Chapter 20
2015 November
Saturdays, Caden was sure he was the only person in the world who does not like Saturdays.
Tammy seemed pretty fond of them but Tammy seemed pretty fond of just about everything.
Caden smiled at the thought as he watched the girl in question twirl her hair as she played on her phone.
Caden was actually really happy to be at work again. He was fully healed and should not have any problems continuing to work for ARRO, so he was very thankful that car crash caused no permanent damage.
Anderson had let Tammy back on the search team a few months back and they actually ended up finding the little boy. Tammy was happy, Anderson was relieved, and Caden was glad to know she could not get any more attached.
Tammy had visited Caden every chance she got when he was stuck in the hospital, as did Anderson. Even Samantha showed up a few times. Caden only started to grow closer to her the times she actually showed up without Tammy.
He couldn't lie it shocked him to see her care he was hurt but at the same time it made him feel even closer to her.
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The helicopter landed in the middle of a street.
At first Caden thought it was a ridiculous place to land but when he hopped out he noticed the streets were completely empty, not a car was in sight.
Caden looked around the trashed place as the rain continued to poor down. The water was rising and it was a scary thought to think this whole town could be underwater in a day.
The helicopter took off to get somewhere else for the time being, because it was to hard to fly in the wind and rain.
Then a woman drove up in a car and jumped out quickly. She ran up to them and left her car door open, which would probably ruin the inside of her car.
"Please you have to help me!" She pleaded.
Caden and Tammy both looked at her knowing this is who had called.
"My kids, I can't find them!" She told them.
Caden placed his hands on the woman's shoulders to calm her down.
"Hey it's alright, we're going to look for them, you need to get out of here though." Caden explained as the water had risen a few more inches.
This was probably the only person left in town as everyone else had already evacuated to stay with a friend or family member.
Suddenly Caden had felt pity for the people who lived here. He can't imagine just leaving your home behind just to let a flood ruin whatever was left.
The woman had calmed down and Caden was glad to see.
"They had a treehouse in the woods. They might be there." She told them.
As soon as she did she ran back to her car shutting the door and driving off.
Caden stood in the rain soaked along with Tammy. There was no time to waste but before Caden left he wanted to just get one last look at this place as a sign of respect for those who had to leave.
"You ok Caden?" Tammy asked concerned.
He nodded. It was just a hard sight to see.
They both then started running toward the woods that was just right outside of the woman's house. They ran as fast as they could not considering they might not find it. It honestly could be anywhere.
Then they could see the brightly colored roof behind all the trees. They were walking downhill so the water was rising faster and may even reach the top of the treehouse floor eventually.
Tammy and Caden were completely drenched in rain but neither seemed to care.
When they reached it Caden climbed first and Tammy right behind.
When he reached the top he was relieved to see both kids here and unharmed.
He had seemed to startle them though.
"Hey it's ok, I'm not here to hurt you." Caden admitted putting both hands up to show they were empty.
The little boy and girl seemed to be the same age and he was pretty sure he read in the report one of them was nine.
After Tammy reached the top and Caden put his hands down the kids seemed to notice the agents meant no harm.
Caden had to give them credit that he would be frightened too if a random person climbed up somewhere he was with a gun on their side.
The kids stepped forward.
"Hey mister, you know it's raining right?" The girl had spoke.
Caden chuckled at the comment and held back the urge to give a sarcastic response.
"Yes but your mother is worried about you and sent me and my partner to find you guys." Caden explained.
The two kids looked at each other concerned.
"Is she mad with us?" They considered maybe they should not have ran off without telling her. They were just trying to get out of the rain.
Tammy finally spoke up.
"She's not mad she just wanted to know where you were. We're going to take you to her." She explained to the kids.
They both smiled at Tammy and Caden was glad to see the kids trusting them, or at least her anyway.
"I don't think we'll be going down that way though." Caden informed, looking out the window at the ground.
Tammy looked too, just to see the water had made an extreme advance since they climbed up here. It looked like a raging stream bellow.
Tammy sighed and shook her head knowing they should have considered the water would rise faster in the woods since it was downhill.
"We'll have to signal the helicopter here." Tammy told him.
"I'll get on the roof and do it." Caden agreed.
Caden climbed out the window and onto the treehouse roof. They decided this would be a better place to wait anyway so they can leave as soon as the helicopter shows up.
Tammy handed Caden each kid one at a time. Caden informed them to sit down and not to stand up or they might fall. The trees caused slight shelter to the point the rain wasn't too bad on them but enough room that the helicopter could still get close enough.
The roof was square on top and was easy to sit on as long as you did not stand or move to quickly.
The kids spoke not one word and remained completely still.
Caden began to wonder why Tammy had not climbed up here with them yet and he really wished he did not think that thought, maybe he ruined it by asking, he knew that was ridiculous though.
An awful sound came from inside the treehouse. It was awful in the sense it terrified him. It sounded as if Tammy had screamed, or whimpered loudly, but never got to finish her scream. A sound as if something had attacked her.
He jumped to his feet without thinking and slipped falling back onto the roof. The kids giggled not understanding the serious situation and he would nOt complain that they had lightened up.
Caden stood (more carefully this time) to his feet and scrambled his way back into the tiny house. The sight terrified him even more than her whimper-scream.
She was on her knees holding her arm tightly and straining her eyes at her arm.
"Tammy!" Caden exclaimed, it was as if his lips just made him say that on their own, as if he didn't even mean to call her name.
He ran to her side nearly slipping on the water they brought into the treehouse from being dripping wet.
He knelled down basically collapsing to his knees next to her.
"Tammy!" He called her again.
Caden grabbed the arm she wasn't clutching tightly and he turned her to him to make her look him in the eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes fluttered then squinted, fluttered, then squinted, straining to focus on him.
"What's wrong!?" His voice came out shaky and he didn't realize his own afraid voice until he said that.
She looked at him and she was lightly shaking and he thought for a second she was just cold.
"S-Snake." Tammy muttered quietly. He heard her clearly.
He looked around but it was gone.
He looked at her arm where two tiny holes, side by side, were on her arm. It looked like a vampire bite. Did they carry something around for poison!? Caden wasn't even sure. He was just about to check their emergency bag when Tammy laid her head on his shoulder. Panicking officially he didn't hesitate to look at her, eyes still open but slowly giving up on keeping them open.
"Tammy don't do that." He said concerned.
She shook her head and went to say something but all that came out was a whimper. Her hair was clinging to her face from the rain. Her skin wasn't the bright lively color skin should be. It was looked pale. Caden knew it was to late. He couldn't cry now though not if this was the last time she would see him.
He let her lay down and held her in his arms propping her up with his knee.
A small smile inched it's way onto her lips where he let her lay down. For this brief moment, no her last moment, she would be happy.
Tammy placed her hand on top of Caden's but what he didn't realize till later was that she was really placing something in his hands.
Then when she closed her eyes, and her steady breathing stopped, he caved and cried. Just a silent cry with silent tears. Then the quiet pitter-patter of the rain was drowned out by the loud sound of a helicopter. It almost made Caden angry to think it was a just few minutes to late.
Okay I know this was horrible but just like Tori it had to be done for storyline reasons. I know this was sad but I am so happy to be back and able to update. Thanks for all the new readers and of course the ones who's been reading for awhile! Vote if you'd like and comment what you thought!