Crossing The Boundaries- Chapter 6 (standard:drama, 0 words) [6/12] show all parts
Author: Siobhan	Added: Jun 03 2001	Views/Reads: 2635/1961	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Jack comes to the conclusion that she must fight the evil for it has taken her friends and will destroy all, unless she can bring it down.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


"Hey, Jack, it's just me," Matt laughed. 

"Oh my gosh," she lowered her arms and sighed in relief.  Matt gave her
his hand to help her up.  He was covered in snow and that was it. 

"Don't ever do that to me again," she groaned.  She had been sure she
was going to die but it had just been a childhood friend.  He was 
laughing but he had no idea how bad he had truly scared her.  It was 
not a funny joke at all. 

"Sorry, I didn't know you were so easily frightened," he chuckled. 

"I'm not, it's just the snow, lack of visibility, and I just had a fight
with David," she explained.  She winced with hurt over what had just 
occurred with David.  She was extremely insulted by his obvious lack of 
judgement but she was not going to dwell upon it. 

"About?" he prompted her for more. 

"Private, back out.  Walk with me to my cabin," she pleaded Matt.  The
fear of being alone in the camp was strong now that the snow was 
falling. 

"Fine, but at least give me a hint about your fight with lover boy," he
draped his arm over her shoulder.  They were almost as close as she and 
Brenda had been but he would never be that close, just cause he wasn't 
a girl and they didn't share the fact that both of their mothers had 
died. 

"I said something and he said something which hurt me so I retaliated
and I left," she grinned.  Ha, satisfy his curiosity it would not but 
it would fulfil his hint wish and give him nothing to go on. 

"So, what words were exchanged between you two?" he inquired. 

"You only said a hint, I gave you a hint," she grinned impishly.  She
loved outsmarting people, it gave her such a thrill, especially when it 
was so easy. 

"Man, that's so not fair," he gripe but he walked her to Martin.  She
hugged him good-bye and climbed the stair.  She looked towards the end 
of camp and for a second her eyes tricked her into seeing a red light 
but she blinked and it was gone. 

"Jack, you're really losing it now," she shook her head and walked into
the cabin. 

Shelby was draped over her bunk munching on Cheetos. 

"Why aren't you outside in the snow?" Jack asked as she grabbed a
handful of the cheesy snack.  The cheesy air chips melted in her mouth 
and she closed her eyes to enjoy the full taste. 

"It's too cold," Shelby replied with chipmunk cheeks. 

"Good reason," she smiled.   It really was and no one was really
prepared for the blizzard like conditions outside. 

"And you?" Shelby wondered. 

"Too cold," Jack grinned even broader to cover up her true reasons.  The
snow was a bad sign or omen.  There was suddenly a pounding on the 
door. 

"Who is it?" Shelby wanted to know.  She had a huge crush on the
drummer, Chris, and was hoping that it was him.  Jack even knew that 
and she could barely stifle the laugh that threatened to burst forth. 

"I don't know.  I'll go answer it," Jack opened the door to find a
shivering Ricky on the doorstep.  He clutched a rather crumpled piece 
of paper in his hand. 

"What do you want Ricky," her voice was drained of all emotion. 
Anything to with David was now to be shunned.  She thought Ricky was a 
really cool person but he was best friends with David. 

"David wanted me to give this to you," he stuttered as his teeth
clattered together. 

"Oh, David didn't have enough balls to come here himself?" she balked
and she wanted to cry.  How dare he be so inconsiderate to send his 
friend rather than come himself.  Didn't he know that she would much 
rather speak with him? 

"He said that he knew you wouldn't take it," he replied. 

"Oh, so now he knows how I am going to react, isn't that interesting? 
Why should I take it now?" she inquired.  She was thinking that she 
wasn't going to accept it just to miff David.  He was now assuming how 
she felt and that enraged her. 

"Because, you'll want to read it," Ricky thrust the paper at her. 

"Are you sure?" she didn't take it or even make an attempt.  She knew
tat she was being nasty but he had hurt her and once that happened, she 
made them miserable or at least have a hard time getting back on her 
good side. 

