All Separate.
The storm was still raging outside. 4 people were sat worried in the living room waiting nervously for a sign that the people they cared about were going to come home safe.
"They are fine." Dupe muttered. "I know they are fine!" He checked his watch again. 'C'mon Trevanion you should be back by now!' he thought worriedly.
"I'm going to check on Charlotte." Georgina said.
Dupe nodded, they shared a concerned glance. Evan saw it and his stomach pooled with acid.
"Dupe." Evan said seriously. "The truth!"
"Danny and Alice are fine!" Dupe lied smoothly.
Evan raised his eyebrows.
Dupe exhaled. "Ok, they should have been back by now. I am starting to worry - but only a little bit." he was quick to say.
Evan nodded, dropped his head and began to think.
Georgina walked into the living room with Charlotte. Her arm wrapped around her shoulder in comfort. Charlotte walked over to Dupe and hugged him. He ruffled her hair as Georgina sat down. Charlotte looked up at Dupe. "Where's my mum?"
"She'll be back soon." Dupe promised.
"But I want mum!" Charlotte stressed.
"C'mere." Charlotte walked into Georgina's open arms and hugged her on the sofa. "She'll be home in no time."
Evan looked up. Looked at Dupe's worried face, he looked at Charlotte and recognised the fear in hers. The exact same fear had been on his face a year ago, on the day his mother….. He shook his head and walked in his room. Dupe looked at Georgina quickly then followed him, sensing he was going to do something stupid!
Nomsa coughed gaining Georgina's attention. "Something is going to happen." she whispered.
Georgina nodded solemnly and stroked Charlotte's hair, her head rested on her knee.
(X)
Dupe knocked on Evan's bedroom door, when he received no reply he opened it. Saw Evan had pulled on some jeans and was lacing up his boots.
"Ev?"
"Don't try and stop me Dupe!"
Dupe glanced towards the living room, walked into the bedroom and closed the door. "Evan a storm is raging out there!" Dupe stressed.
"Yeah, and Danny and Alice are out in it - alone!""So your gonna follow them?" Dupe asked in disbelief. "We need to stick together - not separate!"
"Well I'm sticking with Danny!" he said stubbornly. Rummaging through his wardrobe for his waterproof coat. There was no way he was having Charlotte go through what he and Olivia went through, what they were still experiencing now! Olivia had never been the same since that day and he didn't want that for Charlie! "Danny could have had an accident Dupe. Him or Alice. They could be lying bleeding, unconscious. These few hours we wait could make the difference between life and death!" he declared "I REFUSE to lose any more family!" he added defiantly.
"I have no doubt they would have found shelter and will be riding out the storm Evan. Trust me."
"Where Dupe?" he yelled as thunder rumbled. "Do you hear that?" Lightning flashed sinisterly. "See that lightning. We have no huts out there, no shelter at all, just trees - and Danny knows far better then to stand under a tree in a storm!" he fumed. Walked to the door, turned back to look at Dupe. "You ask me to trust you, I trusted you to bring my mum back after the fire. I TRUSTED you then Dupe. I don't blame you for not being able to bring her home, but now you surely understand why I can't just sit here and wait, not like last year!"
"Ev you can't go out there alone." Dupe told him softly.
"You coming?"
"We can't leave the woman alone in the house. Not during a storm!"
"So I am going alone then?" he walked from the room into the study. Grabbed a radio, torch, keys and a rifle.
"Just wait 5 minutes." Dupe asked, knowing Evan was serious and nothing was going to move him. Kid was as stubborn as Danny! Dupe walked away grumbling. Returned a few minutes later ready to go. "I'm going to speak to Georgina."
"I say we just go, she wouldn't let us out of the house earlier."
"We can't leave without telling then Ev!"
Evan exhaled. "Tell Nomsa then." he countered.
"Georgina!" Dupe called walking from the study.
Georgina appeared and looked at Dupe's attire. "Anders?"
"Evan wants to go out and look for Danny, he won't be swayed. I'm not going to take him far, then I'll get him home."
"But…" Georgina began.
"He's adamant Georgina, he'll go alone if I don't and we don't want him doing that!"
"Ok Anders." she whispered. "be careful." she added.
He nodded.
"C'mon Evan!" Dupe called.
Evan walked from the study. Hugged Georgina as he passed. "We'll be fine." he promised.
"You better be!" she scolded. And hugged him back tightly. Escorted them to the door. Saw then walk down the stairs, climb into a truck and drive off into the night.
