Broken Dreams(181)

“Copy,” Henry said to Sophie. He looked over at me. “Hey. Love, it will be okay.” He rubbed his cold hand down my cheek. “We’ve got this.” He always tried to be so reassuring, but I knew that he was just as scared as I was. “Thomas, pass me the sniper rifle.”

“HD, I’m up.”

“Copy. I’m going up, as well. You kneel, I’ll lie down.”

“Copy.” When I looked back, I saw Nick reach out the window and grab the walkie talkie from Sophie.

“Henry, no! They’re so close. They could get you while you are trying to get up there. And what about the carrier?” My words came out rapidly. I didn’t like the plan at all.

“Love, I know what I am doing. Now, roll up my window when you see me get up there. You’ll be safe in here as long as you stay put.” He rolled down the window, opened the door, and climbed up it like it was a ladder. I would have fallen on my ass.

I pulled the door shut, and rolled up the window just as an undead was trying to reach in. Thomas had his gun ready. He was breathing heavily, and I could feel his fear.

“Elaina, pick up.” Claire’s voice was shaky. I almost dropped the walkie talkie on the floor of the truck because my hands were shaking so much.

“I’m here.”

“I just wanted to say…” Static.

“Claire?”

“I’m sorry.” Claire was crying. “If we don’t get out of this, I just want to let you know how much I love you, and how much I appreciate what you and your family have done for me over the years…” She paused. “You know, since my parents died.” I fell apart. The sounds of gunfire surrounded us.

“I love you, too, Claire. You’re my sister in every sense. Nick…?”

“I’m here.” Even Nick’s voice was shaky.

“I love you, too.”

“Likewise.” I turned to Thomas.

“Thank you for all that you have done for us.” His eyes were wet. He was trying to keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks so he just nodded. The gunfire continued. It seemed to be more than fifty rounds, but I wasn’t counting.

A second later, I saw Henry scramble down off the roof, but he didn’t get back into the truck. He took off toward Sophie’s truck.

“Elaina!” Claire screamed over the walkie talkie. “Sophie’s hurt!”

“I have you covered,” Thomas said as he opened his door and began shooting the undeads that were still trying to get to us. I got out of the truck. Nick came up to help Thomas hold them off. I ran as fast as I could in the snow-covered road. Henry and Claire were squatting over Sophie’s lifeless body.

“What happened?!” I yelled.

“She fell. She must have slipped.” Henry cradled her bloodied head in his arms. “Jesus, Sophie…come on! Sophie, wake up! Please…”

Claire was trying to assess her. She peeled back my mother’s fur coat and I gasped. Her body was awkwardly positioned. Her upper half was toward the right, her bottom toward the left. When I looked at Claire, she shook her head. Even if she did survive, she would be paralyzed.

Losing it, Henry held on to her tightly. “Sophie… Sophie! Damn it, Sophie! Why did I allow you to go up there? Why? I should have told you no…” Henry broke down, stroking her hair.

Claire listened for breathing and checked for a pulse. Thomas and Nick were still firing.

“Henry…” Claire whispered. Henry rocked Sophie, the tears freezing on his stubble. “Henry… She’s gone.”

“No!” He was adamant.

“Henry, we have to…”

“No!” he growled at Claire.

“She’s going to turn, Henry!” I sat, watching the scene in front of me. Henry was in such despair. He held Sophie close to his body, rocking her. “Please. We have to…”

“Go!” he barked at Claire and I. “Go, both of you! Get in the fucking trucks!” I stood up and walked backward, watching him. I heard him talking to Sophie. He got up on his knees and picked her up. I watched him carry her lifeless body to the side of the road.

By then, Nick and Thomas had stopped firing. Thomas opened the door for me. “Is she okay?” As soon as Nick said the words, we heard Henry’s gun go off. Claire strode off toward Sophie’s truck.

Henry dropped to his knees. His entire self was exposed. Every emotion poured out of him. It was like the scene when Kellan told Henry about his mother. Instead of getting in the truck, I ran to Henry. “Henry! Henry!” I grabbed him, but he wrestled me off.

“No!” he screamed at me, and immediately focused back on Sophie’s body. “I’m so sorry, Sophie. I’m so sorry. I should have protected you better. I’m so fucking sorry.” He was shaking all over. He kept telling Sophie how sorry he was, that he would find her babies, and he would make Roger pay.