Shade(150)

“Razer, call Rachel and tell her to get here as fast as she can. Beth, call her doctor.” Shade could do nothing except hold on to the woman he loved more than life itself as her tortured screams scored his soul with an agony he couldn’t stop.

His friends stood back, giving him space as she fell to the floor. All he could do was hold her, repeating her name as soothingly as possible.

Beth returned, falling to her knees beside him, calling for Lily as she held her hand. It seemed like forever, each minute ticking by endlessly, until Rachel ran through the door Cash was holding open.

“Move out of her way,” Cash ordered everyone.

Shade didn’t make a move to release Lily whose voice had broken from her screams of terror until Rachel motioned for him to move over, and he complied shakily. She sat down on the floor by Lily’s head, pulling it onto her lap. Her graceful hands went to Lily’s temples, pressing her fingers along them while rubbing in soothing circles.

Then everyone went silent as Rachel’s hushed voice spoke to Lily. “Lily, what do you need me to do?”

“Shade will come.” He tensed when he heard her hoarse voice.

Lily was staring blindly up at the ceiling, lost in a world of terror where he couldn’t reach her. He wanted to snatch her up and drive her to the hospital, but the doctor was on his way and he would get there quicker than taking her to the hospital.

“Where is he? Shade? Shade! Where are you, Shade? Was I bad? Is that why you’re not here? Shade, please help me. I’m so scared.

“Beth, please, I won’t be mad at you anymore. I’ll be good, I promise. Please, Beth. I want to go home. Please. Beth!

“Shade! Help me!”

While Shade nearly broke down in front of The Last Riders, Beth cried, her shoulders shaking as she held Lily’s hand.

“Razer? Razer! You promised me no one would hurt me. You broke your promise. Razer, please help!”#p#分页标题#e#

Razer fell down next to him. The tough brother had tears sliding down his cheeks.

“Shade! Shade!

“Pastor Dean! Please, help me!

“Vida? Sawyer? Where are you? Why did you leave me? Vida! Sawyer! Please, help me.”

Shade didn’t recognize the names and Beth shook her head, indicating she didn’t, either.

Cash let the doctor in who had been treating Lily since she had almost died and again after she had the panic attack at the diner. They had told him then what Rachel had done for Lily.

The doctor crouched down, taking Lily’s vital signs.

“Shade … Shade…” She kept repeating his name over and over.

Shade picked up the glass she had dropped and threw it across the room, feeling helpless to do anything for her. He had promised to protect her but he couldn’t, not from her own demons.

All of a sudden, Lily seemed to calm down, like she was hearing something no one else could. Shade hoped that somehow Rachel had finally reached her.

“I’m here! I’m here! Help me!”

Rachel’s face twisted as if she actually saw the horror Lily was seeing in her mind.

“Help me! I’m lost! I can’t find my way back!”

Beth sobbed at Lily’s tortured declaration.

The doctor sat on his knees, watching carefully, his hand on Lily’s pulse.

“The flames won’t let me pass, and I’m afraid to go the other way in the dark. I’m afraid I’ll get lost!” Lily screamed in terror.

Rachel’s brows furrowed.

“But you’re on the other side of the flames!” Lily cried out.

The members in the room stared at each other then looked back at Rachel. Everyone came to the same conclusion: Lily actually believed Rachel was with her.

“How did you do that without getting burned?”

Rachel shook her head.

“I want to get out of here,” Lily whimpered. “Can you help me?”

There was a pause.

“Then we’re both lost. I want to go home.” Lily started crying again.

After another pause, Lily screamed, “I can’t go through there!”

Rachel’s hands tensed at Lily’s temples, her face appearing heartbroken.

“No, I can’t!”

“Lily, your memories have broken free. There is no locking them away anymore. The only way to avoid it is to stay lost. You have to go through the flames,” Rachel spoke aloud that time, barely whispering.

“They’ll hurt me again!”

“No one is ever going to hurt you again. Didn’t The Last Riders save you tonight? They’re not going to let anyone hurt you again. You know that deep in your heart.” Rachel raised a hand in a turning motion then dropped it back to Lily’s forehead.