Before I say anything else, I must give cookies to Ana and Innogen. They were the only two that knew that I was talking about 'The X-Files' (Season one, episode…oh…about five, I believe). *Gives cookies to those two people* You know, my mom thought it was awesome that I mentioned the X-Files in my story. She doesn't usually have much interest in my stories, so it was nice to get compliments from her. She's about as obsessed with X-Files as I am with JOA and LOTR, and she's been making me and all three of my little sisters watch the entire series from season one onward. I really like it so far, even though I've only seen a little bit of the first season, and a few random episodes after that. To those of you that knew it was an old legend, you were right, too, but I asked for the show, so I must deny you cookies.
Wow, I rambled for a long time. Sorry that I didn't get to update when I planned to, but I do have an excuse, and that it that I was grounded (rather unfairly, might I add). So, yeah, that's my story, but I'm here now, so…yay rah and stuff. I don't like this chapter a whole lot, but I needed to post something, and I *think* the next one is a little better. Or at least I hope so. I definitely like the one after that, though. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Instead, I will talk about 'Night Without Stars' for a bit. I am very angry now, because I want so desperately to hate Iris, but I can't. The only thing I have against her right now is that her voice makes me want to hurt myself. Hurt myself badly. I would be mad at her for hanging all over Adam, but technically that's Joan's fault, because she should have hooked up with Adam right after 'Jump'. But, no, the silly girl didn't. Now just look at the mess she's in. Ah well, I will find a way to hate Iris yet.
Uhm…back to the story. Not only do I not favor this chapter greatly, it's also a bit shorter than I wanted it to be. Plus, there's not a lot that happens. There's a whole lot of dialogue, so if you like that, then I suppose you might be pleased.
I've decided to respond to the reviews from last chapter. If you reviewed before that, you still rock, but it would take way too long to respond to everything.
Moonlit-Jeannie: He doesn't? *Jumps for joy* Oh, great joyousness is to be had. My mom read scripts, too, but I didn't want to read them, and she won't tell me how long Iris sticks around. Ah well. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see. As for not killing Adam…I am slightly angry with him, and if I don't kill him, I'm at least not making things any more fun for him.
writer-always-n-forever: You like the title? Thanks. I must say that I was rather proud of it myself. You know, I've actually thought about putting Adam in a coma. I haven't come to a final decision about it, though.
LyssaBoot: Yeah, I'm really angry about Iris. Maybe not at her, but about her. And I'm pretty sure about what I'm going to do with Adam, but I can assure you that he's not going to enjoy this little trip, even as much as I love him.
Ana: Yeah, I know, a lot didn't happen last chapter, or this chapter, or the next. Well, some really important stuff happens, but it's not action-packed or anything. Believe me, I'm working on it. And I'm glad that you liked what I did with Grace. Once again, felicitations for getting the X-Files thing right. Those cookies were well earned.
hgill: I love mentioning my wonderful reviewers! 'URGH' is an awesome description for this Iris thing. I'll be sure to tell my sister about it. I think she'll find it useful as well. Playing God is so gloriously fun. I have killed my favorite characters before, in 'Choices That Haunt Her'. Tis a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' fic. I'm almost positive about whether or not I'm killing Adam, but alas for you readers, you won't know till that comes up.
Jessica14: Sorry, but no cookies. Maybe I'll ask something else later on, and you might get cookies then. Thanks for you review.
Innogen: I loved 'The Jersey Devil'. It's my second favorite episode of the first season, out of what I've seen so far ('Squeeze' is my favorite). And you brought up a very good point: the cell phones. I actually do cover that point, just not yet. What I can say now is that they don't have any cell phones with them. They didn't disappear; they're just…conveniently misplaced.
Allie: I'm so glad that you like this story! I think I get what you meant, and if I do kill him, I'll try my best to do him justice. Now it's my turn to ask if that makes sense.
Wiccan-One14: Yay, you like my story! Thanks for reviewing.
Lauren: Yeah, I've heard about the legend as well. I'm glad you like the story so far.
Miss Chievous aka La Gioconda: I'm definitely working on that. I've never been in a situation like this (luckily), so I'm doing the best I can. I'll try really hard to make it a more realistic. I'm glad you still like it, though.
Okay, I'm done with that. Sorry it took so long. So now I present chapter five.
~Cop~
* * * *
Soundtrack of Sorrow
Chapter Five: Ray of Sunshine
"Is that a-"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Well, is it ours?"
"No, of course not. I'm sure plenty of people around here float their coolers down this river."
"Fine then, Grace. But you don't have to be so mean."
Luke had remained silent during this entire exchange, but it seemed time to speak up.
"Who's going to get it?" he asked, then paused. "Wait, never mind. Stupid question."
Five minutes later Luke was dragging a navy blue cooler on to the river bank. Grace stood alone on the shoreline, since Joan had gone back into the cave to sit with Adam.
