Trapped in Our Hell

Chapter 14:

Lusie and Jason were getting used to living in the cave during the day. They would switch off on who slept while the other stayed up to look out. Though Jason's mother insisted they should both sleep and she would look out for them Jason just could not do it. When night came Lusie would add wood to the fire that Jason would make out of hitting two rocks together. Then Jason would go down to the river stream and catch fish for them to eat. Lusie would stick them on sticks to hold up against the fire for them to cook just the way Jason showed her the second night they escaped.

They had been eating fish for about 2 months now if the cave markings Jason made were correct. Lusie really couldn't taste the fish anymore and really hoped someday she would never have to look at fish again.

Tonight marked the 60th day they had escaped into the cave and lived together with his mom's spirit. It was also time that they leave to restock the fire wood. They were at the last of their pile and now was the perfect time to do it since there was no rain for weeks. The only question is if they would be able to see any. Jason did not want to but Lusie and he must look for the wood on the first sunrise hours.

So the night went by like usual. They made the fire and ate their fish. Jason's mom told childhood stories of him that he did not even remember. Which was a treat for Jason and he could feel some weight being lifted from his shoulders.

Climbing down the hill and walking on the side of the stream Jason thought about how different he felt. Since Lusie escaped with him he had not experienced any demonic energy that he had felt everyday in the hospital. He did not feel trapped or alone. Jason felt normal. Depression was not the first thing he thought of. Instead Lusie was.

Every morning he found himself waking up before her and would mark a talie on the cave wall next to him. Jason always found himself looking at Lusie and rearranging the blanket she used to keep her from getting chilly. Even in his dreams she was there.

Sometimes the dreams would be memories of the times his father offered Jason's body to be possessed just to kill people that stood up against his father. Except when his demon possessed body went in front of the person he would kill Lusie appeared in between them. She would look at him like she was worried and raise her hand to his cheek. In one dream she had said, "Jason you're better than this. You are stronger than the demon. Please don't let them control you. Come back to me Jason."

Jason's throat felt dry and thick with feelings stronger than the ones he felt when they kissed. He shook his head and tried to focus on where his feet were going. Lusie went the opposite direction to collect some wood. Jason could hear her humming 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart' from the year 1910.

'I am dreaming Dear of you, day by day

Dreaming when the skies are blue, When they're gray;

When the silvery moonlight gleams, Still I wander on in dreams

In a land of love, it seems, Just with you

Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you

Let me hear you whisper that you love me too

Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true

Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you'

Lusie stopped picking up wood and closed her eyes listening to Jason's voice. His usual heavy rough edge voice was soft and gentle as he sang through one of her favorite old songs. She smiled when he went through the longer notes and her voice hummed the melody.

When they ended the song there was a quietness as they shared a smile before continuing their task. This time the silence was not awkward. Instead it felt comfortable and comforting. They were able to collect as much wood as the could. Jason spread a blanket out on the grass while Lusie arranged the wood on it. She also wrapped it so no water would be able to touch the wood to damage it.

"How long have you been able to sing like that?" Lusie asked as she watched Jason take a leaf branch and brush were they had walked.

"My mother and I used to sing every night when I was a child. She would play the piano so I would catch each note." Jason smiled at the memory. When he finished covering their tracks he grabbed the blanket.

"Is that how you learned of 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart'?" Lusie followed Jason back to the river. Jason held the blanket close to him and hunched over it to protect most of the wood from the waterfall.

"Yes." He smiled at her. Lusie seemed to be very talkative tonight. Usually she was cranky because she was tired at this hour. He wasn't sure if he liked all the questions or the adorable cranky responses she shot at him more. Quietly the two of them climbed. Jason easily made the trip with the wood under his shirt as he climbed.

Once in the cave Lusie felt a chill that had her shivering slightly. Jason set the wood in a pile except a few pieces. He set them aside and sparked them with the rocks. The air slowly turned warmer making Lusie feel warmed again. She sat on her side and held her hands against the fire. While Jason rearranged the wood into a stacked pile.

Jason's mother appeared from the far side deeper part of the cave they had explored two nights ago. They found out that bats lived with them in here. Lusie was glad the sounds she hears at night were from them not any hospital staff looking for them. Yet they stayed in the middle of the cave to give the bats space but not close to the cave for someone to spot them if they could even see them through the waterfall.

"Jason." His mother whispered once she was closer to them. Jason sat back and looked at his mother. He could hear In her tone that something was up. Lusie could feel pain in her chest and sadness that she was sure came from Jason's mother.

"It's time for me to go." Jason heard his mother say but it took a minute to process her words. His heart ached and he felt tears welling up. His mother was telling him that she had to move on. That there was no more that she held on as regret for leaving him with a monster of a father. He should be happy for her yet he just felt like he was losing her all over again.

Lusie could feel the heaviness of heartache and tears threatened to fall. Quietly she moved to sit beside Jason and gently rested her hand on his arm. He was silent and Lusie could feel from his energy that it wasn't a good silence. His mother sat in front of them. Her emotions were the same and Lusie could not hold in the tears that they felt like shedding.

"I'm sorry I was not able to protect you. I wanted nothing but for you to know that you are loved. Your father won't stop searching for you. I know you are thinking of how long it will last before your caught here. Before I go I want to give you a chance to escape where I know it is safe." Jason's mother hovered her hand over her sons. "I could not before I died but please allow me to in death. Please forgive me for not protecting you."

Tears streamed down Lusies face as Jason's and his mother's energy flowed in her body. Images of a younger Jason chained to a similar wall on the 4th floor of the hospital was getting whipped for disobedience filled Lusies head. Then Jason's mother remembered one moment that she had witnessed a chained Jason become possessed as an offering. Jason would than break out of the chains and break people's bones until they screamed in pain. When the pain became too much Jason's mother watched the soul of the people leave their body in death. She had to take those souls to heaven or to the border of hell. She wished each time that she could have saved her son from the blood that would stain his hands. She wished she could have held him when he was locked up afterwards in a white room with the blood still on his hands drying.

Lusie gasped as the images all filled her senses. Her stomach flopped when the first blood sight came and as she watched it all play out her stomach wanted to release the fish she had eaten hours ago. Jason's mother stared at her. She knew what images Lusie saw and it felt like she had purposely shown Lusie them against Jason's view.

"Take care of him Lusie. Please." His mother whispered. "I love you, Jason."

Lusie and Jason watched as she shimmered before fading away. The fire blew out and darkness filled the cave. Cold creeped in as the warmth left. Lusie could feel Jason shaking under her hand. She realized after a moment that he was crying silently.

Lusie did not know what to say. So she didn't say anything. All she did was wrap her arms around him and held him. At first Jason had been stiff. He was unused to physical contact or of affection. Lusie didn't mind and just kept holding him. Eventually he relaxed into her and held her to him. She could feel his tears fall with his face buried against her shoulder and neck. He did not make any sound but his body shock. Gently Lusie creased his hair and whispered, "Shhh. It's ok. You’re not alone. I'm right here with you."

Being able to hold Lusie made Jason feel warm when he felt coldness slip in. He had tried to be quiet so Lusie did not see him so weak. However she had felt it and embraced him. He had been surprised and uncomfortable with it but now he was thankful. Dark thoughts had filled his mind. The kind that were never far away when he would be forced to kill someone and felt the guilt of it. He had started to feel alone and that he could never live happily. Then Lusie had whispered that he wasn't. It was like she had read his thoughts and just like that the thoughts fled. All he could feel was the warmth of her body and the softness of it. They stayed like that for hours.