Sacrifices of Fire: Escaping Murder Manor

Chapter 5

A few days later Thomas and Ellie go home. Two weeks after arriving home, Kara calls Thomas. "Alright, Kara," he says, "Calm down, I'll be there soon. Yes, I know. No, she's not coming with me. Yes, she's resting. Yeah, she'll be fine. Don't worry, Marie and Blake are here. Matt's coming later on. Yes, I'm sure. She'll be fine. Okay, I'll see you there."

He hangs the phone. "What's wrong?" Ellie asks worriedly.

"It's nothing serious. I'll explain after I get home, alright?"

"Okay, be safe."

He smiles at her. "Of course."

She smiles back at him tiredly. "Call Matt if you need any help, okay?"

"I will. Don't worry too much. I'll be fine."

"I know. I can't help it."

He laughs softly. "I know, kitten." He gently kisses her on her forehead, then leaves the room.

"Mama!" Gray yells. He runs into the room followed by the girls. They crash into her, which nearly knocks her over.

"Jesus Christ!" she yelps, "Careful! You're going to knock me over!"
"Sorry?" Lily whispers.

"It's okay." She sighs and sits down on the couch.

"What's wrong, mama?" Lilac asks.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing, I'm just tired."

"Why don't you go take a nap then?" Violet asks.

Ellie laughs softly, "I would if I could," she answers, "but I can't."

"Why not?" Gray asks.

She smiles at him. "It doesn't matter. Where's Amethyst?"

"Marie and Blake are watching her," Violet answers, "they said that they wanted you to rest."

She sighs again before standing back up. "Marie?" she calls out, "Where are you?"

"In the kitchen!" Marie yells back. Ellie waddles into the kitchen. "Ellie!" Marie scolds, "You're supposed to be resting, not waddling around!"

"Sorry? I can't sleep. It's too uncomfortable."

Marie sighs irritatedly. "Well, at least go lay down or something. Blake and I can look after the kids. You just focus on keeping that baby inside of you."

"But..."

"Oi! Lady! Don't argue with me!"

(sigh) "Marie, we're practically the same age."
"Yeah, so? I'm still a month older than you."

"Fine, but if Thomas calls, come and get me, okay?"

"Deal."

She waddles out of the kitchen and upstairs to her bedroom. She plops down onto her bed and closes her eyes. She eventually falls into an uneasy sleep. Her dreams are filled with disturbing images. She quietly starts to mumbles incoherently. "No! Don't! K..Kara! D..don't..." "K..Kara!" She jolts forward, and Marie comes running into the room.

"Ellie?" she asks, "What's wrong? I heard you yelling about something."

"K..Kara?" Ellie murmurs, "Kara, I have to...I have...make sure..."

"Ellie! Slow down and take a deep breath!" She stops and inhales deeply. "Now, explain to me what you're worried about."

"Kara, something's wrong with Kara..."

"Kara? Ellie, how..."

"Have to get to the hospital, have to call Thomas..." She continues to murmur to herself as she dresses herself in more casual attire. "Have to...have to...have to..."

Marie leaves the room and calls Thomas. When he picks up, she yells, "Thomas! Something's really bothering Ellie! She was sleeping and then shouting and now she's mumbling something about Kara..."

"Marie," Thomas whispers. She stops talking. She can tell by the sound of his voice that something is wrong.

"Thomas? What's wrong?"

"It's Kara...Marie, it's bad. You can't let Ellie come to the hospital. It'll stress her out too much."
"Thomas, I can't...you know how stubborn she is!"

"I know, just come with her. Leave Blake and the kids. I...I don't want them to see this."

"Okay, alright. We'll be there soon." She hangs up and walks back into Ellie's room. "Ellie, are you ready?"

"Yes..." They walk out to the car. The drive there is silent. When they get there, Ellie walks into the building without a word. She walks past the receptionist to find Julia, instead she finds Thomas.

"Thomas!" she cries out as she flings herself at him, "Where's Kara? Is she okay?" Thomas looks away from her. "Thomas! Answer the questions!"

"Ellie," he whispers softly, "it's...it's not good."

The color in her face drains. "The dream I had...it was real..." "Kara...she..."

Thomas doesn't respond for a few minutes, eventually he says, "Ellie, she's in surgery right now. You can't do anything."

"Kara...Kara...Kara..."

"Ellie, you should sit down." He gently takes her hand and guides her to a chair. She automatically sits down. She looks up at him. He pales, "She looks crushed," he thinks, "What can I do? How do I distract her?"

"Thomas?" she whispers, "Julia? She's going to get you...when...when...when..."

"The surgery is over? Yeah, she is."

She sighs, "How long? Did she say?"

"A couple hours, give or take."

She sighs again. "Okay, I can wait...it'll be okay..." She starts to hyperventilate.
"Ellie," Thomas calmly says, "breathe. Inhale, then exhale. Inhale, then exhale." She inhales and exhales until she's breathing normally again. "Better?"

"Yeah," she answers, shaking.

"Ellie, she's going to be okay."
"She has to be. I can't...I won't be able to..." She lets up a shuddered breath.

"I know. It'll be okay. I'll be right here beside you." She nods and rests her head against his shoulder. Her eyes droop and then snap back open. "It's okay, Ellie. You can sleep. I'll wake you when Julia comes."

"O..okay." Her eyes close again and she drifts into a restless sleep. Thomas sighs and gently caresses her hair.

"It's okay, kitten. I'm right here. I'll help you get through this."