It had been a night that she dreaded forever, for what seemed to be an eternity. When in reality, it had been the last decade. Well, nine years and one hundred and seventy two days. Almost a decade ago the news had hit her like a sack of bricks falling from the sky.
It had literally been news, so surprising that she never would have seen it coming-not in a million years. Her best friend from high school had gotten married and moved off after graduation. They had kept contact but not very often, just enough to let the other know that they were still alive and doing well.
3:00 a.m. on a muggy night it was September 9th. she had gotten a phone call from Becca."hey Tracy how fast can you get to Phoenix...?' was how that dreaded conversation had begun. Mike her husband watched as her face went pale and almost green with disgust as she listened to the stories that her friend had told her about her life after high School.
"Mike..I have to go see Becky...something is deathly wrong out in the desert." Mike swore up and down that he would have went with her but....Being responsible sucks and well somebody had to make sure that the bills were paid and that she had the money to make it to Phoenix and back.
4:45 a.m. the rumble of the V8 underneath the cherry red paint of the Nova shook the earth as she sped down the interstate heading up highway 24 westbound out of Colorado. She was a little frantic, a little panicked. She can feel the sweat building up on her palms. The headlights on the other side of the road began to become solid lines.
She was speeding a little bit, too fast too concerned, with the words that her friend had spoken to her. "It's travis.." a weakened, cracked voice spoken to the receiver of one side of the telephone. "I don't even know how I'm going to make it through all of this. I don't deserve this ....he doesn't deserve this, a child so young and so innocent doesn't deserve such suffering..." Her friend broke down in tears and of course without a moment of hesitation Tracy grabbed the car keys and headed out.
The somewhat flat grounds around her started to rise before she realized everything was pitch Black outside except for what her headlights could illuminate. Her mind was racing and the thoughts of what she had been told was still burned into her membrane. "That poor baby..." Fighting back tears she just leaned back in the seat gripping the steering wheel even harder, determination setting in as she held her chin up high and pressed on.
1153 a.m. arriving in Phoenix she had made great time. It was amazing that she had not been pulled over or worse gotten into a head-on collision or some kind of car crash. Most of the time traumatic events are usually foreshadowed with even worse consequences.
Racing into the ER she tells the nurses station the name of her friend "I'm here to visit Rebecca Stravenov." By now the panic and fear had set in and she could hardly even keep a straight face. Rebecca had told Tracy that Travis had been hit by a car and was in critical condition. Rebecca's family had all passed on, in one way or another. Both of her parents were in the grave.
Her brother hadn't spoken to her in years. Calling her every word under the sun except for a saint. For her choice in men, her husband had been of a different race and their up bringing had forbidden them to date outside of their own 'kind.' such racism Rebecca hated; Most of the world frowned upon it with utter hatred.
So Rebecca's only family was Tracy. All in all her little vacation, if you could even call it that lasted for 2 days before the child had given up.. Mike called Tracy several times to check on her knowing that this was not going to be an easy situation for any of the people involved. In the background during the phone calls to Mike she could hear her children playing in the yard. Little jack and miss Molly, her angels. Would never get to meet their cousin Travis.
Tracy's cheeks were puffy and red from crying when her and Rebecca decided to part ways Rebecca choosing to stay where she lives so that she could set up the funeral, make all of the arrangements and what not. She had told Tracy that she would fly out there and stay with them for a while after everything was said and done.
So low and behold Tracy began what would ultimately be the most paraylis adventure of her life. Taking what looked like it would be a shortcut back through the mouth of the rocky mountains. Most of the road was paved some of it was asphalt. A great deal of the road was dirt and it didn't help matters much that it was heading into October by the time she was on her way home. The first Frost of the year had already came and gone and so had the first snow storm of the year.
The wilderness was truly something to take in. It was breathtaking the way that the white had blanketed the Earth beneath it and transformed everything into a chrysalis. Almost as if everything had went into hibernation so that it could rebuild, regrow and come back twice as strong as it was the year before. This was the cycle, the circle in which the seasons change.
Tracy was so filled with malice and strife and anger and her heart was splitting in two. It was becoming night when she first started to doze off but she thought you know-drinking the monsters and eating the stacker twos would be enough to keep her awake throughout this treacherous journey. She clearly hadn't thought of how easily she could fall asleep or how hard it was to notice black ice in the middle of the night. Camouflaged by Twilight's mysterious grays, her whole world was in a haze.
The black ice came out of nowhere as the car began to spin spiral and it jolted her back into reality. Unfortunately, for her. The reality of the situation was critical, it was a 250 ft Cliff to the left side of the road that the car was now on a collision course with. On this hollowed night she would have her dance with destiny. It was going to show her just how strong her will to live really was.
Screaming echoed from the tires as they left the blacktop followed by the crunch of metal on metal as the car began to barrel roll. The tires hit on the sidewall against the barricade on the side of the road, which caused the car to begin to flip and spin and roll down the side of this mountain. As it came to a churning screech on the Rock cliff side.
