Blainsville

35) What Comes Last

Jess

I was freezing, I was starving and I was afraid I was going to die if was honest with myself. It had started to snow heavily and I had barely put a dent in my hike to the gas station a mile away I was afraid I wouldn't make it with only a thin blanket to protect me from the elements and harsh freezing wind. By now I could hear wolves in the background mixing with the wind a part of me had to keep going though I couldn't give up on my little girl, I had already killed one I couldn't leave her with that unanswered question: would mommy survive? Just as I can feel my body wanting to give out the wind knocking me back every few feet and the snow beneath my slippers getting deeper and deeper thats when I see her. She's so young, she still looks so much like me; the same hair, those eyes and she had the dress we had buried her in; a baby pink dress with tights and black converse... It was Rhea and I was sure of it because she looked at me straight ahead clear as day. At first I assumed I was going insane or perhaps this was my mind's way of shutting down before I died of hypothermia, "Follow me, Mom. Follow me." She holds her hand out for me to take but when I touch it all I feel is ice and snow. Then she's a for in front of me only I can see a bit of light it was almost like a lantern, "Follow me." She says again vanishing before my eyes. This would be my demise seeing my eldest one last time before I bit the dust, "Baby, I'm sorry..." I say hoarsely into the wind but she answers back, "It's alright... Follow me." She continues to say. As I do I realize that I'm in the street and although it's windy and the street is empty I see the gas station right in front of me with Rhea leaning against the phone booth, "Call him, mom." She says and the closer I get to the phone the more she seems to become one with the wind until she's altogether gone. It wasn't scary but hopeful, she had forgiven me even though I couldn't forgive myself for what had happened half a year ago. I glanced around and see the gas station is open, "Thank you, baby. Thank you." I whisper heading inside in anticipation to get food and get warm until I realized I had no money, no wallet my only way was to hitch a ride to my Nona's. As I walked inside I glance around and see that nobody was around or possibly awake, I wasn't sure what time it was but I was sure that I would have a fighting chance. "Hello? Hello? Somebody?" I ask out loud looking over the shelves and to the register, "Give me a moment, I'll be with you in a second." I hear that's when an old man comes out from behind a door, "Can I help you... Dear God, are you alright?" I was so happy to see at least another living person in the midst of the storm, "Listen, I don't have any money or any way to get to Connecticut is it alright if I use your phone? I have to call my grandmother. I've been in this weather for I don't know how long, I'm freezing, I'm tired, I'm..." Suddenly I end up falling to the floor; the cold tile making me feel colder the older man goes around the counter and tries to help me up, "Ma'am? Ma'am? Are you ok? What happened?" I couldn't answer far too exhausted from such a journey through the woods. My feet were like icicles and my body and head hurt so much that I couldn't stay awake. The last thing I recall was seeing Rhea over me with her hand out, "It's ok, mom don't be afraid." She assured me touching my cheek.

John

It was freezing, snowing and the weather was getting worse by the minute as Lindsey and I trudged through the woods in total darkness unsure of our fate. I did everything in my power to make sure that Lindsey would stay warm pressed against my body it may have done little to help in the wind but it was better than possibly letting her die to the elements... I had lost Rhea to a horrible accident I didn't want to lose another. As we continued to walk I could make out very little but I was aware of the wolves howling in the distance and that not only scared me it also terrified Lindsey, "Daddy, I can't feel my face or my hands... I'm cold..." She mumbles her eyes half lidded. That was when I was beginning to worry, "Lindsey? Baby, you have to stay awake alright? You stay with me, Lindsey..." I was feeling like I was talking to myself at this point and that made me wonder was she still alive? I glanced down and I could see she was still breathing barely but she was alive but for how long? The wolves got closer and that made me nervous that is until I glanced down and realized there were remaining half footprints they weren't large but rather small, "Jess, I knew you would help us one day." As I continued to walk I couldn't help but feel tired, so tired... It was as if I was fighting to keep not only Lindsey alive but myself. Just as I was about to pass out due to cold and possibly frostbite I see a light in the distance a bright light, I glanced up through half lidded eyes and see that it's an ATV why the hell would an ATV be out here at this hour of night? The first thing that comes to my mind is the wardens have found me... No, they had found us. Suddenly the ATV comes to a stop a few feet from me Lindsey is sprawled out in the snow I couldn't tell if she was alive or not but I hoped to God that at least she could be saved as for me I was thinking it was too late. "Hey, hey, hey guy, are you ok? Hey!" I can feel the person shaking my arm but it's nearly impossible for me to answer, "Take her. Take my daughter and send her to the gas station. Please." I beg as I go unconscious.

Jimmy

I had to get out of here I couldn't just lay here while Diana be fighting for all of their lives... It wasn't right of me. I had to get the hell up but they had given me something like a sedative to keep me calm but I had to get out of here. As I kept repeating that in my head I had managed to gather myself up and head for the door when I saw the two agents still sitting there... Fuck. How was I going to leave when they're standing right fucking there? I was really dizzy and yet hungry I hadn't realized how long I had been without food... Stay on track I'm telling myself. I had snuck out the back of my room and threw on a blanket around my head and face so I would just seem like a crazy person walking through the halls. I had glanced around and taken my chance of escape I put the blanket on and ran off to the elevator. As I stood there I had begin to think about what Diana was going through, what she had to go through these last few days... The last few hours. Marriage was about two way partnership I had taken the sacrifices almost all of them yet she was paying the price. As I was walking out the door to the front without actually getting exposed it dawned on me that Diana was already headed home and I could only pray she and the twins were safe. "Hey there cutie, how'd you get out here? Did they let you go or..." The blonde ponytail nurse says as she's headed to her car, "Not exactly... Its a long story... Really..." I try to hide under my hood of my jacket she glances around and moves closer to me, "Do you need some help with something? Like a ride? Cause I can probably help you... If you want... Like I'm just offering." She says tossing her ponytail back and batting her eyes at me, "I could actually use a ride. I live about an hour from here in a cabin with my wife..." She doesn't say anything for a few moments, "I wasn't hitting on you or trying to make it weird so I mean I'll help you. Don't worry I won't say anything, we can probably talk a little if you like. Come on." She gestures for me to follow her to her black Suburban. I know this was weird and I felt it was somewhat wrong but it was snowing and below freezing and I had no other option so if making her feel important and trying to flirt with me, I'll admit made me flattered but I would never betray Diana like that.