Georgina stood on the porch being soaked by rain. She bowed her head. She wasn't a religious person but tonight warranted it. She prayed that wherever Danny and Alice were they were unharmed, then she prayed for Evan and Dupe to be careful. Most of all she prayed for everyone's safe return. She then swallowed thickly and walked back into the house.
(X)
Dupe and Evan inched along in the truck. Dupe continuously wiping water out of his eyes.
"Evan this isn't a good idea. We can't see a thing in this rain!"
"We'll be able to see a truck!" Evan replied stubbornly.
"That only helps if they are still in the truck!" Dupe groused.
"Danny's not stupid enough to leave the truck!"
"What if he had no choice!" Dupe said angrily.
Both sat silently for a moment.
"God this is so stupid!" Dupe complained. "I'm turning around and taking us home!"
"Would you have left your dad Dupe? Alone, possibly hurt?"
Dupe stayed quiet knowing that even now, at 60 he wouldn't - when he was Evan's age nothing short of death would have kept him in that house! "I'll give you that." he conceded..
"So you shouldn't expect me to either!"
Dupe exhaled and shook his head. Water continued to drip in his eyes and blind him. "Keep your eyes peeled. If you even suspect that Danny and Alice are there tell me and I'll stop the truck. God knows we don't want to drive past them!"
Evan nodded and looked, his concentration intense.
(X)
After going into her room to change into dry clothes Georgina returned to the living room, saw Charlotte dozing on the sofa. Nomsa was knitting.
"Anders and Evan have went looking for Danny and Alice." Georgina whispered.
"What?" Nomsa yelped.
Georgina shushed Nomsa. "Anders assured me he wasn't going to take Evan far!"
"This is Du Plessis we're talking about." Nomsa reminded.
"I know, that's what worries me!" she breathed.
Without warning the whole of the earth began to shake. Pictures fell off the walls with a crash. Charlotte sat bolt upright and looked around scared. "What's happening?"
The front door opened with a louyd clatter and wind began gushing through the house sending papers flying everywhere. The telephone table blew over by the unrelenting force of wind. It whistled through the hallway menacingly. The 3 woman screamed as lightning flashed and the electrics flickered. Thunder rumbled. Roof tiles groaned and furniture shook, the 3 people ran to the middle of the room and stood together. Arms wrapped around each other clinging tightly.
As soon as it began it stopped. They looked at each other breathing hard.
"What was that?" Nomsa whispered.
"I have no idea!" Georgina admitted. Walked to the front door to shut it. She returned to settle Charlotte. She was steadily crying "Mum!" she whimpered.
"Your mum will be fine." Georgina assured.
"Why have Dupe and Evan gone looking for them if they are ok?"
"I'll sort her a warm drink." Nomsa offered.
Georgina nodded. "They are worried Charlotte but your mum and Danny are clever people. They know what to do in these situations." Like stay in the house and no go out traipsing after a God damned giraffe! She thought angrily.
"You sure?" Charlotte asked.
Georgina nodded. "Now I'm going to get your bedding and I want you to sleep ok. When you wake I have no doubt that your mum will be sat beside you."
Charlotte exhaled shakily and nodded. Wiped her eyes.
Georgina walked to Charlotte's room and retrieved her quilt and pillows. The whole house was suddenly shrouded in darkness. "Stupid electrics!" she muttered. She heard Charlotte yelp. She carried the blankets and pillows into the living room, saw Charlotte looking around with frightened eyes. "It's ok Charlotte." she soothed, lay her down and covered her with the blanket. "I'll go fetch some candles and find Nomsa then read you a bedtime story." Nomsa should have that drink made by now. "Don't move I'll be two ticks ok?"
Charlotte settled onto the sofa, Georgina walked in the Cirection of the kitchen. The first thing she saw was Charlotte's hot chocolate made on the bench, illuminated by a flash of lightning. As she walked closer she skidded on a bag of marshmallows on the floor…..Nomsa was no where to be seen.
"Nomsa?" she called. Looked around. She daren't call any louder for fear of scaring Charlotte. She then realised Nomsa no doubt distracted by the lights going out dropped the marshmallows and went looking for batteries for the torches. She meanwhile rummaged in a drawer for candles. Thunder rumbled especially loud, lightning flashed again and Charlotte screamed loud and shrill.
"Charlotte are you ok?" Georgina called. "Nomsa check her for me will you?"
No reply from either.
