Zoe ran through Bluebell like she had never run before. This sent her head reeling. Sheriff Bill needed her, and she was NOT under any circumstances, going to the hospital! Zoe's head exploded with the most unbelievable pain, causing her to collapse right in front of the Dixie Stop!
"Get up"!, she growled, clutching her sweaty forehead and gasping for breath. Bluebell now looked as though it was covered in a thick, green fog. Zoe screamed. "The fog is after me!", she gasped. It must have been contributing to her chest pains! Why else would she have difficulty breathing and feel as though she were about to burst?
Zoe shakily rose to her feet and coughed painfully. She had to escape this fog! Perhaps, Addie would allow Zoe to hide in her house, after the young doctor attended to Sheriff Bill? But how would she get to Addie's house? Zoe was slowly losing track of where she was!
Queasiness overtook Zoe, causing her to lean on the side of the Dixie Stop for support. Head swimming, she vomited everywhere! "Oh, poor Frank," thought Zoe. "Where was he, anyway?" "Probably hiding from that scary green fog!"
Overtaken by pain and fear, Zoe began to curl herself up into a helpless ball. The fog was sure to get her now, she was completely exposed! Zoe squeezed her eyes tightly shut, expecting the worst…
"Zoe?", a panicked female voice respired excitedly, "Is that you?"
Zoe mumbled feebly in response. That was all she could manage, but her heart soared, she was saved!
Zoe opened her misty eyes slowly, to find the fuzzy, barely – recognizable figure of Addie peering over her. "A…A..Addie?", Zoe quivered frailly.
"I'm right here, honey", Addie replied gently, laying a soft hand on Zoe's shoulder.
Zoe smiled drowsily. "It's funny, cuz I was just on my way to see you, y'know with Bill's medicine!"
"I know!", Addie squeaked. "Brick and I have been so worr…..I mean, Bill and I have been expecting you!"
"I'm sorry", Zoe slurred groggily, eyes barely open. "I wanted to get there sooner, but the fog had me trapped, you scared it away, I think."
"Mmmm yes, that fog can sometimes give folks a hard time", Addie consoled. "Whaddya say I give you a ride back to my place and we can give Bill his medicine, together?"
"Mmmmm k", Zoe agreed. "The fog probably won't be able to find us if we drive, I should have thought about taking a car".
"Yes", Addie cooed as though she were addressing a toddler. "But I wouldn't worry about car driving until you're feeling a bit better."
Zoe nodded quietly and scoffed. She did feel awful, but her thought process was working just fine, thank – you very much. Hospitals were just evil and a horrible cloud of green fog was hell – bent on making her life miserable.
Addie half – carried Zoe towards her SUV and helped the sick girl into the vehicle. Zoe thought it was funny how all the trees seemed to blend together, when one sped down the highway. Except Zoe and Addie weren't on the highway and they weren't speeding – all the trees just seemed to be blending together.
Once inside the Pickett home, Addie helped Zoe onto her couch and covered her with a blanket. "What about, Bill?" Zoe whispered hoarsely.
"I'll take care of Bill", Addie replied. "You just get some sleep, hon". Addie placed a bucket beside the couch, informing Zoe to "use it if she had to".
Zoe nodded and began to drift off to sleep. Sure, she wasn't doctoring Bill herself like she had intended, but she had provided Addie with his medicine and most importantly, she was safe from the fog that probably loomed outside, waiting for her.
Addie's couch was comfortable and it allowed Zoe to drift into a hot, sweaty fever – induced sleep….
He was holding her. They both lay beaten and broken inside the middle of a sticky, wet and heavily dense jungle. They had been stranded on an island and attacked by hungry wolves. This was it, Zoe could feel her last ounce of life fading away, but at least she was with him. At least she and Wade would go together….
"Stay with me, Zoe", Wade panted. "Everything will be ok, you and I will make it through this together. We get through everything together." Zoe smiled weakly. This was true.
"I….I love you", she sputtered feebly. A tear rolled down Wade's cheek. "I love you too, I always have!" Zoe was quickly beginning to feel cold. Sensing this Wade sprang into action, attempting to rapidly breathe life into his dying girlfriend. "Stay with me, Zoe", he sobbed desperately. "Stay with me, stay with me"…..
"Stay with me, Zoe, stay with me"…..Zoe awoke to find Addie's face, swimming in and out of focus, pressed up against her own. She felt the cool sensation of a wet washcloth on her forehead, which was regardless, on fire…..big surprise!
Zoe grabbed her couch – side bucket and vomitted into it, defeated and in now intolerable pain, she began to sob.
"Don't worry sweetie, you'll be ok very soon", Addie assured rubbing soothing circles on Zoe's back. "Thought I lost you there for a moment, but you're a fighter there, missy."
Zoe groaned and called out Wade's name, sick or not, pride didn't matter anymore. She just wanted to see him.
"Wade?", Addie tisked unfavorably.
The doorbell rang, and Addie lept up hurriedly, in order to answer it.
Half conscious, Zoe heard Brick's voice at the door. Statements were uttered by he and Addie concerning hospitals, 105 degree temperatures and pneumonia.
Although somewhat comfortable on Addie's couch, Brick's mention of hospitals was all the encouragement Zoe needed to leave its welcoming cushions.
She sprang up and practically lept through Addie's back door. The only place Zoe knew that she was safe was home. With her door locked, no one would have the opportunity to hospitalize her.
Zoe ran until she was seconds away from the carriage house. Furious, her sick body was no longer able to take her abuse! Zoe's chest tightened completely and every inch of her skin felt as though it was being raked with a hot poker.
Clutching her chest and gasping for breath, Zoe lost all bodily control and collapsed, head first, into the Alabama mud. The last sounds she heard before losing total consciousness, was a certain bartender's voice frantically calling out her name and frenzied steps advancing hurriedly towards her.