Chapter 35

On the road, Blake drives fast. He speeds up at any chance he gets, following the map. Because the car he is using is a bit old, he has to stop once in awhile to check the map.

It's about the eighth time he's stop to read the map. He seems lost since he's not that of a good map reader.

He gets down from the car and looks around, checking the place whether to see a car or not. The place is full of green and even a house is not spotted there.

After some time, he gets in the car again. He tries for a few times before figuring out where exactly he is.

He begins driving for while and parks. He had seen a van up ahead when he was driving but because of the speed he's driving at, he passes it.

He puts the car on reverse and drives back and parks near the van. Blake gets down and walks to the van, looking inside.

He finds foodstuffs and other accessories but not the family. Everything seemed untouched and Blake's begins to worry more. His suspicions are turning out to be true.

He tries to calm down first and analyze the situation. He enters the van, checking to find a clue of where exactly they will go.

After not finding anything, he gets down a makes a call. The person he's calling can't be reached.

He calls again but gets the same reply. Out of frustration, he walks to the car and drives into the woods.

"Gerrard"Irye shouts out and Evie turns. Another thing adds to her trouble. Not being able to bear it, she faints and Mae rushes to her.

Irye holds Gerrard up . He is bleeding and breathing faintly. Because he just jumped under the stick without taking any initiative, he positions his chest towards it.

The shadow penetrates right under Gerrard's right collar bone with the stick. The stick might have gone a bit deep since the shadow used force.

It disappears right after piercing a hole into Gerrard's body. Irye places her hands over the wound and puts pressure to stop the blood.

Her eyes have changed back and they are teary. Grams is in shock as she holds the baby in arms.

Irye looks around but finds nothing useful to help her stop Gerrard from loosing too much blood. He might die if he continues bleeding that much and that alone scares Irye to death.

She rips off a piece of the top she is wearing and ties from Gerrard's armpit over his shoulder. After Gerrard's bleeding has lessened a bit, Irye rushes to the tent in search of something she could use.

Her forehead is covered with beads of sweat. She rushes from tent to tent desperate to find something, maybe just a methylated spirit.

Gerrard is still in much pain and Grams is feeling helpless. On one hand she has to stop the baby from crying and on the other, cater for her family.

The last tent Irye enters is the one she sleeps. She is not someone who uses perfumes so she doesn't bother searching her bag.

An idea comes into her mind. Evie packs a lot of things in her bag to make it easier walking around. She claims she doesn't have to move to and from the van as she will have everything in her bag.

Irye opens the nag and fortunately, she finds a methylated spirit instead of the perfume she is looking for.

She rushes out to Gerrard's and unties the cloth.

"It's gonna hurt okay"Irye says with a shaky voice. "You need to stay strong Gerrard....Please"

Tears fill her eyes as she talks. She prepares to apply the spirit. Irye pours it in the wound, receiving a muffled yell from Gerrard.

Irye tips off another part of her top and uses it as cotton before tying Gerrard's shoulder again.

After a while, she sees that the blood has stopped and Gerrard is resting under the tree.

Out of the woods with Gerrard, Irye sighs and walks to solve another problem. She goes over to Evie and Claude. Of course their sister, Mae is looking after them.

Irye squats near Evie and stretches her hand to feel her temperature. Suddenly, Mae hits Irye's hand and pulls Evie closer to her.

"Don't you dare touch her you monster"Mae warns. "Had it not been for you, we wouldn't have been going through a this. Do you also want to kill us like you were about to do with Anne and her sister?"

Irye is taken aback by Means words. Maybe part of it is her fault, she admits or maybe all of it is her fault.

She doesn't say anything because she knows how frustrating it can be to see a loved one injured.

Irye takes in all the insults and mockery Mae sends her way. Even with the most painful words from Mae, she hears with it.

"I wonder why we didn't abandon you when even your mother did." Mae continues blabbing hurtful words. "How stupid of us to have trusted you and taken you as family"

Gerrard hears all those words but is too weak to defend Irye. Every shout comes out as a voiceless word.

Grams is too tired to even hear what's going on. They should solve our their differences, she thinks.

"I know it's hard for you.. but can't you sympathize with me?"Irye begins slowly. "Am having it harder than you think. You think am not going through as much trouble you are?.

"I can take in all the insults but then don't add to you when you talk of hating me."Irye says and leaves her sight to Grams and Gerrard.