Her breath was taken from her by the seat belt God only knows how long she was stuck hanging in the driver's seat plastered to the side of this rock wall. Looking out the windshield when she awoke, she was staring downward at what seemed to be every bit of a 500 ft drop to her. Slowly looking around, blood dripping from a cut across her eye brow. She stared on in disbelief that after all that she was still alive at all. But sometimes, just sometimes things happen in mysterious ways and as she began to get her marbles back she saw it for the first time.
A large black bird landed on the hood of her car causing the whole thing to shift a little. CAW! The bird bellowed at first. It was in this moment that she realized, she would have to do something about her current predicament. No one would ever make it to where she was, hell it was the middle of the night. Who would even know she was out here? Mike?
Mike thought she was safe and sound on the road driving home. Her life began to flash before her eyes. All of her beautiful memories, all of the stress and drama. It was all right there and she knew that it was getting taken away from her if she didn't do something soon. CAWW!!!!! The crow would scream again! As if yelling for her to move! Reaching down she unbuckled her seat belt. And as her body weight shifted she let out a grunt. Feeling her bruised ribs for the first time since her awakening...
The car shifted again and she could feel gravity yanking down on it, it wouldn't be long before it fell. Survival is all she could think of as she kicked open the door and jumped from the car. She hadn't thought very far ahead. Because she was on the side of a cliff! Falling for what seemed to be forever. She swore she counted at least six full breathes before she crashed into the trees.
Branches snapped, as she tumbled downward. Her lithe form finally came to a stop. She sat there trying to catch her breath and realized that she was bleeding from her arms now, probably from her legs and most likely the bruised ribs were more like cracked ribs. She began to assess her situation. Luckily she had been wearing Mikes jacket when the car crash occurred. For it was in this moment that a bright flash of light filled the horizon in front of her eyes.
Apparently one of the fuel lines on her speed demon, death trap of a vehicle had been clipped and the Sparks from the collision of steel on Rock must have ignited the gasoline. The explosion had to have been heard for Miles unfortunately she was out here all alone and had no idea how far it was to civilization. For now her only concern was getting down out of the tree which she slowly but surely descended. Sometimes dropping four or five feet to try and catch the next Branch hoping to God and whatever holy Spirit she could pray to that the branch she was dropping to wouldn't break.
It took her every bit of 2 hours to get out of that tree and as she sat on the ground with her back against the trunk she realized that she was bleeding pretty bad from her hands. Ripping her shirt up. She made make shift bandages. Slowly she thought about her youth, her time with the scouts and survival. Trying desperately to remember what she had been taught in case she had to find her way back to civilization.
Collapsing, she lost consciousness. She knew not how long she laid there. Not how long it took for her to try to recollect her thoughts, her breath, her life in general. But a voice started talking to her telling her to stare at the stars. Take note of how they move and how the planet feels, look down the mountainside and watch for any kind of light, any kind of civilization. Remember that the moon rises in the east and sets in the west just like the sun.
Remember to take it into account that you have just survived a freak accident. That you're stronger than anyone ever gave you credit for, you're going to survive this. Caw! She heard that bird again, and now as she awoke. She rolled over and saw it, standing there perched on the Rock. As it realized she had sat up. It flew off, flying toward the east. Away from the moon.
So after finally recollecting herself, she began the trek down the mountain side. Following her winged savior. The bird had acted almost as if it was her guardian angel. She was very cautious as she moved, still slightly delirious. Definitely off balance, she could have a concussion. She needed to find a place to rest, somewhere she could catch her breath. Lick her wounds and try to heal. She knew not how deep she was in these mountains. All she knew is that she couldn't just wait for some one to find her. She'd freeze to death.
She she ran down this mountain for what seemed to be hours until finally the brilliance of the sunrise eclipsed the darkened blues and grey's of yesterday's eve. The hope of a new day was given life. It was in this moment that she saw what would be her saving grace. Perched on a tree half way up the next slope. Using it's beak to peck away at it's feathers. She began to run as fast as she would dare. If she was to trip and sprang her ankle it could mean certain death. Making it up to where the bird had been waiting, it's wretched screech filled the air as it swooped down behind a boulder. Following it's descent, she realized that this little bird had led her to a cave. Once inside, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
Within moments she drifted off into another reality, another vast world where life had been much different. A world where Travis was still alive and Rebecca and her ex-husband were still happy and where her children and Rebecca's children had grown up together. It just seemed so unreal yet peaceful it was in this moment that she realized. None of it could be real... It was just too serene. To dream like. Too perfect.
She could hear something strange, it didn't seem right in her stomach. Her mind was starting to race and she could feel something wet down beneath her waist. It was down past her knees. Even probably closer to her feet, wet and moist. Warm. Whatever it was, she was fighting to open her eyes. She was exhausted and she just wanted to keep sleeping. Half awake and half asleep she heard the growls start.
