Chapter Seven: Goodbyes
K'tulu never came back. There was no word from the Normandy, no escape plan. Had her intentions been discovered? Had they killed her? Had she only ever pretended to help them for information on the Normandy?
If something had happened to her the guards never gave anything away. When Kaidan and the others had grown weak they uncuffed them, leaving them free to move around but still confined to their cell. Occasionally they were brought water, Kaidan drank enough to survive, no more. He didn't trust anything about this place.
On what Kaidan estimated as the 5th day, when the sun crept in through the cracks of the old prison walls, the Anam G'uk came for them. The creatures took them from their cell, guiding them further into the tower, with the usual force Kaidan had come to expect. As they moved higher the stairway became wider, the crude stone wall replaced with beautiful intricate carvings. The windows were larger, allowing the daylight to stream through. Eventually, the staircase stopped, it appeared they had reached the top of the tower. Before them stood a grand doorway, as they approached the door appeared to open by itself, revealing a grand hall and they were pushed inside.
In the centre of the hall a deep pool was set into the floor. The same intricate carvings decorated the walls and red material hung from the ceiling. The room smelt beautiful, a deep fragrance of musky ointment hung in the air. From the edges of the hall more Anam G'uk appeared, they walked forwarded, taking one step at a time with synchronised precision. They were not dressed like the other Anam G'uk they had encountered. Instead of the basic loin clothes, these creatures wore robes of draped red fabric, which flowed majestically with their movements. Upon entering the room, the ones that had led them here stepped back and fell to their knees before the red ones. In unison, the red ones gestured for them to rise, and the captors obeyed but their eyes never left the floor as they swiftly exited, closing the great door behind them with a loud thud. Kaidan focused his attention on the red ones as they surrounded the group and he counted at least ten but it was hard to tell, they moved so fast. The red ones encircled them, increasing their speed with each step until they were a passing red and white blur.
"What's the hell is going on?" Vega yelled as the circle began to close in on them.
But no one had any time to reply, the red ones seized them, hands moving swiftly over their bodies, undoing buckles and clasps, removing their armour.
"Hey!" Vega lunged out as his chest plate was removed, but it was no use, as soon as he resisted he was restrained, his armour removed whether he allowed it or not.
Upon completing their task the red ones moved away, once again forming the circle. The three stood their, completely naked. The circle joined hands and began chanting. Their speech hard and fast, in a language Kaidan couldn't understand. K'tulu had modified Kaidan's translator to understand the Anam G'uk, so whatever they were saying now was not in the same language. They finished quickly, releasing hands, six stepped forward. Two took Kaidan by the arms as the same number then took Vega and Javik individually. They led them to the pool, climbing the steps down into it. The pool was deep, the water pleasantly warm and it submerged Kaidan to his waist. The four that remained outside the pool stood at the water's edge, once again holding hands and continuing their chant. Suddenly, Kaidan's head was forced down underneath the surface of the water and he just managed to hold his breath in time.
The hot alien suns bore down on Kaidan as he stood upon the flattened top of a stone pyramid. The stairs that were cut into the stone on each side of the pyramid were guarded, providing no escape. There was an altar in front of him, still stained with the dried blood of previous sacrifices. He was held tightly by two Anam G'uk. The Mother kneeled at the altar, her arms outstretched and face turned skyward, she was a golden dagger on her hip, that Kaidan was positive had not been there a few days ago. Behind him Javik and Vega were held by their own captors. At the base of the pyramid the Anam G'uk had gathered, a massive crowd stretched far into the distance, its edges barely visible to the naked eye.
Back in the tower, after being cleansed in the pool, Kaidan and the others had been anointed with various sweet and spicy smelling ointments. Vega had made some joke about being marinated, which probably would have been funny if it weren't for the circumstances. They were then dressed in the same red gauzy material as the Anam G'uk in the tower, their hands bound behind their backs with golden cord. All the time the chanting and synchronised movements of the red ones continued. The Anam Gu'uk that had brought them there then returned to take them away. The red ones remained in the tower, as though they were captives themselves. Some sort of priestess and a preparation ritual, perhaps? Kaidan pushed the thought to the back of his mind. Dwelling on questions about the customs of these creatures wasn't going to get them anywhere; he needed an escape and fast.
