World Extended

"This is not good. This is not good at all." I heard Sam's hushed, yet demanding, voice through my sleeping state. "What happened? What was she thinking?" he sounded more worried than angry, of that I was glad.

"All she said was that she lost control." Blake informed him. "Though she was pretty out of it. She kept referring to something about the running after some people, and not being able to catch them. I'm not completely sure what was going on there. I plan to find out, but I don't think it would be good to ask her now, she might go back into the trance I found her in."

Opening my eyes I could see where I was. I was in my own room. From what I could tell Blake and Sam were in the hall, and no one else was around. Though I couldn't be sure. I listened closer to see if I could infer anything new. Everything was silent, as though they had left. I decided to get out of bed to see if anyone was there. Rolling over I felt desperate pain in both of my wrist and my head began to throb. I sat up cautiously and looked at my wrists. Both of my arms were bandaged from the end of my palm to half way up my arm. And I remembered what happened. After I...killed Laura I attempted to kill myself-something I knew to be impossible. The only thing I couldn't remember, was why. I couldn't recollect anything in between seeing the fire in my eyes and Blake rescuing me.

I emerged from the bed and saw my clothes in a bloody pile on the floor. Until then I hadn't noticed the air on my uncovered flesh. I didn't pay any more attention to my state of dress. Only grabbing a small, silk robe from the back of my door, pushing my arms gently through the sleeves and fastening the length of rope-like material around my bulging waist. Walking out of the room and stumbling down the deserted hallway I searched for any sign of Blake-or even Sam, for someone. As I exited the staircase and eased into the rest of the pitch black house I felt so alone. Wasn't it just a few minuets ago I heard their voices in the hall? Were they really there? Was I only just hallucinating? I wondered silently to myself. Shaking my head in disbelief.

"Hello?" I called into the darkness. Almost expect a reply. There was only the sardonic ticking of the clock, reminding me that my mind was running in circles, to answer me. I was truly alone. "Where have you gone?" I wasn't sure who I was asking.

Does it matter who you direct a question at, if there is no one there to answer?

I ventured into the kitchen to visit the place of my father's last breath, not sure if this would be beneficial or fatal, but willing to find out. Sitting in a bar stool I looked at the once blood-stained floor, and said, "It's all over now, Dad. She's dead." I sighed. " Are you disappointed in me?" I asked out loud, on the verge of tears.

"Never." he replied.

I looked around in hopeful disbelief. "Dad?" I asked, but all I saw was the darkness of the kitchen. "Dad I'm so sorry. I can't be strong, I can't hold on to reality." I closed my eyes and felt his presence. "I can't control myself, how am I supposed to control anything else?"

I felt his hand on my shoulder. "Clara, you are not expected to control anything right now. You are going through a lot. There is a lot of pressure in your life. I am just glad that you told them, that you are not having to keep secrets from them anymore. That was not healthy for you." his nearly forgotten voice was honey to my ears. Through my closed eyes I began to weep helplessly.

"I miss you so much. I can't do this alone." my sobs became stronger, and shook me violently. "I'm afraid. I feel so lost. So alone."

"I know, sweety. But you aren't alone anymore, you have all the rest of them. Now that they know, you don't have to keep anything hidden. They can help you. Trust them. Believe in them. Believe in yourself. You can do this, I know you can. I love you, Clara." he softly kissed the top of my head. "Goodbye."

One final tear slipped soundlessly down my cheek. "I love you." I whispered.

And he was gone.

I ran as well as I could-which was not very-up to my room and began to throw random clothes out of my closet until I found something to put on. I went out to the garage to check the status of a car. To my luck, Blake's car was parked inside, and I had a set of keys. Turning it on I took a few deep breaths and started driving to my doctor's office. I was scared, and need reassurance that my babies were fine inside my stomach.

at the doctor's

"There is a slight spike in the development of your babies. This is due to, it would seem, the simultaneous spike in your blood count. This is a good thing. We knew that they were going to catch up sometime, just not this fast. Be prepared to gain weight and inches quickly in the next few weeks. Now it is your turn to catch up." Dr. Wake smiled at me. She checked the charts in her hand. "And you are now five months. Only four more to go." Judging by the tone of her voice, this was supposed to be reassuring.

Returning the smile I said, "Thank you so much. Sorry I came in on no notice, I was just worried. I had a strange feeling. Thought I'd check it all out, to make sure the babies were okay." I took a deep breath, something I was doing a lot of lately. As I composed myself I pulled at the sleeves of my jacket, thankful I had a jacket with me, so Dr. Wake wouldn't ask about my bandages.

"It's fine." she assured me. "I'm glad that you are checking up. Nothing bad could come of it."

I left with the assurance that my babies were doing better than ever. Though, in the back of my mind, I knew it was because of the sudden intake of blood. Of Laura's blood. The guilt I felt was overwhelming, weighing me down inside. I just needed to know that the others were not upset with me. I needed to find comfort in them. So I made my way to the barn.

