Every Breath

Chapter 11

Will

I was running through the darkness, reaching for something unknown. My heart beating fast as the sound of faint whispering filled my ears. They mocked me as I ran, told me I would never find what I was looking for.

The darkness that surrounded me soon turned to blood. I covered my nose, disgusted at the metallic smell. I slid on the sticky substance and fell face first into it. The voices still teasing me for my failed efforts. "Give up." They whispered. " There's no hope."

I shut my eyes tight and wrapped my arms around my body, trying to protect myself from their cruel words.

A scream caught my attention and I looked around, seeing nothing but red. The scream was familiar, though I knew Ive never heard it before. "Will!"

I stood up and tried running but only ended up falling in the blood once more. Again the voice shouted, begging me to find it. As I stood there looking around, another scream joined the first. And then another and another. Before I knew it, a song of a thousand cries swarmed my ears, knocking me to the ground.

I covered my ears, hopping to block out their howls of agony. The wet ground soon grew weak and could no longer support my weight. It caved in, bringing me along with it.

I was falling and drowning at the same time. My salty tears mixing with the metalic liquid. Blood filled my lungs and every thought. I tried to answer out to the voice that still wailed my name but no noise could escape my retired breath.

....................

A voice woke me from my nightmare. "Will! Will, wake up!

I sprang up, knocking the cloak off of my body and wiped the sweat at my forehead. My breathing heavy, I looked around to see the normal place we've been in for who knows how long. It was just a dream...Just a dream. I told myself over and over again.

Evolett stared at me with worry in her eyes, "Will are you okay? What happened?". I toke deep breath, getting my heart rate back to normal. "Evolett." I whispered. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed tightly. My anchor to reality. She held me for a moment and then lifted my chin to meet her eyes.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" she asked quietly. I toke a deep breath and stood up, packing our things into our bags. She didn't move, just followed me silently with her eyes. I shook my head, "Maybe later Evolett. But its morning now so lets go check where that smoke was coming from."

She picked up May and held her tiny body on her shoulder. May, the baby that hasn't cried in 2 days.

"Will." Evolett whispered. I walked over to her and sat on my knees, she held the babies chest to her ear. We both waited in silence for the answer to our question.

Evolett's eyes fell and when she looked at me again, they were covered in a layer of wetness.

"Shes...shes not...Her heart, Will." It toke me a second to realize what she was saying. May had died. Maybe because of starvation, maybe because of the cold, we wouldn't know. Evolett wiped the tear away before it has a chance to travel down her cheek.

"Will its my fault! I havent noticed that May wasn't breathing in days!? What kind of mother am--" She stopped midway. Realizing her mistake. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She was never mine. I'm sorry, I'm sorry....." Evolett gently wrapped May in her cape and then laid her down between us.

A tear had escaped her silver eye. Her hand reached for her belly, where she stroked it over and over again. I wondered what was hidden beneath her corset. "Evolett, Its not our fault, its no ones fault. Death comes and goes. She will be in heaven with her family." I said, not really knowing what else to say.

"We need to bury her." She said, her voice chocking on the last word. I shook my head slowly. "We cannot bury her in the ground. The wolves will dig her up. We should put her in a tree." She nodded, thinking of what I just said.

We wrapped May to my back as I climbed the tree we had been staying under for days. When I was at a sturdy branch, I toke the baby and tied her onto the branch high above Evolett. I laid the thin material of the cloak over her small gray face and said a farewell to the child who hadn't the chance to live.

When I had reached the ground safely I glanced to Evolett who was still stroking her belly, tears falling down her pale cheek. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her.

"Fear not Evolett. At least shes in a better place than here." I gave a moment of silence for the small babe and squeezed Evolett tighter.

She nodded and freed me from the embrace. I gazed into her sad eyes and she in mine. Evoletts silver iris twinkled in the rising sun, the tears forcing color into her face. She stood, picking up only her bag, since her cape now warmed the cold baby that would sleep forever.

"Do you remember which direction the smoke came from?" She asked quietly, sniffing every now and then.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and pointed behind us. Together we started to head towards yesterdays fire.

She touched the tree as we passed, never looking back on it again.

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Heres your early Christmas present!

Yea I know its a short chapter but its Christmas Eve and I dont really have time to update with all this christmas crap going on. I wonder how many more times I can say christmas.....

Merry Chirstmas ya filthy animal!