In one last vain attempt Kaidan scanned the crowd for K'tulu, but she wasn't there. He needed come up with a new plan, he couldn't count on her and he was not about to die here. He turned his attention back to The Mother as she rose from her knees.
She came for him first; she took hold of him, positioning herself behind him and pushing him forward to the altar. He had to time his actions right. He waited till they reached the stone altar, just The Mother tried to force him onto it, he lunged his elbow into her, catching her by surprise and propelling her backwards. He flung his bound arms over the top of the head, using both hands as a fist he struck the Mother across the face.
But it wasn't enough; The Mother was still faster and stronger than he was. She regained her balance, shifting quickly to seize him by the throat. She hissed aggressively, raising him into the air before slamming him down hard onto the stone altar. The force knocked the air straight out of him. The crowd snarled and cheered celebrating The Mother's triumph and enjoying the spectacle. Unable to resist further, Kaidan was powerless as the Mother bound his feet and wrists to the corners of the table.
Once she was finished she walked to the front of the platform, raising her hands into the air.
"My Children! Today we make offering to the Gods. We have wronged them; we led astray by false Gods. But the Gods not forsake us, they forever merciful. They sent humans to test us, and we no disappoint them again." The Mother reached for the dagger on her hip, unsheathing it and raising it skyward. The crowed cheered in response. The Mother shifted behind the altar again, the dagger still poised high in the air above Kaidan's chest. She removed one hand from the dagger, holding it high in the air to silence the crowd, savouring the suspense of the kill.
"Oh great Vash Nu'tak, God of all gods, we offer this flesh to you and the divine. May you shine down on us again."
She thrust the knife downwards, aiming straight for Kaidan's heart as a ferocious scream ripped through the silence. The Mother froze, her head snapped up, searching the crowd for the source of the noise, the dagger poised just inches away from Kaidan's chest. Kaidan turned his head away from the dagger as commotion ripped through the crowd. From distant edges the Anan G'uk were being swarmed, being pushed to the ground from the left, right and centre, taken completely by surprise. Kaidan strained his eyes to see, it was the males. Someone had released the males.
The males pushed the assault further and further towards the pyramid, relentlessly making their way through the crowd. Kaidan's attention was pulled back to The Mother as she let out a sharp cry. Kaidan turned to her as K'tulu appeared, violently swiping the Mother across the face with her claws before grabbing her and throwing forcefully her through the air. The dagger fell from her hand, clanging loudly as it hit hard stone. The Mother flew over Kaidan and down into the crowd way below. K'tulu moved quickly to undo Kaidan's restraints, offering him a hand up.
"I had just about given up on you." Kaidan took her hand and raised himself into a sitting position.
K'tulu smiled at him, with a look that mocked his doubt in her.
"Come, we have little time. We must reach the Normandy." Was all she said before she shifted, appearing again a few feet away locked in combat with The Mother.
Kaidan hadn't even seen The Mother return up the steps, he was both impressed and fearful, the Anam G'uk were definitely powerful and he was glad they had K'tulu on their side. Kaidan swung his legs round and jumped off the altar. Kaidan scanned the area; the fallen dagger lay a few feet away. Some of the males had reached the pyramid and were attempting to make their way up the steps. Vega and Javik's captors had abandoned them in order to aid the guards on the stairs and stop the males from reaching The Mother. The steps to the back of the pyramid had also been left unguarded because the males were coming from the front, not the back. It was their only escape route, but he had to find a way to help K'Tulu first. She'd held up her end of the bargain, now it was his turn.
"Kaidan!" A familiar voice called from the back steps.
Kaidan turned to see his father and the rest of the humans coming up the steps, accompanied by Liara and Garrus. She'd done it. K'Tulu had done everything she was supposed to, she'd got the rest of the humans here and she'd managed to contact the Normandy. Now he just had to get them all the hell out of here. His father threw him an assault rifle and Kaidan caught it deftly.
"Give them hell, kid." His father called before running to the edge at the front of the pyramid and firing down into the crowd.
Kaidan took crouched behind the altar; he couldn't get a clear shot on The Mother to help out K'tulu, the movements of their fight too fast paced for him to keep up with.
Garrus threw weapons to Javik and Vega whilst Liara ran over, crouching down at his side and giving him a friendly shoulder bump.
"Good to see you Major, you had us worried."
"Timed your arrival perfectly, few minutes later and I'm afraid I wouldn't have made the rescue party." He smiled melancholy.
