The Rift

Chapter Twenty-Eight: From the Ashes

Oh hello there :)

If you're reading this (it's too late) the hiatus of The Rift is finally over and it's time to start back up.
So why don't we start things off with a flashback...

It's almost midnight.

The hospital is mostly deserted besides a few nurses and doctors.

Nathaniel Montgomery sits in an empty, brightly lit hall, shaking his knee nervously while sitting in a chair. Next to him is his four year old daughter, Lisbeth. Her soft, green eyes are half shut with sleepiness. Wearing bright pink pajamas, she rests her brown haired head against her father's shoulder. Lisbeth's small hand grips the dark blue sleeve of Nathaniel's shirt, seeking comfort. He looks down at his daughter, then plants a kiss on top of her head.

The white painted door of the room they sit across from opens, and an older female doctor with pale blonde hair steps out.

Nathaniel springs out of his chair and stands up, awaiting an update.
The doctor, with the name S. HAWKINS printed on a silver name tag pinned on her white lab coat, nervously digs her hands in the her pockets.

"How is she?", Nathaniel asks.

After a long pause, Dr. Hawkins finally says, "I'm very sorry Mr. Montgomery...due to the severity of her injuries from the crash...there were complications during the surgery...I'm sorry to say that she won't make it."

Nathaniel stares at the doctor, then down at the floor.
"Can I see her?"
"Yes, of course."

Nathaniel takes his daughter's hand and leads her into the dark hospital room.

There, laying unconscious on a bed with several beeping machines hooked up to her, is Nathaniel's wife, Hannah. A few strands of her dark brown hair lay strewn over her left eyelid, almost covering a scratch. The front of her gown slowly rises and falls with each breath.
"Why is mommy asleep?", Lisbeth curiously asks her father.
"She's...she's hurt, wildflower. Really bad."
"Oh...", Lisbeth mumbles, looking down at the floor. Nathaniel walks around the side of the bed and pulls a chair from one side of the room.

He sits close to his wife, watching her sleep as he grasps her left hand.
Nathaniel holds her hand up to his face, feeling her soft skin against his lips.

Lisbeth stands next to her father, her small hands gripping the side of the hospital bed as she uses the tips of her toes to get a better look at her sleeping mother.
"I'm sorry, Hannah", Nathaniel quietly sobs, "I'm so sorry."

(Jenni POV)

What the actual fuck am I supposed to do?
While most of the camp went with Nathaniel for some retribution bullshit, I'm stuck here in this hellhole with nothing to do.

I could have been out there with them but Haley said I couldn't come along. Great.

This old factory stinks anyway, literally and metaphorically. There isn't much to do here besides sit around. I tried to go on runs with Gustavo, but he always refuses to let me come along. I'm almost eighteen, I shouldn't have to be treated like a child anymore. When they get back, I'll talk to him.

And don't even get me started on Nathaniel.

I don't really like him but I guess I have to listen to him now. Gustavo must have handed power over to him or some shit, which is stupid.
Things were fine before Nathaniel showed up. The moment I saw him, I had this feeling in my gut. Maybe it was just me, but I wasn't sure.

A late morning sky covered by gray clouds hangs above me. As I feel the gentle, cold breeze brush against my cheeks, I close my eyes and take it all in. The breeze creeps into the sleeves of my creamy tan colored sweater and down near the bottom of my jeans around my ankles. The sounds of late autumn, the rustling of tree branches, all of it forever sitting on a shelf inside my brain. It's actually really nice to sit on this rooftop away from all those annoying people. This is actually just a random, small building outside of the main complex of the factory. Not many people come over here. It's just a storage shed.