EVERYBODY ARRIVES the same way. There's a tree limb in the road. Then the crows, and finally the town. It's what had happened to Caroline six months ago. Arriving at the shitty town where nightmares were a reality, but not only that, she had brought her son. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be home so bad. She wished she could see Randall again. Their fights were so stupid. She would've never left had she known

"The bell is ringing.. you should hurry up back to Colony House, Caroline" Sara spoke softly as she picked up Caroline's plate, but not before giving RJ a small head pat causing the baby to giggle

"I suppose you're right" Caroline said with a smile before she got up and picked up RJ. She walked out of the Diner with her son. She saw Boyd who was ringing the bell like he always did. He noticed her and smiled

"Every time I see that little guy he's bigger and bigger. Hurry up home now" Boyd said causing Caroline to smile

"I will. Stay safe, Boyd" Caroline said as she made her way towards Colony House. When she finally made it, she saw people playing outside as the sun was beginning to set. She went inside and up the stairs. She saw Annie on the couch knitting. When she saw Caroline her eyes widened as she smiled

"Oh, you're back. Let me hold little RJ" Annie said as she put down her mallets. Caroline sat beside Annie and gave her RJ

"You know I always wanted a child of my own" Annie said

"How come you didn't have one?" Caroline asked curiously

"Oh.. it just wasn't in the cards.. I've been here since 1982.. and.. well.. while I love Victor dearly.. that kind of stress just isn't cut out for us.. but it's okay, I'll live vicariously through you" Annie giggled as she played with RJ. It made Caroline smile before frowning. Annie had been here since 1982. 30 years she'd been here. Caroline was never going to see her husband again.. Victor had been here longer than Annie and if they were both still here then, there really was no hope. The two women talked some more as Annie played with RJ, until Victor ultimately came over and asked for Annie

"Well, that's enough play time for me" Annie said as she handed RJ back to Caroline before she got up and grabbed her knitting materials and then followed Victor. Caroline wondered if her and Randall would've lasted that long. Sure, their relationship would've been nothing like Annie and Victor's considering their relationship was more wholesome and sweet. Annie was patient and very attentive to Victor's needs and emotions. Victor was very childlike due to his trauma and Annie did everything to make him feel safe. Caroline could see the love in Annie's eyes every time she saw Victor. "Oh, you'll never guess what Boyd found. He came over earlier with new crayons. I can finally finish that bird I've been drawing"

"The blue one?" Victor asked

"Yes, the blue one.. what should I call the bird? I'm thinking Billy" Annie said right before she disappeared around the corner. Caroline looked at RJ before frowning

"You look just like your father which makes me miss him even more" She said

☆♡☆

CAROLINE HAD LEFT RJ with Annie so she could help with the gardening at Colony House

"Donna can you pass me that carrot?" Caroline asked. Donna nodded and tossed it to her. Caroline caught it before putting it in the dirt and covering the hole up. Boyd walked up which made Donna stop working

"We have an arrangement, Sheriff. You don't come here" Donna said as Caroline kept planting

"I came to see my son, Donna" Boyd said. Donna had an unamused look on her face. "Please"

"Come on in, then. Care, keep planting those" Donna said as she began walking off. Caroline nodded as she watched Donna and Boyd head up inside Colony House

"Caroline, did you hear about Lauren and Meagan?" Fatima's voice rang out. Caroline turned to see Fatima

"What happened?" Caroline asked

"The monsters got them.. there's gonna be a service later" Fatima said causing Caroline to frown. Another death. It seemed like death was the only constant in this place

"May they rest in peace" Caroline said

"Meagan was supposed to come over to Colony House today.. I was gonna do her hair.. and now.." Fatima trailed off

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder when I'll be next" Caroline said as she looked at the ground

"Don't think like that" Fatima said but it was hard not to when everyone else kept dying

☆♡☆

CAROLINE WAS HOLDING RJ while Father Khatri led the funeral. Meagan was so young. It wasn't fair that they died. Why did this keep happening?

