Starlight Starbright

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fall." Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Chapter 12

Johnny worked his way through the dark night, taking many breaks to catch his own breath. The cold wet falling snow was seeping into his bones and even his layers weren't protective enough for him anymore. His charge remained quiet with him peeking in periodically to make sure she was still breathing. Her face was warm so he thought she was at least staying warm bundled up in there.

Looking behind him he saw the lights of the cabin were now gone from his view. He wondered if the men had returned, if they were looking for them yet. The light snow fall was at least covering his tracks because he knew if they chose to pursue them there was no way he could move fast enough to get away.

Looking at the movement of the moon he tried to guess at the time. Maybe about midnight, maybe not. He slipped off his backpack and took out a bottle of water, his frozen fingers trying to keep a hold of it while he took a sip. He slipped out a small throw he had stuffed in there and wrapped it around himself as he tried to get warm leaning against a great evergreen tree. He knew they couldn't rest here long but he needed just a few minutes of rest. Just a moment to close his weary eyes. Every part of him hurt, his ribs ached and taking a deep breath was getting harder. "Just a quick rest," he said out loud as his eyes fell closed.

Amy fought her way through the thick fog that had engulfed her. With a gasp her eyes opened to darkness. Someone was suffocating her, a pillow over her face. She reached up to push it off but her arms were wrapped up and she could barely move them. In a moment of panic she screamed wondering if anyone could even hear her.

He startled awake at the muffled cry. His movement towards the sleeping bag told of his stiff and aching body, making him grimace with pain. He unzipped the sleeping bag to find her awake and looking panicked.

He coughed, "Easy there, you're okay. I'm just trying to keep you warm." The coughs racked his chest with sharp pains.

She shivered with fear, not with the cold. The cold blast on her face as soon as it was uncovered told her how bitter cold it was outside. But this man kneeling beside her, who was he?

"It's me Johnny. Do you remember me?" His voice shook as he shivered.

She winced with discomfort as she tried to move around.

"No, try and be still. You were shot in the shoulder. I've got it bandaged up. If you move around it will start bleeding again." He could see the confusion in her eyes. "They said they robbed a bank and took you as a hostage."

"Who shot me? Where am I?" The fear was starting to take its hold on her now.

"One of the bank robbers shot you and brought you up here to a cabin. They didn't know I was staying there. They gave you something to drug you so you've been sleeping."

The fog was beginning to creep its way back into her mind. The bank, yes she remembered going to the bank. Then men came in with guns. She struggled but couldn't remember anything past that point. Johnny? That name sounded familiar. Where did she know that name from?

"I'm tired," she whispered.

"It's ok, go back to sleep. We're gonna keep moving, we have to find shelter soon." He looked down but she was already asleep. His cold body and brain was now having trouble processing why Amanda would be at a bank in the first place but he had to keep moving forward. As he loaded the backpack and sled back on he started the steps forward again. He could no longer judge the distance, only that he had to keep moving.

Carl and Red returned to the cabin. After they discovered both were gone Carl proceeded to do his best at destroying everything inside of it. They ran out onto the porch but with multiple paths leading away from the cabin even they knew they couldn't look for them in the dark.

"Man, let's just get out of here. There's no way we can find them out here in the woods! Let's take the money and go," Red begged his partner.

Carl was furious, how did they get out of here. He thought he had taken that piss ant fireman down a few notches. Knowing that Red was right they gathered up the money and pulled back down the trail road to the main road and headed out of town.

As soon as the sun was up so was Roy. The first place he called was the police department to see if they had found Johnny's Rover yet. Not getting the news he wanted he sat down and began sifting through the stack of papers he had brought back from Johnny's apartment. He found himself chuckling at the chaos of phone numbers, bills, receipts and several things he couldn't even categorize at all.

By 8am they guys were back at his place for the new day of searching. This was their last day before having to back on duty tomorrow in the morning. Roy felt like if they didn't find something out today it might be too late for Johnny. The sense of urgency was growing in his gut and in his heart.

Chet and Mike sat at the kitchen table with Roy and helped him decipher the papers. Chet pulled out a picture of a camping spot that he and Johnny had visited.

"This was a nice one, right by a waterfall. It was sweet."

Roy looked up, "What did you say?"

Chet looked confused, "This camping spot was great but Marco and I called this ranger and Johnny wasn't there."

"No, you said something else," Roy was standing now. He wasn't sure what it was but this was important.

Mike watched Roy's reaction, "He said it was sweet."

"Sweet," Roy walked around the table. Why did that sound familiar? "Sweet," he repeated.

He didn't know how far they had been but he stopped, falling to his knees. Coughs shook his body with pain, he was light headed and having trouble focusing on the now snow covered path in front of him. He crawled back to the sleeping bag to check on her.

This time she was awake and calm, "How you doing in there?" He said between coughs.

She looked at the young dark headed man, "I think maybe better than you at this point." She reached an arm up and unzipped her bag. Reaching up she felt his face, "You have a fever."

He went to tuck her arm back in, "I'm fine. You need to stay warm. Here, take a few sips of water." He held the bottle for her then put the cap back on. Looking up the path he could see a clearing up ahead. I think we're almost there."

"Where?"

Johnny was already working his way back to the end of the sled's rope. Pushing himself to his knees he moved forward a few more steps.