If The World Was Ending

Chapter 7

It was just after midnight when Shane wakes up. It had taken him awhile to fall asleep next to Elizabeth, but listening to her breathing as she slowly drifted off had finally made him close his eyes and sleep. Shane was on his left side with his back towards Elizabeth and he desperately wants to roll onto his back, but was afraid to move. Moving will shift the mattress and possibly wake Elizabeth up.

Shane sighs, he will just have to take the chance. As slowly as his large frame allows he rolls onto his back. After a few seconds listening for any sound or movement he lets out a breath of relief. Elizabeth was still on her right side with her back to him. The sheet has moved down covering only her legs. The cottage although warm is being slightly cooled by the fan whirring in the corner.

Shane throws one arm over his eyes, he knew sleep was going to evade him. Sometime during the night the pillow between them had disappeared and Shane can feel the warmth emitting from Elizabeth. They were not particularly lying very close to each other, but it would not take much to reach out and touch her.

Shane tries to empty his mind, long ago he had learned a meditation technique from a friend in the military. Sleep did not always come easy when out in the field and when under constant threat, sleep did not come at all. Only right now it was not a threat keeping him awake.

Shane feels the bed move and he lifts his arm from his eyes. Elizabeth has rolled over onto her left side and the space between them has disappeared. Her knees were touching his leg and her left hand was brushing against his side. Shane drops his arm over his eyes again.

The shrill screaming wakes Elizabeth from her sleep abruptly and she sits up, her eyes wide with confusion. Shane was already out of bed and standing by the window looking out. The thin curtains pushed aside.

“What is it?” Elizabeth whispers, pulling the sheet up to hug it to her chest. Her heart was pounding.

“I don’t know,” Shane answers turning around. He heads for his bag and takes out a pair of jeans which he quickly pulls on. Elizabeth immediately knew his intention and she jumps out of bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To check outside,” he says heading for the door. He pauses at the door turning to look at her, “Do not open this door.”

Elizabeth stood staring at the door, holding her breath, her ears straining to listen for any sounds that were out of place. But all she hears was silence and it was deafening. She remains frozen where she was, she did not dare move.

Whether it had been ten minutes or an half an hour, Elizabeth cannot say, but when the door opens and she sees Shane walking in, she releases a shaky breath. In the darkness of the cottage, Elizabeth crosses the space that separates her and Shane.

Shane finds himself holding a shivering Elizabeth in his arms. The instant he had felt her arms going around his waist, his arms surrounded her. She was frightened.

The scream had not been like anything he has heard before. There had been nothing outside the cottage he could see, and the main house was dark. But without a weapon he did not want to take the chance and leave Elizabeth. The best would be to remain inside until morning.

“Do you think it was an animal?” Elizabeth mumbles into Shane’s chest.

“Maybe, though I have never heard an animal make that sound,” Shane shrugs. Elizabeth nods, her arms tightening around him.

“We should get some more sleep, whatever it was, is most likely gone now,” Shane says, starting to feel uncomfortable. It does not matter how warm and inviting Elizabeth was feeling in his arms, and that he would like to hold her for the rest of the night. His hands move to her shoulders and he gently pushes Elizabeth away from him, who reluctantly releases him.

“Sorry,” Elizabeth apologizes as she returns to climb back into the bed.

“For what?” Shane asks as he waits for her to lie down.

“Hugging you. I don’t normally do that, but I was scared,” Elizabeth admits, and she was thankful for the darkness. She knew her face was flushed, and not only from embarrassment. She had felt safe in his arms.

“It was understandable,” Shane says as he lies down, choosing to be on his back again. Elizabeth was on her side facing him and she was closer to his side than before.

“This whole thing with Dr Kramer’s accident, the facility and the reports have me all stressed out. And being away from home is not helping either”, Elizabeth says softly, her breath caressing his shoulder.

Shane turns his head to look at her, but her face was shadowed and he could not see her expression. He wants to say something that would be a comfort to her, but he was not really known for being sympathetic or comforting. The scream had put him on edge and he was not feeling exactly secure either.

Besides he cannot be distracted now, there was still his mission to complete.

“Don’t worry about it. I am sure everything will be sorted out tomorrow. Besides Dr Kramer should be joining us tomorrow in Prince Albert.”

Not exactly comforting, but things should be better tomorrow. And whatever animal or thing had made that horrific sound will be a distant memory.

“Thank you Shane,” she whispers and she reaches for his hand, entwining her fingers with his. For a moment she thought he would pull his hand away, but Shane gently presses her hand with his. Elizabeth relaxes and she shifts a bit closer, her forehead coming to rest against his shoulder.  

Somehow this was enough for both of them and they once again fell asleep, despite the uneasiness of the unknown around them.