"And so, we commit to the earth Lauren and Meagan Pratt. May the life they know beyond this world be kinder, and may the mysteries of their time here be solved. For the peace we shall know in the kingdom of God is certain, and in that peace.." Father Khatri trailed off as the sound of a car was heard. Everyone turned to see an RV. Caroline frowned knowing they were new arrivals who couldn't leave

"Shit" Boyd said

"Um, and in that peace.. and in that peace, we can be sure Lauren and Meagan now reside" Father Khatri continued. RJ began crying causing Caroline to begin hushing him in her arms as she rocked him gently. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust"

"Alright. Now.. you all remember what it was like for you. Just leave these people be. Kenny and I'll handle it. Okay?" Boyd told everyone

"Amen" Father Khatri said causing everyone to reply with 'amen'. The service ended and Caroline needed a quick nap. She saw Kenny and looked at him pleading before he knew what she wanted. He came over and sighed

"You know, I'm supposed to be the junior deputy.. not your personal babysitter" Kenny said causing Caroline to smile

"But RJ loves you" Caroline said as she handed Kenny the baby

"He does.. doesn't he? You love uncle Kenny huh?" Kenny cooed as he followed Boyd. Caroline went to the Liu house knowing she could take a nap on Kenny's bed. Which is exactly what she did. Kenny was like the little brother she never had

☆♡☆

UNFORTUNATELY, HER REST didn't last that long as Sara had woken her up informing her that there was a crash and they needed help. Her and Kristi being the only medical professionals they had. Kristi was an EMT whereas she had been a combat medic in the military. Caroline hopped out of bed and immediately headed to the clinic where she saw Kristi and Kenny getting ready to leave

"Gina has Tobey.. we're heading to the RV. You're coming, right?" Kristi asked

"Where's RJ?" Caroline asked Kenny

"Annie nabbed him shortly after you gave him to me.. you know how she is" Kenny said. If RJ was with Annie then everything was okay

"Then, yes I'll be coming with you. There could be more than one person injured" Caroline said. So the trio left and got into a car with Father Khatri. Caroline was in the bed of the truck since the car only seated three. They drove to the small cemetery that they made to pick up Ellis since his father was already at the crash site

"Hey, Ellis! There's been an accident outside town! We could use your help!" Father Khatri said

"What?" Ellis asked confused. Caroline didn't blame him. This had never happened before

"The RV with the family, it collided with another car! Your dad's already out there!" Father Khatri explained

"Wait. Hold on. Another car? What are you talking about?" Ellis asked as he approached the truck

"Ellis just get in the damn bed" Caroline said

"Yeah, we don't exactly have a lot of time" Kenny said

"Ellis, it'll be dark soon. He's your father" Father Khatri said. Ellis thought about it before hopping in the back of the truck. Father Khatri began driving once more and they made it all the way out to the crash site. Father Khatri turned off the car and everyone got out. There was a man handcuffed to the car which Caroline could only assume Boyd had done. Kristi immediately went to go check on him

"I'll go check on the RV" Caroline said as she noticed the flipped over RV not too far

"I'm coming with you" Kenny said as he followed after Caroline

"Not gonna stay with your little crush?" Caroline teased causing Kenny to push her lightly as he told her to shut up. He then looked back at Kristi trying to figure out if she heard which she didn't

"Boyd? Anyone hurt?" Caroline asked

"Yeah, we need some help" Boyd said. Caroline and Kenny both went down the hill. They saw Boyd

"We need you in there immediately. Little boy, table leg through his leg, lots of bleeding" Boyd said. Caroline cursed to herself before nodding. Kenny went back up to Kristi as Boyd helped Caroline up and into the flipped over RV

"W-Who's that?" A man asked

"Jim, this is Caroline. She's one of our doctors here. She was a combat medic in the military. She's gonna take a look at your boy" Caroline said

"Okay" Jim said. Caroline began looking at the young boy and he was bleeding a lot but he was lucky. He was stable, his breathing wasn't obstructed and no obvious damage to an artery. The only bad thing was that he couldn't be moved quickly. It was gonna be dark soon. She couldn't risk being out here. She had a son and she would not die for some strangers

"Boyd I need Kristi" Caroline said. Boyd nodded and quickly got Kristi. Caroline turned and looked at Kristi

"Getting that table leg out will take at least an hour. I can't risk it, I'm sorry. I know it is shitty of me to put this on you-" Caroline was cut off

"You have a son. I know. I'll- I'll stay behind" Kristi said. Caroline hugged Kristi thanking her before she began leaving the RV

"W-Where are you going?! What about my son?" Jim asked

"Kristi is gonna help your son. I'm getting back home to my own" Caroline said before fully leaving the RV

"Come on, I'll walk you back up to the truck" Kenny said. Caroline nodded and the two walked back up to the truck. Eventually the sun began to fall and Father Khatri, Jade, Ellis, Julie, Tabitha, Caroline and Kenny were all driving back to the city when they hit the spikes that Boyd and Kenny had laid out. The tires were punctured

"Shit! Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit" Kenny said

"You left the fucking spike strip down!" Ellis yelled

"No fucking shit! We need to hurry to Colony house!" Caroline yelled as she began rushing towards Colony House. She was not going to die. She had a son to take care of. She would not leave him orphaned

(1869 words)
11/04/24