No way out and, more importantly, no way in. Cybil headed back down Bachman Road, discouraged. Both tunnels had collapsed in the quake making her journey to Brahms more difficult. Still, she wouldn't be expected back for some time yet. There was access to the freeway if she headed west. If necessary she could travel through South Vale and get help in Pleasant River, if it still stood.

As she approached the crossroads before the bridge she saw a child running towards her through the rain. A little girl waving her arms shouting desperately. Applying the brakes carefully, she brought the bike to a halt. About seven years old, short black hair and wearing a blue and white check dress. A good match for the description of Cheryl. Her stomach turned over at this, a chance for redemption.

"Lady! Please!" shouted the approaching girl.

"Cheryl?" asked Cybil, "Cheryl Mason?"

"We don't have much time." urged the girl, pulling at Cybil's hand.

"What's the matter?"

She left the road and ran towards the old inlet leaving Cybil to follow. Running across the grass she could hear the roar of water. The recent snow and rain had increased the water level dangerously high, reaching the fortified concrete embankment, making it more a river than an aqueduct.

The girl stopped walking.

"What's that…?" mumbled Cybil, spying something in the water.

Not something…it was poor little Andy Morgan.

He looked tired from fighting against the current, and appeared to be holding on to a fragile protrusion with all his might.

"Lady! Look!" the girl screamed.

She broke away from Cybil's hand, and began to run toward him.

"Cheryl! Watch out!" she yelled, running after her.

A stone barrier ran parallel to the aqueduct. It was less than a foot wide and about the same height as the girl. Falling to the right would have resulted in injury, and the left in being swallowed up by the torrent. Cheryl climbed up and ran along the top of the narrow barrier.

"Wait! That's dangerous!"

Her words were ineffective.

Cybil threw her jacket aside and hauled herself on top of the barrier; but she couldn't move along it so nimbly.

By the time she caught up Cheryl was lying prone on top of the barrier and reaching out towards the embankment trying to grab the boy.

"Careful! You'll fall in! You aren't strong enough!"

"I'm saving him. Help me! Please!"

Cybil jumped down from the side of the embankment. She found herself surprised by the temperature and the speed of the current. Cheryl had half of her body leaned out across the water. She looked as if she might fall at any moment and be consumed by the dark waters.

"Cheryl, you stay right there and don't move. I'll save him. I promise."

Cheryl stayed silent and stared at her.

Cybil's footing was tested by the strong current. The rain hadn't let up and the waters continued to rise. Still fighting to keep her balance in the freezing, waist-high water she held out a hand to Andy.

"Don't worry, you're safe now." shouted Cybil, wanting to give the boy some hope.

But Andy gave no response. He just appeared to be caught on the protrusion like a rag doll.

She was more than a little relieved when she grabbed his left arm.

"It's okay now, trust me." reassured Cybil.

The flow of the water was still faster than she anticipated. Pulling him out against it wouldn't be easy. There was nothing to hold onto, so she had no leverage. The icy flood was robbing her body of its warmth and her fingertips were already numb.

"Lady! You'll drown as well!" Cheryl called out.

There was no way she was going to lose Andy again, even if it meant getting swept away herself.

"It'll be ok...just a little more..."

Finally she got a firm grasp on his arm, and pulled his small body up.

"Oh thank God!" cried Cybil, laying him gently on the embankment, "Andy, are you okay?"

He didn't answer. He didn't breathe. Panic began to set in. Perhaps she had been too late. She leaned over to give CPR.

It wasn't necessary…Andy coughed, regurgitating water. Cybil turned him on his side so he could get it all out. She realized how close he came to death. Feeling the cold herself, she covered him with her discarded jacket and stroked his hair. He remained curled up for a few minutes. They shivered together.

Eventually he looked up.

"You...you were the one that made me get in..."

Cybil thought the boy was hallucinating. Though he had disappeared down that hole in the woods right in front of her. On seeing the look on her face, Andy corrected himself.

"Not you. Her! That girl…"

Andy, soaked and shivering, walked to Cheryl. Before Cybil could even think to stop him, he grabbed her arm and

fought with her over the raging waters.

"What are you doing? Stop it now!" ordered Cybil.

"What do you know!" he bawled, "Why don't you tell her to stop!"

Andy gasped as Cheryl lost her footing and fell into the water, swept away by the rapid current. Andy would have to wait. She strode as fast as she dared along the slim wall to keep up with her.

"Cheryl!"

The girl's spluttering voice was replaced by the sound of the turbulent liquid.

Cybil ran after and dove in.

Grabbed at Cheryl's hand.

But the strong current took them both. Dragged them under the rapids the aqueduct had become, engulfed in the darkness.

Everything was black.

There was no sound.

Cybil couldn't tell whether her eyes were open or closed.

She was aware of a small hand in hers.

(maybe i used you lady...)

(what are you saying…?)

Cybil was disoriented. Everything was still pitch black. She couldn't distinguish up from down. And Cheryl didn't seem to be speaking…it was like she could hear her in her head. It was a weird feeling.

(...thats why i was against it…because youre nice, i didnt want to get you involved…

but i caused you trouble, didnt i…

i did get you involved…)

(its my job to get you back to your dad…ive been involved from the beginning)

(no…thats not it…lady…)

(its not about daddy…its about me…a very important secret not to be told…not to anybody

i thought about it for so long

ive been confused by it for so long

but maybe…lady…i can tell you

why theres no one in this town

why i dont want to see daddy

my true…)

"Your what? Your true what?

What do you know?" choked Cybil.

She was sprawled on her back on the grass by the inlet. She had no idea how she got there. The end of Bachman Road and the bridge to South Park had gone, crumbled into nowhere. Water from the river and the inlet poured into the void. Cheryl stood over her.

"I didn't think you were going to make it, lady. You should go to the police station, get changed. It's cold."

Cybil, with no small effort, sat her shivering body up. Did she just imagine that whole exchange?

She could see her motorbike after the crossroads with Bloch Street where she left it. Andy was nowhere in sight.

"Why don't you come with me? If you wait while I get changed there I can take you to your Dad." she smiled weakly.

"I don't want to see my Daddy. If we meet we'll both be sad. You should go back ma'am."

"But it's your Dad. There's no reason that it would be sad for you to see him. If you stay here then you might get hurt or worse. Then things would then be truly sad…and it's Cybil, not ma'am."

Cheryl smiled and headed toward the pit.

"Hey...Cybil? I'm fine by myself now. This isn't my first time here."

"What do you mean?"

"I…I have a place that I want to go, but I have to go alone. If you're with me, I won't be able to go, and then something terrible will happen."

"Something terrible? Why? Your Dad is looking for you. I can't leave your side until I get you back to your dad."

"You're wrong. Someone's waiting for me. In order to meet them I..."

"Who's waiting for you Cheryl? I can't let you go and meet some stranger; and you shouldn't be left alone in a dangerous town like this. I'm a police officer. It's my job to return you to your Dad. Please understand."

"I understand." said Cheryl and stepped off the edge of the pit.

Cybil started up in surprise, but the girl didn't fall. Each footstep landed on thin air. With no apparent way to follow Cybil watched, teeth chattering, as redemption moved miraculously out of her grasp.