BLACKOUT

The air hangs thick around us, heavy enough to feel. It shifts against my skin, not with the wind, but with something slower. Something patient. Something breathing. The light reaches out ahead of us, holding the abyss at bay. 

I adjust my grip, keeping her on her feet. Keeping her moving. Her breathing now heavy, burdened by the pressure. Her weight settles heavier against my shoulder. Her steps are starting to lose their rhythm. If she stumbles again... We have to stop.

I do my best to help her along, but I don’t think she can make it much further in this condition. It’s a miracle we even got her out of there. She shouldn’t have made it this far, none of us should have.

“Just a little further.” I whisper to her, keeping my voice down.

“I... I don’t think I can... I can’t...” She tries through weighted breathes.

She winces and lets out a labored whimper.

“It’s time. She can’t wait any longer.” A voice whispers from behind.

I lean the woman against a nearby heap of rubble, settling her down as gently as I can.The medic kneels down beside me as I clutch her had. She squeezes tightly. Her breathing comes in short, frantic bursts...

“We need to do this now.” He says to me.

I nod. I turn to the woman, shuffling closer to her as lean closer.

“It’s okay, we’ve got you.” I whisper to her, eyes scanning the wall of darkness that surrounds our barrier of light.

Warmth radiates outwards from the lantern as I tighten my grip. Its amber light trembles over broken stone before vanishing into the Darkness.

The woman squeezes the other. She whimpers again and she squeezes tighter.

“You’re almost there, just a little more.” Tears now streaming down her face as she winces, clenching her teeth with another contraction.

“You’re almost there, just one more push.” The medic says.

A newborn’s cry rings out, echoing into the darkness that surrounds our barrier of light.

“The blanket.” I command as a man to my left leaps forward. Arm outstretched, a blue blanket hanging from his clenched fist.

I lay the blanket out across my knee. The medic places the baby within the soft material, instantly wrapping and folding. Tucking corners to secure the bundle tightly.

“Here. I need to tend to her.” He says, shoving the baby into my now free arm.

I look down, the woman’s head now hangs over her chest. She isn’t moving. I clutch the bundle to my chest as I lean closer. She’s breathing. Barely.

Her head trembles as she strains to look up again. Her eyes search until they find the bundle tucked against my chest. For a heartbeat, the fear leaves her face. The light of my lantern catches the tears gathered in her eyes, turning them to flecks of gold. A smile touches her lips. Small, fragile, but real.

She reaches out towards the blanket, but her hand falls short. Instead, her fingers find my coat pocket. She slowly unclenches her fist, trembling fingers fumble against my coat as I feel them press something inside. She lingers for but a moment, as though afraid to let go.

“Promise me..” She breathes, her voice barely louder than the lantern’s quiet hum.

Her last words are torn from my ears as a loud shriek splits the darkness, ripping through the stillness. I am frozen in place for a second. No one moves. Something is out there. Something unknown. Something not human. And it’s coming...

“We need to move!” Calls another of the men.

“She won’t make it in this condition.” The medic exclaims.

I look down at the woman, who is barely able to lift her head now. She looks into my eyes, and I know. She nods. Her eyes close and her head falls to her chest again. Her chest falls a final time as her hand drops from where it was clutching at the bundle nestled in my chest.

Silence...

Another shriek tears through the air and the men all move on instinct. We run. Scrambling to our feet, we make a break for it. Leaving the mother behind.

Daniel!” A voice cries as I look up to see the glow of lights ahead.

We made it.

I tighten my grip around the child, who has stopped crying. Almost as though he already knows. I look back into the darkness where we left her. Her final words still echoing in my ears... though I never heard them. But I knew.

As I run, something shifts inside my pocket. I press it flat without thinking. Whatever she entrusted to me... It can wait.

My eyes drift once more toward the Darkness behind us, then to the lights waiting ahead.

“I’ve got you.” I whisper.