Midnight Storm

Chapter 10: Reunited

Hope, Maria, Jane, Robert and I all took Alexa for a walk. Jane seemed to be enjoying it the most, and who could blame her? Being held captive by a lunatic, being forced to watch her father die, she needed this sort of thing and to have her family and closest friends around her. Hope was pushing her sister in her wheelchair while Robert was by her side. Maria and i were about 20 metres behind them but we could easily see the bond between the girls. We got to the park and Hope and Robert lifted Jane out of her wheelchair and onto the swing. Hope pushed her sister while Robert sat of the swing beside her. Maria was throwing a tenis ball for Alexa, I looked around. They all looked so happy, having fun together outside. Then I noticed that Alexa was starting to pant, I went over to the tap and filled the bucket left conveniently underneath and she came running.as she drank I turned around and Maria was running over to Hope, Jane and Robert. Hope jumped onto the swing beside her sister and Robert pushed her while Maria pushed Jane, higher and higher the two girls glided like swans in the evening sky. After a while we all walked home together. That night I woke up suddenly, I had just had a nightmare and I was sweating and panting like a dog. I looked beside me. Maria wasn't there, I sighed with relief as I heard the tap turn on and the toilet flush. 'Are you ok?' I asked her as she came back in. 'I think so, just threw up.' She said as she collapsed on the bed. 'Are you ok?' She asked me worriedly 'Yeah I just had a nightmare thats all.' I replied, lying down. 'Do you want to talk about it?' She asked as she propped herself up with her arm. 'Nah I think I am ok now. That is very sweet of you to offer though.' I replied. I looked down at the side of my bed, Alexa was not in her bed. 'Hmm, she probably just went to get a drink or something' I thought to myself as I put my arm around her. 'Thank you Mark, you are very sweet as well.' She said leaning on my shoulder. I woke up the next morning, Maria was not next to me anymore and Alexa was still not in her bed. I stood up and stretched with a yawn, got dressed, and walked downstairs. I looked at the clock, Oh my gosh had I really slept in that late? It was 11:30, Maria was making Autumn Salad in the kitchen. 'Good morning sleepy head' she said, she didn't even need to turn around to know that I was there. 'Good morning my angel, where is Alexa and the kids?' I asked eagerly 'The kids qre out the back in the pool and I don't know where Alexa is' she replied 'Thank you. I am going to go and look for Alexa, I have a bad feeling she is in trouble.' I said as I ran out the door. I checked the back yard, the front yard and every room in the house 'there is only one other place she would go' I thought as I ran up the street. I ran along the dirt path leading up to the park, 'she has to be here, she just has to' I thought as I ran. I heard a hustle in the bushes up ahead, I skidded to a stop and crept to the bush. I was shocked. Alexa was lying there looking up at me proudly, lying beside her was another Border Collie and four puppies. 'Aww, they are beautiful.' I said quietly. Luckily I had my jacket with me. I picked up the puppies in my jacket and wrapped it around them into a basket formation. 'Hello there, where is your owner?' I said as. I held out my fist for the male dog to sniff, he licked my hand and nudged my leg. 'You don't have an owner do you boy?' I said sadly, 'you know what, I will take you home' I said. I walked home with the puppies in my arms and Alexa and her companion by my side. I got home and went out to the backyard with the dogs, I laid them in front of the kennel and Alexa along with her companion laid down around them. 'Maria! Kids! Come quick!' I shouted with my hands cupped around my mouth. They came running 'Whats wrong?' Maria asked. 'Guys, meet the new additions to our family' I said with a smile as I moved to the side revealing the canines. 'Aww, they are beautiful!' Hope and Jane said in unison. ' I thought since there are four of you and four puppies that you each get to name one.' I said. 'Well this one is definatly cuddle, just look at how he or she is hugging the others' Jane said. 'This one is Rascal.' Robert said. 'This one is Larka' Maria said. 'This one is Sam' Hope said. 'I hope you don't mind but I named Alexa's companion. His name is Mystery since he was a mystery to us for so long.' I said patting Mystery.