Hello All!

Oh my goodness, I can't believe you guys still read this story. It brings me to tears! I'm so happy but I'm also so sorry! I'm thankful I still have people who read and I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart! My life has been a roller coaster these past few years and I didn't think anyone cared!

So, I can't make any promises since I'll let you guys know I'm a mom now, (AH!) a full time worker, a student, and I've got TONS of things going on...

BUT...

You faithful readers have made me have a renewed hope to finish this. I will try MY BEST to write a chapter this week and continue it! I still have BIG PLANS for this story!

Again, I love you all!

-Lulu

(On with the Story!)

When I was in high school, I used to run track. Weird, I know, considering the fact I was a smoker and a waitress back at the diner. But it was true. I was a sprinter, running the fifty-yard dash as a Morten High School Coyote. I was pretty good too, made second place and helped our team go to State Finals. I knew I wouldn't last long. I met Elijah's father at that time and was instantly lured into the world of losers, lust, and bullshit.

But that wasn't important now. None of it was.

I finally had to stop running. My lungs were giving out due to years of inhaling things other than oxygen and my arms were weak and shaking from holding on to Elijah the whole way.

The sun was behind us, beating down on my aching back. But at least we were safe.

For now.

I found a small clearing between the bushes and laid down Elijah in the shade. I finally took two breaths as deep as I could.

"Shit. Shit. Shit."

My mind was racing. Where is Jeep? Who was singing? What am I supposed to do now? Where were we going? What am I-

My internal ramblings were interrupted when I finally heard the small cry from Elijah. I had lost track of time so I hadn't been paying attention to his feeding hours.

"Dammit. Alright hun, hold on. I'm sorry"

I sat beside him, and for a moment, I admired the simplicity of Elijah's infancy. He was small, his world only revolved around sleep and eating.

"You are so lucky, little guy. None of this scary stuff concerns you right now. All you have to worry about is eating, sleeping, shitting, and repeat." I smiled.

But as I knelt to pluck Elijah to my chest, I realized for the second time how lost we really were.

"Goddammit."

I fed Elijah but couldn't help feel my heart rate begin to quicken. We had no diapers, no clothes, no food. Nothing. And we were all alone in this- literally- Godforsaken land.

I could feel myself begin to despair. Even though Jeep lead us astray, he had originally been the one to prepare everything. I hadn't realized how much I had depended on him until it was too late.

"Too late. Too late!" F bombs and profanities popped off my lips as if firecrackers were lit on my gums.

Elijah could sense I was upset and started to whine.

"Oh, sorry. Sorry" I shushed him softly and started to rock.

The sun was going to set in a few hours. Then we'd be completely screwed.

It's going to be Okay. It's going to be just fine. I lied to myself. I will figure this out even if it kills me.

A thought sprung up in my head again. Of course, it had always been lingering there since I could rarely get him out of my mind but I knew it was my only option.

"Michael." I said his name, softer than the last time.

I waited.

….

And waited.

….

By the time Elijah was done, changed, (using the sleeve of my shirt to make a new diaper) and we were walking again, there had been no response. Nothing. At the same time it dawned on me that there really was nothing. No birds, no wind, no scuttling of lizards.

It was dead.

That's why they call it Death Valley, dummy.

I cursed in my head. That's right. Michael had warned me if Jeep took us to Death Valley, he wouldn't be able to touch this land.

"Of course, he'd tell me that." I muttered. Michael always had a way of knowing that there was a good chance I'd go against his wishes and would have to make a big warning out of it.

"Goddammit Michael."

Elijah looked around as much as he could, having slept so much yesterday I wasn't surprised he'd be this awake. I took off my bandana from my head and dangled it over his face, playfully letting it brush his cheeks before pulling it away and saying "Boo!"

Christmas bells couldn't hold a candle to how sweet his twinkling laugh sounded. His gummy smile made me warm inside despite the sun beginning to set and the cold creeping up my pant leg.

"We gotta find somewhere to stay Eli, at least for the night."

As if understanding, which surprised me every time, Eli would stare at me reverent and quiet. If his fate were not already predestined, he would have made a great librarian or spy. His silence would have been worrisome if it weren't for the fact he was pre-chosen to save the World. A kid like this always came with a few odd perks.

I was staring at Elijah so long I hadn't realized until I almost tripped that we'd finally reached a road. I looked up and down, and by a great stroke of luck, there was a car jaggedly parked along the roadside.

A huge sigh ushered from my lips as if my lungs were begging the air to take it.

Shelter.

I almost half skipped half trotted to the car in relief. Elijah giggled at the bouncing.

After a few minutes, I inspected the car and saw all the windows were intact, some clothes were actually strewn in the back of the seat, and, would you look at that.

A damn car seat.

Small enough for Elijah.

For a few seconds, I could have cried at seeing how lucky we had gotten. But a horror donned on me.

What if this had been planted here.

I had placed Eli on the driver seat but now scooped him out of the car as if the black ooze had surrounded the vehicle once more.

Could Jeep have done this? No. He had walked off as if something was calling him.

I shut the door quietly, and inspected the car around it. There weren't any dents, no scrapes or scratches. It looked as if it had been through a carwash within the last few days.

What the-

I was about to walk away and say screw it, let the night have it and try and walk through the night, when I saw it.

Placed at the bumper, nudged between the lining of the trunk, was a long, silvery white feather.

"Michael."

My heart burst into flutters. Michael had done this? No, no it couldn't be.

But after having a killer granny, a jaw dropping ice cream man, and Lamaze practice with a seraphim I knew. There are no coincidences in the end of the world.

I looked to the Heavens, which were now beginning to light up with the stars.

"Thank you."

I got back into the car and placed Eli in the car seat who already knew instinctively it was time for sleep. Wrapping him up in a sweater, I reclined the driver seat and locked the doors and watched his eyes flutter briefly before succumbing to slumber.

I was about to do the same when I realized something.

"Oh God."

I had to contain my laughter before I woke Elijah. The thought of Michael driving a car because he couldn't touch the ground. How do you park this infernal machinery?

My giggles seem to softly die down as my brain went from Michael driving to just the thought of Michael.

"Michael. Michael."

I fell asleep. It didn't matter that we were lost, it didn't matter that Jeep was gone, all that mattered was Elijah was safe.

And somewhere, somehow, Michael was protecting us. And we'd see each other soon.