Thicker than Water

Chapter Sixteen

Black.  That's what death is like.  Pitch black.  I was lost in the recesses of my own mind like a dark fog of the thoughts long passed.  It felt like being completely detached from my body, but with my mind tied to it.  The only thing keeping me tied to reality was the thoughts of Haden and the others.  I could plainly see the spider web like strings that stretched out into oblivion from me.  In those strings I could see reflections of Marissa and her children then Haden reading a book.  They were the only thing keeping me from completely slipping.

Hold on, please.

That voice....

Come on, breathe.  Damn it, don't give up on me!

It was Haden. 

I was slowly returning back.  I was slowly able to feel again.  I could feel the ties of life trying to reconnect to me.  His frantic voice rang out through my mind as he kept me anchored.  I'm trying not to go, I wanted to say to him.  I was struggling beneath the tide that was pulling me into the oblivion of death.  I'm trying to come back, I wanted to say but my thoughts rang out in the pitch black forever.  All I could do was focus on his voice.  I focused my mind on his image to pull myself back to reality and out of the hell of my own mind.

Shit, he says and I could feel a bolt of energy surge through me.  I don't jump from the shock but could feel the electricity surging through me.  Clear, says another voice that sounded like Kant.  I could feel a soft hand on my forehead and a woman's voice muttering for me to return.  Marissa was there too.

I was dying, if not already dead.  With my conclusion being death, I listened to them shouting orders at each other. Everything was on fire now; my blood, my muscles, every breath burned inside of my body.  It hurt.  I didn't want my body anymore, not in this state.

I don't think there's anything more we can do, Kant said resolutely.  She's dead.

She can't be, Haden was shouting.  Please, we have to -

There isn't anything we can do now, Marissa told him, her voice shaking.  We tried to save her.  There's nothing else we can do.  She's gone.

She can't be gone!  Please, Haden told her, there has to be something.  I don't want to lose her....

There is nothing to bring her back!  Don't you get it?  Kant was screaming at him now.  She's dead.

No, I'm not, I thought as though to intervene.  I'm trying to come back, honestly.  Stop screaming at each other.

You say something, Haden asks suddenly.  Kant and Marissa both replied with a no.  Are you sure?

Wait, a new voice told him.  Kendell Hiram had finally spoke up.  Did you hear a voice, Captain Haden?  Just now?

Yes, Haden replied.  But, I probably misheard -

Nobody said anything, Kant said with a groan.

Have you heard voices lately, Kendell asked suddenly. 

Haden was quiet for a moment then said, I guess just now.  I felt cold hands grab my shoulders and shake me.  What the hell?  Don't shake her!

Lady Sage, Kendell shouted, pull yourself back here.  Now!  I know you freaking hear me.

I do, I answered to him silently and tried to reconnect the ties again.  I'm trying.  It's hard...