Episode 66

She found herself in her bedroom, standing on the soft carpet.  Warm sunlight streamed through the window, and she felt as if she were inside a picture; everything was so still.  She was wearing her favorite summer dress, and—she looked down—she had real legs!  She wiggled her toes and grinned.  She ran to look out the window, and watched as a group of birds flew from the tree next to her house off into the sky.

Then she felt a change.  The air at her back was cold, and she was afraid to turn around.  She shivered and closed her eyes, gripping the windowsill.  When she heard a sound, she turned to see…Connor.

He was propped up against the cave wall, and she found herself running to his side.

“Miah,” he whispered, and she felt the fierce wind at her back, as if it was trying to tear her away.  She knelt beside him and watched his face.

“Connor?”

“Miah.  What are you doing here?” he rasped, and reached his bloodied hand out to her arm.  

A tear slipped down her cheek as she brushed the hair from his face.  “I came to save you.”

“No—Miah—I’m supposed to save you!” He rasped, “You were supposed to—I thought—” Connor coughed hard, and Miah held his hand tight.

“Connor…” She didn’t want to let go.

Connor blinked and lifted his arm to rub at his eyes.  “You have to get away from here…they’re looking for you…”

“Connor, I can’t leave you.”

“Miah, I’m dying!” He closed his eyes, leaning against the wall, and took a hoarse breath. “Don’t waste your time on me.  You’ll be alright.” He swallowed and forced a smile.

Miah shook her head, choking back a sob, “I only want to save you!”

“Miah…” He lifted his hand to her cheek, looking into her eyes.  She held his hand there, emotions surging up in her chest.   Tears ran silently down her cheeks, and she swallowed, looking him in the eye. “You can’t save me, Miah…”

“I don’t want to live without you,” she whispered.

Gently, he leaned forward, kissing her forehead.  Slowly, he lowered his head and kissed her lips.  Miah closed her eyes, trembling, and as he pulled away, she blinked.

“I love you, Miah.”  He looked into her eyes so intensely, she couldn’t breathe.  “…now…go.”

His hand was heavy in hers and fell limp to the ground; she didn't notice.  His eyes froze in a stare, and she shook her head, refusing to believe it.  She couldn't move, and her body shook with sobs.  

All the world swirled about her in a confusing mass of dreams, and she felt a scream lodge in her throat, blocking her breath and suddenly waking her from her sleep.


It ripped from her mouth as she jerked awake, finding herself lying in the back of a truck.  The scream echoed and re-echoed around the mountains, finally fading into the wind.  Miah gasped for breath, trembling, and reached down to her legs—they were still metal.  Her hand stopped, however: she was handcuffed to the truck floor.

She froze.  “No...”  She tugged on her arm, pulling on it with her other, and succeeded in doing nothing but hurting the bruises on her arm.  There were a lot of them, and with a lightning flash, she remembered who had put them there.  But then it was gone, and the thought was torn from her mind.  Tears stung her eyes and a biting wind nipped at her face.  She looked around at the mountains in desperation and raw fear.

She was alone in the world.

I can't get away.  I can't run.  “No!” she cried, yanking with all her strength.  She fell to the floor of the truck and burst into sobs, cradling her arm and hoping with all her might that this was only a dream.

But it was real.