The night was strangely warm. The rain felt like bath water and filled the air with a humidity that sticks to the skin. The weather wasn't the most unusual thing lingering late at night. Even the man peeing into gutter seemed strange that night.
A girl and man that looked like he could take on ten people stepped out of the lake view motel with a dried swimming pool. The neon sign read "no vacancy" but that could change by the hour. The pair hurried purposefully but with no real sense of direction. They both carried worn backpacks with super glue patches. Whatever baggage the pair carried with the girl lead on with the giant keeping an easy pace behind her. A broken moaning sound came from a narrow alleyway. The girl came to a sudden stop like dear hearing the sound of a hunter waiting in a nearby with a shotgun.
"Is this one really necessary? I mean it is the middle of the night, and they will probably be here soon."
She whipped her head around and centered her gaze right into his eyes.
The man let out a long sigh. "You're right, every life is important. Just remember that your life is important too."
She nodded and smiled knowing he was beginning to see the light. Not everyone in this world wanted to see them dead and Silas would protect her from whatever got in their way. Not that death was such a terrible thing. The two darted in and out of alleys and blocked off parking lots until they found the source of the noise. A woman in a mud splotched mini dress and fishnets lay bleeding next to a dumpster with a needle in her arm.
The girl sat next to the woman and cradled her like a grieving child. She tapped her temple and "spoke" to Silas waiting patiently behind her.
Silas you should put in your plugs now.
"I understand." Silas rummaged through his bag and pulled out a pair of hearing aids that attached to a CD player.
She reached behind her head and untied the knotted scarf she kept over her nose and mouth. The scarf fell neatly around her shoulders revealing her thin nose and pale lips.
The girl leaned over and whispered into the woman's ear. She snapped to consciousness and looked wide-eyed at the girl holding her.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Laurie, what's yours?"
"Cathy, but no one calls me that any…" Cathy's last word was broken by coughing and wheezing.
Laurie pulled her closer and asked, "What would you like me to call you?"
Through watery eyes Cathy spoke, "Please call me Cathy, I was happy when I had that name."
"Alright Cathy, what would like to talk about?"
"I can't remember the last time someone asked me what I wanted. It's always about how hard and how fast I can do it for them."
"You poor thing, none of that matters now. Tonight is all about you."
"I love flowers," she said after a moment. Cathy began to tell stories of when her mother would bring flowers from the garden that took up their entire backyard. Every table in their house had flowers.
"What kinds?"
"All kinds really, and all colors. I remember fresh daisies on the table when I was little. They were so bright and happy."
"They are and so are you."
Laurie looked over at Silas and he disappeared around the corner. The two women were left together under fading streetlight. They talked smiling and laughing over just being able share each other's thoughts.
"I'm dying aren't I?" Cathy said, bringing the conversation to a sudden halt.
Laurie started to think of comforting lies then stopped. "When did you know?"
Cathy spread her cracked lips into a smile. "The second I saw you I knew you had come to save me."
"I'm sorry, but I don't save anyone."
"Oh but you do. I'm so happy I met you. I'm lucky I have someone close."
Laurie was about to respond when Silas approached cautiously behind her and held out the contents of his arms. Laurie smiled and took the bundle.
"These are for you."
Cathy smiled till her lips bled. "I love daisies. They're perfect. I'm so happy I got to see them one last time." She started to cough and her body rattled like and old furnace.
Laurie acted quickly and pinned down her shaking body and whispered gently to Cathy.
"I do, said Cathy, "Its so simple." Just as quickly as they came the tremors stopped and Cathy lay still and peaceful holding her flowers.
Laurie smiled slightly as tears streaked her cheeks. She lay Cathy on the ground, pushed the hair from her face and shut her eyes.
Silas shuffled his feet and whistled softly mostly to himself.
Laurie saw this as signal they needed to get moving and tied her scarf tightly back into place. "We should get back to the motel."
"Yes, I think we both could use a quick rest."
They walked back slowly through the rain. Any sense of urgency was gone from their steps.
"I love you little sister." He said running his hand through Laurie's hair.
"Same to you big brother."
When the motel parking lot came into view there were two black Mercedes parked in front of their door. A pale man with red eyes sat on the hood of the car staring intently into nothing.
"Crap, they're already here."
"No rest for the wicked I guess."
Silas and Laurie moved so fast they blended in with the shadows. They stopped on a street with parking meters. Silas decided on an older green Honda and popped the lock with a coat hanger. "I hate stealing."
"I don't feel great about it either, but it's either steal or die."
"Yes, I know." He started the car and headed toward the nearest highway. "Where to now?"
"We need to find Dr. Carlisle. I heard he lives in forks with his coven."
Silas let out a low growl. "Stupid vampires."
"The good doctor is not Volturi and neither is his family."
"What if he doesn't remember us?"
Laurie laughed and said, "Oh he will. It's really hard to forget a girl that talks to dead patients."
"Forks it is then."
Laurie sunk back into her seat. "I hope the Cullens are doing well."