"Yes," Ricky exclaimed. 

"Well sorry mailman but I'm not signing my name on the dotted line," she
shut the door.  She felt kind of sorry for Ricky than she thought of 
David calling her crappy and she was glad she slammed the door on 
Ricky. 

"How rude," Shelby scolded.  She looked kind of disappointed but excited
cause now she had something interesting to gossip about. 

"I can't believe he didn't come to me himself," Jack began to cry.  She
looked back outside but Ricky was gone.  She saw the paper fluttering 
from underneath the door mat.  She opened the door cautiously and 
looked around before snatching up the paper and ducking back inside.  
She did want to see what David was writing to her.  Anyways, she cared 
for David too much to just give up on him.  He was unlike anyone she 
had ever known and she knew that it wouldn't be too hard for him to get 
back on her good side. 

She began to read, 

"Jack, 

I'm really sorry and please believe me.  I've never apologized to anyone
before but I'm afraid to loose you.  I think you are truly special and 
I don't want to loose you over a stupid fight.  I know that you are not 
a crappy girlfriend, that there is something really bothering you but I 
was too insensitive to let it affect me.  I'm really, really sorry and 
I am begging you to forgive me.  I feel as if I cannot live without you 
and that I cannot eat nor sleep with the thought that you are angry 
with me.  Please forgive me, I am begging you. 

Love, 

David" 

"What does it say?" Shelby reached for it but Jack pulled it away. 

"Um, it says stuff but the basic gist of the note is that he is sorry,"
she summarized the note for she did not want Shelby reading it.  It was 
special and private, she was going to treasure it forever.  Her heart 
and brain said forgive him so she decided to find him.  She grabbed for 
her coat, mittens, and hat.  She pulled them on. 

"Where are you going Jack?" Shelby wanted to know. 

"I'm going out into the snow to find a friend," Jack replied.  She
wanted to tell him personally and to feel his arms wrapped around her, 
blocking out the cold and whatever waited outside of camp. 

"A friend?  Male or female?" she asked. 

"None of your business," and she was gone out the door before Shelby
could ask anything else. 

The snow blinded her for a second and she closed her eyes in
desperation.  She reopened them and started heading in the direction of 
the Mess Hall.  The wind howled mournfully and it sounded as if it were 
calling her name. 

Then she heard her name called very clearly and lowly from the area of
outside camp, "Jack!  Come meet your destiny!" 

Jack swallowed nervously and the feeling of evil penetrated her even
thorough the thick clothing she wore, "Leave me alone," she whispered. 

"Come Jack!" 

"I said leave me alone," she screamed and began to run to the Mess Hall.
 She knew that she could not submit to what called her name, that if 
she did so, then they would all die including her. 

Suddenly she ran into Nick and he looked at her with shock. 

"Are you okay?" he inquired. 

She was sobbing and shaking, "Nick, I don't like the snow.  I'm scared."


"If you're scared about there not being enough supplies if we get stuck
here, well, I have enough supplies in my bag to last two weeks and I 
would share it with you," he offered with a shy little grin. 

"Thanks, that's really sweet but there's something more than starvation
to fear," she whispered.  She would not tell him what was going on for 
he would certainly think she was crazy. 

"Tell me," he begged. 

"Nick, I'm afraid that you would think I was crazy," she laughed.  She
was beginning to think that she was crazy. 

"No I won't.  I am very gullible and will believe anything.  Even with
the fact that I think I am falling in love with you," he suddenly 
gushed. 

"What?  Oh no, I can't.  Oh Nick, I'm so sorry, I have a boyfriend but I
could really use a friend to talk to and tell all my fears.  I can't 
find Tonya and she is the only other person who knows what I fear for 
she is afraid also," Jack closed her eyes.  She was wracked with guilt 
for here was a perfectly sweet and cute boy who really liked her and 
she had to turn him down.  Even worse, she needed to use him as a 
pressure release. 

"Yeah, sure, I'll always be here for you.  I'll do anything for you," he
grinned and blinked his big chocolate brown eyes.  She was wracked with 
guilt but she had to get it out of her system. 