Once she realized that it wasn't her stomach growling and that it was some kind of animal. The blackened orbs in her face stretched wide open. Pulling her left foot up slowly. She cocked back and kicked with all of her might, with all of the strength she could muster. Placing one solid flat foot against the cranium of what she thought was a wolf.
It was like she was attempting to kick start a motor cycle. The beast yelped loudly as it tumbled across the cold, rocky bed rock of the cave. Its head bouncing of the wall. She scrambled to her feet and started running full speed up the hill. The whole time thinking to herself. Please don't be following me! I've had enough bad luck for one night. Please God don't let it be chaising me. She didn't realize that she was moving uphill and slowly . Thinking it was just a feral dog she never even looked back over her shoulder to see where the creature was.
Upon reaching the zenith of the summit. Finally she made it to the top of the mountain, and taking in a deep breath. She felt the pain and the fire and the smoke within her lungs melt away. Turning to look down the hill. Was that dog or whatever it was chasing her? She couldn't tell. Looking back the other way. There in the distance. She saw what she thought resembled buildings. Way off in the distance, it had to be at least ten or twenty miles though..
Her mind started to calm down as she slowly began to make her decent down this crescendo. This had been such a mistake she couldn't help but feeling stupid. But Becca was worth it, and to be there for her friend after that, she would gladly go through all of this again. In a heart beat.
The next thing she knew, she felt something sharp at first. Peirce the skin on her back, followed by what seemed to be a wrecking ball of force knock her off her feet. Tumbling head over heels. the ball of fluffy hair and her went rolling down the mountain side. Bouncing off of rocks and through bushes. Gasping and screaming out in pain. To her, it felt like just another ride on this wild roller coaster ride. Well that was of course before the trunk of a tree broke her momentum. Knocking her unconscious.
Caw! Caw! Thump, thump. She felt something pecking at her hand. She was battered and broken up. Barely able to open her eyes. She was starving and hurt pretty bad. There was no telling how much blood she had lost since the car crash. And she had not eaten since the hospital.
Looking over, she saw the wolf. Lying there, not moving and laying in a position that most definitely no living creature would lay in. Struggling to get up. She limped around collecting sticks and brush, essentially making tinder for a camp fire. She was not going to get a better chance than this for food. So she made a pretty decent pile of wood and leaves and sticks and what have you. Then she spent awhile collecting rocks.
While limping around, she thought about it though. Just how was she going to light the dang thing on fire. One by one she cracked rocks against each other hoping for sparks. But none came. Sighing in defeat she sat down and hung her head. Tears starting to stream down her face as the reality that she could die out here finally began to sink in.
If only she had begged Mike to come with. Then they wouldn't have wrecked, and she wouldn't be fighting for her life on the side of this mountain. Moaning as she cried, it wasn't until now that she realized how thirsty she was. Caw! The crow landed over by the wolf and started pecking at it.
She watched it as she began to recollect her life and all the things she used to take for granted. Swearing that if god just let her survive this, that she'd never ask for anything again.
It was during all of this that she realized she was wearing Mike's jacket. Mike was a smoker maybe just maybe if she got lucky he might have left a spare book of matches and she did in fact find what she was looking for! She found a magical little bic lighter, and his Leatherman. So there was a god after all...
A handy dandy little tool that works like a pair of pliers yet it's not just a pair of pliers it has knives and all sorts of little doohickeys on it. And so she was able to create her fire and make her dinner (skipping the Gorey detailes). She fell asleep with the fire blazing.
Who knows how much time had past but what sounded like the beats of war drums awakened her, thank god she had fallen asleep with the fire still burning. Over head a helicopter began to descend and from there it was all a blur....
For what seemed to be forever...like time had sat still. She knew not how long she had laid in the bed how many countless hours she had spent with tubes up her nose and down her throat. IVs in her arms and just the misery and horror. The whole situation weighing down on her mind, the tremors, the anxiety. To Tracy she thought she was still out there in the wilderness.
But to the rest of the world she was laying in memorial hospital in Colorado springs pretty much comatose with Mike and their children sitting by her bed praying that their mother would just wake up. Praying that whatever sickness it was that had over taken her would just be lifted off of her shoulders and that life would go back to normal.
Days turned into months, months turned into around 2 years of this and finally she awoke. Only to find that her husband had never really left her side. That they had lost pretty much everything during this process but the world is full of good people and friends and family were taking care of their mortgage and making sure they were able to eat still. She smiled at them and said hey I'm home. And thus, Tracy had found her way back to the world of the living. Was she comatose this whole time and the survivalism in the mountains...was it just a fantasy?
Or was waking up in the hospital the true fantasy and she was still stranded in those horrific mountains. Stay tuned for more stories involving Tracy, or Bentley or whatever new characters come from the warped reality known as vink and the Frost-o-vision.
