Chapter 24: Savior

Hayley shuddered as a sharp wind rushed around her, leaves rushing about all over the place, swirling into mini tornadoes. Her eyes filled with fear and then concern. She hurriedly rushed to the camp finding a scares amount of people running to safety and immediately searched for how she could help.

The doors of the wooden cabins clanged open and shut, piles of firewood toppling over and flying across the ground along with the several other objects getting caught in the storm.

Most of the packs were inside by now; there were no longer many people to be seen. They prepared for the worst often so I guess that is was they weren't as taken a back. Hayley placed and arm in front of her face to try and block the wind from attacking to her, it's strength increasing by the minute.

Another blast shot at her tugging her in any way it wished.

Hayley grit her teeth and rooted her feet to the ground as firmly as she could. She felt as if she'd be swept away any second if she dared to move.

"I can't just stand here." Hayley thought through a mouthful of hair which was being violently assaulted in the tumult.

Hayley pushed the strands back trying to make out destinations through all the obscurities.

Suddenly however, she heard a cry.

A muffled cry.

Hayley turned to face the source of the sound. She struggled to work out where it was coming from despite her werewolf hearing. Eventually however she latched onto a direction and stumbled towards it.

As Hayley neared the sound she realised what it was.

"A child." She thought and her each step towards the child became stronger.

Elijah found himself in the bayou.

It was empty.

Everyone must have rushed to safety.

Maybe he was wrong, maybe Hayley was okay. Maybe she didn't need him.

"But you need her." His conscience mutter and Elijah grew angry.

Despite Sophie's accusation his need for Hayley seemed unchanged. He refused to accept she could do such a thing in the fear of the hurt it would cause him.

He was still determined to see that she was safe. He wouldn't be able to rest until he was sure.

The wind attacked him ruffling his hair and sharply blasting his face yet he still stood fairly firmly trying to search for anything that might give him some information.

Just as he surveyed his surroundings, something caught his eye.

A figure was moving through a manic swirl a leaves walking in the incorrect direction of the wind current.

Elijah cursed inside.

"Who would be stupid enough to do such a thing." He thought and then it clicked.

He could have bet anyone in the moment, that that person was Hayley and for some profound reason she was doing the right thing.

Hayley was quite close now and she could make out the child slightly. She blinked a few times at the balled up crying child and then recognised the strawberry blonde hair immediately. It was Chloe.

The little girl was huddled onto the ground hugging her knees, clutching onto herself for dear life. Hayley felt a shot of anger and overwhelming feeling rushing up inside her. She felt for the girl and could almost relate, her face filling up with a nostalgic sadness.

Elijah saw now the reason Hayley was trekking though this dry hurricane. A little girl. She was trying to save a little girl. His heart lost all its anger and he found himself feeling a strange sense of sad.

All of a sudden however his attention was diverted to a stack of barrels rolling, panging and clanging across the bayou. He calculated in less than five seconds that one was sure to his them both Hayley and the child who she had now reached.

Hayley called to Chloe trying to reassure her that she was going to be okay now, though when the little girl turned, her eyes widened with fear, her tiny heart forgetting its ability to beat. Hayley turned to see what the little girl was staring at and her own heart faltered unable to accept what was about to happen. A steel barrel was darting in their direction.

Hayley froze helplessly a tear escaping her eyes as she realised what was about to happen. She clawed at the ground trying to pull Chloe to safety and after several attempts finally succeeded. She held the girl to her chest covering her with her own body and waited for the heavy metal hit...

Surprisingly however, nothing came.

Hayley looked up.

"Elijah." Her mind registered. "Was this a dream?"

The next few second became a blur. Hayley felt Chloe wrenched out of her arms and then familiar hands on her own waist lifting her.

The next time she was able open her eyes and examine where she was she found he was in one of the wooden cabins.

Elijah set down Chloe on her feet and she immediately ran to Hayley choosing her over the stranger.

Hayley's mind finally began to work. She crouched down letting the little girl wrap her arms around her and then lifted her up.

"Hey" Hayley spoke.

"It's okay, it's alright you're safe now." Hayley soothed the girl rocking her gently, giving her all her attention.

Elijah watched her intently with admiration, with love. However his heart then hardened when he remembered recent events.

Unexpectedly the cabin door swung open and all three turned to look in its direction.

Eve stood in the doorway and sighed in relief at the sight of Hayley and Chloe.

She rushed up to them now and took the girl from Hayley's arms.

Eve then noticed Elijah and Hayley finally came into grips with him actually being in the room.

"So it's not a dream." She thought.

"It's finally stopped." Eve then turned to Hayley squeezing her shoulder affectionately.

"I'll give you both some time." She then spoke softly and walked out carrying Chloe to her sister outside who hugged her with full force and a face streaming with tears.