Page 65 of Cole: Bloodlines
One day, Maddy would propose to her — she knew it was only a matter of time. Maddy was the boy of her dreams, but the idea of marriage made her nervous, worried she might somehow pass her sickness to Maddy, even though Devlin and her doctor assured her that many HIV-positive people have meaningful, intimate relationships by simply taking precautions. After additional tests, her doctor confirmed that her version ofthe disease wasn’t contagious, but still recommended using condoms during sex as an extra precaution.
Even with all the reassurances, Savannah had been scared of infecting Maddy. Huddled in his arms now, though, in the middle of a living nightmare, facing down horrors that rivaled their childhood terrors… her former fears weakened. Shewantedto marry Maddy someday,neededhim by her side for the rest of her life.
Savannah intertwined her fingers with Maddy’s, gently rubbing her thumb on his left ring finger, feeling a thrill of anticipation for the day she would slide a wedding ring onto that finger.
Maddy squeezed her fingers and pressed his lips to her head. “Are you still cold?” he whispered.
“Some. Not as much.” She huddled closer to him. “I’m okay.”
He was silent for a moment, then spoke in a strained voice, “I didn’t know you were here. Not until just before I got away.” His breath trembled. “I was so scared I wouldn’t find you, and that they would…”
“They didn’t,” Savannah assured. “Jitterbug saved me before they could…” She shivered at the thought of what could’ve happened if the strange, scary little creature hadn’t shown up. “Why… Why do you think he helped us? He kept calling mepretty baby, and said the men who kidnapped us hurt pretty babies. Then he mentioned boys with blond hair and how he hid them. I-I don’t know what he was talking about.”
Maddy didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. “I think…” he whispered. “I think he’s helping us because of you. I think…” he exhaled shakily. “… I might be dead now if I wasn’t your friend.”
“What?” Savannah straightened in shock. “What… What happened?”
“He attacked me,” Maddy said quietly. “The giant told him to release me, and said if he hurt me, he would hurt the… pretty baby.” Maddy sniffed. “That seemed to upset him. He said,I don’t hurt pretty babies.Then he let me go, and they brought me here, to you.”
“Why would he care if he hurt me?” Savannah whispered. “I-I don’t understand?”
Maddy shook his head. “I don’t either.” He swallowed and held her tighter. “But thank God he does, or…” His words faded into a harrowing silence.
A sudden screech of scraping metal outside the door made them both jump and freeze in each other’s arms.
The giant suddenly stopped at a rusty metal table pushed against a corroded door. The small creature-man cackled, his excitement growing, making the two men tense. Cole shielded Gabe and raised his weapon as a warning, watching the creature’s every move.
“Drop it,”the giant commanded, his voice nearly guttural as he stared at Cole from the shadows of his hood. His large hand rested protectively on the creature’s shoulder, pulling his twitchy companion closer.
Cole read him loud and clear: hurt his little friend—and he would tear them limb from limb. Cole slowly lowered the gun, but didn’t put it away.
The giant looked satisfied as the weapon was lowered, then grabbed the heavy table, dragging it away from the door with a loud screech. He stepped back, his hand still resting on the creature’s shoulder. Gabe looked at the door, then at Cole.
“Open it,” Cole murmured, keeping his eyes on the giant and his companion, weapon down but held ready in case this wassome kind of trap. It didn’t make sense that it would be—the giant could have taken them out at any moment.
Gabe grabbed the door handle and heaved. It took a few tries before the rusted metal door scraped open. Cole glanced into the darkness beyond. “Savannah? You in there, baby girl?”
Silence—then a soft, quivering voice, “Cole…?”
“It’s us, sweetheart,” Gabe said.
A thick sob erupted in the darkness, and Savannah suddenly threw herself into Gabe’s arms, clutching him tightly and crying. Gabe held her close. “I got you, sweetheart,” he whispered, shielding her with his embrace. “We got you. We’re gonna get you out of here.”
“Maddy…”
“We’ll find him…” Cole started when the boy stepped out of the dark room. “Maddy?” He blinked, disbelief in his eyes.
Gabe grabbed the boy and hugged both kids tightly. “Are you okay?” Gabe pulled back to check on them. “Are you hurt?”
“We’re okay,” Maddy whispered. He glanced nervously at the creature. “They brought me to Savannah.”
Savannah wiped her eyes and looked at the creature. “Thank you… Jitterbug,” she whispered. “I… I won’t forget you.”
Cole was certainnoneof them would forget him.
The creature crept forward, grinning with its teeth bared. It seemed to shake with excitement.“Pretty baby… Jitterbug’s friend?”
Savannah nodded. “Yeah.”
