The Thing | Windows

Battle of the Things

Windows' POV:
MacReady made sure everyone had a weapon. "I'm torching this place. If there's anything you want to grab. Anything at all, get it now. But don't grab all your belongings. We can't afford the room in the tractor." Echo immediately stood up and said "I have to grab something. It won't take up any room. It'll fit in my pocket." She rushed off and Caspian followed her. "We're gonna start lighting this place on fire, then we're going to the generator room and we'll blow it up from there." Echo and Caspian came back into the room. "That'll be my job. My job will be to blow up the generator room. Garry and Nauls will help me. Caspian and Windows, your job is to get the tractor started and meet us outside of the building. We'll be there. Girls, you'll go with Caspian and Windows." "Mac, you can't die down there. We need you." Frankie said. "They won't get me. They can sure try though. Does everyone know what they're supposed to do?" Everyone nodded and MacReady, Garry and Nauls went to the generator room, lighting up the building. "We gotta go through the snow. Stay along the guide line and we'll make it there in no time. I'll lead." Caspian said. Caspian went first, then Echo, then Caitlin, then Frankie. I went after Frankie and held onto the guide line. The temperature had dropped since I had last been outside. It was unbelievably cold. "Come on! It's just up here!" Caspian said. The wind blew a huge gust in my direction and I gripped the guide line. "God, I can't wait to get out of here." I said to myself. Frankie had slowed down a little, going slower. "Frank, keep going!" She turned to look at me and nodded. Once we reached the shed, Caspian and I closed the doors. Frankie was shivering. Really bad. Echo looked over at her best friend and saw the condition she was in. Caitlin sat down, not saying much. Caspian looked around for the keys to the tractor. "I'll find them. You guys just chill." I walked over to Frankie and said "you ok?" She shook her head and said "n-no. I'm freezing." "Found them!" Caspian said as he held up the keys, the keys jingling in his hand. Echo smiled at her husband and Frankie swayed back and forth. "Frankie?" Caspian asked. Her eyes fluttered closed and she began to fall. I caught her in my arms and Echo said "Frankie? Frankie, can you hear me?" Caspian quickly rushed over and I sat down on the ground, holding her in my lap. "Francesca?" I never had said her full name before. "Francesca, please wake up. I promised MacReady I'd be strong for you. P-Please." "I think she's got hyperthermia." Caspian said. I looked at him and said "what? We weren't even outside that long." "The temperature dropped. She's not used to being in cold weather. She only accepted the job because I did. I talked Frankie into it. It's my fault." Echo said. Caspian shook his head and said "hey, it's not your fault. Don't say that." "Frankie could die and it would be my fault. I told her to come here." Echo replied. Caitlin bit her lip nervously and Caspian unzipped her jacket. "What're you doing?" I said. "Hold Frankie to your chest. Just hold her. And unzip you're jacket. The warmth from your body will help. Just trust me." We all stared at Caspian in shock. "I did some research before we came here. I didn't want to be in an area that's freezing and not know anything about it." He said. I unzipped my jacket, taking it off. "Take off the other one too." I rolled my eyes and took off the jacket I had on under the large winter one. I shivered at the cold and Echo pulled Frankie's jacket off. "Hold her to your chest. And talk to her. Try to get her to wake up." I held her to my chest and Caspian said "I'm gonna get the tractor started, then we're gonna get the guys. Echo, help me." Echo nodded and followed her husband. Caitlin stood up and looked around the room. "Francesca, if you can hear me I'm sure you're mad at me for calling you by your full name. But it's pretty. I didn't even know that was your full name until Copper said it the other day. Palmer teased you about it." I sighed. "You're gonna miss Palmer aren't you? I always figured you'd go for him before me. Palmer was the funny one and I'm just the radio guy, who got the nickname Windows cause of my sunglasses. I need you to wake up. We gotta get back to civilization. I can't go without you. Frank, I really need you to wake up." I bit my lip to hold back my tears. "I love you, Frankie." A loud motor sound erupted into the air and Caspian said "whoo! I got it!" Echo and Caitlin cheered. "I love you too." I looked down at Frankie who half smiled. I laughed in disbelief and said "oh my god. You woke up." Frankie hugged me and I hugged her back. "Frankie!" Echo said. She pulled away from me to look at Echo. I watched as Echo hugged her. "We gotta get on the tractor. Now."