Message in the Fire

by Dawn Merriman

  I freeze in surprise. “For me?”

  “She remembers you somehow. Even knows what you look like.”

  “Take me to her,” I demand.

  “Fine, but let me get a wheel chair first. Don’t need you passing out or Grandma Dot and your doctor will kill me.”

  He comes back with a wheel chair and I sink into it gratefully. He pulls the IV stand along with us and we make our way down the hall.

  Chapter 26

  Addlynn

  The dark and the dreams swirl in my mind. Flashes of the past sizzle my brain. She’s here with me. I sense her again. I need to show her, to tell her.

  She needs to help them.

  She’s gone and only the dark keeps me company.

  The dark and the fear.

  And the yearning for my child.

  Nothing matters but him.

  The edge of the darkness swims near. I stretch to reach it, to escape.

  It shimmers out of reach.

  I’m drowning in the darkness, swimming against the fear.

  The edge ripples above me like the surface of a pool seen from below. I strain to reach the surface, force my mind to pass into the light.

  “Claire, come back to us,” a familiar voice beckons.

  I strain towards the voice, desperate to reach the love.

  I slide through the water, break the surface holding me in the dark.

  I open my eyes.

  My mother, my true mother, holds my hand.

  “Mom?” I creak.

  “My God, she’s awake,” my mom cries. I never thought I’d hear her voice again, except in my dreams.

  “Say something else,” I plead, needing to know she’s real.

  “I’ve missed you, Claire.” The name I haven’t heard in years the most beautiful sound.

  This can’t be real. “Am I dead?”

  Mom laughs sweet and clear. “No, hunny. You’re safe. You’ve come back to us.”

  The trees, the darkness, the fear, the pain. The memories crash into me. One thought louder than the others.

  “My baby?” Panic bubbles, tight and strangling. I look around the hospital room, not sure how I got here, how my mom got here. I just want my child. “Where’s my baby?” I scream.

  “Shh, he’s fine,” mom soothes. “He’s healthy and wonderful and just perfect.”

  I crumble in relief. Tears streak down my face and sobs shake my shoulders. Mom collects me into her arms, holds me against her chest. I sink into her body, her touch and scent familiar.

  “Everything’s okay now,” she soothes. “Everything is wonderful.”

  The morning rushes by in a blur of tiny miracles. My dad is here too, hanging on the edges of the room, looking at me in wonder.

  “You’re really back,” he murmured near my ear once I was fully awake, his eyes red with unshed tears. “I can’t believe it.”

  They bring my son to me. My tiny, amazing son. I shake as they hand him over. His delicate sleeping face peeks out from the blanket. Wonder surges through me, the wave of emotion marks me. I breathe deeply of his scent. I’d die for this child, nearly did die for him. “We made it,” I whisper to him. I cling to him, crush him to my chest. The blind flight of terror, the unbearable need to get him to safety burns in my mind. “We made it, baby. We’re safe now.”

  My son pushes against my tight embrace. He opens his eyes and our eyes lock. “You look like your daddy,” I tell him.

  Nolan.

  He’s still captive in that place. All the other girls are imprisoned, too.

  “We have to save them,” I tell my parents. “We have to get Nolan and the other girls out of there,” I try to explain.

  My parents, nearly strangers after all these years, exchange worried glances.

  I suddenly feel very alone. I tuck my baby closer to me, my anchor.

  A knock on the door breaks the tension. Two uniformed officers enter my room and the gravity of the situation sinks in.

  “I’m Detective McAllister and this is Detective Hartley,” the shorter man says. “We understand you’ve been through a lot, but we’d like to ask you a few questions if we could.”

  The detectives stand stiff and uncomfortable. I know bad news is coming.

  “First, you have to help them, to release them,” I say. I expect questioning looks, but the taller detective surprises me.

  “The place you were held has already been taken down. The others are safe,” Hartley says.

  My wave of relief is tempered by his expression. “What aren’t you telling me? Where’s Nolan? If he’s free, why isn’t he here?” My voice so high, it squeaks.

  Detective Hartley steps closer. “I’m sorry, but Nolan has passed away.”

  The simple words shatter my new world.

  “He can’t be dead,” I argue. “We were going to escape together. If everyone else is free, what happened to him?” My voice climbs even higher.

  The others exchange glances, leaving me out.

  My head feels fuzzy and my cheeks feel hot. “Tell me what’s going on,” I demand.

  Mom sits on my bed, pats my leg. “Hunny, he was killed by the man who tried to kill you.”

  I feel sick and empty. “That can’t be right.”

