Chapter Nineteen

Scotty made his way through the destruction left behind by the hurricane. He'd been forced to park his car quite a distance from the beach house and had estimated that it would take him a good hour to reach the place. Now about forty five minutes into his hike he was becoming more and more despondent with each new step he took. He wouldn't imagine how there was any way short of a miracle that his Angel could be alive. At times he had to pause because of the tears clouding his vision and the sobs racking his body. At one point he'd made a bargain with God that he'd never again go back to his old ways if he would only keep her alive, but he held little faith that the bargain would be accepted.

He was sure that this was some punishment for all the years that he'd squandered wither when he was buried in a haze of drugs and booze. Hearing ocean waves he looked up seeing that he'd reached a long beach that appeared deserted. In the distance he spotted what appeared to have been at one time a house. There was nothing left of the structure any longer, but some of the inner walls. However since he wouldn't see the other side of the structure he allowed one tiny sliver of hope to remain praying that his Angel had found a way to survive. Breaking into a run he dashed over the sand as fast as he was able then through the remains of the house.

He made his way through what must have been at one time a living room with his eyes locked on the wall and door remaining in front of him. Coming to a stop in front of the door he shivered feeling a chill sweep over him as he reached out to touch the wood of the door with one hand and the metal of the door knob with the other hand. Behind that door was going to be either his damnation or his salvation because he knew that if she hadn't survived the storm it would be the death of him. Carefully he turned the knob praying to every God and Goddess that had ever been worshipped then pushed the door open. The sigh6t before him almost knocked him over.

The room was in almost perfect condition except for the shattered glass of the patio door and the window on the adjoining wall. Immediately he noticed Kevin's headless body lying on the floor not missing the knife still clutched in his hand and knew that never again would he question divine justice. Taking a deep breath he allowed his gaze to move to the bed taking in the site there. Mike lay across Angel on his stomach. His back was bleeding slightly as tiny bits of glass covered it. His face was horribly beaten and bloodied. Scotty's medical knowledge told him that if he was still alive he would probably need surgery. He guessed that he had at least some minor internal bleeding and his face would need some reconstruction work. Slowly his eyes moved from Mike to see his Angel's eyes on him.

At first he was afraid to believe that it was real, but then her lips curved into a smile and he saw his name form on them. Rushing to the bed he unscrewed the top from the water bottle he'd been carrying and held it so that she could take a drink. "Scotty," she whispered when she was finally able to speak again. "I knew you'd find us." At that moment Mike moaned softly and Scotty laughed through his tears knowing that God had accepted his bargain after all.

Read chapter Twenty of ?? of Monster in the Shadows