Chapter nine
Martin is destined to die in a car accident.
Theresa's words echo in Samantha's brain. They repeat over and over again. She is unable to escape them. Her dream was not a dream, but a prediction. But it's a premonition that she is going to prevent. She cannot stand going through Martin dying again. But this time, Martin's death will be real; it'll stick.
Samantha is so close to Martin, so close that they are both in danger of getting hit by the truck. The beeping horn is now a background noise. The only things she can hear are her thoughts racing through her head. Her complete stupidity: Nolan can potentially lose both parents. She is potentially risking her life for a man that abandoned her and their baby. Her fear: She is scared of losing her husband and her own life. She is scared of finding out the truth behind Martin's disappearance and possible fake death.
Samantha is so close to Martin that she is now at little more than arms length away. The screeching truck is only a few inches away. Thinking fast, she dives for Martin. Before they know it, the two are lying on the grass. The pickup truck is now in front of them, at a full stop.
Martin lies on his back. His head is spinning. His body is aching. He is so confused as to where Samantha came from. He is so confused as to why Samantha is here. He didn't notice the oncoming truck until it was too late. Then he felt his body being ripped from the ground accompanied with a blow to his body. He is confused. It takes him a good amount of time to realize what happened to him and what just happened; however, it only takes seconds for him to notice Samantha.
She is lying next to him. He can feel her warmth. He can smell her perfume. But there is something wrong. She is lying on her side with one of her arms tucked underneath his body and the other resting on his chest. Martin looks around and can see the driver of the pickup truck running after them. He quickly sits up and shakes Samantha. Her body rocks and her head bobs. She doesn't move. Now Martin can clearly see the cause. Her head rests on a bloody rock. He knows that while trying to save him, Samantha hit her head on a rock when she dove for him.
"I'm sorry," the driver says. "I tried to stop." He frantically reaches for his cell phone. "Is she okay?" he asks while waiting for the 911 operator to pick up the phone.
Martin stares at the man. He shakes his head and places his hand over Samantha's mouth and nose. He breathes a heavy sigh of relief when he feels warm breath beating his palm. "Sam," he says. He shakes her. "Why did you do that?" He wants to yell at her for putting her life at risk for his.
Samantha's eyes flutter open. She can hear Martin's voice. Her head hurts, but she ignores it. She struggles to her feet much to Martin's dismay. She fights against Martin's hands as he tries to hold her down. Samantha is hesitant about getting too close to Martin, so she stands on her feet and steps away. Blood is acuminating in her hair, and it runs down the side of her face.
Samantha's emotions are clouding her rational thinking. Martin is right to try and stop her from standing. After all, she lost consciousness for a few minutes. But she wants some answers from Martin. She went to his funeral. She spent days grieving over him. Her dreams were full of Martin's smile and bright eyes. She is reluctant to allow him back into her life without an explanation.
"Hey, Lady," the driver says, "you shouldn't be getting up."
Samantha looks at the driver. She thinks about yelling at him to shut up but decides against it. She looks back at Martin, and for the first time, she realizes that Martin looks like hell. His face has many scratches on it. Dirt and dry blood cake his face. What happened to him?
"Sam," Martin says, "what are you doing?"
Samantha doesn't know. She can't help the way she feels. She wants answers before she runs to his arms. "I went to your funeral," Samantha says. By now both she and Martin are standing. There are a few feet between the two of them. "I thought you were dead." She tries to hold back her unshed tears. "Everybody thought you were dead."
Martin stares at her with confusion. He hangs his head and frowns. His shoulders droop. "I thought that you were looking for me."
Samantha wonders if she's being too hard on Martin. He looks beaten and his spirit is damaged. She steps closer to Martin. She rests her hand on his upper arm. "I did look for you, Martin," she empathized. "Everybody told me to stop, but I kept looking." She is soft and tender now. "Even though everybody told me that you were dead." Judging from Martin's reaction to his apparent death, Samantha knows that Martin left against his will. A wave of relief washes over her. He didn't abandon them.
Martin straightens up. His body bounces almost with a blend of anger and confusion. "What are you talking about? Why does everybody think I'm dead?"
Samantha's head is pounding. She tries to ignore the dizziness. "They said that they found your body in the warehouse after the fire." Samantha is confused. Everything about everything is confusing.
Martin begins to pace. He, himself, is not feeling good. His whole body aches, and even his cuts have cuts. He gives an angry laugh. "I can't believe it," he says. He stares at Samantha. "I can't believe everybody thought I was dead. I was fighting for my life while you were having my funeral."
Samantha clutches her stomach. "You think I wanted you dead? Like I told you, I looked for you." She fights the urge to vomit. She stares at Martin with sad eyes. She feels guilty for thinking that Martin ran away. He was most likely at the whims of his captor.
"Why are you here?" Martin asks. He is ecstatic to see her. All he thought about was her. But he is curious how she knew.
It isn't long before Samantha's vision gets blurry. "Ah…I…ah…I interviewed…Javier's mom. She told me—" Samantha shakes her head in a lame attempt to get rid of the pain in her head.
"Are you okay?" the driver asks. He is biting his nails furiously. He notices the blood that runs down Samantha's face.
Samantha shakes her head. "I think…I need to sit."
Martin rushes to her side and grabs her hand, helping her. He sits down next to her. Samantha immediately seeks comfort and solace from Martin. She practically crawls in his lap and rests her head against his chest. She smiles when she hears his heart beat. And although he was clearly beaten, the blood and dirt doesn't pass her nostrils. Instead she smells his scent. "Are you okay?" she asks. "I see that you're all cut up and bloody." She closes her eyes.
Martin rubs his hand up and down Samantha's back. "I'll be fine."
Samantha opens her eyes and stares at her husband. Her eyes scan the cuts on his face. "We need to get you to the hospital." She reclaims her spot in Martin's arms and closes her eyes. She hears the sound of the siren announcing the arrival of the ambulance.
Martin smiles at her obvious concern for him.
Samantha and Martin share an ambulance and a gurney on their way to the hospital.