  My baby cries suddenly, loud and clear and demanding. I turn my tattered attention to my son, Nolan’s son. I tuck him under my chin, rub my cheek on his.

  Large tears escape his eyes and my own tears fall on his face.

  My Nolan is dead. The only one in that horrible place who actually cared about me, the only one who loved me, is dead.

  The baby wails again. “Shh, love,” I coo. I shove the pain and loss to the side for the moment and focus on my child’s immediate needs. “Momma’s here, no need to cry.”

  I push the loss farther down, to be examined later.

  “Would you like us to come back at another time?” the kind detective asks.

  I lift my chin. “I’ll tell you whatever you need to know.” My voice no longer squeaks. It’s calm, clear and to the point. “But I want to see her.”

  “Who?”

  “The pretty woman with the curls. The woman who was with me in the dark.”

  Chapter 27

  Gabby

  With the danger over, there’s no longer a guard on Addlynn’s room. Through the open crack in the door, laughing happy voices pour out. Addlynn’s real family rejoicing at having their daughter back.

  “Sure you want to do this?” Lucas senses my hesitation.

  “I need to do this.”

  Lucas knocks on the door and peeks his head in. “Detective Hartley,” a man’s voice says, joy in every syllable. “What can we do for you?”

  “I hate to interrupt, but someone is here to see Addlynn. I’m sorry, I mean, Claire.”

  “Who is it?” The soft steel of the young woman’s voice sends chills through me.

  “It’s Gabby McAllister. She’d like to see you, if it’s okay.”

  “Finally,” she exclaims. “Please, let her in.”

  Lucas pushes the wheel chair into the room and I’m suddenly filled with fear. I’ve been inside this woman’s head, seen her darkest moments. What do I say to her now?

  She smiles brightly, her freckles dotting her cheeks. My nerves subside at the smile.

  “We can’t thank you enough,” a woman I assume is the mom gushes. “You found her, saved her.” Her voice breaks with happy tears.

  “You don’t need to thank me,” I stammer uncertain.

  Her parents pour words of appreciation on me, overwhelming with their praise. Her mother crouches next to my wheel chair, her eyes on level with mine. “You brought Claire back to us. We can never thank you enough for that.”

  Uncomfortable with all the attention, I look away. “I just did what I had to.”

  “Gabby,” the young woman reaches her hand towards me. “I want you to meet someone.”

  Lucas pushes me closer to the bed and I notice the tiny wrapped bundle in her lap
. She pulls the blanket down from the baby boy’s face. He sleeps peacefully, content and finally with his mother.

  “Meet Nolan Michael Dawson.” Her voice beams with pride. I realize she just met her baby this morning. “Actually, I guess you’ve already met him,” she adds. She takes my left hand in hers. Even through the bandages, I feel her emotions.

  Joy, hope, pride, thankfulness. I knew you were here with me, I know what you saw. Thank you.

  The silent communication surges through us. Her emotions mix with my own.

  My hand still works.

  Shaken, I admire her child. “Nolan Michael. I love his name,” I whisper. “I was with Nolan at the end. His last words were asking if you were okay.”

  “We loved each other very much. He was the only light I had in that place. The only thing that kept me going.” Soft words meant for my ears only. “I’m glad he had you there and he wasn’t alone.”

  “His son is beautiful,” I choke.

  She still holds my hand and pulls it close against her cheek. “What you do is beautiful,” she says. “They told me everything you did, what you went through. I felt you with me in the dark. The detective says you were trying to find out who hurt me. I’m sorry I couldn’t show you.”

  “You showed me enough.”

  “The last thing I really remember was Bethany being nice to me. Nolan and I had argued about running away. Bethany made me some tea. I should have known better than to trust her kindness. She’d never been anything but horrible to me before.” She takes a deep breath, remembering. “Next thing I remember, I woke up in a shed on the back of the property.”

  “You don’t remember being stabbed and tied up?”

  She shakes her head.

  “That’s why I couldn’t see it. You didn’t see it to show me.” A weight of responsibility floats off my shoulders. “I thought I failed.” I turn my eyes to Lucas, looking for approval. He squeezes my shoulder.

  “Even so, you saved them all. You’re an angel.”

  “I’m no angel.”

  She shrugs happily. “Suit yourself,” she smiles. “I’ll believe what I want.”

  After a few more pleasantries, I ask Lucas to take me back to my room.

  I can’t help looking over my shoulder at the happy scene of mom and baby and grandparents together again.

  “You made that happen,” Lucas says.

  “Not by myself,” I point out.

