Shadows - 35.

*Bittersweet Symphony: The Verve*

Tuesday - 9:03 a.m. - November 28th.

Kai spent the night walking around until the visiting hours opened at the hospital. He was sure that they would have made an exception and let him in but he needed the walk. He was numb from the last 24 hours of drama. Samantha, the girl he loved, was now missing and the authorities were no longer telling him anything about her case. His best friend was still unresponsive in a mysterious deep sleep, and Madison, the little girl he loved as his own daughter, was far from his protective arms. Normally this would have made him fold, but not this time. His family and friends needed him now. They needed him to be strong.

With a long and tired sigh he walked through the hospital doors. He wasn't sure what to say to me but he thought he'd figure that out when he reached my room. He was wrong. When he walked into my hospital room and found me awake, he nearly passed out.

"What the?" he screeched from behind me. I had my face buried in a tall glass of ice water. My thirst was gargantuan and knew no end. Almost as if I hadn't had water in a month. I swallowed down every drop, ice and all.

"Kai!" I gasped and wiped my mouth. He lunged forward and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back but only for a second. With a tiny shove I pushed him away and asked the obvious question.

"Where are the girls?" The last memory I had was of Madison's smiling face in Asia's arms. As I watched Kai's face turn sullen, my mouth grew even dryer.

"Max I have something to tell you and you're not going to like it," he winced.

"What is it Kai? Where's Madison? Sam?" I felt hot with nerves.

"I don't know."

"What?" I gasped. He lowered his head in disappointment.

"Don't worry brother. Madison's with Asia and they're safeaI think," he said in a whisper. In my mind I could still see Asia's bright sapphire eyes. She had my daughter. Madison was safe. She would die before any harm came to Madison. The thought made me love her even more.

"And Sam?"

"Um, Maxa" he started to shuffle nervously.

"Kai where is Sam?" I pushed again before the truth found me. From the doorway a shadow fell upon us.

"Max Valentine?" the officer asked angrily. I ignored him and looked harder into Kai's eyes.

"Where is she?" I huffed. Two more officers stepped into the room. Kai tensed up as they did.

"Mr. Valentine we would like to talk to you about the disappearance of Samantha Summers," one of them announced in an accusing tone. My eyes pulled together.

"What?" I whispered towards Kai. He was now holding back tears. He looked awash in despair over the news. My chest filled with a dull ache that seemed to grow heavier with his reaction. I'm not sure why it hurt so much to see his sorrow. Maybe it was the truth that something terrible had happened to Sam and I wasn't there to stop it, or maybe it was something more personal than that. Seeing him truly distraught over the same girl hurt. I didn't want to feel that way but I did. We both loved Sam and it was painfully obvious on our faces. Before I could rationalize these thoughts I found myself surrounded by the officers.

"Would you please come with us Mr. Valentine," they demanded.

"Not him too! He did nothing wrong!" Kai tried to tell them but I stopped him with the touch of my hand to his shoulder. He was still protecting me. Even after I took his love and family from him. I wished I could be half as noble as him. He was the best person I knew.

"We have over a dozen bodies in the ER that are covered in third degree burns or worse. Some of them didn't make it through the night. Max Valentine, you are under arrest," one officer announced, frustrated.

"It's okay Kai. I'll talk to them and then we'll find her. I promise." I felt calmness again. Quickly, they placed my arms behind me, locking them in cold steel handcuffs. Kai pushed forward to stop them.

"No!" he snapped. They all positioned themselves to arrest him also.

"Kai stop!" I shouted to him. He stopped, scared in his tracks.

"But Maxa"

"I'll be fine. Make sure Frank is okay for me. Get a hold of Asia and tell her everything," I pleaded, as they began to push me to the door.

"And Sam?" he asked, already knowing what I would say.

"Find her."

"Okay." He quietly focused himself and the police walked me out of the room and down the hall. The last officer left a card with a name and phone number on it. He peered at Kai closely as he handed it to him.

"You'll be hearing from us soon. Do not leave the island," he warned, and walked out the door.

"I won't," he said, and made his way toward Frank's room.

