| Chapter 11 Brian had been drifting in and out of sleep for the past several hours. Tara had built a fire to try and keep him warm. He was asleep now, and Tara was trying to figure out how she was going to get him to the ranger station. He was obviously to weak to walk, and she knew that she couldn't just leave him here. She was thinking about trying to carry him, but she knew that she couldn't. Tara was becoming very frustrated, there had to be some way to get Brian to the ranger station. Just then Brian opened his eyes. "Tara?" he said weakly. "I'm right here Brian." she answered. Brian looked over to see Tara sitting next to him, she looked very worried. "How are you feeling?" she asked, trying to put a smile on her face. "I'm still a little cold." Brian answered. Tara pulled the blanket up around Brian's shoulders, "There is that better?" "Yeah, thanks." Brian said, "What time is it?" "Um, it's probably around two a.m." Tara answered. "Why aren't you asleep?" Brian asked, seeing that Tara was completely exhausted. "I'm trying to figure out how to get you the rest of the way to the ranger station," Tara said. "I can walk," Brian said with determination in his voice. Tara let out a small laugh, "Brian, you can barely stay awake, I don't think you'll be able to walk." Brian started to say something, but instead broke into a coughing spell. Tara reached for the canteen, and when Brian stopped, she lifted his head so he could get a drink. "That's really starting to hurt," Brian said as he lay his head back down. Tara looked at him with much worry in her eyes, "Brian, your cough is getting worse." Brian lay there with his eyes closed for a moment, "Tara, do you pray?" That question caught Tara off guard. "I used to, a long time ago." she answered. Brian turned his head and looked at her, the pain was back in her eyes. "When did you stop?" he asked. "Six months ago." she said, looking at the ground. Brian reached over and grabbed her hand, she looked up at him. "Will you start again, for me?" he asked with fear behind his eyes. "Brian, it's been so long, I don't know how." she said. Brian squeezed her hand, "Please Tara, I'm scared." Tara looked at Brian as a tear made it's way down her cheek. "I'll try." she said. Tara closed her eyes, and let the tears come. She hadn't prayed since the day her fianc� was killed. God didn't answer her prayer then, why would he listen to her now. She had been so angry, He had no reason to listen to her. But Brian was so weak, and he looked so scared, she had to try. Tara took a deep breath, God, it's me. Please help me. I'm sorry I've been so angry, I was just so hurt. And I took it out on you, please forgive me. God please help Brian, he's so weak and sick. Please help him hang on. Please help me find a way to get him help. I don't know what to do, Please Please help me! Tara opened her eyes and saw that Brian had drifted off to sleep, she placed his arm under the blanket, and wiped the tears from her face. Somehow she felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Tara looked around the camp, still trying to think of some way to get Brian help. She slowly glanced around; the tent, her framed backpack, some webbing and rope; suddenly it hit her. She new what she had to do. Tara got up and started gathering the materials she needed, Thank you God for answering me! ~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick wondered into the kitchen, once again he couldn't sleep. He had been thinking about the search that day. The searchers found only traces of blood on a ledge, and then nothing. The storm had washed away any chance of finding a foot print, more blood, anything to give them a direction in which Brian had gone. Nick opened the refrigerator to see what there was to snack on, when the light from the frig revealed someone sitting at the table. "Shit, man you scared me!" Nick said, "What are you still doing up?" "I could ask you the same question." Kevin said. "I can't sleep." Nick answered. "Same here." Kevin said. Nick grabbed a soda from the frig and sat down across from Kevin. He noticed there was something different, Kevin's eyes, there was something different there. "Kev, are you OK?" Nick asked. "I'm fine, why?" Kevin said. "I dunno, you just seem different, that's all." Nick said, staring at Kevin's eyes. A chill ran down Nick's spine. Kevin stared at Nick, "What do you mean different?" Nick looked at the table, not wanting to meet those eyes, "Oh, I dunno, never mind." Kevin got up from the table and headed upstairs. Nick watched him until he was out of sight. What the hell was that? Nick thought. Nick looked at his hands, he was trembling. That wasn't Kevin, that was pure evil. Kevin walked past his bedroom and stopped at Leighanne's door. He quietly opened it and looked inside. Leighanne was asleep on her side of the bed. She was clutching a pillow, and had obviously cried herself to sleep. Kevin let a grin cross his face as he closed the door. He walked back to his room and locked the door behind him. He walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection. "Soon this will be over." he said to himself. "And I will be in control, no more Mr. nice Kevin. They will have to deal with me!" He turned and crawled into bed. He closed his eyes as a smile crossed his face, and fell asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara had worked for several hours preparing her sled. She had seen something like it in a movie once, it just had to work. She had taken the metal frame out of her backpack, and had cut several limbs to make a frame. She then cut her tent and tied it onto the frame, making somewhat of a cot with runners. She then took her webbing and made herself a harness to pull it with. She was pulling the sled through the camp when Brian woke up. He saw her walking away from him with some sort of contraption following behind. "Tara, what are you doing?" he asked. Tara stopped and turned around, "I think I got something that will work," she said smiling. "What is that thing?" Brian asked with a slight grin. Tara eased out of the harness and sat down next to Brian. "It's a sled. You're gonna lay on it, and I'm gonna pull you," she said with a bright smile. Brian looked at Tara for a moment, "There's something different?" he said. Tara looked at him with happiness in her eyes, "Brian, I talked to God. He answered my prayer." Brian gave Tara a huge smile, "See, He still cares, He still loves you." "I know that now Brian, thanks to you." Tara said. Brian just lay there smiling at her. Tara lay down next to him, "Bri, I'm gonna catch a couple hours sleep, by then the sun will be coming up and we can leave, OK." Brian nodded his head, and watched her as she fell asleep. Thank you God for helping her. Brian closed his eyes and was soon asleep himself. Chapter 12 |