Chapter 117 He Kept Their Connection Open

Axel tossed and turned in his sleeping bag. It had been three days since they left home. Everything had been going well until earlier that evening when he suddenly started feeling heavy, painful cramping in his stomach.

After hours of pushing past the pain or calming it with basic care, he felt unable to move. A fever had set in, and he knew he needed help.

Granger offered to shift and run back home to see if he could at least bring Bell back with him.

That had been hours ago.

Axel considered trying to shift, trying to run home on his own. But something told him that would only make things worse.

He didn’t know how long it went on. He was in and out of consciousness. At one point, he was too weak to move or even open his eyes. But he could still hear.

“No more loose threads.”

Axel didn’t understand what the words meant. But he was pretty sure it was Granger’s voice.

***

Caleb sat on his patio, staring out at the stars above. He wondered if Ashleigh was looking at them too.

He drank the rest of his whiskey and got up from his chair. As he stepped inside, a strange sensation came over him. He felt dizziness, like the world around him was shifting, and his legs felt weak. He looked down at his glass.

“That’s not possible. I only had one…” he said aloud.

The glass fell to the floor with a heavy thud as Caleb sank to his knees. The wind had been knocked out of him, and his heart sank into his stomach with overwhelming grief.

He gripped at his chest, the pain of his empty lungs burning. Then, finally, he took a breath, and then several more. But his heart still felt a heaviness he couldn’t explain.

Caleb pulled himself off the floor, stumbling to his bed. He sat down, reaching for his phone immediately. He called her without any hesitation..

She didn’t say anything when the call was answered, but he knew she was there.

“Ashleigh…?” he called out to her gently.

She didn’t answer, but he heard her sniffling.

Caleb closed his eyes and touched his heart; he recognized it now. It was her pain he was feeling.

“I’m here,” he said.

He moved back, laying against the headboard, and brought his feet onto the bed.

She let out a sob.

“I’m right here,” he whispered.

He closed his eyes again and imagined she was lying beside him. She had her back to him, and her shoulders shook ever so slightly as she cried her silent tears.

“Ashleigh…” he called to her once more.

She took in a shuddering breath.

Caleb positioned his body right behind her. He slowly and gently wrapped one arm around her waist. The other slid under her head, pulling her close and cradling her in his warmth. He kissed the top of her head.

“You are not alone,” he whispered. “Just let it out.”

Ashleigh hugged his arm closer to her, pressing her face against it. Her shoulders relaxed, and her silent tears became uncontrolled sobs.

Caleb rested his head atop of hers, occasionally kissing it softly. Whispering to her that everything would be alright.

He kept his eyes closed; he kept their connection open. Refusing to let Ashleigh go until he knew she would be alright.

Across the distance, in the snow and ice. Ashleigh lay in her bed, holding the phone to her ear and feeling Caleb’s warm embrace. Her heart ached, but his presence was enough to soothe her.

“I’m sorry, Caleb,” she whispered.

“Sshh..it’s ok,” he said quietly. “Don’t worry about me right now.”

He didn’t know what had upset her so much, but he knew it wasn’t about him. This wasn’t guilt or regret. This was grief.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Caleb asked softly.

“No,” she whispered.

“Alright,” he said.

“Caleb?” she asked.

“Yea?”

“I know it’s a lot to ask…” she said, sniffling. “Will you stay with me?”

“Always,” he whispered back, kissing the top of her head.

***

Galen had just stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped at his waist, his hair still dripped onto the grey carpet of his room.

Hurrying to answer the phone, the ringtone he had set for her taunting him that he might miss the chance to hear her voice before he went to sleep that night.

Galen’s hands stumbled at grabbing it.

He swiped the screen to answer and almost dropped it.

“Hello?! Crap…! Hey! Hello?” he shouted at the phone as it tumbled through his fingers.

As he finally got a proper hold of it, he brought it to his ear, just in time to hear a sound he never wanted to hear.

She took a deep trembling breath and sniffled. Then, she cleared her throat, trying to cover the sound he had already heard.

“Hey…” she said softly. A slight quake in her voice.

“Hi,” he answered.

Galen moved across the room to look out the window. His eyes were drawn naturally to the north.

She took a breath.

He said nothing.

There was a muffled sound, and he knew immediately that she had covered the phone. Hoping to mask the sob that escaped her throat.

“Uhm.. so I..” she started to speak.

“Can you see Lyra from where you are?” Galen asked.

Bell was quiet.

“What?” she finally asked.

“The constellation, Lyra,” Galen reiterated. “Can you see it?”

“I’m in my office. I can’t see the stars at all,” Bell sighed. She sounded tired.

“Lyra, the lyre; do you know what it is?” Galen asked.

“Isn’t it like a harp or something?” Bell asked, the confusion in her voice transitioning slightly to annoyance. “Why are we talking about harps and constellations?”

“In Greek mythology, Orpheus was taught to play his lyre by Apollo. So, he became this amazing musician, and no one could compare to him. His music could soothe your soul, flame the fires of your rage, or bring you to tears.”

Bell sat forward at her desk, listening with interest to the story.

“After his wife died, all he could play was mournful sounds. So, he made his way to the Underworld and struck a deal with Hades. Then, he found his wife and hurried to bring her home.”

Bell was already familiar with the story of Orpheus. But for some reason, she was at the edge of her seat. Hanging on his every word.

“But he made a mistake. He looked back at her before they made it, and she disappeared. He couldn’t go back for her.”

Bell made a soft sound of protest as she imagined the look of despair on Orpheus’ face.

“So, he spent the rest of his days wandering in sadness and misery until he was killed. When he died, his lyre fell into a river. Zeus then sent a great eagle to find the lyre and place it in the night sky.”

Bell sat back in her chair.

“Why did you tell me this?” she asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“To distract you so you could breathe,” he answered honestly.

“Oh,” Bell smiled, feeling the familiar tickle at the ridge of her nose that told her tears were on their way. “Interesting choice. Can you even see it?”

Galen smiled.

“Of course, my attention is entirely in the north.”

Bell felt a warmth through his words. She didn’t have the strength to push him away right now. Instead, a tear fell from her eyes.

“Are you ready?” he asked. Then, he heard the change in her breathing. The tears were back.

“For what?” she sniffed.

“To tell me the reason you called,” he said softly, “the reason you’re crying.”

Bell brought the phone down from her mouth and closed her eyes. Her chest tightened, and she took a deep breath.

“Take your time,” he said.

“No,” she answered. “I need to just say it.”

“Ok.”

She sniffled and cleared her throat. Then, taking a deep breath, she steadied herself before uttering the words that had broken her heart.

“Renee is dead.”