skye's gaze returned to the rut and with one hand, punched through it.