Weeping Willows

Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing

Chapter 11

The next morning dawned with the chirping of birds and a palate of colors splashed across the sky. The storm from before was pushed away with the golden rays lighting up the world. The only left-over trace being the humidity in the air a result from the excessive moisture they'd had. The melodic cadence of lazy waves coming to shore at the reservoir could be heard in the not too far distance.

The light rumbling of an engine could be heard joined by the crunching of gravel under tires. Elliot's large dark blue Dodge truck came into view as it rounded the last curve coming into the gravel drive. Before he had even fully stopped the vehicle, Dan was out of it racing to the steps. He slowed his approach putting his hands out cautious of spooking the creature before him. Reaching out gently he took Elizabeth's cold hand in his. It lay limply in the warmth of his much larger one as he took in the sight she made. Feeling the roughness of her delicate skin against his he turned her hand over noting the damage to it. Placing it gently back into her lap he inspected the other one only to find it in much the same condition. Elliot, having slammed his truck into park, was now standing at Dan's side staring at her in fear. Elizabeth was vaguely aware of the people now with her, but she was currently trapped in the events of the night before.

"Jesus, what happened to her?" Instead of answering him Dan knelt in front of her pushing her disheveled red mane out of her darkened glazed eyes. There was not even a flicker of movement from her haunted gaze as he did this.

"She's burning up. Call Addison and get her out here." As Elliot ran back to his still running truck with both doors still sitting wide open where they were flung, Dan scooped up the frail woman hauling her up to his broad chest. Elizabeth cried out causing him to pause looking for the source of her distress. Elliot, now with keys and phone in hand, was back beside them pointing at the foot Dan had bumped.

"It looks like she might have got it caught on something." Dan nodded in acknowledgement and began to take her inside. Elizabeth gripped his shirt tightly catching some of Dan's chest hair within the fabric. Elliot held the door open for them only following once he retrieved the damp stained blanket from the porch. Elliot sat next to her on the couch holding her to him in an effort to warm her up as Dan made his way into the kitchen. Elliot looked down at her worriedly as she began to mumble about a woman she needed to find.

By the time Dan had reemerged carrying a steaming mug Elizabeth was beginning to come around again. Taking the warm cup, she thanked him gulping down a couple of swallows of mildly hot water. The screen door crashed into the wall as it was heaved open in Addison's haste to get to Elizabeth. She was followed in by a fresh-faced wide-eyed Jan who was rushing in directly behind her. The two women descended on her like clucking mother hens each worrying away but too afraid to physically touch her. Elizabeth smirked weakly at them taking in their equally disheveled states. Jan's hair had been hastily thrown on top of her head into a short ponytail that threatened to fall out. There were hanks of hair hanging loosely around her head that had already escaped the confines of the elastic that once held them. All along her scalp the hair was bubbled up to different degrees belying the haste with which she had thrown up her do. Addison's brownish blonde locks had been captured into a mess which was caught somewhere between a messy bun and a low ponytail that wasn't pulled completely through the holder. Both wore a pair of sloppy sweatpants. Jan had paired hers with a holey old misshapen sweater while Addison had on what appeared to be one of Elliot's t-shirts. The shirt had some obscure college logo on it and swallowed the poor pregnant woman whole.

"You two look terrible." Elizabeth pointed out causing Elliot to snicker and Dan to groan. Jan towered over her scowling in dismay, but Addison reached out to slap her on the arm. Being quicker than his wife Elliot easily caught her arm stopping her assault before she made contact.