Dark and Silent

If you save one life...

November 21. 16:10

Nic was slowly trudging her way along the highway passing abandoned cars. There had only been a few people who weren't gone from the island already. And those that were on the islands were staying. She had reached the bridge over the Ashley river when she heard it.

At first, she thought she was imagining things, but after a minute she was certain. She was hearing a baby. Not, ya know a baby-baby, but maybe a toddler? Somewhere someone's baby was having a fit.

The crying became screaming and Nic was getting worried why wasn't the baby stopping? A few minutes later she found her explanation. About halfway across the bridge was a random car. Stopped at the top of the bridge. Nic looked in the window and saw the baby strapped into her seat (his seat? No, that's a lot of pink for a little boy. It's probably a girl.) and screaming. A woman was slumped in the front seat and Nic tapped on the glass trying to wake the woman up.

Nothing.

The baby was gasping and hiccuping at this point.

How the hell could she sleep through that? Nic watched a moment before what she was seeing really processed. The woman wasn't breathing.

Nic was paranoid about being trapped with no way out. Her car had an emergency escape tool (still in the glovebox). However, her dad had been fond of Mythbusters and once had seen them use a metal punch to bust a windshield while doing a segment on sinking cars and pressure and so on. Nic hadn't paid that much attention; she did however start carrying a metal punch on her key ring. Just in case.

She went to the passenger side front window and held the punch against the glass. It shattered beautifully. She scrambled to get the door open and once she did she checked on the driver. Her skin was far too cool and she wasn't breathing. Nic checked and there was no pulse.

"Damn," Nic mumbled as she pulled the emergency brake, hoping like hell it worked before getting the back seat opened and freed the little girl from her seat. She clung to Nic tightly, taking huge gasping breaths. Her momma had never not answered her cries before. "And who are you, sweet girl?"

What was she going to do? Nic looked around and she was entirely alone on that bridge. There wasn't a single soul in sight. She couldn't leave a toddler here by herself with a dead body. No one was coming to help. Looks like she had just gotten a friend.

"Let's see what we've got sweetness," Nic cooed at the little girl with black hair and green eyes. She was a beautiful little girl. Nic had babysat many times and was no stranger to babies. Thankful to spot the diaper bag on the floor, she laid the changing pad across the seat and checked the girl's diaper. Poor baby had to be so uncomfortable with that wet diaper. After quickly changing the toddler she sat her in the seat but didn't buckle her in. She handed her an obviously well-loved monkey on a loop to entertain her as she...

"You have to, Nic. You have to know who she is," Nic whispered to herself as he moved to the front seat to check if there was some kind of ID somewhere. She spotted a purse on the floor of the car and sighed in relief. In the wallet was a Georgia driver's license that said Crystal Deanne Kurz age...22.

Damn.

Nic found the trunk release and used it hoping like hell there was a wagon or stroller or something in the trunk. She was not looking forward to carrying her kit and a toddler and a diaper bag for the next few miles. She would, but why if she didn't have to?

The minute Nic was out of sight the toddler began crying again. Panicking that she was being left alone.

"No, no, no, sweetling," Nic crooned, picking the girl up quickly and carrying her to check out the trunk. "Jackpot."