Frank looked surprisingly relaxed as Kai walked into the room. Frank's movements were slower than usual but Kai found his demeanor calming.

"Good morning Kai. What's the newest?" he asked with tiredness in his voice. Kai stood quiet for a moment.

"I heard that Max was doing better. Have you talked to him this morning?" Frank smiled. Kai took a short breath before answering.

"The cops are leaving with Max as we speak."

"What?"

"He said not too worry and make sure you were okay," Kai folded slightly. His eyes filled with tears. Frank coughed from his bed but never let himself get upset.

"He's right sonahe'll be fine," Frank spoke. Kai watched him, unsure.

"He has you," Frank added with a wink. Kai smiled, still unsure but proud. He quickly wiped his wet eyes.

"There's more Uncle," Kai sighed.

"What is it son?"

"Samantha's gone."

"Where is she?" he asked calmly.

"I don't know. Neither do the police. She never made it to the station." Frank listened intently with a sullen face. Kai watched Frank's tired eyes closely.

"They found the squad car she was taken away in. It was abandoned. They're treating her like a fugitive," his voice cracked. Frank thought long and hard for a moment. He gently tapped his fingers on a glass of water as soft music danced from the speakers of the hospital radio. Kai waited patiently next to his bed.

"Does Max know this?"

"A little," Kai said, unsure. Frank's face filled with hope.

"She will be fine," Frank said, absolute.

"But how can you say that? How can you be so sure?"

"Kai, I have come to think of both you and Samantha as my family, fellow Valentine's. And the number one rule of this family, is that we do not give up on one another," he smiled before coughing up more blood in a tissue. Kai nervously shuffled in his stance. Frank collected himself quickly.

"No matter what," Frank said. His eyes gleamed with determination.

"I know buta"

"But nothing my son! Samantha may be in the dark right now but she has a secret weapon," Frank smiled. Kai felt lost by his enthusiasm.

"What?"

"Us," Frank sounded proud. "We will get her back son. I swear it."

"You're right." Kai let out a nervous breath, but in the back of his mind he filled with doubt.

"I always am! Now where's my little granddaughter? I could use another hit of youth," Frank laughed but he looked weak again. Kai fell silent as he realized he didn't have a clue where she or Asia were. He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled his cell phone out.

"She's with Asia," Kai said distantly. Quickly, he dialed and turned his back to Frank. The line rang over and over again. Asia never answered. Kai hung up and tried again with the same results. Frank watched him carefully.

"Good." Frank smiled. Kai let a confused stare form on his face. Why was Frank being so upbeat?

"Those two girls are connected more than they could have ever imagined. One day they will know itacompletely," Frank spoke softly. Kai turned back to him, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

"She's not answering."

"Oh well, maybe later then," Frank said with a short breath and slid back down into his bed. He looked extremely worn out and closed his eyes. Kai knelt next to his bed. He hated seeing Frank like this.

"I'll keep trying." Kai tucked his covers around him. Frank coughed softly as he settled himself. Kai waited a minute, not sure of what to say. Sprinkles of rain peppered the hospital room window. It woke Kai from his distant thoughts.

"Uncle?" Kai asked softly.

"Yes son."

"What do you mean connected?" He was confused. Frank opened his eyes gently.

"One day you'll understand," Frank said closing his eyes, drifting away quickly. Kai felt bewildered.

"I guess I'm just nervous. I wish I could see Madison right now too," he said thinking Frank was already asleep. It startled him when Frank answered back. His eyes were still closed and he spoke as if he were somewhere far away. He sounded as if he were dreaming.

"Trust in Asia son. She is your angel. She will never give up on you. Just let herashinea" Frank's voice fell away again. Kai looked out the window at the cloudy skies and rain upon the windowpane. Uncle Frank's words rolled around his brain repeatedly but he didn't think Frank was talking to him anymore.

"I hope your right," Kai whispered.

Saturday afternoon - 4:53 p.m. - December 1st.

Ouray, Colorado.

