I know it's been a long time but here is the new chapter...
Thanks again to all of you who left a review or sent me feedback. It made my day.
Chapter 6
31st December
The first ray of light appeared around noon, quickly dissipating the remaining clouds, revealing snow-covered trees and immaculate white fields. The bright peacefulness of the day contrasted with the storm that had played for nearly four days. The frozen mountainside held a nearly surreal quality that nothing seemed to be able to disturb.
Coming from the north, a roaring sound quickly amplified. A strong whirlwind soon followed it, causing snow to fell from some trees. The helicopter of the National Guard flew over the place where the cabin was supposed to be a few times. Instead of a wooden construction, they found a huge snowfield with broken trees spread unevenly. In the middle of the field, there was a huge hole revealing what had been the broken roof of the cabin. Near the hole, they could barely make out three marks signaling the presence of another aircraft.
"Guess we're too late Tony. If there were people trapped here, they have already been rescued."
XXX
Brennan awoke to the feeling of Emma's warm naked body wrapped in his arms and sunlight on his face. His first thought was that if this was just a dream, he didn't want to wake up. He tightened his grip on her waist burying his nose in her hair. He had finally had the courage to talk to her and now, she was in his arms like the sweetest reward.
If he hadn't been afraid to wake her up he would have shouted. Happiness, freedom… love, those feelings had slowly filled his heart giving a whole new meaning to his existence. The sensation was addictive and so strong it gave him an emotional high; the blizzard, the seriousness of the situation was forgotten, buried deep inside his mind.
With a slight sigh she shifted in his embrace to lie on her back, freeing herself from his grip. He opened his eyes and leaned on one elbow to observe her. She was smiling in her sleep, as if dreaming of angels; the covers had slid from her upper body causing goose bumps to appear. Gently the elemental replaced the covers on her and he couldn't restrain himself. His hand came to rest on her bare stomach. His fingers brushed her smooth skin causing her to stir lightly. Slowly he dipped his head and kissed her lips.
The myriad of colors playing on the screen of her dreams gave Emma a weightless sensation of comfort and warmth. However the emotional whirlwind of her companion dragged her back to the world. A few hours of rest had eased her headache, but her memory was still a blur. She shifted in the bed and the covers slid from her.
Surprised she felt the man beside her lovingly putting them back and rest his hand on her stomach. The gesture touched her, gave her the incredible sensation of being loved and protected. The next thing she was aware of was his lips on hers and a strong feeling of love sweeping through her. Instantly the memories came back, their talk, her drink and their lovemaking. Her arms found their way around his neck urging him to come closer, to intensify their kiss.
Too soon for both their liking, they parted needing air. Emma opened her eyes cautiously and found Brennan staring at her with a loving smile. In a vain attempt at modesty, she brought the covers back on her trying to hide herself. Gently he stopped her.
"No Emma, I don't want you to hide from me. Never. Not after what happened last night."
She blushed lightly under his gaze but felt only love coming from him. She cuddled deeper in his embrace closing her eyes. Being there with Brennan was like a dream. However their talk was still present in her mind and she feared the moment when he would go back in his shell, shutting her out again. The words were out before she had the time to censor them.
"You have to promise me one thing Brennan. Whatever happens between us, you'll always tell me the truth. Don't ever shut me out again."
His hand touched her check and she fought the urge to cry. She couldn't, didn't want to imagine her life without him.
"Emma, look at me please."
Her eyes opened, letting a small tear run down her cheek. Her half smile was so sad that it made him falter. Inwardly he cringed at his own selfishness. How could he have believed he would protect her by keeping her at arm length?
"I'm so sorry Emma. I'm a fool. I thought I was protecting you. But I was so afraid to get hurt that I had to find reasons to stay away from you. I promise, I'll never shut you out again. It's not going to be easy and sometimes, you'll have to remind me that I'm being a jackass."
Hearing his words, an indescribable sensation settled in her body and soul. His feelings were radiating from him so strongly that they eclipsed their surrounding, painting the cabin with an ever-moving canvas. Her hand came to rest on his cheekbone, softly brushing his skin. They locked eyes and time slowed down as if acknowledging the special way their heart swelled with love. Gently she reached out and sealed their silent promises with a kiss. Soon it changed into hands caressing, teasing until all that could be heard was hushed murmurs and soft moans.
XXX
The elemental rested his head on her stomach, basking in a languid afterglow.
"You know that we'll have to find a way out of here eventually."
Brennan sighed heavily. He knew she was right, but this place had become his personal small heaven. This cabin would always shelter some of his best memories, no matter how dangerous it was.
"I know honey. We'll move tomorrow in the morning."
She nodded and entangled her fingers in his hair. The truth was that she didn't want to leave the place either. It strangely felt like home. But at the same time, uneasy feelings were lurking in a dark corner of her mind and she couldn't put a name on them. It was not something precise; it was just a little disturbing sensation that wouldn't leave her. Time also seemed to have a different course; it appeared to accelerate or slow according to her mood. She shook her head smiling. Of course time was not the same. She had been so absorbed by Brennan that time had been the last of her worries.
"Bren, love? We need a fire if we don't want to freeze tonight."
He turned his head mischievously smiling at her.
"What about body heat? I can keep you warm."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"Brennan, I'm being serious. I want to eat something warm tonight. And I was planning to spend our last night here on the couch, cuddling in front of the fire."
Quietly he got up knowing that if he didn't move she would do it herself. He gathered his clothes on the ground and quickly got dressed. Brennan opened the door and went in search for wood cursing against the temperature.
Coming back, he looked around only to find something Emma had to see. As quickly as possible, he ran and nearly dragged her outside despite her protestations. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her and pointed at the starry sky above the valley.