"Thank you but could we go somewhere, out of the snow?" she almost
begged.  She could hardly stand being out where the snow was for she 
was fearful of what lurked outside of camp. 

"Of course, hey, there's hardly anyone in my cabin.  I mean, I know no
mixing of the red and blue to form purple, but what harm is there 
allowing a girl into a guy's cabin when she needs some comforting," he 
stuttered. 

"That'll be great.  Thank you so much Nick and I'm really sorry," she
grinned sheepishly.  He was so sweet and considerate, he was breaking 
her heart along with her breaking his.   She followed him through the 
snow across the bridge, which was only identified from the rails 
sticking out of the huge drifts of snow.  They walked into Anthony and 
she sighed with relief.  Two boys were snoozing on their bunks and that 
was it. 

"Come on, there's an extra room and I would bet money that it is empty
at the moment," Nick instructed.  Jack nodded her head and walked with 
him into the empty room.  He was right, it was empty and Jack 
remembered being in the very room when she was only eight.  She had a 
partner, Brenda, and they were trying to see sparks in each other's 
mouths by biting down on LifeSavers's Breath Fresheners.  The 
experiment had worked and both girls had been so excited. 

It was so long, eight years ago, and Jack mourned the moment.  Of an
innocence that one only has once, the innocence of childhood, the 
ability to believe so easily.  She wasn't willing to give up her 
childhood but it was a must of life.   Everyone must make the sacrifice 
of having fun without even trying to, growing up; to taking on new 
responsibilities and much more stress.  The need to impress and fit in, 
to provide all that is needed, and to not disappoint.  As an adult, the 
main flow of memories of childhood years is only of happiness and 
laughter.  The main flow of the memories of an adult, of the mature 
years of life, stress, emotional instability, and the disturbing fact 
that the world is only black and white, there were no gray areas.  None 
at all. 

"Jack, are you okay?" Nick toughed her softly on the shoulder. 

"What?  Oh, I'm sorry, I kind of got carried with thinking," she
chuckled.  Being out of the snow had relieved some of the stress but it 
had got her to thinking, which was never a good thing. 

"What were you thinking about so intensely?" he wanted to know. 

"Nothing I am willing to accept nor discuss," she shook her head.  So
much heartache and despair seemed to fill her life.  She had came to 
camp to escape those harsh emotions but instead had found a worse level 
of both painful feelings. 

"What was it that you needed to talk about?" he inquired. 

"Have you ever dreamed something horrifying only to find out that you
are not the only one to be doing so?  That you and someone else are 
having the same frightening dream and even worse, things that happened 
in your dream are happening in the real world?" she asked.  She knew 
that she probably wasn't making sense but she had to tell someone and 
she trusted Nick. 

"Well, not really," he shrugged his shoulders and they sat down on the
cot. 

"I have, in fact, am.  I dreamt last night that we became snowed in,
here at camp, with no way home.  Something evil was waiting outside of 
camp, waiting for the snow to fall.  A couple wandered out and they 
were devoured by a red light.  I woke up to find that Tonya was awake.  
She too, had been dreaming the same dream.  Earlier this morning, it 
began to snow very heavily and thickly and now we are in the midst of a 
blizzard.  I mean, I know this sounds crazy but I felt something out in 
the Recreation Field.  Something that scared me so bad, I felt as if I 
were dying.  David, Ricky, and I walked back through and we all felt 
it.  It scared us all severely.  Then, today, I walked out of camp.  
Something began walking down the mountain towards me, something huge, 
dark, evil, rank, and terrifying.  I have no idea what it was for David 
came and got me.  Then when I was walking on the way to the Mess Hall, 
something outside of camp called my name.  Told me to meet my destiny.  
Do you think I'm crazy?" she smiled nervously and swiped at the tears 
running down her cheeks.  She thought that she was. 

"I honestly don't know what to think.  I mean you and Tonya dreaming the
same dream then us getting snowed in, well, it is a little freaky, but 
the rest sounds just out there.  I'm sorry but it really does," he 
squirmed uneasily. 