"Well I'm glad you have. We need to get out of here; the Normandy is waiting for us."
"Not without K'tulu."
Liara nodded before sprinting towards the right hand steps firing at the guards trying to return to the altar.
The noise of the battle rung all around. The surprise advantage had been lost, and the sheer volume of the females meant the males were beginning to struggle. Two guards had seen the threat to The Mother and had managed to pull K'tulu off. K'Tulu fought hard to keep them both off of her. But The Mother was now free and heading straight for Kaidan to reclaim her lost prize. Kaidan let off a few rounds but The Mother just kept coming. She didn't even bother shifting, she was enjoying the hunt.
"Cover me!" Kaidan shouted and ran at her, diving for the dagger before quickly returning to his feet.
The Mother picked up the pace, shifting forward, but this time Kaidan had been expecting it. As soon as he saw her shift he thrust the golden dagger forward, driving it into her stomach just as she appeared before him. She screamed, her blood red eyes starring down into his, full of anger. Time stood still for a few moments and when it continued it was as if the events occurred in slow motion.
With the last of her strength The Mother raised her head, opening her mouth wide to expose her fanged teeth before she plunged it down ferociously into Kaidan's neck.
He let out a painful cry. His flesh burnt, the agony screaming through him. His vision went bright white and he felt the blood gush from him. Hot and sticky, it dripped down his body, soaking into the robes he wore. Finally, the life drained out of The Mother and her jaw loosened it's vice like grip. Kaidan fell backward, too weak to stand, the Mother's lifeless body coming down on top of him.
"Alenko!" K'tulu called out, throwing the remaining guard off of her; the other's dismembered head lay by her feet. She shifted to his side, pulling The Mother's body off of him. Her size meaning she could easily lift him, she scooped him up and cradled him like a baby.
"We leave now!" She snarled to the others over the noise of the battle.
"Fall back! To the Normandy!" Kaidan heard Garrus order.
K'tulu shifted to Liara.
"I get him to the Normandy faster alone; you can make it without me?"
"Do it! Go!" Liara shouted over the sound of gunfire.
Kaidan faded in and out of consciousness, his head swimming. He was aware that they moved quickly through the city and into the open planes of this unfamiliar world. Last time he had shifted with the Anan G'uk he'd felt sick, now all he felt was the throbbing in his neck, the blood oozing out of him. He heard nothing but the sound of K'Tulu's feet hammering on the ground and her breath coming hard and fast.
At least if I die here I saved them, I saved Dad. The crew were strong, they could make it back to Earth without me. It's not far now. Mom won't have to be alone now, she'll have Dad.
Suddenly K'tulu stopped; he sensed the wind rushing around them, the loud hum of an engine.
The Normandy.
The sound of the ship reassured him and he faded out of consciousness.
The feel of cold hard steel against his back roused him, followed by the touch of hands, someone pressed firmly against his neck, stemming the blood flow.
"Arghhh!" He let out in pain, but the sound was weak.
"We've come to far for you to die on me now Alenko, do you hear me Major? Don't you fucking die!" Was the last thing Kaidan remembered Dr. Chakwas saying before he blacked out.
Shepard starred out the window, her arm wrapped around her legs, her chin resting on her knees. At her feet lay the black Alliance uniform that had been given to her for the funeral. She didn't feel like putting it on. She didn't feel like doing anything. She just felt numb. She'd never been the best at expressing her emotions and now she had to do it, for the grieving families... for the cameras. The great media puppet she had become. How was she supposed to get through today? How could she ever accept that they were gone? That Kaidan was dead? She couldn't, but she guessed that she had to. Even if it was just for today.
There was a knock at the door and Jack entered without waiting for a reply. She looked at Shepard; her legs still tucked up against her body, and then glanced at the uniform that lay at the foot of the bed.
"You not ready to go?" Jack asked, arching one eyebrow.
Shepard shook her head. "I don't want to go."
Jack sighed heavily, perching on the edge of the bed next to Shepard.
"Look Shepard, I'm not the best at this mushy bullshit or at knowing the right things to say at the best time. If you wanted that you should have waited till Miranda got here. Or better still Ori, she's the least fucked up out the lot of us."
"Ori now is it?" Shepard's sullen expression softened slightly, a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips.
