Complete Mess

Chapter 23: Cold

Complete Mess

Chapter 23

Cold

Ingo had looked over his brother as best he could, he wasn't a medical officer so he wasn't that knowledgeable. He was pretty sure that the knock on his forehead was what was accusing his unconscious state. He sighed, running his fingers over his brother's shoulder. His eyes slowly weaved over the cave itself.

"Extraordinary, I know Emmet had a quick mind and could read things quite fast...but that was quick thinking. If this cave hadn't been here." He dared to think of what could have happened. He hugged Lake to him, attempting to keep her warm. Akari sat against the Statler, one was licking the crystals and it looked gross, but apparently it was how they got water.

"Christmas is coming pretty soon." Akari said, it was indeed. Ingo ran his fingers through Lakes' hair. She looked almost like she wasi about to fall asleep, at least until she heard the word Christmas.

She looked excited, but for such an odd reason.

"So downtown will have that huge Christmas tree." She smiled up at Ingo. He couldn't help but smile in return. "They let you put your own ornament on it. I always make one on my own. I think this year I'll make a train." She sat back and nuzzled Ingo.

"What about presents?" Akari asked. Lake shook her head hugging her knees to her chest.

"I don't think I've ever gotten presents before. Even with my parents.

Oh Ingo didn't have the heart to tell her. He took a deep breath and sighed.

"Your mother is still alive." Ingo blurted, he didn't want to keep it from her. She deserved to know.

Lake looked up at him and shook her head.

"That's impossible, I watched her and my dad sink to the bottom of the lake. No one got out." Lake said as she scooted to where she could see him squarely. She wanted to hear him explain.

"That was your aunt. The woman who is your mother is within that building." He pointed over his shoulder so Lake automatically assumed the observatory. She hoped.

"But..." Lake shook her head as she pointed toward the observatory. "Why would she..." She stood up and stomped her feet. "You're lying!" She called out.

Emmet jumped and looked around. What a time to wake up.

"I am not, Lake. Please listen, she threw..." Lake gritted her teeth and grabbed her hair. She almost looked like she wanted to pull the hair from her scalp. This wasn't good, she was shutting down. This conversation wasn't going the way Ingo wanted.

"You're telling me this so you can throw me away. So you can give me to them and go." Tears were streaming down her face now. "You don't want me either! No one wants me!"

"Lake...what's wrong?" Emmet tried to pick her up, only to be shoved away from the distraught child.

"Leave me alone!" She ran over to the mouth of the cave and pushed her way through the same way Ingo had dug in.

"Ingo?" Emmet was so confused and his head hurt a lot. "What...What happened?" He ran his hands over his forehead, he felt the knot on his forehead.

"Are you both just going to sit there and let her run!?" Akari yelled out. She was right...they shouldn't let her run far or they would...

There was a loud scream from across the valley. It even echoed, along the ridges.

"Lake!"