Michael moved at a steady pace so not to injure April further. He followed the dirt road that ended at the warehouse, knowing the beginning would be at a main road where he could flag down somebody to take him and April to the nearest hospital.

When he was out in the open, at the side of the road, Michael searched for any sign of traffic coming, but there was nothing. He listened for an engine, but there was only silence.

"Great," Michael huffed. What now?

Just then April moaned.

Michael looked down at her to see her stirring from her unconsciousness, rolling her head around in his arms, trying to get comfortable.

When she couldn't her eyes opened halfway.

"What's going on?" April asked.

She was out of it; confusion filled every word she spoke.

"I'm taking you to the hospital," Michael answered.

April closed her eyes and shook her head. "No hospitals."

"You need medical attention," Michael argued.

April sighed. "I just need to sleep."

"No, April," Michael said as he shook her a little.

She opened back up her eyes, but barely.

"It's better if you keep your eyes open...April stay awake."

But April was already out again.

Michael glanced around. Still no vehicles. He looked up at the stars. The Northern Star was to his right in the night sky. Michael knew that the town was opposite to it. So he turned left and began walking towards Plentywood. He couldn't wait all night for someone to pass by, he had to move.

As slim as April was though, after carrying her for a bit Michael felt his arms tiring. He did his best to ignore it. He wasn't about to drop April on the ground.

Michael was relieved when he heard the sound of an engine and to see the road light up around him.

He spun around to confront the old beat up pick-up truck that was approaching from behind, and stepped into its path.

The driver tooted at him, and then slammed on the brakes, tires squealing as the truck came to a stop a couple of feet away from him.

The driver, a male in his mid-forties stuck his head out of his window and shouted at Michael. "ARE YOU INSANE?"

"I need to get her to a hospital," Michael explained, gesturing to April's limp body.

The man opened his door and approached him. "What happened to her?"

"She hit her head."

It was the truth.

"Come with me," the man told him.

Michael nodded and as the man headed back to the driver's side of the truck he headed to the passenger side and fumbled to get the door open until the man did it for him.

Michael climbed inside and the man shifted his truck into drive, speeding down the road and through town.

"Is she still breathing?" the man inquired.

There was fear in his voice, like he'd be afraid to be near her if she wasn't.

"She is," Michael replied. "I feel her breath on my neck."

He'd rested her head on his shoulder for the ride.

The man gave him a nod to let Michael know he'd heard him, then pressed on the gas pedal faster since they were now out of the busy part of town.

He swerved right and ahead was the Plentywood Hospital.

The man drove right up to the Emergency Room doors and jerked his old truck into park.

"Need my help getting her inside?"

Michael shook his head as he stepped out of the truck and headed for the entrance into the building.

The man was not far behind.

"I need some help here!" Michael announced as he entered the emergency waiting room.

Several heads of those sitting in the room flew up in surprise and the secretary stepped out of her office.

"I'll go get the doctor."

She rushed away through two big swinging doors and in a matter of seconds was back with a thirty something year old man in a white coat. His golden name tag read Dr. Stevenson.

As he jogged up to Michael he reached to push his glasses up the ridge of his nose and he asked him what the man had asked.

Michael answered the same way as he had before, April hit her head.

Dr. Stevenson pried April's eyes open with his gloved fingers and used a miniature flashlight to shine light into them, swaying it back and forth.

A nurse came up from behind him and when he noticed, Dr. Stevenson ordered her to notify others of a new patient, and to have the CT scanner ready.

The nurse raced off to do as told and Dr. Stevenson turned back to Michael.

"Come with me."

Michael fell into step behind him and Dr. Stevenson led him to the first room behind the swinging doors.

"Just lay her down slowly on the bed."

Michael nodded, and lowered April gently onto the covers, head on the pillow.

As soon as he did three nurses entered and two of them helped Dr. Stevenson wheel April out into the hallway.

The third nurse, a short lady with equally short hair, put a hand on his arm. "You have to come with me out to the waiting room, sir."

Michael looked down at her and she gave him a reassuring smile. "She's in good hands, I promise. But we need you to fill out some paperwork."

"I don't know how much help I'll be," Michael spoke honestly. "I haven't known April for very long."

"Well the secretary will just have you fill out what you can then."

Michael followed the kind nurse out of the room, but he hesitated at the big doors, and glanced back over his shoulder before continuing on.

And he wondered what the name of the emotion was that he was experiencing at the moment, the one that clawed at his insides. The one that made him want to change direction and search for April, to find out where she'd been taken.

As Michael walked through the doors it came to him. He was worried. And it wasn't because April needed to live for his sake, not at that moment.

No, at that moment he was worried for her.