Seth glanced at his phone, noted the time and opened another text to Amber. He hated that she, Dean and Zoe were driving in this weather and would feel so much better when they finally arrived. With it being five thirty, they only had two hours before they'd miss the show. He sent a text. Are you still far away?
He waited and when he didn't receive an immediate reply he sent another. Are you okay?
Still nothing and the fine hairs on his neck stood up. He dialed her number and cursed when it immediately went to voicemail. Then he called Dean and his panic increased when Dean's phone also went to voicemail. After getting the same result from Zoe's phone he scrambled to find Roman and Lexi.
He could only hope something was wrong with his phone because the alternative was too terrifying to think about.
Seth barrelled into catering, glanced around and discovered Lexi and Roman in a corner where Kaitlyn was playing with Alea. He weaved around superstars, waved off Punk when he called Seth's name and raced toward his friends.
"Hey, Seth," Lexi's grin immediately began to fade as she looked at him. "What's wrong?"
"I can't get ahold of them." Seth held up his phone. "I've tried all three of their phones and all three go to voicemail." He shook his head, "Amber isn't answering my texts either. I'm hoping its just something wrong with my phone so I need one of you to try and call them."
Lexi pulled her cell from the diaper bag while Roman slid his phone from his pocket. "I'll try Dean."
Lexi nodded. "I'll try Amber."
Five minutes later Seth's mood has shifted from worry into full blown panic. All of them, including Kaitlyn, Nattie and Punk had all tried calling Dean, Amber and Zoe. No one had been able to reach them.
"We need to find Stephanie and Hunter," Lexi motioned to Nattie. "Will you keep Alea for a little while?"
Nattie nodded. "Go. I've got her."
Seth blew out a shaky breath as he followed Roman and Lexi out of catering. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something terrible had happened and he was powerless to do anything about it.
It took Amber a few minutes to find the trunk release, then with one hard, she yanked. Pain lanced through her and she took a moment to breath until it passed. Much to her relief, the trunk popped open. Grunting and groaning, she managed to pull herself free from the mangled wreck of a car and slipped into the cold. The frigid wind hit her square in the face and shuddered as it blew over the few areas of exposed flesh. She made sure the trunk was sufficiently closed she then slogged through the fresh knee deep snow, and began her trek. It didn't take long for the snow to wet her pants and she began to shiver as the cold seeped into her pores.
She eyed the road above and noted the steep drop off. It had to be at least two stories tall and somehow she needed to navigate it with only one arm. Don't think about it, she ordered herself. Thinking about how the odds were completely against her wouldn't be productive. She walked along the bottom of the embankment for a few yards to assess her obstacles. Then, not wanting to get too far away from the car, she chose her spot and using some tree branches and well placed rocks, she began to slowly work her way up the side.
The wind howled and her face felt like a block of ice as she blinked snow out of her eyes. Above her, the road appeared quiet with only the occasional sound of a vehicle driving by. Hopefully, if she managed to reach the top there would still be some cars to flag down. It would suck to go through all this work only to end up without help due to lack of traffic or cell service.
Doing her best to ignore the biting wind and frigid snow blowing in her face, she worked her way up the embankment. Pain sliced through her with every movement, but nothing short of losing consciousness would keep her from reaching her goal. Dean and Zoe's very lives depended on her succeeding.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been out in the elements, but her toes tingled inside her snow boots and her legs felt frozen. Then, her foot slipped and she slid back down several feet, gasping and grunting as she flailed and tried to catch herself. Her glove ripped and she nearly cried as her fingers raked against froze rock. Exhaustion fatigued her muscles and she closed her eyes as a sleepiness slowly seeped through her. It would be so easy to just close her eyes right now and take a nap.
The only problem was if she did that she wouldn't wake up. She didn't survive a suicide attempt just to end up dying in a blizzard. Amber sucked in a breath of icy air and began her climb again as she she slowly realized, this was the reason why she hadn't taken those pills. She'd decided that it simply hadn't been her time to go yet, but she hadn't known why. Now it all made sense. She'd been needed here to save Dean and Zoe and she sure as hell wasn't going to let them down.
Time felt as though it stood still, yet she focused only on her next move. It was all she could do. Thinking about the bigger picture, the overwhelming odds was counterproductive. Her focus slid into a zone where nothing mattered but the next painful move up. It wasn't until she hit flat land did she realize that she'd actually made it.
She spent only a moment on the ground before pushing too her feet and immediately falling to her knees. A cry tore from her as fresh pain cut through her frozen joints. She had no strength left, no reserve to tap. As she rested on her abused knees, Amber glanced up the road and her heart sank. Desolation met her desperation. She'd fought to get to this point and now there wasn't anyone to flag down.
She held back her tears and donned a new blanket of determination as she thought about Seth. No way had she come this far to leave him now. There had to be someone...some place close. She couldn't give up now.
She'd just managed to get to her feet again, when she spotted a vehicle coming around the far curve. Waving her good arm she began walking toward the vehicle. As it moved closer she could see it was a state plow truck and nearly sobbed with joy when it slowed then pulled to a stop.
The driver hopped out as she rounded the front of the plow. "What are you doing out here?" he asked.
Amber quickly explained the situation and guided him to the edge of the road where the car had gone off. She pointed to where the car was now nearly covered in snow with only a hint of the mangled black roof still showing.
"Good God," the driver murmured. "Okay..Okay….We'll get them help." He took Amber by the shoulders and steered him back to his truck. "Let's get you into cab and warmed up and I'll call for help."
An hour later Amber sat in the back of the ambulance with a warming blanket around her and a temporary splint on her arm. The back door opened and they medics slid the gurney holding Dean into the back. "Where's Zoe?" Amber asked.
"They took her in the other ambulance," the medic said.
Amber watched as the medics began assessing Dean who was now barely conscious. She leaned forward and rested a hand on his shoulder, He turned his head slightly toward her and gave her a small smile. "You did it," he rasped.
She grinned at him as tears welled. "Yeah, I guess I did. The worst is over, so just hang in there, okay?"
He gave her a small nod. "You ain't getting rid of me that easily."
As they worked on Dean she leaned back and closed her eyes. The nightmare was over. Her phone beeped and she fumbled to find it in her pocket and discovered a text message from Seth.
We can't get a hold of you, Dean or Zoe. Is everything okay? Finally she had cell service. She glanced down at her shaking and swollen hand. Text wouldn't be easy, but she couldn't call him right now. She needed time to get her nerves settled first. Calling him all upset and crying wouldn't do any of them any good. Carefully and with some pain, she fumbled to write the responding text. No we're not. We've been in a car accident. I'm fine, but Dean and Zoe are hurt bad. In call you when I know more. Love U so much. She hit send and watched as her hand continued to shake. Whether it was because she was still cold or from stress she didn't know.
Love you too. How bad was the accident? U sure you're fine? How bad are Dean and Zoe.
Despite her now swelling and hurting fingers, she texted back. It was bad. I'll explain later. Yes, I'm fine. Bump on the head. Probably a broken arm and some bruises and scrapes. Dean has serious leg damage. Zoe was unconscious and bleeding from her ears and nose. Pray for her.
A few moment's later Seth replied. We will. We'll be there as soon as the storm passes and the roads clear. Luv U.
OK. Call U when I know more. Luv U. She slid her phone back into her pocket, closed her eyes and leaned her head back as one of the medics began a second assessment of her injuries. She could hear the siren wailing, feel the vehicle moving and took a deep steadying breath. They were safe now.