As I pulled up to the curb outside the barn I saw lights on inside. A good sign; they were there. I tried to think of how I was going to approach them, then decided it wouldn't matter, that they would approach me as soon as I walked in the door.

My conjecture was correct. The second I walked in all previous conversation was silenced. Stares of worry and question were being shot my way. It was uncomfortable. But it was familiar. It was home.

"How are you?" Blake asked me, beckoning me to sit next to him on the couch. I sat down and he wrapped his arms around me. Held me there. Held me together.

"I'm fine." I forced. Are they angry with me? I asked him alone.

"No." Are you? "Of course not. We are all only worried about you."

"You shouldn't be. I'm fine. Everything is okay now. As long as you are not angry with me. I couldn't live with that." blank stares. They were all to scared to talk. "I had to. She was a demon." expressions began to change. "She killed dad." and my hysteria was uncovered. My crying was loud and violent. I couldn't stop it. Blake comforted me. As did the rest of them, now that they knew my motivation. "I'm so sorry." I sobbed.

"Don't be. Don't be. You did what any of us would have done. You did what you had to do." Ailish said softly. "It's okay. It's okay now."

I jerked myself upright, and out of their many, loving hands. "I have to go see it!" I exclaimed as ran up to the bedroom. As I entered I saw that the only thing that had been altered was Laura. She was gone. I didn't know where, but I couldn't think of anything else in that moment aside from the ghastly sight of the day before. -Was it even the day before? I had lost track of time. But that didn't phase me.- I was transfixed. I ran my fingers over the dried bloodstain on the wall from where it supported me in my attempted escape. It lead my slowly to the blood-caked corner. Blood spatter decorating the multiple, different sized mirror shards splayed upon the floor, their light dancing around the room. This is too unreal. I thought to myself. I refused to believe that what I was seeing was truly what had played out just so many hours before.

"What are you doing, Clara?" Blake's soft voice asked from the doorway. Only then did I realize they had all followed me up the stairs as I darted away. He walked over and led me back downstairs.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so very, very sorry." I told him, all of them.

"It's fine. The only question now is: are you okay?" Jose asked as we were all seated downstairs again.

"I think I'll be alright. The babies are better than ever. Due to.." the words were caught in my throat. "...my sudden intake of blood. So that's a..good thing." I was choking on my words. "They are growing, and, they'll be great." I didn't even try to smile. Though as I looked at them, it was obvious that they loved the news, their faces so lit up by my information.

"That's great!" was the main message in the following conversation. I, too, was glad, but I couldn't bring a true smile to my face. Recent events still lingering in my thoughts. I shook my head to shoo them away. And, to my surprised, it was working. For the moment.

After a long while Blake leaned over and whispered in my ear, as he began to lift me from the couch. "Come on. You look tired. I'll take you home."

And that he did. He took me upstairs to my bedroom and, when finally we laid down, I was suddenly hit with the realization of my exhaustion. I soon fell asleep. Lying there in his arms, where I felt the safest I ever had.

the next morning

I woke to soft kisses and the soothing sound of rain against my window. "Goood morning." I said with a yawn, as I opened my eyes to the godly sight of Blake. His black hair growing longer with the months, his never aging face just as the first time I saw him.

"How are you today?" he asked softly in my ear. The only response I could think of was a slight moan. At this he gave his ridiculously irresistible chuckle. "Is that so?" he continued to chuckle as he began to tickle my sides.

"Stop. Heheheha. Stop." I giggled out. He only continued tickling me, and increased the intensity. It was unescapable! "Sto-op!" I scream repeatedly, still laughing insanely.

There was a loud knock at the door and he stopped suddenly. "Hold on." he whispered to me, and walked to the door. As he approached the door he slowed to only a slight movement. He first placed his hands on the door about a foot apart, then put his ear to the door in-between his hands. He was listening. For what, I wasn't sure. But I was sure it wasn't friendly. And I was sure he had been expecting it. For he has never acted like this to a knock at the door before.

What is it? I asked. He only shook his head slightly and removed one hand from the door to hold it in my direction. The look on his face was of many things. Of anger, annoyance, wonder, confusion, and excitement. If it was any other situation I would have been wounded by his harsh behavior. Never before had he treated me in the same manner as he was displaying at that very moment. -and under it all I was hurt about this sudden change for the worse- Though, at this particular time, I knew that this was highly important, and he knew what was best. I only wish I knew what was going on. Knew what was happening on the other side of the door.

What could it be? Was it a demon? Was it a friend of Laura? Someone that knew what I had done? Was it another person that he could hear the thoughts of? Is that why he got up quickly and was then listening at the door? All these aspects of the events I wished to know. Though I knew that I couldn't ask anything. Couldn't think anything. This was a pressing matter of grave importance, and I began to feel that was where we were headed. The grave.