"Yeah, Ori and Miri. I adopted the nicknames where I realised how much it fucked Miranda off." Jack smiled, rather pleased with herself.
Shepard rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. Maybe Jack wasn't great with expressing emotions, but neither was Shepard. She didn't need someone to tell her everything would be okay because moments like this, when Jack could still make her smile despite how crushed she felt on the inside reminded her of just that. Whatever happened, she wasn't alone. And though she could never fill the whole left by what she had lost, she needed to focus on what she had.
"Thanks Jack." She smiled
"I didn't do anything."
"You didn't have to. Just be yourself."
"I- Err, well, okay." She paused and shook her head. "Anyway, I brought you something." She said, placing a hand inside her bag.
When she retrieved it she was holding a picture frame, she passed it to Shepard awkwardly. Shepard looked down at the object in her hands. Her stomach sank and her heart ached, her eyes glistening with tears. Kaidan, it was a picture of Kaidan.
"Where did yo-"
"- When they first brought you here they asked me to collect any stuff you might want from you room at the Alliance HQ. I found that, you had it in your cabin back when we worked for Cerberus and it was important to you, so I kept it. Until now there's not really been a time that seemed right to give it to you.
"Thank you." She whispered not looking up from the deep brown eyes that starred up at her from the photo.
"I'll leave you to get dressed." Jack rose and quietly exited the room.
Shepard placed the picture of Kaidan on the cabinet next to her bed and gazed at it for a moment. Bringing two fingers up to her lips, she kissed them before pressing them onto his lips. Looking at the clothes laid out on the bed and then back to his face, she decided she could do this.
Shepard maintained a blank face throughout the ceremony, her mouth a hard line. She could feel the press cameras trained carefully on her face, it made her feel uncomfortable. The aisles were lined with representatives from all species, pictures of all those lost on the Normandy were laid out at the front on the church. The Primarch Victus had shook Shepard's hand when she had arrived, they had met before but he didn't trigger any memories. He praised Garrus highly; Shepard mainly nodded in agreement, keeping her comments generic. It felt wrong, Garrus deserved more, they all deserved more, but what did you say about people you couldn't remember, especially when no one knew you'd forgotten. Kaidan's mother had taken a seat next to Shepard, clutching her hand tightly and weeping whilst people gave eulogies. Shepard found it hard to feel any emotion at all whilst these people she didn't know said kind words about people she didn't remember.
As the last person finished, it was her turn to speak, as the Commander she was expected to give the final eulogy. She still hadn't worked out what she was going to say. As she rose steadily on to one crutch, Kaidan's mother gave her hand a final squeeze and a reassuring smile before letting her go. Shepard took to the lectern starring straight ahead, trying to appear strong and professional, frantically searching for the right words to say. She focused on what she did know, what she'd pieced together from the information she had been given, the things her and her crew had been through together. Shepard had no family and the things these people had done, well, it went above and beyond the call of duty. She thought of Jack, Miranda, Wrex and Grunt, their friendship, the bond they must have before shared for them to still stick by her, even now. She thought of Kaidan, their final goodbye on Earth, her thoughts and feelings with him then. In that moment she knew, she made a connection with her past, with the Shepard that did have a family. The only one she ever really needed, her crew, her friends. She took in a deep breath and began.
"For those of you that don't know, I'm Commander Shepard. I had the... privilege of serving with these men and women. I -Ermmm...
I thought for a long time about what I was going to say today, and, well nothing seemed right. In reality, there is nothing I can say; words will never be enough for these people. And it's hard. Hard because they were my crew and they had so much belief in me. On numerous occasions they followed me to Hell, but this time... I'm the only one that made it back and that's not right. It will never be right and I hate myself for being the one who is here today instead." She paused. "I would never have been able to do it without them. These brave men and women. They were my family, the only real one I ever had. They were my friends, the ones who believed in me when no one else did. I became a better person because of them. I even fell in love." She sighed, lowering her head and dropping her crutch in favour of firmly clutching the sides of the lectern. "And that's something that would have probably never happened to me. When the whole universe was hanging on by a thread, I was in love with Major Kaidan Alenko." Her voice broke as she spoke his name, thinking back to their goodbye. "He made this war real for me. A light in the darkness. For so long I'd been fighting for something so much bigger than myself and that doesn't make you a good solider. How do you make the right choice when the chips you're gambling with aren't your own? And that's what these people showed me, not just Kaidan, all of them." She stumbled over his name again as the tears gathered in her eyes. "They understood, they taught me to love. Because of them I've loved and I've lost, as we all have. I guess what I really wanted to say to you all is that it's okay to be afraid of life without them because life - it will never be the same again." The tears began to flow freely down her cheeks now. The salty water splashing onto the lectern beneath. An usher stepped forward; she was losing it, in front of everyone. The Alliance had probably warned them to watch out for her, wouldn't want the media to catch on to the tragic wreck that was the once great Commander Shepard.
