Chapter 44
Chapter forty-four
Madelyn
I’ve always heard that when you are on the edge of death, flashbacks play in your mind. Happy memories but also regrets. A kaleidoscope of dreams accomplished. Of love. Of pain. All the colors that make up the artwork, that is life, combine.
My brain tingles as my lungs burn for oxygen. I cough, eyes watering, while Jackson holds onto me. The smoke makes it impossible to know where to go. It feels like he’s walking in circles, but in reality, Jackson probably knows the way. It’s me that’s going in and out of consciousness.
Mom swirls around me, forming in the smoke.
She’s still as pretty as I remember her, with strawberry blonde hair, piercing hazel eyes, and freckles that wrap around her cheeks.
A white lace dress wraps around her shoulders as she smiles.
My kaleidoscope is producing the one person I miss more than anything.
I open my mouth, but that only leads to more coughing.
She lifts her hand to stroke my cheek. “I love you, Maddie.” God, her voice. How I missed it. I take her hand in mine and squeeze it. I try again to say a word. To respond with anything.
Suddenly a frown appears on Mom’s face. “Don’t struggle, my love. Your lungs are damaged.”
I shake my head no while new streaks of tears fall down my cheeks. I want to say I’m sorry. Sorry for what happened.
As if she can read my mind, she pats my head and says, “Not your fault.”
A wheeze escapes my chest as I am unable to control my emotions. Relief fills me, but also pain. The sound of glass and wood breaking slices through the silence. A sharp ache nips my forehead. My eyes struggle to focus for a moment. I lose her. “Mom?” I plead with my mind.
“It’s not your time, Maddie,” she responds, though her voice is soft. Jackson tightens his grip as the wind blows through my hair. The sudden release of new air causes the smoke to thin out. My heart sinks as I watch Mom fade away as quickly as she came.
If I had strength, I would scream for her to come.
Not to leave me again. But I have nothing left.
I've already given it all. My head slams against Jackson’s collarbone as his feet land on solid ground.
Glass falls all around us, with some landing in my hair.
Pain radiates from the top of head, a sign that pieces have found a landing spot in my scalp.
Amelia’s arm grazes against mine. “She’s not good,” her voice comes out harsh.
“Fuck, I know,” Jackson growls. With a shift, he places Amelia on the ground.
“I kept my promise and got you out. Anything more than that is all dependent on you.” He cradles me so that one arm is under my legs and the other is under my neck.
With my head pointed toward him, my vision focuses slightly.
Jackson’s eyebrows furrow, while sweat makes clean tracks against all the blood and ash. “Keep up. If you try to flee, I’ll find you again. And the next time we meet, I’ll make sure Madelyn isn’t here to beg for your life.”
A terrifying threat, because even in my semi-consciousness, I know he means it. His hand stretches across my forehead, securing me in place. “Hang on, baby.”
There’s that word again. Baby. No one has ever called me that and meant it. My eyes catch the beautiful gold spreading across his irises as he looks down at me. My lips curve slightly before I slip back into darkness.