"I'm going to start charging you two every time you make me go out there," Luke grumbled, attempting to shake himself off.
"What's in there?" Grace asked, indicating the cooler.
Luke crouched down and opened the lid. "Ice water," he reported, looking up, "and some Pepsis, grapes, bread, cheese, plastic cups, Doritos-"
"Why are Doritos in the cooler?" Grace asked suddenly.
"Probably the same reason there are Triscuits in it," Luke stated, pulling out a very wet cardboard box.
"Alright," Grace said, shaking her head, "so not only do we never let Rove drive at night again, we don't let him pack coolers, either."
"Seems to be that way," Luke commented. "Oh, and there are some water bottles down here, under the bread."
"So we've got some food, and water," Grace stated, ticking the two off on her fingers. "But how long will we be stuck out here?"
"I have no idea," Luke said, putting the food, with the exception of the Triscuits, back in the cooler, and standing up. "Come on, let's drag this all inside."
They did just that, and Luke told his sister what they had found.
"What we don't know is how long it's going to last us," Grace explained once Luke had finished. "We don't even know what day it is."
"We crashed last night," Joan stated, "and it's almost nine in the morning." Both Grace and Luke looked at her in surprise, so she continued. "Adam's watch has the date and all that on it. And it's waterproof." The answer seemed to satisfy both of them.
"Nobody will look for us right away," Luke said slowly. "We left yesterday night, and we hadn't planned on leaving until tonight. Plus, we were going to stop at a motel. So that puts us at tomorrow morning, and they'll probably blame our being late on traffic, at least for a while."
Joan shook her head. "But we had told our parents that we could end up staying a day longer, and that we'd probably do a little sight-seeing on the way back."
"Which would have taken until the night of the day after tomorrow," Luke added. "And Mom and Dad would expect us to spend the night somewhere again."
"Three days," Grace said, sighing. "Nobody will know that we're missing for three days."
"A lot can happen in that sort of time," Luke pointed out.
"How much could someone bleed over three days?" Joan asked worriedly.
Grace looked at Adam sadly. "Too much."
* * *
It started to rain about two hours later. The little group sat around silently, lost in their own thoughts. Occasionally Luke would get up and restack the wood that they had piled up to feed the fire with when it burned too low. Grace was once again perched on the rock near the mouth of the cave, watching the car that was still flipped over in the river. Joan was leaning against the back wall, but had long since dozed off. Finally there was Adam, in the exact spot where Grace had placed him hours before.
"That thing is our ticket out of here," Grace said, breaking the silence.
Luke stared at her, confused. "What? You mean the car?"
"Yes, I do."
Luke was even more puzzled. "Uhm. . . Grace? I don't think it'll run. I mean, it's not even all there. Plus, it's flipped over, in the water."
"That's not what I'm talking about," she explained, "if you saw half of a car in the middle of a river, what would you do?"
"I'd call someone," Luke said without hesitation. "But you can't see the river from up there on the road."
"When people figure out that we're missing, they'll go out in their little helicopters," Grace told him, "and from the air, I'd be willing to bet that they'd notice that car."
"Would they be able to fly in this sort of weather?" Luke questioned.
"We just have to hope that it doesn't storm for the next three days," Grace said, shrugging.
Luke nodded, knowing that there was nothing more that they could do.
* * *
Another two hours ticked away, and the idea of lunch was considered. Joan had woken up, and she, Luke, and Grace each made a cheese sandwich.
"I wonder," Joan mused, "if we died out here, do you think anyone would ever find our bodies?"
Grace swallowed, and then glared at her angrily. "Well, aren't you quite the little ray of sunshine? Thanks for brightening my day, Girardi."
"I was only asking a question," Joan said defensively.
"Why don't you just hold off on any other question that you have, then?" Grace suggested bitterly.
Joan huffed and remained silent for a moment, but obviously wanted to say more. Finally, that desire won out.
"Does this feel like 'Survivor' to you?" she asked.
Grace laughed, but it was completely devoid of any humor. "I can see it now. The new hit reality TV show: Four friends are stranded in a forest; one is slowly bleeding to death, one has a broken bone, one seems to think that he's smarter than everyone else, and the last one is severely ticked off by the rest of them."
Luke looked thoughtful. "You know what the sad thing is? I'd actually watch that."
"I thought you hated reality TV," Joan said, glancing over at her brother.
"Yeah, and can't you guess what happens?" Grace added.
"One of them continues slowly bleeding to death, one of them is stuck with a broken bone, one still seems to think he's smarter than everyone else, and the last is even more ticked off by the rest of them?" Joan guessed.
"Bingo," Grace said sarcastically, twirling a stick in her hand, "tell her what she's won."
"Half of a new car," Luke muttered.
*TBC*