The young woman gasped at the display of colors on the darkened sky. A translucent curtain of color was playing there above the trees. The different shades of color were changing quickly, going from a pastel green-blue to a strong red then to a beautiful golden yellow. But it was not like any aurora borealis; the pattern of colors wasn't regular in some parts colors were swirling, merging with others, creating new complicated patterns. The shifts were subtle, mesmerizing and strangely familiar; she could nearly identify them as emotions.
She focused on the red part of the aurora borealis and the feeling that she didn't belong to this world erupted in her heart. At that thought, her throat got constricted. 'Not another panic attack!' Her heart beat louder in her ears nearly deafening her and she closed her eyes waiting for the crisis to pass. Suddenly, she couldn't feel Brennan's arms wrapped around her anymore. Shear panic gripped at her heart, forcing her eyes open. The world around her seemed to disintegrate little by little as if it was holograms. First the trees, then the sky above her, after that the mountains and finally the cabin. Where was Brennan? Her chest tightened painfully. The black emptiness of her surroundings was oppressive. She needed air.
"BRENNAN!"
Her screamed echoed lost in the closed space. What was happening to her? Where was she?
"Emma"
Panicked, puzzled, she turned around to see Brennan still holding her. The feel of his arms wrapped around her came back. Sensing her distress, he gently began to rock her back and froth. His love began to sob uncontrollably. If he hadn't been there to support her, she would have collapsed on the ground. Her heartbeat slowed a little and as she looked around the world was there, back to normal. And at that moment, his voice was the most beautiful reassuring sound she had ever heard.
"Emma honey, what's wrong? Did you see a wolf?"
Her brain registered his words but they made no sense to her. Why was he speaking of wolves? In between two sob, she managed to get a few words out.
"Why did you leave me alone outside?"
He suddenly froze not knowing what she was talking about. He had been holding her the whole time they had been watching the aurora borealis. Carefully he turned her around and watched her eyes. She was terrified. Whatever had happened, it was wrong.
"Let's go inside."
She tried to move but her legs refused to carry her. Gently he took her in his arms and carried her in the cabin. Once inside he put her on the couch and helped her out of her jacket. He prepared the fire and came back to her slightly apprehensive. He had the gut feeling that they were in trouble.
XXX
Adam watched the monitor checking for the tenth time it wasn't displaying anomalies anymore. Then his attention shifted to the liquid feeding two of his children. This time he was powerless. The only thing that could save them would be their own will or god.
He could still remember the new mutant calling them when Emma and Brennan hadn't shown on their appointment the 28th. They had to wait two long and dreadful days until the blizzard had died. After that they had tracked their comlink signal up to a snowfield on a mountainside. It had taken them less than an hour to clear the snow from above the cabin. However, that single hour had felt like an entire day to him. Thank god a part of the roof had sheltered the two mutants, giving them enough space and oxygen for a few hours.
Hearing someone coming in the lab, he diverted his gaze from the two motionless forms. Shalimar was standing in the doorway, a box of Kleenex in one of her hand. Her cold had only worsened since their little trip in the mountain.
"Feeling any better?"
Her only answer was a loud sneeze. Judging by her disheveled appearance and red nose, she was suffering from a high fever. Why was she so stubborn?
"Shal you should be in your bed right now. I'll call you if they wake up."
Not listening to him, she got closer to the young psionic. Her little sister was so pale; it was a miracle she was still alive. The feral lovingly put a rebellious strand of red hair behind her ear. Brennan was lying not far away from her, his eyes tightly shut. Her hand found his and she squeezed it gently hoping to elicit a reaction. But both seemed locked in a peaceful dream.
"What is wrong with them? They should be awake by now."
Adam sighed. He didn't understand either what was wrong with the two. Somehow they had managed to survive hypothermia and the caving of the cabin they had found shelter in. Emma had been the only one displaying a wound. It was just a little gash on her right temple nothing life threatening. However, fearing brain damage, he had fixed electrodes measuring their brain activity. The readings he was getting both from Emma and Brennan were in perfect sync and it worried him. Less than a few minutes ago, the readings on the psionic's EEG had displayed a strange activity as if she had been dreaming. He rubbed his forehead worriedly; the situation didn't make any sense.
"Adam? Are you still here?"
He abruptly turned to face the feral.
"Sorry Shal, I was trying to find a logic explanation. They are not sleeping. And they are not in a coma."
She frowned not quite understanding what he was trying to tell her. A fit of coughing shook her and she had to lean on a counter. She hated being sick; it made her feel useless and helpless especially when her friends needed her.
"Shal, you really should go back to bed."
"No. What is wrong with them if they are not in a coma or sleeping? Is there anything we can do to help them?"
Adam shook his head.
"We can't do a single thing. I believe that they are lost in between two worlds. And the world they are locked in might be Emma's creation. I scanned her and she seems to have a little haematoma in the part of her brain that deals with a part of her empathy."
"How? I mean Bren shouldn't be trapped with her."
"Emma is more powerful than you think. She might have trapped him without even knowing it."
Another fit of coughing seized the feral and she had to sit. Adam was right; she should be in her bed right now. But she was too concerned by her friends to even consider that option.
"When will they wake up?"
Jesse voice startled them and they turned around to see him sadly looking at the two prone forms from the doorway. After a few seconds, Adam's stare fixed back on the reading of Brennan's monitor. He felt helpless. How could he tell them that he didn't know what to do to solve the problem? He was the genius, the man with all the answers. Yet he had none today. And he wasn't dealing with anonymous test subjects. The two people lying there were like children to him.
"I don't know. Maybe if Emma realizes that the world is her creation she might find a way back to us."
He didn't need to mention that they might not wake up. It was written in his eyes and both Jesse and Shalimar knew it.
TBC