"I'm fine" She whispered delicately and the usher backed off. She took a moment to compose herself, wiping her tears on the back of her hand and returning to a professional posture.
"They will never be forgotten." She continued. "We're all alive because of what they did, they're the real heroes. I pray that they find peace and that one day we will find them, that we can love them again."
As she finished a solitary tear ran down her cheek, the final one she would allow here, in front of everyone. The usher handed her crutch back and she stepped down awkwardly and returned to her place by Kaidan's mother, the older woman's eyes red from crying as she took Shepard in a mournful embrace.
The funeral continued with the attendees paying their respects. Since there were no bodies, long stemmed white roses were given to people to lie at the feet of the photographs. Family videos of the dead were projected onto the large wall of the church as the procession continued. Shepard watched the screen, the agony tearing through her every time Kaidan appeared.
As the Normandy's Commander, Shepard went last, the logical choice for the final farewell. Shepard hated it, she wanted to blend into the crowd, to not have to mask her emotions for the sake of the cameras.
Due to her immobility an usher followed Shepard with her flowers, passing her the roses individually as she reached each picture. They'd placed Kaidan's picture last.
Of course they bloody have. Thought Shepard, her anger increasing the longer it went on.
Every passing second made her feel more like she was at an elaborate media performance than a funeral. It had all been planned down to every last little detail. People were less likely to start questioning why there had been no consequences of breaking the fraternization rules and whether Kaidan had ultimately distracted her when she was supposed to be focusing on the Reapers if they were heartbroken over the tragically doomed lovers.
She reached his picture, it was large, blown up to ridiculous proportions. His eyes the same size as her clenched fist. She studied his features and traced fingers on her free hand along his jaw, feeling the cool smooth glass.
Shepard turned to take the rose from the usher, but as she looked down at it she froze. Gone were the snow white roses that had been laid at all the other portraits, in its place was a single beautiful red one. She closed her eyes, trying not to boil over. They had really over done it this time.
Oh well. She thought as she tried to calm herself.
They had already seen her cry. She'd had enough, she just wanted to get out of here and if that meant playing up to this last ridiculous stunt, she'd do it. She blocked them all out, thinking of Kaidan. Bringing the rose to her lips, she kissed it, breathing in its heady scent.
I love you Kaidan. Wherever you are, know that I love you. I will never stop loving you.
She lay the single red flower down on the pile of white. But as she looked into the crowd, she noticed no one was looking at her, not even Kaidan's mother who was sobbing violently. Their eyes were all trained on the screen behind her. She turned and the image she saw made her sick to her stomach. Footage played behind her. A youthful looking Kaidan, not quite as she remembered him, stood magnified on the large screen. In front of him, the pilot, Joker she recalled, lay a white rose down on a plaque which read Commander Shepard. The pain in the pilot's eyes was evident. This was footage of the crew that had survived the SR-1 paying their respects. Kaidan approached the plaque. If the others looked mournful his expression was one of undiluted grief-stricken agony and he was failing miserably at trying to mask it. Shepard heard Eleanor audibly sob from the crowd but she could not remove her gaze, transfixed on the screen. Kaidan lay the flower gently on the plaque, then pressed his hand down firmly on her name as if covering it would make it disappear. As he turned away, Joker took him in a gentle embrace and the two exited the screen as the procession continued.
Shepard stood, glued to the spot, her mouth hung open in shock. She tried to process what she had just seen. They had pulled the footage of her funeral, her crew saying goodbye and they'd played it, here, now. Kaidan placing a flower on her memorial as she place one on his. Oh yeah, they'd love that. The symmetry was beautiful but wholly and utterly callous. Bile rose in Shepard's throat, tears fell freely down her cheeks and she clenched her fists in anger. Her only instinct was to run, get out of here as fast as possible, she turned from the screen and fled down the aisle as fast as her crutch would allow her.