"I know it does which is why I'm so worried.  Could I be loosing my
mind?" she wondered aloud.  The story was so ludicrous that even Nick, 
who was supposed to be in love with her, didn't fully believe her tale. 


"No, I just think the snow is getting to you.  I don't think your
crazy," he hugged her and strangely enough, his hug warmed her up and 
comforted her.  She returned the hug and snuggled into his arms.  She 
was sucking up all the safety and comfort she could receive from him 
for she was afraid, more of herself than what was outside of camp, if 
there was anything at all. 

When they pulled away, Nick looked as if he were in Heaven.  Jack
flinched with more guilt for he was reading the wrong emotions in that 
hug.  She needed comfort and a friend but he had seen, in that gesture, 
a chance to make her; his. 

"Do you know where I might find David Sylvester?" she asked only to
burst his bubble.  She knew it was really cruel of her but she had to 
make it clear that she was a taken woman. 

"Um, yeah, he was in Memorial Hall.  Why, what did you need him for?" he
wanted to know and he looked as if he might cry. 

"He's my boyfriend, don't you know?  We had a fight, a stupid fight, and
I want to tell him that I forgive him.  Thank you for everything, Nick. 
 You've proved yourself to be a true friend," she smiled and got up to 
leave. She was only using him but she really did love him and always 
would. 

"If David ever mistreats you or breaks up with you, or the other way
around, well, I'll be here waiting.  I'll always be waiting, desiring 
to be more than just a good friend to you," he looked at the floor. 

"If ever the need arises, you will be my first choice aside from David,"
she promised.  It was true for she really did like him but it was David 
whom she was dating at the moment. 

"Okay, have a great day, and don't be afraid," he adviced. 

"Thanks, I'll see you around," she waved her farewell then walked out
the door, leaving behind her a broken hearted young man who swore he 
was in love with her.  She was torn by guilt but sometimes things like 
this, they just happened. 

She trudged through the thick snow to Memorial Hall and she burst in
breathless.  The struggle had almost made her give up on speaking with 
David but her heart had made her go on. 

"Jack, is that you?" David rushed to her aid and she just about
collapsed into his arms.  She felt drained of strength and she still 
had to go back to her cabin. 

"I'll be me when the snow has melted away," she wheezed out with
laughter. 

"Oh man, Jack, are you okay?" he begged to know. 

"I'm just a bit beat by fighting the snow.  It is the winner
unfortunately but only for the time being for I don't give up easily," 
she grinned. 

"I don't either," and he smoothed the hair off her face.  She could see
in his eyes that he was determined not to loose her.  The thing was 
that she didn't mind, she wanted to be his for the rest of her life. 

"I was looking around for Tonya, but she's totally disappeared.  Pastor
Dan said that he saw her run into the snow but she never came out.  
He's really worried and that got me to thinking about you and your fear 
of the snow.  Pastor Dan said she was terrified of the snow, that it 
was evil.  Now, why would you both think that?" he inquired.  His eyes 
were full of curiosity and she felt that now was her chance to convince 
him that the snow was bad. 

"We've been having dreams.  The same dreams of the snow falling so as to
fog up the boundaries so that an evil being could make victims of the 
camp.  It is frightening us both for it is happening and Tonya has 
vanished.  What if she is now a "victim"?  Jack wanted to know. 

David only looked away for she knew he had no answer to her question. 
There was really nothing they could do for if Tonya was a victim then 
she was gone permanently until they all went to Heaven, which could 
frighteningly be very soon. 

"Jack, I don't know what to think but right now, I just want to hold you
close and know that you and I are okay," he squeezed her tight to his 
chest and she closed her eyes.  She wanted to be protected from what 
was waiting in the snow and she felt protected in his arms.  
Unfortunatly, the feeling would end and the evil would resurface.  She 
knew that she would have to fight the creature but how she knew not.  
She decided not to think about and she just thought of being with David 
instead. 

"I love you with all my heart," he whispered into her hair.  She
shivered with joy but worry too.  She wanted a solid relationship but 
she felt as if he were moving way to fast.  He didn't really know her 
personally and she didn't know him either.  She thought it was really 
sweet that he was saying that he loved her but she wasn't sure how to 
react. 