"Charlotte? Nomsa?" she called, louder then before. Picked up a torch and turned it on. The torch illuminated the hallway casting it in an eerie glow. Shadows now existed where they hadn't before and she didn't like it! She walked quickly towards the hallway, ignoring her scary thoughts. As she walked into the living room she saw the quilt was lain in a heap in the middle of the sofa. "Charlotte you should have answered me." Georgina scolded softly. "I was….." she pulled back the blanket and saw no one was there. Her eyes widened and her stomach dropped. Charlotte was gone! "NOMSA!" she screamed. Wait a minute! She hadn't seen or heard from Nomsa in a while either! O God! She ran through the study, kitchen, bathroom then checked all the bedrooms. Everywhere was empty. No Nomsa, no Charlotte. Georgina was in the house….alone!
(X)
Dupe and Evan drove along slowly.
"I think we should go home Ev." Dupe said.
"You can, I'm not!"
"Evan your being unreasonable! Have you spared a thought for Georgina, Nomsa and Charlotte? What about those earth tremors huh? What happens if something happens to them? What if they get hurt? They are alone. 2 elderly woman and a child!" he snapped. Pulled the truck to a stop. An uprooted tree lay ahead blocking their path.
"They will be fine! Danny might not be!"
"We can't go any further Evan." Dupe told him motioning to the tree.
"Drive around the dammed thing!" Evan spat.
"No this is going to far, I'm not taking us through the bush in the middle of a storm. It's getting too dangerous!"
"NO it isn't Dupe, they need us!"
"We have responsibilities at home Danny wouldn't be happy about the way we abandoned them!"
"I refuse to abandon him Dupe." Evan said angrily.
Dupe sat quietly, considering his next words. Unsure of whether or not to say them. "Saving Danny won't bring your mum back Ev." Dupe said softly deciding honesty was best. He put his hand on his shoulder.
Evan's eyes darkened and he pulled away from Dupe's touch and jumped from the truck. Walked over to the uprooted tree, wiped running water off his forehead. "You think I don't know that Dupe? My mother is dead!"
Dupe climbed from the truck and walked to him.
Evan's head was down and he had his hands braced on the tree. Rain water poured onto his head, down his neck, cheeks and dripped to the floor. "My mum is always going to be dead! Nothing I do will ever bring her back! I don't need the reminder!"
"I didn't mean it like that Ev….."
Evan spun quickly. "I can't lose Danny. I can't! He promised me I'd never lose him!"
"Danny is fine." Dupe promised.
"You….." Evan suddenly stopped talking and looked behind Dupe open mouthed, he began breathing heavily. "I….I…."
"Evan?" Dupe asked, then spun around. Saw the reason for Evan's shock. "Oh my God RUN!" he demanded, grabbed Evans arm and dragged him with him. Behind them they heard the metal of the truck begin to scream and groan in protest. They ran faster.
(X)
Danny felt something cold and wet on his face. His whole body was aching actually. His head and shoulder ached, worse than anything he had ever felt before. And he wasn't even thinking about his ribs! He shifted and heard a loud groan. It took a moment to realise that it came from him! He tried to open his eyes but they refused. After a few minutes his eyes complied. They were unfocused. He wiped the water from them and his vision began to slowly clear. He found himself looking at a nasty blackened tree limb that were very close to his face. He jumped back in alarm and his ribs protested the movement. Another groan was ripped from his throat. God what had happened? He closed his eyes. A flash of a bright light. Metal groaning. Thunder crashing. Alice screaming…..Alice! His eyes popped open. He turned expecting to see her beside him. He began to hyperventilate when he realised she wasn't there! The only evidence that she had been there was a splattering of blood on the back of the seat.
"Alice?" he asked, his voice weak. He began thrusting at braches and twigs, trying to move them out of his way. He finally released himself. Rain was still pouring. He opened the door to the truck, fell out of it landed on his ribs. Panted as pain engulfed him. He didn't have time for pain! Where was Alice? He pulled himself to standing and walked around to her side of the truck. The door on her side had been ripped off. He ran his hand through his hair, fear filling him. Where was she? And was she ok? Danny disregarded that thought. Alice had to be ok! Nothing could happen to her!
A/N well lots happening in this chapter. i warned chloee that no-one was safe. *Evil smile*
So where are Nomsa and Charlotte? and y is georgina alone in the house?
Dupe and Evan, why is Dupe making them run or more like WHAT are they running from?
And finally where is Alice? and is she safe?
to find out the answers to these questions keep reading. hope your enjoying :D x