Not Quite Enough(49)

When he realized that Monica no longer woke up when he yelled, gut-wrenching fear sank into his blood. He shook her awake twice, and was met with glassy eyes and her saying she wanted to sleep.
At least he understood her. That had to count for something.
As dusk fell on their fourth night, he attempted to turn on his phone only to find the device completely dark.
Hunger took the place of hope, and he sat next to Monica, and placed her head in his lap.
She didn’t wake.


Unable to stay behind at the house any longer, Jessie wore a raincoat and joined her husband. The cell phone company narrowed the phone to a few mile radius. The news came right as the sun set.
Ginger trotted alongside them as they walked along a forgotten road. Reynard had taken the Fairchilds on another road that led to a southern beach. The search and rescue team, Dr. Eddy among them, curled under their rain gear, using flashlights to guide them, and searched for any clue. The rain came in steady sheets now, making the search even more unbearable.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” Jack protested.
“You’ve already said that, cowboy. Let it go,” she snapped at him.
She knew Jack was just trying to protect her.
“A little rain never hurt anyone,” she said softly.
He grasped her hand in his as they used the flashlights to light their way.
The radio on one of the firemen’s hips squawked. “Team one?”
“This is team one,” the man said.
“We’ve found the car.”
Jessie froze. Everyone stopped walking. Monica?
The man on the radio gave them directions to their location. Then the man said. “No sign of them yet. We’ve spread out.”
Gaylord, who’d surprised her in his quest to find Monica, was quick to jog alongside the rest of them as they ran toward the second team.
Jessie ran to the Jeep when it came into sight. There were dogs sniffing around the car and walking in different directions.
Reynard was first to talk. “Her phone is plugged in.”
Jessie glanced inside and then turned a three-sixty. “Where could they have gone?”
“They’re searching the shore below. The lagoon is secluded here.”
“Monica?” Jessie yelled at the top of her voice.
Ginger barked.
Somewhere in the dark forest, she heard search and rescue calling out Trent’s and Monica’s names.
Jason walked up to them, his breath short as if he’d run. “The beach is empty. Not even a shoe.”
“They have to be here somewhere,” Jack said.
Ginger barked again, excited over all the activity.
Jessie pet the wet fur of Trent’s dog, and fell behind Jack and the others as they spread out and called to the dark.


Trent jerked awake. His heart beat too fast, his head ached with a throbbing pain so intense his back teeth felt as if a tiny colony of ants had taken up residency and were chewing away at the enamel one layer at a time.
Monica slept in his lap, her body shaking with the fever that violently racked her body.
He stroked Monica’s hair, kissed her hot forehead. “Hang in there, angel.”
As he let his eyes drift closed, again… he heard it.
His body stiffened, he tilted his head to the side. Rain dripped from above and had been all night.
This time when the noise came, he knew what it came from. “Here!” He yelled as he moved Monica’s head from his lap with careful ease. Her head rolled to the side. The pitch black of the cave didn’t allow Trent to see if Monica opened her eyes. “Here! We’re in here!”
He heard a bark. On his hand and knees, he crawled in the direction of the falling water. When he splashed into the pool, he stood and filled the cave with a sharp whistle.
The barking continued, faster… closer.
His stiff hands fisted. “Monica? Monica… someone’s here.”
She didn’t respond.
“Here! Help!” He whistled again, longer, louder. “Help!”
“Trent? Trent?”
He wanted to weep. They’d been found. “In here!”
“Trent?” The voice didn’t sound familiar, but soon there were others.
“Monica?”
“She’s in here.”
Dirt from above rained on him, as did the glow of a flashlight. “Watch out. There’s a hole.”
“Everyone stop,” he heard someone yell. “Back up.”
“Monica? Monica are you in there?” The voice was female and frantic.
“She’s here,” Trent yelled back. “We’re both inside a cave.”
There were shouts of joy followed by the familiar bark of Ginger.
“Monica?”
Trent took a few steps away from the pool, careful he didn’t trip over Monica as he hurried to her side.
“Monica?” The woman’s voice started to edge toward panic.
“She’s here.”
“Why isn’t she answering?”
He hesitated. “She’s sick.” Really f*cking sick.
“Trent, it’s Jason.” Hearing his brother’s voice was music to his ears. “Glen and I are here.”
“I can’t tell you how good it is to hear your voice.”
Rocks from above fell again. Trent leaned over Monica’s frame to keep any from falling on top of her.
“Everyone back! Mitch, tie me off. We have no idea how stable this ground is.”
Trent envisioned the chaos above him. Couldn’t help but wonder how long it was going to take to get them out of there. But holy hell they were going to make it out. Alive.
“Trent, my name is Radar. How far down are you?”