Her head was spinning and she was fading. She tried to fight it off, there was no way she could fall.
If she fell, she would crack her head off the pavement and most probably fall into unconsciousness. Someone would surely see her and hand her over to the parasites.
"Gosh, I wish I knew where the hell I was," she cried to herself, near hysterics.
Dakota steadied herself and reached for a branch high above her head. She grabbed onto it, jumped, wrapped her legs around it and pulled the rest of her body up.
Then Dakota made the mistake of looking down.
She was so high up. She fainted and fell, scratching her arms on numerous branches on the way down and, like she expected, whacked her head off the concrete with a loud 'thud.'
Somewhere in the distance a dog howled at the blue corn moon.
*****
A few hours later, just as the sun was coming up and just before the postman stepped out to do his round, a grubby white van was driving up Oakland Avenue.
"Wanda, give me the map you're going the wrong way."
"I know where I'm going Jared, get back someone could see you."
"Guys shut up Jamie's trying to sleep."
" Naw it's okay Mel, I'm awake now."
Wanda turned right, past a few houses and went straight ahead, trying to find their way out of this housing estate.
She was raiding in Seattle with Melanie, Jared, Jamie, Brandt & Aaron. Brandt & Aaron were in the truck on their way back to the desert. Wanda had gotten careless in her excitement at finally going home and got lost.
They'd been away for 3 months now and were anxious to get home. She hated leaving Ian and Jeremy, but the majority needed her, so here she was; lost. Jamie climbed over to the front seat beside Wanda.
"Jamie get back what if someone sees you!" Wanda protested.
"Oh Wanda calm down. Hey what's that up there?" he said pointing out the window.
Jared and Melanie leaned over to look.
"Is that...a person?" Wanda asked, squinting.
She drove further on and stopped at the pavement where a young girl was lying unconscious.
"Is she a para- a soul?" Jared asked.
"Only one way to find out," said Wanda, unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Be careful Wanda" Melanie warned.
Wanda stepped lightly out of the van, the sun catching on her gentle curls. She knelt down beside the girl and touched her sun-kissed face. She pulled up her left eyelid and stared into her brilliant blue eyes. "She's human." Wanda mouthed to the group in the van.
All three pairs of eyes widened simultaneously.
Jared and Melanie gingerly got out of the van to help Wanda carry the girl to the back of the van while Jamie watched, transfixed.
Wanda quickly started the engine and the five of them set out on the long drive home.