Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.
Chapter 5
I take a lot of journeys. And it seems, no matter what I do something bad happens in them, as you can see. I was hoping that this was going to be an exception to that, because I wasn't even going to head to another place where my tribe lived. I was going to try to head to another city. One very far away. Somewhere safe I could stay and forget, with Brady.
Brady clutched my hand as we walked, chattering with her imaginary friend, and staring at all the wilderness around. Happiness seemed to flow off her, and she made even me smile.
We walked though the closet clearing past camp, and soon we were walking in raw wilderness. Most of this forest and streams. This place had the best cover I had ever seen anywhere, and that was mostly why the Eco's chose it as their home. And also it was a safe distance from the city. If you were in the right mood the forest was very pretty.
The farther Brady and I walked the more tired and hungry I became. My backpack started to weigh down on me, and Brady seemed to be getting tired. I strained my ears, and heard running water close. I realized we must have walked a long away because we were near River Wottle. Brady had named it when we found the river 2 years ago. I grinned and picked up Brady, and carried her toward the direction of the river.
"Do you know where we are?" I asked Brady, smiling at her as we approached the river.
"River Wottle!" Brady giggled. "Put me down please."
I did just that, and laughed as Brady went right over to the water and splashed it.
"OOOOhhh cold!" She exclaimed. Quickly she walked back over to me and sat on the ground. "Mommy, I'm thirsty. I want some Wottle water."
I grinned and took a water bottle out of my nap sack. I handed the bottle to Brady and she toddled to the river squealing as the water splashed into it.
After a while I spoke. "Brady, I want to take a nap. Want to take one with me?"
Brady nodded and closed the water bottle and crawled over to me.
For a 6 year old Brady was pretty smart and I knew it was safe to take naps around her cause she wouldn't wander too far.
I lay down, and put my arms around Brady when she lay down too, and I kissed her forehead.
Slowly both of us drifted off to sleep.
I was back in dream world before long. I started dreaming I was carrying my nap sack over to the river, and dunking it really deep into the water and holding it there. I slipped back to reality when I felt two strong arms pull me back, and a voice yell,
"Trudy! What are you doing?" I was being shook roughly now. I finally came to my senses and saw Amber's face in front of me. She was shaking me violently and staring.
When she was sure I was back, she went running over to the river, which I was right next to.
Brady lay on the ground, Her face was white, and her lips had a blue tinge to them. Her eyes were closed, and her neck had purple bruises in the shape of fingers.
I screamed. Loud enough so mars could hear me! I started to sob as Amber started to give her mouth to mouth, and pushed on her chest gently in a desperate attempt to revive her. But she was.. She was...
Amber put her ear to Brady's chest and let out a choked sob. "She's dead Trudy."
I cried out. "No! This is a dream! Brady's safe by my side! I KNOW SHE IS!" I started to hysterically pinch myself. When that did nothing I started waving my arms around "Wake up!" I screamed. "WAKE UP."
Amber shook her head, and cradled up Brady. She walked over to be and grabbed my arm and walked the direction of camp.
"Come on Trudy.. Lets get you home..." Amber sighed sadly.
I tried to fight her off. "NO! I HAVE TO WAKE UP! BRADY WILL WORRY ABOUT ME!"
"Trudy stop!" Amber slapped the same cheek Lex had slapped the other night. "Come to your senses!"
I screamed again and then started hyperventilating. "Bra.. Brady?" I said quietly, touching my daughter's cold cheek. "Wha-What happened?"
"We'll worry about that later Trudy. Please we have to go back to camp." Amber's eyes showed so much worry.
I nodded my head, and by extinct I put my hands on my stomach. I.. Strangled my daughter, I realized that. In my sleep, I had strangled MY daughter. Who was I? What was happening? This couldn't be real.. Could it? My head spun with questions as I did my best not to look at Amber or the lifeless limp daughter of mine she was holding.
