Life Straight Up (reposted - feedback wanted)

Chapter Fourteen

     It didn't take too long for psycho mummy to return to reclaim what was hers, well I say not long it felt like a couple of hours. But what do I know, I don't even know how long I've been here. My constant blackouts aren't particularly helping, although if it saves what little energy I have for my baby then so be it. All I know is by the time she came back to get him, he was sound asleep curled around my feet. I knew right then that if I was lucky enough to escape this wretched place I would be taking him with me. I didn't doubt that somewhere deep inside that bat crazy brain of hers, that she loved him, but he deserved so much better. He deserved a chance of a real, normal life full of love and more importantly sanity. God knows what being around her would do to him in the long run. I watched Jai slowly lose his sanity and now Carrie, I would not stand by and let the same happen to this poor, innocent little soul. I just knew he needed saving just as much as I did. We seemed to give each other comfort during our time together, something that Carrie was less than impressed with. I could hear her cursing as she cradled him in her arms as she left.

Since then I have been slipping in and out of consciousness, something I wasn't sure whether or not to be thankful for. I could feel my eyes droop once more, when the sound of voices came from the other side of the door. My heart began pounding unsure what torture was soon to come. I know I had promised myself to stay strong, but I feared I may just be too weak to fight. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on steadying my heartbeat. I needed to stay calm not just for me, but for my child. As I steadied my breath a hazy picture soon appeared in my mind. I was back home sat on the log by the lake, the warm sun beating down on my skin. In the distance I heard laughter, turning my head to find the source, I soon saw a sight unlike anything I could possibly imagine. By the water's edge Cole and Alec were crouched down laughing surrounded by children. There were two adorable little boys, who looked close to two years old, their blondish brown hair matching that of Alec. Beside them were two more boys, smaller than the first two perhaps just under a year. Their hair and facial features matching Cole's. His eyes were full of love as he scooped them up in his arms and kissed their gorgeous little heads. They were my children, my boys. I couldn't take my eyes of them, it was the perfect scene. My heart swelled to see my two perfect little angels. From the corner of my eye I noticed Helena approach, her hand on her hip and her tummy swollen with child. She was simply glowing. Behind her was Chris and Celeste, walking hand in hand, but they weren't alone. Sat on Chris's shoulders was a small little boy with dark brown hair, my beautiful nephew. I watched as Alec, like Cole, picked up his two darling boys and walked with him to meet the others. They were all smiling and laughing, it was a picture of pure happiness. I couldn't take my eyes of them as they all turned towards the woods, back towards our home. As they reached the edge of the tree Cole looked over at me and smiled, nudging his head sideways, signalling for me to join them. Looking away for a split second I pulled myself up off the log. Smiling as I looked back towards them, I found them all gone. All except a small girl with wavy dark auburn hair like mine, she smiled as her blue eyes found mine. As I stepped forward so did she, her movement mirrored mine until she was stood right in front of me. She lifted her arms up towards me. Bending over I picked her up and held her to my chest. She giggled as she looked into my eyes, before pressing her tiny lips onto my cheek. I closed my eyes and held her close, treasuring this moment.

"Mama," I heard her sweet little voice say as a tear ran down my cheek.

But my perfect world was shattered as a big hand collided with the side of my face. Snapping me back to my harsh reality, only now I had something to aim for.

Cole's POV

I had lost track of how long we had been running, despite being in human form I seemed to keep up easily enough. Well most of the time anyway, it was becoming a little more difficult with each passing hour, but I didn't let it show. There was no way I was stopping to rest when she was out there somewhere alone. I didn't care if my muscles burned, I would keep going until I found her. An hour or so ago we had picked up her scent once again, it was the first time we had come across it for quite a while. As I ran as fast as I could I could hear cars in the distance, we had to be nearing a road which wasn't really good news for us. Another minute or so and we reached the edge of the trees. Being the only one dressed and in human form I stepped forward, as I thought I found myself at the road side. It was deserted, but the sound of cars still filled the air, it must have been an old unused road which ran alongside a newer one. I whistled and the other emerged, all now shifted. Thankfully some of them had been carrying clothes and were all wearing trousers or shorts.