Running With the Wave

Chapter 37

Era:

Keara can't be dead. She can't be, I think as I stare down at her body that was once so full of life. In two seconds she'd gone from talking to me to not being alive at all.

"No." I repeat over and over agan in a hushed whisper, "No, no, no."

She'd died in the way she'd been terrified of dying. She died in child birth, like her mother. Except she died at twelve years old, only twelve years of life before Keara is no more. Moa stares at Keara's body, stunned and holding the crying baby in her arms. Grief threatens to overwhelm me, and I close my eyes, gently placing her corpse on the floor. Tears flood down my cheeks as I rock back and forth on my heels with my head in my hands. Utopia gently crawls toward me.

"Era-"

"Don't. Just don't. I don't want to talk." I tell her.

She nods, crawling back onto her mat.

"Era?" Moa's voice is innocent, filled with sadness.

I look up at the eight year old, who looks just lost. No where to go. I try to calm myself. I'd done this before, when my mother died. It was hard, but I took Keara in and kept her alive and happy until this moment. Now I need to do the same thing with Moa.

"I'm sorry..." My voice trembles miserably, "I'm sorry, Moa..."

"Keara's dead..." Moa whispers.

I wrap my arms around her, and she holds Keara's child tight in her arms.

"Yes." I tell her dully.

We both look at each other. I want to break down, I really do. Keara... I love her. I was her mother for so many years, and she died all too soon. I close my eyes and take a shuddering breath. Keara wouldn't want me to give up, she'd want me to take care of Moa and free the women. I look down at the baby. A girl lies in Moa's arms, barely moving.

"Is it..." I trail off.

"Not yet, but soon it will be." A voice responds gently.

I turn around and see the owner of the voice. She's plump, with pale skin and red hair. Her eyes glow chocolate brown and overall she looks like a motherly figure. She holds out her hands and takesthe baby gently, rocking it back and forth in her hands.

"My name is Fearn." she says quietly, "I recently gave birth to a baby boy in cell four, but they took the baby and brought me here because cell four is also getting crowded, like Moa's cell was. I may not have my baby anymore, but I can still give your friend's baby the food it needs. Also, if the men find it they will kill the baby as it is weak and will soon share it's my mother's fate if not looked after properly."

"Keara would want her baby to live." Moa comments sadly.

I nod.

"Fearn, hide with Moa and the baby. They will find you at one point if I don't succeed, but then at least all of you will live. Is tha okay with you?"

Fearn nods, and smiles sadly at me.

"I'm sorry about your friend, Era." she whispers.

Look down at Keara's dead body, once again nearly overwhelmed with grief.

"She's with her mother now." I say quietly as tears trickle down my cheeks.