"You're semi-good friends with Tonya, right Jack?" Pastor Dan inquired. 

"Um, yeah," she replied as she pulled away from David.  She knew what he
wanted to know but she didn't feel comfortable telling him the truth.  
In fact, she was fearful of telling him the truth. 

"Well, you haven't by chance ran into her lately?" he asked. 

" No, why?" she swallowed fearfully.  She was afraid that Tonya was gone
forever and all these questions were useless, taking up time while 
another victim was claimed.  She loved being with David but she had to 
get out there and fight, save the next victim. 

"I spoke with her earlier and she seemed terribly upset about the snow
then she ran off into the snow.  I haven't seen her since and I am 
worried that she might have got lost in the storm," he explained.  
David wrapped his arm around her.  He could sense the rising tension in 
her and he was afraid that she needed backup so as not to explode. 

"I... I haven't seen her and I have no clue as to where she might be,"
Jack lied through clenched teeth and her entire body was quivering.  
She had curled her fingers into a tight fist and her muscles were 
twitching.  She could feel David's arms tightening around her with 
concern but she ignored him. 

"Well, if you see her, please let me know.  I am really worried about
her.  It would soothe my nerves if I knew that she was alright," Pastor 
Dan grinned nervously. 

"Oh, I'm sure that she has been taken care of," Jack laughed and he
walked away.  She had got him off her scent and she was thankful for 
that small blessing.  Something in her gut told her to steer clear of 
Pastor Dan. 

"Why didn't you tell him about your dreams and your fear of the snow?"
David wanted to know. 

"Something in me told me not to trust him.  I don't know why but I have
learned to trust my gut instincts, no matter how far out they seem," 
she responded.  It was true for in the past, she had been put through 
many situations where only instinct reliance had saved her from death.  
Unfortunately, she had ignored the instinct to say with Jennifer but 
she was learning from her past mistakes. 

"I think if you fear something evil then you ought to get the help of a
man of God," he insisted. 

"David, I know this sounds foolish but I think God and I are your only
hope of getting out of this snow ridden camp, alive.  Please, don't 
look at me like that.  I can't explain what I feel.  I can only tell 
you what I feel.  I'm not asking you to believe me or trust me.  I'm 
only asking you to be there for me," she hugged him but he seemed as if 
he were stiff to her touch. 

"Ricky wants me for something.  I've got to go," he turned his back on
her and began walking away.  She stood as if turned to stone.  He had 
not even given her a nice farewell much less a good-bye hug or kiss.  
She blinked her eyes rapidly in order to fight back the tears that 
threatened to spill.  Her bottom lip quivered and she knew that she was 
not going to be able to resist.  She ran to the girl's restroom and 
stood in front of the mirror with a howling draft blowing her hair 
around her face.  What had she expected?  When he had said that he 
loved her, she knew it was just words but she still had thought she 
would get more from him.  She felt the depression welling up inside her 
and threatening to flow out again, finish her for once and for all. 

"What have you gotten into Jack?  You're in way over your head.  You've
lost a good friend and the man of your dreams.  Are you going to leave 
too?" she burst into tears and buried her face in her hands.  What was 
she going to do?  She couldn't believe that he had been so cold to her. 


"You're as cold as ice, you're willing to sacrifice our love," Tonya
sang out from the mirror. 

"What in the world is going on now?" Jack retaliated backwards with
disgust clearly written on her face. 

"Oh poor Jack, don't you hate it when relationships take a turn for the
South Pole?  When guys desert you or really good friends leave you in 
your moment of need?  I know I do, especially when it's with guys we 
truly care for or best friends," Tonya snickered. 

"What do you want?" Jack spat out. 

