Page 44 of The Fallen

?“Baby, I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I would've done without you.”

?“I gotta get these chains off of you,” Marie said.

?She knew it would hurt, but she had to do it. She felt around in the dirt and found something with a jagged edge. She cut another part of her wrist and held it over the chains. They began to melt off.

?As soon as the chains came off she squeezed her mom so hard. It was like a weight was lifted off of her and she could finally breathe.

?Uncle Josh was tending to her dad. She made her way over to him and got the chains off of him as well. He was still knocked out. Marie was overwhelmed with so many emotions, she began to cry. How could he not be her father? And who was?

?They picked him up and took him into the house to fix his wound. He had a giant cut on his back and some bruises on his face. The rest of him looked okay.

?As soon as they got him in the house, she wanted to collapse. The pressure was returning. In the whirlwind of being rescued, Jason got swept up, too. He was there, following and watching her every move. He still hadn't said anything, which freaked Marie out. Brenton seemed a little edgy as well.

?“Mom, what was Azazel talking about? What am I? Who is my real father?” Marie asked.

?Her mom's head dropped. She rubbed her wrist and tried to avoid Marie's gaze. She knew this was going to be another story that would turn her whole world upside down.

?“Let's make sure your father is okay and then we will talk. I promise,” she finally said.

?Marie nodded and together they walked to the room they were tending to her father in. Once inside the room, she noticed everyone was standing around talking. Marie assumed this was a good sign.

?Her uncle was next to the bed and when he moved, she could see her dad's eyes open. She sped up and almost threw herself on the bed trying to hug him. All that mattered was he was going to be okay.

?“Dad, I was so scared,” she said easing back. He looked like he was still in pain.

?“I know baby, but you saved us. I'm so proud of you,” he said wincing.

?“Thanks dad. I'm just happy you're better.”

?“So you're an angel, huh? I knew you were special. The day you were born, I saw that star on your head and I told Renea, she is going to steal my heart from you,” he said and laughed.

?Marie grabbed his hand and squeezed. Renea came to stand on the other side of his bed. He looked into her eyes and the air in the room changed. Her mom gently touched his cheek and he leaned over to kiss her hand.

?Her uncle stood behind her mother, his arms folded and head down. Marie could see that look. He was completely in love with her mom. She wondered if she knew.

?Her dad turned back to her. “From what your uncle has filled me in on, you have a great task ahead of you. I don't want you to worry your head at all about me, just continue to make me proud and I will be around if you need me.”

?“Yes sir.” She hugged him again. “How are you awake right now?”

?Her uncle stepped in, “Compliments of Helena. Nacole had some healing leaves. She obviously knew we were going to need these.”

?Marie thought back once more to her conversation with Helena. It would have been easier for her to just come out and tell her.. She should have known that since she kept going around the conversation, it was going to be something big.

?She still felt a great deal of gratitude for Helena. Even though she said she couldn't help them, she did anyway in so many ways. She would have to express her gratitude to her when she got the chance.

?“How did you guys find us?” Marie said to Micheal.

?“It took some time to narrow the map down and about three different wrong turns, but Nacole used every bit of energy to find you. I just hate that we didn't make it before Azazel freed himself,” he said looking at her wrist.

?“That's okay. You made it, that's all that matters. We'll get him next time.”

?She hugged him and Rochelle, who was standing behind him. She hoped they knew how much she appreciated them for everything they had done for her and her parents. They came in the nick of time because there was no telling what Azazel would have done to them.

?“You're more than welcome,” Rochelle said in her mind and walked out of the room.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Renea

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