Anything For Rachel – Episode 45
#EPISODE_45
I looked helplessly at Calvin. “Can we even go to Cambridge?” I asked him.
He held my face and kissed my cheeks. “That’s my daughter, too.” He whispered. “We are going.”
“Won’t you be considered a deserter?” I asked.
Patrick shook his head slowly. “Not as long as we never let the people know you left.” He said.
“But how?” I asked. “I’ve been making announcements daily, so they’ll know something is up if I stop.” I pointed out.
“That’s true, but we could record some couldn’t we?” He asked Octavia. “And make them of Calvin.” He said with a smile. “The people are more likely to settle if they can see Calvin again. Make the messages in advance, and then hurry up and get back here.”
Octavia put her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, thinking hard. “It could work, but not without someone here to play the messages.” She sighed.
“I’ll do it.” Patrick nodded. “I’m no good in a fight anyway.” He shrugged and Pedro winked at him.
“He’s right.” Pedro agreed.
Logan stood up, holding Octavia’s hand and pulling her up too.
“When do we go?” He asked agitatedly. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing with her out there alone.”
“Neither can I.” Calvin said firmly, kissing me quickly once before he stood. “Record the damn messages, because we are leaving tonight.”
Octavia rushed over to the camera, and Calvin pulled me over to the side of the room.
“I know how scared you are right now, Rachel, and I am so sorry for everything that has happened, but please just give me one chance.” He pleaded. “We are rescuing our daughter, and we can figure out the rest of it later, but know that she is going to be alright.” He said holding my hands in front of him, then he lifted them to his mouth and kissed the tops of them. “I love you, Rachel.” He whispered. “I’m going to make everything right again.” He said firmly, a fire in him like I hadn’t seen in a long time. “I’m going to protect what’s mine.”
Hope.
That was the only thing I could hold onto. That, and Calvin’s newfound strength. It was like seeing the Calvin from five years ago back and in action. He spoke with determination and purpose as he recorded his broadcasts for our people, and I watched in admiration. This whole time I’ve been here it felt like he was holding himself back, or like he was afraid his intensity my scare me away, but here he was, the strong, smart, undaunted man I love. The news about Rose had really lit a fire beneath him to get control back in his life.
Just thinking of her makes me have to hold myself tighter. Everyone else was rushing around the room, gathering what few supplies were available here, and shoving them into various bags. I wanted to be of help, but I couldn’t stop seeing my little angel’s face every time I’d blink. I needed to be with her. I never should have let her leave my side to begin with. Especially if I’d known we’d all end up here anyway.
The sick twisting nauseas feeling hit my stomach again and I leaned forward where I was sitting on the bed to lay my head on my knees.
“Look at me.” I heard Calvin whisper close to my ear and then I felt the bed dip where he sat beside me. I swallowed hard and sat up, turning to look him in the eyes. “She’s going to be fine.” He told me. “They won’t hurt her, not when they think they need her so badly. You and I, and all of the other people who love Rose are going to save her, Rachel. We’re getting her back.”
I held onto his words, playing them over and over in my head until I started to believe it was true. I could almost feel the warmth of her little hand in mine if I tried hard enough. His eyes looked into mine seriously, and I nodded my head to let him know I was hearing him. “You’ll get to meet her.” I whispered, but I noticed Logan looked over like he’d heard before he went back to talking to Octavia and Patrick.
Calvin’s face still had strained worry wrinkles in his forehead, but his answering smile slid across his face with ease as he bit his lip. “All the more reason to hurry up and get out of here.” He said lightly. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I think I’m actually nervous.”
“She’ll love you.” I assured him, but he frowned slightly.
“I love her,” He nodded. “But I hope she does come to like me.”
I held his cold hand in mine. “I said she’ll love you.” I repeated. “And she will.”
“Ready?” Pedro asked and Calvin and I both hopped up quickly.
Calvin walked over to Patrick and clapped him on the shoulder.