"Oh Jack, you live in such a cold world.  Your daddy abandoned you with
a drunken old mommy when you were six.  Then dear old mommy drank 
herself to death when you were twelve.  It sucks having a life like a 
bumper car, doesn't it?  From foster home to foster home.  If it 
weren't for rich old granny who can't take care of you but pays for you 
to come here, you wouldn't even get away for the small amount of time 
that you do now.  Isn't that right Jack?" Tonya smirked.  Jack could 
only cover her mouth with her right hand in shock.  This couldn't be 
happening to her, not to her!  She already had a terrible life, she 
didn't need it all dredged up. 

"You don't have to be cold.  It is really warm where I am.  All of
you're desires are provided for and you never have to worry about 
having frozen boyfriends or psychotic friends," Tonya offered. 

"No Tonya.  I can't back out like you did.  I can't accept the easy way
out. My friends are in trouble and I have to save them!" 

"Oh, what?  I came here on my own accord?  What about me, your so called
friend?  You're just going to leave me in the roasting pits of hell?  
You're supposed to save me but how can you do so when you are in the 
real world?" 

"Tonya, if you have asked Jesus into your heart then you are in Heaven
and this is only a demon trying to play with my mind and emotions.  If 
you did not, than you are in Hell, and there is not a damn thing I can 
do about it and I'm sorry." 

"What?  You're just going to leave me like a rotting corpse of mutilated
flesh?" 

"Gory images won't save you.  I have to go and save my friends.  I can't
waste anymore time with you," Jack ran out the door and the ranting of 
her deceased friend was drowned out by the shrieking of the piercing 
wind. 

She stood in the piles of snow that swirled around her like a ghostly
mist.  The snowflakes had begun to thin out but the wind kept them on 
the constant move.  She knew that she had to fight the evil but how she 
knew not.  She was shaken by the ordeal in the bathroom and by the 
fact, she was basically alone in the fight. 

Suddenly Andrea came running up, tears streaking her face, "Jack, have
you seen Justin and Jenny?  They wandered off, talking about a romantic 
snow in, and no one has seen them since.  I am really worried, I can't 
find them anywhere." 

"Andrea, calm your fears for they are correct for the worse.  I do not
believe Justin and Jenny to be with us anymore and I offer my 
condolences," Jack replied weakly. 

"What do you mean?" Andrea squeaked and began to back up. 

"The snow has claimed some victims but is guaranteed to claim many more,
unless I am willing to fight.  I accept that terrible fact and I know 
that I am going to die but I die not with horror in my heart, but with 
joy that I am going to meet my creator and father.  Andrea, remember me 
always for you will never again speak with me in person," Jack smiled 
mournfully.  She knew her future, she was to fight the creature and 
die.  She did not know if she would die fighting the creature or die 
from fighting the creature, but she did not mind either way.  She was 
completely at peace with the world and herself. 

"You mean, you're going to kill yourself?" Andrea cried out. 

"No, I'm going to save you and all of our fellow campers.  You can thank
me when you get to Heaven," Jack chuckled and Andrea recoiled in fear. 

"You're some kind of crazy nutt and you've killed Justin and Jenny,"
Andrea shrieked. 

"That's it.  You guessed it right," Jack shook her head with amusement. 
Poor Andrea, to busy with the worldly beliefs to see the spiritual 
truths that were laid out before her.  Oh well, some people had it and 
others did not. 

Jack decided she had to say good-bye to David and Nick so she wandered
back into the Memorial Hall. 

"David," she yelled at him.  He looked up, saw her, rolled his eyes, and
trudged slowly over to her. 

"What do you want?" he huffed. 

"David, I wish you would stand by me but I know that you have been
blinded.  No matter what happens, always know that you were dear to my 
heart.  I'm sorry for being a nuisance but I love you in more ways than 
one and I came to say my adieus.  Farewell, oh Prince Charming of my 
heart.  I make the best sacrifice to you all," she hugged him tight to 
her and he actually returned the hug back.  She pulled away, smiled at 
David, and walked out of Memorial Hall. 

She began to walk to Anthony for she must speak with Nick.  She cared
for him deeply and she needed to speak her heart.  She didn't even 
bother knocking but instead walked in. 

"What are you doing?" Cameron gawked in shock. 

"I'm looking for Nick," she replied. 

