Here is the next chapter. YAY!!!! BTW, I got a B and an A on my reports. SUPER-YAY!!!! Anywho, here is the chapter. Follow these instructions EXACTLY: 1. Read story 2. Review story 3. Tell friends about story 4. Repeat step 1-3
Melanie is already in the car when I get outside, I think she is about to drive away, actually, when she sees me coming. Even though I can't hear her, I know she is sighing. At what, I have no idea. Then she really looks at me, sees my expression, which I'm sure is murderous, and her eyes dart down to my hand. In my hand is the empty cryotank, she knows what is coming. I open the door with such force that it snaps forward and I just have jumped in when the rebound has it slamming back at me. I turn to glare at Mel and she hops in the back with Jamie. If he weren't here, I would probably start something with his inconsiderate, disgusting sister.
I pull violently into the lane that leads to the highway. Dear God, I felt like hurting something. I cannot control my fuming, my chest is heaving and, when I look in the mirror, I see a red-face fury staring wildly back at me. I can't believe Mel did this. This! It was my one condition for showing them the procedure. Jesus, she has no limits! Ah, oh, my God, I think I am going to kill her. Ahh!
In the rearview I can see Mel looking anxiously from me to the cryotank to Jamie, and then back to me. Good, she should be nervous. I sure as hell would be. When we hit the highway, I floor it. I am beyond worrying about the seekers. Everything except the end of the highway is out of my mind. When we reach the first gas station, I pull into and turn around.
"Mel, would you talk to me inside for a minute?" I am having a hard time controlling my voice; she looks back at Jamie's unmoving body and returns her eyes to me. I can see that she will not leave him, and it's not like we can drag his unconscious form through the store. God, she is so stubborn! Fine, I lock my gaze with her and see defiance flash behind her eyes. Then, with a soul-deep sigh, climb into the back. I am more careful with Jamie than I will be with his sister. I gently slide him over to the side to make room for me. As Mel starts to object, I cast a death glare her way and she is silenced.
"Wanda, I know you are upset. I get that, but really… " She stops there, as if that would be all it took to calm me down. She can do better than that, I know, and she will have to. We sit there for a good, solid five minutes before I reply. I want to make her feel like this for as long as possible. I will definitely feel bad about this later, but now? Now, I am enjoying… a lot.
"Melanie, I have forgotten the one condition I set before teaching you how to retract a soul from a human. Can you please jog my memory?" Melanie gulps and looks down. I've never seen her act like this. It feels weird and not… right. Ugh, now I feel bad. But I just can't stop.
"Um, I don't remember either. Sorry, but I just don't know." She is still looking down; when I don't respond she finally looks at me. Mel seems to be paralyzed. Tears are beginning to form and I instantly felt horrible, but I had to say it. Before I could stop the words, literally, they spilled out of my mouth.
"I had everyone promise that the souls that I saved would have safe transport off this planet. Why would you do this, Melanie?" Tears were in my eyes and then I went over and hugged Mel. The storm was over, she could tell that. So we sat there, unmoving, for at least 10 minutes. By the time we pulled ourselves together, the front of my shirt was very wet with our tears. Mel looks awful; I bet I do too, so I sit for another five minutes, letting my face lose the red blotches that covered it. I was just starting the car when Melanie let out very happy, very loud, squeal. Yes, an actual squeal. I turn around and see Jamie's clear brown eyes staring back at me. Mel's arms wrapped securely around him. I let out a squeal myself and flung my body in the back of the car too.
***
"JAMIE!" I scream, dang, I need to lower the volume a bit, "Jamie, I thought you would never wake up. Oh, Jamie!" I let out a long breath; I think I've been holding it since he didn't immediately wake up. Thank goodness he woke up. I wouldn't be able to go on this search if he hadn't made it. Thank goodness.
Ok, here is the deal. I am having a MAJOR writer's block. I need some plot ideas. I really want to get into the story and not just flat out say "This happened, and then this happened, the end!" That is not gonna fly. So, if you want the story to go a certain way all you have to do is REVIEW! I need to know what to do! Please, oh please, with cherries on top, review.