*Apocalypse Now* (Criss Angel & Klayton Scott Story)

*13*(Klayton's P.O.V)

Having Aphelion with me made my longing for Kc ease up...knowing that I had someone that was depending on me...we were now in what used to be downtown Long Island, but almost everything was in ruins...Criss's old home was completely gone. I told Aphelion who we were looking for, then showed her a picture of them...she gave me a thumbs up and rode off on her horse to spread out the search for them...I had King go with her just for extra safety.

I found a trail that led away from the big city area, and it looked to be a trail that was used a lot...to I whistled twice, and King and Aphelion came back around to meet up with me...she didn't have any luck finding anyone at all...I pointed out the trail to her, and then I jumped on the horse behind her...she handed me the reins and she took a nap while I headed down the trail to see who was using it. King stopped and let me know that we were getting close to people...I told him to stay back and to let me go in first...King laid down in the grass and waited for my whistle. Aphelion was now awake and holding the reins again, so I had my hands free to use my staff if I needed to.

We made it to the center of the site, and we saw maybe 3 different families trying to make a life for themselves...in what used to be the zoo. Two of the women came up to us and offered us some food and water...then asked us if we had a group of people or if we were the only ones out there...I found out that this group of people had it very easy, not having anyone come and try to kill them for their supplies yet...I told them my group was about 3 months away, but I was searching for my family...then asked them if they had seen them...I showed them the picture of them...I saw the look on one of the faces of one of the girls and knew she had seen one of them or all of them before...I asked her again...and she said that they were here, but the kind woman was hurt...and that they had dug her out of a collapsed building...I jumped off the horse and asked her to take me to them...

The girl led me to the tent just outside of the main group, then slowly walked me into the tent...sure enough JD and Costa were in the tent sound asleep...Costa had his arm in a splint, and JD had his head bandaged up...I walked over to Dimitra and knelt down and gently touched her hand...I softly spoke in her ear, and without opening her eyes she knew my voice instantly...she asked me if I had Crisstopher with me...I told her no...but not to worry, for he was alive, and well...and so were his two boys. I was in tears now, as I bent over and kissed her forehead...for she was like the mother I never had when I was growing up...JD and Costa both heard me talking and they jumped up and gave me hugs and asked about Criss...I told them all that whenever they were well enough to travel, that I would gladly take them to him...but that it was going to be a long journey to where Criss was living, with a small group of people.

JD and Costa said they were ready to get out of this place right now...but I went down to Mama D, and asked her how she felt...she said she was blinded by the fire...but her mind, body, and spirit was ready to be with her little boy again...so with that I left the tent and asked Aphelion to hook her horse to that cart at the end of the camp...she agreed to it and began to take all the trash out of the large wagon-like cart...Costa went out of the tent and said he'd like to help, so he went with Aphelion and helped her make a harness to attach her horse to the wagon...I quickly emptied the tent, and placed all the soft blankets and pillows in the wagon...then I helped Mama D into the wagon... Aphelion and Costa even connected a tarp over the top of the wagon...so if a rain came, everything in the wagon would stay nice and dry.

I whistled for King to come, and when he came out into the open...the people thought he was dangerous and backed away...I told them all that he was with me and my daughter...then I told them if anyone wanted to travel with me to my families sanctuary, they were more than welcome to join us...but most of them wanted to stay there...so I helped JD and Costa both in the wagon and Aphelion held her horses reins and lead him back towards the place we originally came from...King stayed on my other side, and we began the very long journey back to the safehouse.

JD and Costa began to ask me how I met up with the girl that was traveling with me...but all I would say was that she was my daughter and that her name was Aphelion...she couldn't talk, but she could hear very well, and she knew how to sign, and how to read and write...so if they wanted to talk to her all they had to do was watch her, and she could tell them...Costa got out and walked a while for his legs were cramping up...JD's head was pounding so badly that he didn't want to move. Aphelion touched my hand, to let me know that her horse was getting tired from pulling the heavy wagon...so I told her, it was about time to stop for the night anyway...so I unhitched the wagon and staked out the horse so he could eat grass and reach the stream...then I got the campfire sat up and ready to prepare a little something to eat.

Costa was helping Mama D out of the wagon so she could sit by the warm fire...after I got done eating I asked Mama D if I could take a look at her eyes...for I knew about medicine and remedies for temporary blindness...she said it was fine with her...so I gave her a check up and told her that she was in luck...for as soon as I found the right herbs and roots...I could crush them up and put the liquid in her eyes and then wrap them up...and within 2 weeks she would be able to see again. Mama D gave me a hug and kiss as she began to tear up, from the good news...then I told King to keep a watch out...and then Costa and JD helped her in the wagon for bed...I told them the wagon was big enough for them to sleep in their too. JD hopped in the wagon...then Costa followed and asked Aphelion if she wanted to sleep in the wagon with them...but she looked at me and shook her head no...then she put her bedroll right next to mine...and crawled in beside me and went to sleep...I laid down and went to sleep...while King kept watch.