"Shepard!" Jack called out, rising to pursue her.
Shepard didn't stop; she had reached the large church doors before Jack was even out of her seat.
Once outside, Shepard threw her crutches down and ran. Her injuries slowed her down and her body screamed out in protest but it didn't stop her. She didn't have a plan, or know where she was going; she just carried on, winding her way through the grave stones. The tears she normally fought so hard to contain came uncontrollably. It wasn't just the video, the fact that her life, her heartbreak had been turned into a media spectacle at the expense of anyone and everyone involved. It was everything. The position she had found herself in. The life she had forgotten, the life that included Kaidan, the memories that wouldn't return. The fact that those memories were all she had left. It was the reality of facing the person she had become without him, a hollow shell, empty, a ghost of her former self. The thought of what she'd loved and what she'd lost. The realisation that this was it, this was the end for them, this was goodbye. She couldn't kid herself anymore, she couldn't keep telling herself that he was coming back, it hurt too much. He'd loved her, the pain on his face in that god forsaken video had more than proved it, but he was gone and she had no where left to run to.
Shepard stopped in her tracks; she was still in the grave yard, no sign of Jack. It was peaceful out there, away from all the people; it allowed her to calm down. What would he think if he could see her now, on her own in the middle of a grave yard sobbing her eyes out? She needed to say goodbye, in her own way, no gimmicks, no flowers or plaques. Just her and Kaidan. She closed her eyes.
"Kaidan…" She whispered into the wind. "Where ever you are, know that I love you, I will always love you." She sighed. "I only have this little piece of you left but I miss you, all the time. I hate myself, I hate that I'm here without you. I would give anything to trade places, anything. I can't believe that you're gone, but I have to. I still feel you, like you're near to me but then I open my eyes and you're not here. It kills me. Everyday, everything is hard. I've tried… so hard to tell myself that you're gone and you're not coming back, but I can't accept it. I'm captivated by you, by the traces of life you've left behind. It's like none of this is real without you, like you've left my soul empty... I'm nothing without you… I've lost my faith in everything, in myself, in any future. I don't know how to do this alone, I don't want to." She sighed; she was losing control again, the tears coming faster. "I hope you know that I did it all for you, I knew love because of you and as long as I live I will never forget you. I don't want to. And I pray that one day I will find you on the other side. Goodbye Kaidan… I love you."
Shepard opened her eyes slowly, taking deep breaths to steady her emotions. She figured she should try and find Jack, she'd be worried. She turned back to the church but out of the corner of her eye she noticed a figure watching her by an ornate angel headstone. She squinted, trying to identify the person.
"Hello?" She called.
She walked closer to get a better view. The figure didn't move as she approached, she only had to walk a few meters before she recognised him, she would know his face anywhere.
"Kaidan!" She shouted.
She tried to run, but her body resisted still in agony after her earlier overexertion. So she hobbled to him, as fast as her injuries would allow. Kaidan turned slowly and began to walk away.
"KAIDAN!" She shouted again.
He didn't even flinch, just carried on his course getting further and further way.
Shepard couldn't think straight.
He was alive?! He was here! What was he doing? Why was he just leaving her?
Hot angry tears began to fall down her cheeks; she would never reach him like this.
"KAIDAN!" She screamed at him, her anger taking over and allowing her to pick up the pace.
But her body finally betrayed her, her legs gave way beneath her and she fell. She came down hard, knocking her temple on a gravestone as she went down.
"Shepard!" Jack called, she ran over, kneeling in the mud by Shepard. "Here you are! Are you alright? I was worried sick. I'm so sorry about what happened in there. If I had any idea… Somebody is going to fucking pay, Shepard! They'll be lucky if they can suck fucking soup through a fucking straw when I'm finished! Urgh I am so pissed off right now!"
"Go after him Jack, get Kaidan." Shepard struggled to move her head to another glimpse of him.
Jack followed her eye line; a puzzled expression crossed her beautiful face.
"Shepard what are you talking about? There's no one there."
Shepard pushed herself up off the ground, ignoring her bodies protest and the blood that poured down her face.
"Hey, try not to move too much." Jack helped her up into a sitting position, supporting her weight.
Jack was right, there was no one there. No where he could have got to that quickly, no foot prints in the mud, no sign that he had ever been there at all.
