“Elsie!” I screamed.
“Elsie where are you?” I scanned the shaking rubble again.
“Is it really you?” Her little voice came from behind me. I turned, and she was there.
“Oh gods, Elsie. We have to leave.” I touched her cheek, wiping away a tear.
Elsie had been my stepdaughter longer than she could remember, and I loved her more than words could tell.
“I know momma, but where’s Sam? I can’t find him anywhere,” Her voice was breaking, and it pained me to hear it so full of worry. Sam was waiting for me on an old refrigerator. Elsie’s cousin wouldn’t get left behind. I had told him to wait, told him I had to find Elsie. Jake wouldn’t let me go alone. I told him to go hot wire a car, yes honey I already knew you could, and wait for Sam and me.
“Sam’s waiting for us, we have to go. Can you run okay? Oh sweetie, you’re bleeding!”
“I can run mom, you’re hurt too.” Her little hand stroked the cut on my cheek.
“Okay, fair enough, lets go.” I grabbed her tiny hand, and we ran back to Sam, who was still waiting for me.
He hopped down quickly and ran down to Jake, who was waiting by a truck. Then he turned back to me wondering why I’d stopped and turned.
There was a girl, no older than Sam sitting next to a box, hugging her knees, waiting to die. I didn’t know her, but I didn’t care, I wasn’t going to leave her to die.
“You, c’mon, we’re getting out of here!” I yelled over the noise of the falling buildings and breaking bricks. She looked up, and the tried to stand. I gasped, and she sucked in a ragged breath through her teeth. There was a deep cut across her stomach. I grabbed her elbows, and pulled her to her feet. Then I helped her over to where Jake was waiting.
He touched my cheek, the pulled me into a hug.
We didn’t need any words. I climbed into the bed of the truck and Sam hauled Elsie and the nameless girl in.
We drove away. We left the world we knew behind.
Post Merge: April 18, 2009, 09:52:35 am - Please remember to modify your post and not reply to yourself
hope you like it. The next chapter is ready as well pics and all, but i'm going to wait and post it later this week.