Chapter Twenty Seven: Goodbye
The shaking went on forever, or at least it felt like forever. Maddie was huddled under Bella as bricks, masonry, steel and cables rained down on them. As the shaking went on, Maddie's terror grew and she grabbed hold of Bella for reassurance. It stopped after several minutes and Bella and the rest of them shrugged and pushed aside the debris that had accumulated on top of them. She helped Maddie to her feet. The wall beside them had come down and Maddie could see into the next room. It was littered with masonry and body parts. Bloodless, vampire body parts.
"Everybody OK?" Called Carlisle.
"Yes." Called Emmett, pushing aside a massive chunk of wall.
"That was bad." Said Jane. "Biggest one I've ever felt. That was way more than a nine point five for sure."
There was a murmur that Maddie didn't quite hear.
Suddenly, bits of building were flying out of the way. An aftershock hit and to their far right another large section of wall collapsed, sending a fresh tsunami of masonry down on them. Bella crouched over Maddie again until it stopped. Maddie coughed with dust.
"Maddie?" Her Dad was suddenly at the side of her, holding out her his hand. Maddie took it and Daniel pulled her into a fierce hug. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"I'm OK. He didn't hurt me." 'much' Maddie added silently in her head.
"Daniel," called Edward. "Now."
"Maddie?" Said her Dad, crouching down a little to be at her eye level. "Your Mom's badly hurt. You need to come and say… goodbye."
Maddie didn't at first comprehend what he was saying, but Daniel took her hand and they picked their way over to where Carlisle and Edward were kneeling. They had excavated her Mom's head and she was lying on her side, covered in brick dust, but the rest of her was still encased in rubble.
Maddie tripped and fell onto her knees in front of her Mom, the noise made Helen's eyes fly open.
"Sweetheart." She croaked taking little quick breaths. A single tear tracked its way across the dusty bridge of her nose, across her cheek leaving a wet trail and fell to the floor.
"Mom!" Maddie grasped what bit of her she could, forcing bits of brick up under her nails.
"I love you." Helen's voice was a whisper. With great effort she raised her chin and kissed Maddie. Maddie kissed her Mom and she felt a hand on her back.
"Helen?"
Maddie pulled back to let her Dad in. Her Mom's eyes produced more tears as she registered her ex-husband.
"Look after her." Helen croaked.
"I will." He put his hand to her face.
"I love…" Helen's mouth started to form the word you, but no sound appeared. Her eyes were fixed and a posthumous tear followed its counterpart to the floor. In the silence, Maddie stroked her Mom's hair. Carlisle gently closed Helen's eyes and Daniel sat by his daughter, as silent tears fell. In her head she said goodbye to her Mommy, over and over and over again.
