The Midnight Within

Chapter 57

" Is he ok? " Aaron was standing next to her with a worried look on his handsome face.

" I hope so. Can you get him someplace safe? "

" What about you? "

" I have to go back to the barn. "

" Oh hell no Mia. Let me go and you can help him. "

She wanted to roll her eyes at him and didn't. Aaron had always been good to her so she checked on Trez, covering him with an old tarp. He was breathing and when she lifted his head he groaned but did not open his eyes. Torn she sat next to him for a few minutes as she tried to gather her thoughts. Jessie was standing a few feet away, looking towards the barn and nodding her head. She seemed to be having a conversation with someone that Mia could not see and shortly she ran to Mia's side, pulling her hands to get her to stand up.

" Come on Mia.  I know how we can help them. "

" Sweetheart, no. We need to get to the car and go. " Confused and concerned Mia tried to get Jessie to stop but the little girl was determined to pull her along towards the corn maze exit.

" Zakk wants us to help. "

" Honey....Zakk...."   Tears rolled down her cheeks. 

"  I know!  But he says we can help!  He says that Blaze has the book. "  Insistently Jessie pulled her along until she saw the opening and broke away from Mia, running now. " I have to help now! "

"  What book. Jessie, wait! Crap. " She looked imploringly at Aaron and he waved her off. She hurried after Jessie and almost didn't catch her. She managed to snag the hem of her costume right before she ran into the barn. Wrapping her arms around her smaller frame, she was able to stop her from running full bore into the carnage and tripping right over Zakk's body.  

" Zakk says to start a fire. If we can start a fire the firemen will come, It's what Zakk says! "

~ Do it! Save my sister and yourself. ~

It was Daniel that spoke inside her head, and she got the image of where he was trapped. If he was alive, she was not going to do what Jessie wanted, no way.

~ Yes you can. Just do it. ~

That's when Mia spotted Zakk's unmoving body on the floor and almost lost it until she spotted the zippo. Laughing like crazy, she scooped up the lighter with one hand. If they could find a way to bring help then she was going to do it.

With tears streaming down her face she turned herself around, snagged a new bottle from the floor and took off her cape. Ripping a piece of fabric from it she stuffed it into the bottle and with tears in her eyes she lit the end of the fabric. It was wet and didn't want to catch. Mia swore softly as she burned her fingers when the lighter got too hot but she was not about to stop now.

" Hurry Mia! " Jessie was looking away from her, jumping up and down in a panic.

" Ok baby mamma needs a new car. " With all her might she threw the flaming bottle into the depths of the barn. It landed perfectly into the dry hay. She had hoped to get to Daniel and get him out before the whole place went and changed her mind. Grabbing Jessie, Mia hurried away from the barn.