64. Jasper Ridge

64

Jasper Ridge

M y legs were moving before I even knew what was happening.

“Jasper, honey, wait!” My mom’s tearful voice echoed through the empty remnants of the hallway that was once filled with the sound of my Gwen’s voice, her laughter, her soul . “They took her, Jasper. She’s gone. I’m sorry–”

“No, she isn’t!” I yelled, hands bundled into fists at my sides. “She isn’t gone, mamma!” I cried, the words tearing their way up my throat one by one. “She isn’t ,” I gritted out, refusing to listen to her. “ Lei è il mio battito cardiaco .”

She wasn’t gone .

She was wrong . She had to be wrong.

With saddened eyes, her arms wrapped around me, pulling my trembling body into hers. With delicate fingers, she softly petted the back of my head, hushing each sob that wracked my body like a tidal wave.

“You’re lying !” I yelled, tugging my way free of her grasp. I had to start moving. I had to do something . I couldn’t stay there when everywhere I looked I saw her face, in every corner and crevasse, each pocket of light that still managed to stay dimly lit despite the darkness surrounding it.

I ran out of the door. Across the porch. Step by step until the soft slates molded into the rough pavement of the road beneath my feet. Each house down that road was the same. The streets were gently sleeping in a peaceful slumber unaware of the terrors seeping through the veins of this small town. My hair ruffled in the breeze as I started to run, each gust kissing my cheeks in an icy haste.

Perhaps Poppy was safe after all.

Perhaps she was okay.

She had to be.

My Gwen.

Please don’t share the same fate.

I couldn’t survive losing you, not again, please…

Sirens echoed in the distance as I neared her street. Each gulp of air stuffed into my lungs pushed against my chest. I couldn’t swallow it down fast enough. I couldn’t reach her fast enough. My eyes darted between each house, scanning for some sort of sign, some sort of indication that she was okay and that it was all some sick joke conjured by my mind.

I gasped rapidly, pushing away each thundering thought that raged into my head uninvited. Every muscle, every limb in my body was screaming at me with every step further I took, but I didn’t care. I had to reach her. I had to get to her before…

My hands shook in a desperate attempt to calm the tremors that wouldn’t seem to leave me alone. Restlessness coursed through me as the air around me seemed to thin. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, beating like a ticking clock.

I could smell the smoke before I saw it.

And there, right there where Poppy’s house should’ve been, was nothing but bright burning flames.

It was all gone.

I was too late.