“You sure you don’t mind staying back?” He asked him.
Patrick glanced over at Pedro and smiled at him, then nodded to Calvin. “I’m sure.” He promised. “I’ll stay here and make sure you all stay in the clear.”
“Thank you so much for this.” Calvin told him, and I walked over to hug his neck.
“Yes, thank you.” I told him too.
Octavia came over and hugged him as well and kissed his cheek. “Just stay here and I showed you how to play the broadcasts.” She said as she backed up. “One a day around four o’clock.” She reminded him and he nodded.
“Good luck.” He smiled at us all. “Bring our princess back.”
I followed Calvin, Logan, Cromley, Renard, and Octavia outside while we let Pedro and Patrick have a private goodbye.
Pedro appeared on the porch after a few minutes, tears in his eyes, and Prince under his arm.
“We’re bringing the dog?” Renard asked, sending his thick eyebrows up his forehead.
Pedro narrowed his eyes at him, then rolled them as he walked by. “Of course the dog comes.” He muttered. “You think I’d dare go get my girl without her puppy?”
I had to smile at him. Pedro was and forever will be my best friend. He tapped me on the nose as he walked out in front of me, catching up to Cromley as we walked quietly through the wooded path to the little town where a van was waiting for us. We all piled in, Calvin and I sitting on the last row, Logan and Octavia on the second row, and Renard and Pedro on the first while Cromley drove us away.
I turned around in my seat to watch the city grow smaller and smaller behind us.
“I’ve never seen it like this before.” I muttered.
Calvin reached around to put his arm across the back of my seat. “What do you mean?” He asked and I sighed.
“Driving away.” I explained. “I’ve never seen what it looks like to leave Castrum de Petra.”
Calvin used his other hand to cup my face, kissing me softly, a silent apology, and then I leaned my head down on his shoulder and let the moving car lull me into a dreamless sleep.
When I woke up again we were pulling into the airport.
“Come on, beautiful.” Calvin whispered, rubbing my arm.
I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. My exhaustion had been stronger than I had realized. I felt like I’d been asleep for days, but I knew it had hardly been over an hour and the moon was still positioned high in the night sky. Turning to look out of my window at the parking lot full of other
cars and people meandering around, then back over at Calvin made me laugh a little.
“Are you delirious?” Calvin asked, sounding amused as I continued to look at him and then out the window again.
I shook my head and shrugged. “I’ve just never seen you anywhere other than at Castrum.” I told him. “It’s weird seeing you in the real world.” I smiled.
“Weird?” He repeated. “Does that mean you don’t like it?” He asked as he unbuckled my seat belt and waited for everyone else to file out of the van for us.
“No.” I shook my head quickly. “I like it a lot.” I explained. “But it’s the first time you really seem real if that makes any sense.”
I laughed at how silly I was sounding. “It’s like you only existed in this crazy world in my head and so now seeing you here, with other normal people around, and in such a normal place…” I was at a loss, my sleep deprivation and the stressors on me making my mind a foggy place. “I like it is all.”
Calvin chuckled and helped me out of the van, wrapping me under his arm as the breeze kicked up and we made our way into the airport. “I understand.” He told me. “I love to see you anywhere I can.” He grinned.
I rolled my eyes at his cheesiness as we made our way through the terminals and out to the waiting jet. Everyone we passed stopped to turn and look at us. Men at Octavia and a few at me I guess, and the women all couldn’t keep their eyes away from Calvin. I tightened my arm around his waist and he smiled down at me before kissing the side of my head.
Flying with Calvin was weirdly great. I haven’t ever been the biggest fan of flying, but with Calvin in the seat beside me, his hand in mine, it seemed ok. I looked out the window into the eternal darkness and I allowed myself to believe that soon our luck would have to look up. I don’t care how badly the universes tries to tear us down, we’ll keep fighting for each other, and in the end, the universe is just going to have to suck it, because my family is finally going to be full again.
To_be_Continued
ANYTHING FOR RACHEL
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