Blackout • NH

Chapter 37

Previously

I put my hand in the pockets of the sweater and felt something hard and crumbled up. I pulled out whatever it was and found a piece of paper with writing on it. I uncrumbled it and something hard fell out and hit my leg. I look down and my eyes widen.

Niall's geode. Only half of it though. It was carved and sanded down and shined a bit, giving it a professional look but it still had the natural element look to it. It looked like it was half of a heart. I looked closer and saw a small heart carved into the half heart shaped geode.

I quickly unfolded the letter and began to read.

Present

"Dear Jodie,

Where do I even begin? From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were special. Your dark hair and light eyes were so intriguing to me. You were so beautiful I couldn't even act normal around you. Which would explain the looks you would give me haha.

Oh but how much you meant to me can't even be explained in this letter. Yes. I did have the biggest crush on you. Who wouldn't? Everything about you was perfect. The first time you cuddled up to me when we slept made my heart grow even more fonder of you. The first time we kissed was the moment I knew that I was in love with you. I couldn't stay away. I love you so much that I cry sometimes when you are asleep because I know this shitty world makes love so difficult. Which would explain our stupid arguments.

I loved every minute I was with you Jodie. Especially the night we made love. It was the best time of my life and I don't regret any moment of it. When you told me you were pregnant today, I was honestly so happy though my facial expressions may have seemed otherwise. Because I was a bit shocked at first to be honest. Anyone would be.

When you told me that you hated me today. It hurt me so much and it looked like you meant it. I know you probably didn't mean it but I don't know how I can live my life without you as mine Jodie. But when I told you that I still loved you, I meant it. I'll never stop loving you Jodie.

I have been planning this out for so long. I've been carving my geode into something great. It's not the greatest since I suck at art but I'm proud of it. I don't have a ring but I was going to give you this instead. It's only half of my geode. I carved both into half of a heart so when we are together, we have a full heart but when we are separated, we are only half a heart without each other. I realize this is corny but I want to do this for when I ask you to be mine forever and marry me. I want to marry you Jodie. We may not have the typical wedding with guests and a white dress but glazers and combat clothing will do as well haha.

Hopefully tomorrow when you're cooled down and we've had time apart, I can ask you to be mine. I want our baby to have a happy family. Mom, dad, 3 idiot uncles, Harry, Louis and Liam, a smart aunt, Ellen, and grandparents Marion and Aiden. Don't tell them I called them old. Especially Marion, she'll probably kill me.

Anyways, I hope tomorrow you'll say yes. Because I know you still love me. We all say things we don't mean when we are angry. It's just something we do as people.

Anyways, I love you very very much and I'll talk to you tomorrow baby.

Love, Niall"

I sit back stunned. Niall wanted to marry me. I drop the letter and geode onto the sweater and break down crying.

"Anne, he wanted to marry me. He was going to ask me today but I left before anyone woke up." I say sobbing into my hands.

"Shhh, Jodie it's okay. How about we distract you from this and turn this place into the coolest secret hangout ever?" Anne suggested.

"That sounds like fun." I say, sniffling but genuinely smiling because I made a new friend.

It was about 11pm when we finished redecorating the tree houses. We moved around furniture and found some glow in the dark paint in one of the closets and painted cool designs onto the wooden boards along the wall. We even decorated the tree with cool designs to light the staircase up.

We both sat down on one of the sofas and caught our breath from all the hard work we've done.

"Jodie?" Anne spoke.

"Yeah?"

"Would you say yes?"

I looked at her for a moment confused but then realized what she meant. I sat there and pondered over it for a while before speaking up.

"Yeah, I would."

"Why don't you go back?"

"You know how dangerous this baby can be to a group."

"It doesn't have to be. When I was living in the camp, we had 3 people with babies and 2 who were pregnant and we got around fine. The only reason we got attacked was someone didn't like the rules and escaped. They joined another camp and convinced them to attack us."

"This was a tiny group though."

"Jodie, you said you were immune and that your baby is immune. So you two are already safe. You guys have had to fight off others as a group already. You came from a tough group and if you guys have survived this long, then you guys were meant to survive after all."

"I guess you're right." I sigh.

"We were supposed to be going to an island called Uninhabited. It has no people on it and we were going to go there to live the rest of our lives on."

"Then why don't you?"

"Flight suggested I go to the Everglades."

"The Everglades?"

"Yeah." I laugh.

"Is there a way we can talk to Flight? Or you can at least? Because the Everglades isn't the biggest wetland in America thought people think it is. It's here in Louisiana and all along the Mississippi River! I studied marine life, freshwater biome and earth science in college. We are in this tree house in a swampy wetland right now away from civilization. Before the guy from my group turned, we were able to fish from the river below and of course we had those cans of food."

"I'll try to talk to him." I sigh and look around the room.

"Flight? Are you there? Anne isn't going to do any harm. I don't know your guardian rules when it comes to communicating with strangers around but I need some suggestions since you can only give me that" I laugh a bit.

"Jodie..." A voice appears. And a few books fall from the shelf behind us. Anne looks scared shitless.

"Flight, are you there?"

"Yes."

"Can Anne hear us talk?"

"She can only hear you talk, not me.

"Well okay then. I know you've just heard our entire conversation so what do you suggest?"

"Your friend is correct about the facts of North Americas wetlands. And you are currently in the largest one... I can't tell you what do Jodie but if you want to rejoin your group you can, but if not, you should either stick to surviving here in this area or continue on to Uninhabited yourself."

"Thanks Flight."

I turn to Anne.

"He suggested that if I want to go back I can but if I still want to continue on my journey alone, I can live here in these wetlands or continue to Uninhabited by myself."

"Well we just finished decorating this place. How about we stay here for a while and move to Uninhabited?"

I sit there and ponder. Maybe I should stay a bit. This place is super secluded.

"Come on." Anne stands up and grabs my hand.

"Let's go upstairs and look at the city and ocean off in the distance and talk about whatever!" She suggest.

"Fine, okay!" I laugh and get up. We both head up the spiral staircase and hang out upstairs for the rest of the night.