Page 92 of Anchored to the Storm

Dazed, I fumbled on my hands and knees before I stood on shaky legs.

In slow motion, I stumbled toward them both.

As the unconscious form was rolled off Sarah, there was a sensation in my chest that insisted this person was important not only to me, but to the existence of something I couldn’t quite comprehend.

There were chaotic noises all around me, yet I couldn’t hear or feel any of it firsthand. All I could do was stare at this lifeless person. I wanted to be closer. I was drawn to him in such a way that felt like my body was no longer my own. And somehow, I was completely at ease about it.

By this person’s side, I sank to my knees, calmly asking, “Is he okay?” even though the man who had attacked me was giving him CPR.

As if high on drugs, I slowly reached out for this person’s hand. As soon as I held it, I knew who this person was. I sighed because I had missed him so damn much. Then I leaned down to his ear and simply whispered, “Brother, you don’t need air to breathe.”

That was the craziest thing to say to someone, but just like that, brown eyes behind the ski mask shot open. He sharply inhaled. Then, selfless as always, Johnny asked, “Is she okay?”

I didn’t get a chance to answer or react. I didn’t even get a chance to see him again. As if someone smacked their hands in front of my face and screamed, “Wake up!” I snapped out of the haze. Sounds suddenly attacked me, like I had removed noise-canceling headphones. Blinking, I swayed and released a deep breath, taking in everything all at once.

But that wasn’t what shocked me.

Johnny was now gone! Nothing but matted grass lay in front of me. I peered around to find him but saw Ethan squeezing the fuck out of Sarah as he crushed her against his chest, she appeared as confused as I felt. Dale—When the fuck did he get here?—was beating the shit out of the pastor. The men who had been attacking us were now attempting to restrain Dale. Finn and Sebastian were exiting the pastor’s home with a tiny girl.

I blinked again, then jumped to my feet. “Where is he?”

The man who originally tackled the pastor was gone, too.

For real! What the fuck just happened?

“Sarah, what are you doing?” asked Ethan as she pushed him away, absolutely intrigued by something else.

I turned to witness her slowly stand. Her eyes locked on a target.

Turning on my heels, I followed her line of sight. It led straight to the tiny girl. She only wore a stained pink pajama dress. Bare toes seemed not to be sure of the grass touching them.

The dazed sensation I had just been jerked from now sucked me right back. Once again, I was sheltered by the mystical blanket. This time, I heard a voice: See beyond what you see.

The blanket around me, invisible to those who stood nearby, grew tentacles. They reached out and touched the little girl. Much like when I touched Johnny only a moment ago and instantly recognized him, I now instantly knew who this child was.

Joining Sarah’s side, we both walked toward the petite girl. When close enough, Sarah reached out her hand to the precious soul. “Hi,” she whispered, in awe.

The child, who had been peering around like she was in a foreign world, gazed up and gave Sarah the most timid wave. She whispered in return, “Hi.”

How can such a simple word say so much? I don’t know, although in its simplicity, it screamed a greeting between damaged souls. A recognition of a fellow spirit. A knowing—admitting—how happy one is to have finally found the other.

With an astonished smile, I looked to Sebastian. “You just rescued Blue’s sister.”

He jolted, then rushed to squat in front of her, to better examine her pixie face. Her sapphire eyes… Then he fell back on his ass, covering his mouth. His eyes were wide with shock. “H-H-How?”

Instinctively, I placed a hand on his shoulder to ease his surprise—him reverting to a past stutter. And I stated, “What a beautiful moment in time.”

The mystical blanket grazed him and he looked up at me. “Is this happening?”

Fresh air filled my lungs. “A miracle?” I exhaled all the blessed air. “It is, my friend.”

At the sight of the phenomenon, Sarah dropped to her knees. “I feel Blue now.” She started crying, but these tears weren’t full of pain. There was the brightest light all around her. “Like I felt Caleb.” Her head fell back, and she cried and smiled at the night sky. “This little baby girl is why I’m just now feeling you. Thank you, Blue. I will guard her. I swear.”

Enchanted, I observed us all, and the earth beneath my feet now made perfect sense. “All connected. Even to those we thought we had lost.” I swayed to the rhythm of life. “Never gone.”

At the sight, not even Dale could stay stuck in his anger. In disbelief, he staggered toward us, pulling his phone from his front pocket. Staring at the little girl, he tapped on the phone, then held it to his ear. He waited, then said, “Honey, I need you to sit down.”

Sarah’s hand went into the air, blindly asking for the phone.