"He went out into the snow looking for you," he responded, still having
a problem with her being in the boys' cabin. 

"Oh God, no," she swallowed in fear and knew that it was now or never. 
She had to save Nick and everyone else.  She turned around and ran out 
without saying good-bye. 

"Where are you going?" Cameron yelled after her but she didn't hear a
word that he said.  She got into the snow and couldn't figure out which 
way was which but by a stroke of luck or the will of God, she wandered 
into the Recreational Field. 

The waves of evil that washed over her were so powerful that she just
about passed out. 

"Dear Lord, please help me.  I am too weak to face this challenge
alone," she prayed and a shock of courage passed through her.  She 
straightened her back and began to walk east, to the edge of the camp.  
She saw a flash of a red jacket, like that of Nick's in the snow and 
she began to walk quicker to it.  She approached and saw that it was a 
shred of the coat's material stuck in a tree branch, but it was not 
burnt and she sighed with relief. 

"Nick?" she screamed but the wind whipped her cry in the opposite
direction. 

"Jack, my destiny," a snarl whispered through the wind.  She froze in
spot and tried to locate the evil voice. 

"That's right, the end of you and your evil reign.  The trip home for my
friends," she chuckled.  She had to brave, had to defeat the evil. 

"Don't be so foolish, Jack.  It is always easier to live and do what is
right for yourself than to die and sacrifice for others," the voice 
laughed. 

"I know, but I can't just give in.  I was raised better than that and I
owe it to God and myself to do what is right for the world so you're 
going down," she insisted.  She saw another flash of red and began to 
head towards it.  She reached it to find that it too, was only a shred 
of material. 

"Follow the bread crumbs laid out for you," the voice menacingly
cheered. 

"That's what I believe I am doing or are you too stupid to realize
that?" she inquired.  There was only the wind howling in reply and she 
smiled.  She did not feel fear, only peace.  There was no instinct for 
survival only to do as she was instructed by God. 

"Nick?" she called and noticed that the wind had lessened considerably. 
She listened fervently but there was no answering call and no more 
flashes of red coat. 

"Please Lord, take care of Nick and let him survive this ordeal for it
was me that he went out searching for," she felt a bit disheartened for 
she also loved Nick dearly and could not bear the thought that his 
death might be upon her head. 

"What's wrong?   Nick gone?" the voice cruelly teased. 

"Jack?" someone called faintly through the snow. 

"Nick?  Is that you?" she screamed and the wind lessened even more. 

"Jack, please, come help me," the voice cried out stronger.  She then
saw a big patch of red and a shout of relief passed her lips.   She ran 
to the patch and found Nick underneath a growing pile of snow. 

"Nick, what happened?" she asked.  She prayed that he would not be
harmed and would get away, okay and unhurt. 

"I guess I got lost than the wind caused a branch to break.  My leg's
caught underneath and I can't go anywhere.  I guess the cold has got to 
me for I was hearing voices and I felt like there was something out 
there in the snow," he mumbled through severely cracked lips, 
"something really bad!" 

"Hush Nick!  I'll get you out of this mess," she smiled at his red face
as she smoothed all the snow away.  A heavy branch lay across his leg 
and she sighed.  She began to struggle to remove it when she felt the 
evil nearby. 

"I do some pretty nice handy work, don't I?" the voice snickered. 

"Now you're taking credit for doing God's work?" she gasped out as she
budged the branch an inch.  She had a feeling that she would not be 
able to lift the branch. 

"What?" the voice sounded supprized. 

"Nick was trapped here so that I could fight you and stop him from
wandering off further," she grunted and fought to move the heavy 
branch. 

"Time to fight but first I am knocking off Nick," a loud droning noise
began. 

"No, you and I will fight.  So leave Nick alone," she closed her eyes
and the noise went away.  She opened her eyes and saw an angel standing 
over Nick.  His eyes were closed and a smile of peace was on his face.  
The snow melted around him and flowers blossomed.  The branch melted 
away too and she smiled gently.  He would leave, just as she had prayed 
for.  At first, she thought that he was dead but she saw his chest 
heave with a heavy sigh. 


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