Is this Rare?

Chapter 36

We arrive at the cabin, which is as creepy as ever.

We walk, though the woods, all the way back to the cabin. We never stop. Maggie, Ann and myself. Just us. No Andrea. No Joan. No Jennifer. I stumble next to Maggie, as she strongly carries an unconscious Ann slung across her shoulders. She helps me up and grips my hand firmly. Together we make it.

When we enter the cabin, is still dark and misty: it's just as I left it. Well, sort of. All of those strange objects are gone. I know where the dagger is, or was, with Andrea. But, the glass, I don't know. And, my phone is still shattered. Of course. If only that small detail could have been a dream.

"How about you lay Ann on the couch?" I suggest to Maggie, as I spread my sleeping bag out. She answers by a nod. I know that she is exhausted. She lays Ann down slowly. Then, she stands up quickly. Her face is beet red. Wait. Wait, now it's purple. Unexpectedly, her eyes roll back behind her head and she collapses on the floor.

"Maggie!" I yell! I dash across the room and lean over her,, "Maggie? Maggie!" I smack her across the face. As I scream her name over and over. When that fails, I resort to the idea of throwing water in her face. I shakily stand and move into the kitchen. I search until I find a cup. I fill it with cold water from the sputtery sink faucet. I return to Maggie, who is still laying unconscious. I touch her fingers and they have already begin to become cold. I lift the cup, then flip in upside down. The contents splash all over her now pale face. Then, I speak again, "Maggie? Maggie, please wake up. I need you. I cannot be here by myself! Don't leave me alone. If you don't wake up, I don't know what I would do. Maggie, please. I'm begging you. Don't leave me. You're stronger than this." I stop, not because I want to: because I have to. I choking on my sobs and tears. My CPR training has not kicked in and I don't expect it to anytime soon. If only Jennifer wouldn't have been so stubborn. I lean down and hug Maggie. I don't stop crying. When I sit up, I see that I have soaked Maggie's shirt with my tears. Sit back on my heels and hear the faintest of coughs, "Maggie? Maggie!" I burst out, with another round of tears.

I am so upset about Maggie, but she is mostly awake now. Apparently, I'm hugging her so much that she has to say, "Umm. Ok, Chelsea, I'm okay now. You can stop hugging me and help me up."

"Sorry!" I say with a snorty laugh, still catching my breath. I help her sit up and slide back, so she can lean against the wall. I ask her if she is hurt anywhere or if she need anything.

She says, "I'm fine. Just dizzy. And, could I have some water?"

I jump, retrieve the cup that I used to pour water on Maggie, run into the kitchen, and fill up the water. When I come back, Maggie is leaning against the wall, brushing out her wet curls. I handle her the cup and she says, "Thanks, Chelsea. Why am I all wet?!"

"Well, for two reasons, one I poured water on you to try to wake you up. And, two, I was crying and hugging you. So, yeah." I reply.

She gives me a small smile. I help Maggie stand up and we hug each other for a full two minutes. Then she say, never breaking from a hug, "Uhh, Chelsea?"

"What?" I say back, still hugging Maggie, I mean, after all I did almost lose her, so don't judge!

Her grip loosens a little as she delivers the next line, "You don't smell the greatest. Especially when you are this close to me."

Blushing, I let her go and say, "Sorry, again. How about I go up and, I don't know, wash my hair, maybe? But, you have to stay down here. With Ann."

"Good idea. And, when you're done we can switch." She agrees with a nod.

Before I head upstairs, I suggest one more thing, "Maggie? Call for help while I'm upstairs. We need the police and an ambulance. For Ann."

She nods and says, "Okay. Go take a shower! I'll call. Don't worry, I will."

I grab my towel when I realize that this is almost normal again. Shrugging my shoulders, I scoop up some clothes and head upstairs. I enter the bathroom, forcing the bad memories into a locked chest in my mind. I turn on the shower, hop in, and get my hair wet. I realize that I forgot my soap and shampoo. Luckily, one of the girls has left their's up here. So, I just borrow some. The shower water gets cold and I turn the faucet off. Toweling off, I remember that I will need my brush to work on the rats nest on the top of my head. I throw on my outfit, which doesn't even match but who cares. Normally, I would but the circumstances have thrown me off course a little. Okay. More than a little. A lot.