Episode 36

They ran as fast as they could through the heavy underbrush and bushes.  Connor looked back and watched as the boulder rolled down the mountain, still not able to relax, even though he knew he was out of its path.  Their safety could shift at any moment.

But then Miah stopped and cried, “Ben!!! He’s still in the car!”

She dashed back, but Connor grabbed her. “No!”

It was rolling, tumbling down the hill, bouncing, and somewhere Gail was screaming.

Miah yelled, “Let me go!!” and elbowed Connor hard in the stomach, but he didn’t let go.  She kicked and struggled, trying to wrestle herself out of his grip, but he was far too strong.  She could only watch helplessly as the boulder bounced high into the air and then slammed into the car.  It crushed the car in a horrible noise of grinding metal and shattering glass, and then it stopped, held in place by the squashed metal.

Miah stood speechless, staring.

Ben was gone.

Connor let her go, and she stumbled forward, putting her hands against the car and falling to her knees.  She couldn't believe it.  It was impossible.  “No.”  She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the car, clenching her fists.  “You're not gone...I just got you back...”

Connor gaped at the boulder. It was too fast. Gail walked up and choked back a sob. “It's my fault. I didn't get him out fast enough.” She cried and hid her face, collapsing to a heap on the ground. “I’m so sorry, so sorry, so sorry…”

Miah cried to the overcast sky, “NO!!!”

All this hoping that they could save his life, all this effort, in vain... It was too much for tears.  She couldn't breathe.  Couldn't think.

Finally she took a breath and swallowed, standing up and turning to Connor and Gail. “I—” she stuttered, and stopped.  She heard something.

She turned, and footsteps came through the leaves and a face appeared, bewildered, but smiling when he saw her; suddenly his arms were around her and she gasped in utter surprise.

Ben pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You okay?”

She tried to speak, gasped a sob, and then burst into tears of joy and confusion.  He hugged her and she cried, “I thought you were dead—” and laughed.

He was alive; he had awoken from his coma just in time to escape, and he was here, with her, and she was here, with him, and everything was going to be alright. She wiped her tears and smiled, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Ben was alive.