  I pull my Charger into Grandma Dot’s driveway. It feels good to have my car back. I had to replace the wipers I tore off. I paid for a professional cleaning to remove the blood stains from the floor board. It was worth it. Grandma Dot wanted me to sell it after everything that happened in the car. The Charger is more friend than car to me and I won’t get rid of it.

  I’m surprised to see Dustin’s car already parked in Grandma Dot’s drive. I haven’t seen him since the night of the fire and I’m not sure how I feel about seeing him now.

  Gravel crunches behind me, and I’m even more surprised to see Lucas pulling in.

  “Did Grandma Dot invite you, too?” I ask as he joins me on the porch steps.

  “She said she had something important to discuss. Guess we’re all here.”

  “I have to go in, but you can still leave,” I tease. “No telling what she’s up to now.”

  “I can take it if you can.” He opens the kitchen door for me and I step through.

  “Good, you’re here,” Grandma gushes. She’s unusually excited. “How’s the arm?”

  “Same as the last ten times you asked. Sore, but healing well.” My other bandages have been removed, but my arm still has a ways to go until it’s completely healed.

  Dustin and Alexis are already seated at the table. Dustin raises his eyebrows when he sees Lucas behind me.

  “Grandma, what’s going on?” he demands.

  “Oh, calm down, Dustin. We’re just having a nice little family lunch.”

  “Another ambush like last time, you mean?”

  “Stop that.” Grandma pulls a casserole dish out of the oven and sits it on the counter. “Alexis, will you please get the plates? Gabby can hold Walker for you.”

  Alexis and I freeze. “Grandma, don’t start this again,” I warn.

  Alexis gives in. “It’s okay, Gabby.” Her cheeks turn pink. “I’m sorry about last time. I was out of line.”

  These are the nicest words Alexis has ever spoken to me. I don’t know how to respond. She hands Walker over and I take him gratefully.

  “Have a seat, Hartley,” Dustin says. “Looks like you’re stuck in this mess with us.”

  “It’s not a mess,” Grandma protests. “I just want to talk to you all about something.”

  We stare at her expectantly. “Spill it,” Dustin says.

  “I was going to wait until after lunch, but if you insist.” Grandma is enjoying this.

  “I’m going to need tea, aren’t I?” I ask. “Lucas, you want some?”

  Grandma Dot starts in, “As you know, Gabby is practically famous right now.”

  “I’m not famous,” I say agitated. I hand Walker to Dustin and busy myself with filling the glasses.

  “The story Lacey Aniston did on the cult went national and your name was all over it. If that’s not famous, then I don’t know what is,” Grandma replies.

  “What’s your point?” Dustin asks abruptly.

  “My point is Gabby has a gift.” I can almost hear Dustin’s eyes roll. “And she should stop hiding her gift.”

  “She’s been hiding it til this point?” Dustin asks.

  “Don’t be like that,” Grandma chastises. “You should embrace what you have, use it as much as you can. Do as much good as possible,” she says to me.

  I hand Lucas his tea and roll my eyes so only he can see. “Okay?”

  Grandma looks at us each in turn, grinning like a child with a secret. Her eyes land on me last. “You should start a detective agency.”

  I nearly choke on my tea. “What? I’m not a detective.”

  “You could be. There’s lot of people who need your help. You could open up a shop where they can come to you for that help. If you’re going to risk your life for people, you might as well let them pay you for it.”

  “And do what?” My mind disagrees with her, but a tiny part of me feels excited.

  “I don’t know, whatever they need. I’m sure you’ll figure it out as you go.”

  “This is nuts,” Dustin grumbles.

  Grandma ignores him, focuses only on me. “You know you want to.”

  I kind of do.

  “I own this little shop down on the square. I haven’t been able to find a tenant for it. It would be the perfect office space for you.”

  I’m warming to the idea against my will.

  “An office space? Where people can come in and tell me what they need,” I muse.

  “You’re not going to hold séances there.” Dustin states firmly. “No crystal balls.”

  “Don’t be absurd,” Grandma snaps. “Gabby isn’t one of those.”

  I can see it coming together in my head. It feels right. More right than anything I’ve done before. “This could work.”

  “Of course it will. And I have the perfect name.” She pauses for dramatic effect. “Messages.”

  “Plain and simple and to the point,” Alexis pipes in surprising us all. “I like it.”

  “Messages,” I repeat. It feels good on my tongue.

  “The place is vacant, we can start setting you up today.”

  Excitement bubbles up and I look to Lucas for his reaction.

  He leans forward and touches the back of my hand. “I want to be your first client,” he says seriously. “I want you to find out what happened to my sister, Crystal.”

  ^^ THE END ^^

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