Asia hadn't slept in days and found her tired body couldn't keep going like this much longer. She was angry, she was hungry, and for the last ten miles she thought she might be lost. She was growing weaker every hour and more emotional every minute. She hated that the most. She knew I would have had a field day with how emotional she was acting the last few days. Thankfully she was almost done, almost at the end of her exhausting journey.

"Almost there sugar," she smiled down at an anxious Madison in pigtails. She cooed with a large smile that pulled at Asia's heart more than it should have. She reached down and tucked the soft pink baby blanket tighter around Madi's body. Her little cheeks flushed with heat, causing Asia's hand to fill with warm goose bumps.

"Just like your daddy," she tried to comfort herself. Her new Jeep turned along the snowy mountain road before pulling off on a single street. She slowly passed a few large cabins that lined the wintery street, making her way to the end of the road. The sun had just fallen behind the massive mountains and a dark white hue covered everything.

She brought the truck to a stop and slowly filled her lungs with courage and stepped from the vehicle. The chilly wind greeted her instantly as her boots crunched the fresh snow. She wrangled Madison in her arms and turned slowly toward the unfamiliar house. After taking a few minutes to walk up the driveway to the front door, she inhaled a long deep breath. The mountain air tickled her throat as she rang the doorbell. Within a few seconds, the door slowly opened and a pair of curious eyes peeked out.

"May I help you?" the small woman asked. Asia only stared at her, studying her features. She had fading brown hair that fell just past her shoulders and big brown eyes. They looked sad and weathered but the woman's familiar smile froze Asia in the moment. The same smile I had. Asia could feel her mind wandering back to that familiar smile and the boy it belonged to. She missed me something awful.

"May I help you my dear?" the woman asked again. Her arms folded around her small torso as the cold slithered inside her home. Her face filled with worry. Asia's eyes teared up.

"I hope so Mrs. Walters," Asia started slowly. The woman tilted her head in curiousness.

"Do I know you?" she asked, alarmed now.

"Or should I call you Mrs. Valentine?" Asia spoke quietly but with strength. The woman stepped back as if she were slapped. The skies fell even darker.

"What did you call me?" she asked in a low and scared tone. At that moment Asia turned her body so the woman could see Madison neatly tucked in her arms. Madi looked up at the woman in wonder with a crooked smile and a red nose. Her round green eyes smiled too and that took the woman's breath away.

"Mia?" she gasped at the sight of her. Asia held her tears back with the last of her will.

"Madison," Asia corrected her. The woman found Asia's weary eyes and began to cry.

"This can't be!" she cried, but she didn't sound convincing at all. The moment she saw Madison's smile and little dark brown pigtails she knew.

"Surprise Grandma," Asia tried to sound soft but knew she failed. The woman stepped into her and pulled Madi into her arms. Her hands were shaking and tears fell down her face. Asia could no longer hold back her emotions. They smothered her completely.

"We need your help," Asia broke down in front of her. The woman watched her for a moment, not sure what to say. Tightly she squeezed Madison into her chest and inhaled her new baby smell. Snow started to gently fall above them with the faint sound of thunder in the distance. The snowflakes stuck in Asia's dark hair like stars. Lightning flickered above and reflected in her breaking eyes, making Madison instinctively heat herself up in the woman's arms. She giggled and reached for Asia with her tiny fingers. Soft curls of steam billowed up to the stormy sky.

In that moment, my long forgotten mother understooda "Maxa" she whispered to the wind.

THE END?.

Downpour - 00.

*Fragile: Sting*

Wednesday - 12:01 a.m. - December 5th.

The room was dark but clear enough to see the grayish details that washed over my face. This old face. I had spent too many nights in this hospitalain this damn bed. It was time to leave. Time to rise and shine. As I listened to the softest of raindrops tap on my window, I remembered.

I remember you son. I can still see you with your big wide eyes. How they spun around in excitement the first time I played my old guitar for you. How you let your little sister follow you any and everywhere, no matter how much it bothered you. I watched you break when she fell away from this world. I watched you run away as your family fell apart because of that. I watched you breathe. I watched you heal. I watched you love. I watched it all and relished every moment, as you became a man.