In the middle of these slightly depressing thought the door was struck by an unbelievably massive force. I repressed the scream that was climbing inside of me as Blake was thrown from the door and replace by the ghastly sight of a monster, looking slightly similar to a werewolf. This huge, hairy, impossibly imposing creature stood in front of me. It's eyes kind in comparison to the hideously cruel look of its body. There was no movement from any of us since the door's explosion. My reason was pure shock, and for the moment I was trying to consider this creatures reasons for its unmoving state. Then I saw the third, and last, unmoving character in the room. Blake! He was lying on the floor from where he hit the back wall of my room and then fell to the floor. I stumbled over to where Blake had landed. There was blood draining from an undetectable location on his body. He was unconscious, and there was no waking him.

The creature made a move toward me and I jumped up and backed away instinctively. It stopped and a hand reached outward kindly. This was a passive creature, it seemed-aside from the door pounding, of course. I stepped closer and something ,miraculous happened; it changed into a young woman. There she stood in the place of the beast. Naked and unprotected. I could only imagine the look of shock on my face, though I saw her expression clearly; fright. This fright was not for herself, but for someone that was in danger -or one would infer that the person in need of fright was in danger.

A long moment passed between us as we stared at each other. I, trying to figure out what was going on, and she, doing whatever it was that she did. Whatever she was.

"My name is Charlie." she said.

"I'm Clara." I returned the name sharing, and retrieved some clothes for her form the closet.

"I know who you are. And thank you for the clothing." she said politely.

"No problem." I was still a little fuzzy. "How is it you know me?" I asked.

"You are the reason I was sent here. I am supposed to help bring your children into the world. Protection is needed. So I am here to help." finally a smile reached across her beautiful stone face.

"I do not understand." I stared dumbfounded. "Sent? Sent from where? By who?"

"I hail from the Nether-World, sent by Mercy, one of the elders. I am here to protect you, and make sure your very special babies make it into this world and the next."

This was all very sudden. I have been sent a guardian from some elders in another world. All so very much to take in at one time. Not to mention Blake was still lying unconscious on the floor. Something needed to be done to save him from dehydration causing blood loss, and fast.

As I was trying to think of the possibilities, I was drawing a blank.

"Please. What can I do to save Blake?" I asked Charlie.

"I'm sorry. I am sent for you and your babies. I cannot save this Blake." she replied sadly.

"But without Blake, I cannot care for my babies. I will kill myself, as he has died. I will drain my own blood. So please, help me." I pleaded.

It worked! Charlie took pity on me and walked swiftly over to Blake's bleeding body. Placing on hand over him, a wonderful light was produced, and Blake's blood was disappearing from the floor around him. I could only think that the blood was returned to his body, for he then stirred and I knew he was alright.

"Thank you so much Charlie. What can I do to repay you?" I asked.

"There is nothing you can do for me that you will not do out of your own kindness all ready. You have a giving soul. I am honored to be assigned as your guardian." With this she bowed and vanished. I didn't know when I would see her again, but I knew that I would, for she was here to protect me. She would be back, of that I was sure. So this did not worry me. What was on my mind was Blake.

I ran to his side. "Blake. Blake? Are you alright? Blake? Oh Blake, please open your eyes. You moved. I saw you move! I cannot live without you." tears began to pour from my eyes and fall to his limp body. "I love you." I shook him. First softly, then violently when he still did not wake. "I love you!"

I fell over his body. Still crying, I thought of all we'd been though. And how this might have been similar to what he had done to wake me from my trance when he found my in the room with Laura. Is this so that I can experience what great pain Blake held in his heart when he was saving me? I thought to myself. I think it must be.

"Oh Blake, you know I love you. Please wake up." I asked for the last time. And, to my surprise, it actually worked!

First only his hand began to move. When I noticed this I sat up and started to help him up. As I helped him to the bed I could tell that he was still not himself. "Blake, how do you feel?"

"I feel fine. I just don't understand. What happened?" he asked bewildered.

"Well, you went to the door. To hear what was on the other side. And it burst open, throwing you across the room. You were knocked unconscious. Charlie changed into a woman and said she was here to protect me and our babies, and to make sure they make into this world and the next. Whatever that means. Then she saved you and disappeared." I answered him quickly with the events in question. He looked at me, still confused, and smiled.

"You are a truly wonderful person. And I love you." his smile grew wider as he spoke. He leaned over and put his arms around me, resting his hands on my stomach. "But I have no idea what you are talking about."

"I love you too." I said. Inside I was mentally writing down the moment in time. I was determined to remember the strength of our happiness till the day that I die.

"So please explain to me about this 'next world.' I am quite confused."

"I am too. I have no idea what that is about. Maybe we should ask someone else, just to make sure it's not bad or anything. I am quite curious."