Chapter 8: Could be Bound in No Word
Dunes after dunes after dunes.
There is probably nothing else she has seen for a long time.
She was particularly flabbergasted at the fact that she has managed to survive in such harsh conditions with limited supplies.
Her bag of supplies felt lighter day by day. Or was it her arms getting stronger? Maybe both.
It wasn't the only thing she discerned, the earth beneath her feet, under the sand, felt more stable, solid. Exceptionally today, it was significantly decipherable.
It meant the layer of sand was thinning, which meant she was approaching the rocky coast.
Oh! how much it made her heart grow with relief and hope.
Annie too had been more and more responsive by each day. Which were an obvious thing and an indication that she was developing properly.
Anna was nearing towards her ninth month and she wondered how much Annie would have grown.
She remembered in her high school days, her favourite subject was Biology. And later in university, she pursued Gynaecology. Since then, she has worked as a nurse and assisted many doctors in many labours.
Her knowledge greatly aided in her journey till now. That was why she always knew when pushing her body won't be beneficiary and could possibly do damage.
It also helped her when packing supplies, especially food. She consumed accordingly, however, initially she did crave for more.
She also kept it in mind that one's psychological conditions played an important role in the mother and child's well being.
If her mind will be ready to battle all problems, her body would enact accordingly, which was essential for her baby to be enriched away from potential harms.
For this, she spent most of her walks singing. Singing songs, praises, hymns and lullabies.
She was aware that at this stage of pregnancy, the child could listen and react to the mother's voice and could open its eyes and blink.
Her heart could not but swell with the overwhelming emotions which were more than just happiness.
She knew of no word that wielded the power of describing how she felt being a mother.
There was no word in the entire universe which could, to even the least extent, define a Mother's Love.
It would be wise to quit finding any. There are certain things that should not be bound in words, or they will lose their true identity.
Anna and Eddie had earned people's plaudits for their well-chosen professions. Anna worked as a nurse and was by nature a caring soul which made her one of the most favoured nurses in the hospital.
Eddie was a police officer and by heart, protective towards the ones he cared for. Crimes were not something that occurred frequently in Laurelwen but its police had a countable number of encounters with the Mafia. Initial ones were because the Mafia underestimated Laurelwen's capability by its small population.
Eddie and the citizens who sacrificed themselves for her were among the best of their police force. They were some of those faces the Mafia knew quite well with a bitter taste. That was why they didn't spare their lives.
Anna had remembered their laughing with that satisfaction laced in it.
The Mafia had taken all the vehicles, they must have taken the road which went roundabout over the least dense sands and then along the coast.
Anna had purposefully taken the way through denser dunes to avoid bumping into them.
Although she was of no use to them but their secret sources could inform them about her identity as the wife of the man they had a grudge with. So better be careful.
But her path would eventually collide with the road as it came near the coast. Though the Mafia would not take the entire roadway for there might still be officers, rescuers or researchers on the coast. Which was a hopeful thing for her. Yet she has to be careful.
Something broke her train of thought as her feet froze to the spot and her muscles went rigid with only the heart labouring too hard.
Ahead of her, her eyes beheld, though unintentionally and somewhat unwanted, the road.
Her mind became a mess, her pessimistic side and the hopeful side violently engaged in a logical battle.
"The Mafia could emerge from any corner here in no time if they are still on the road.
But it has been over four days and they too must have been in a hurry. They should be across of here far away within two days, remember the Standard Average.
What if they had run out of fuel? What if they had to continue the road ahead by walking.
But they took all that many vehicles and there should be enough fuel at that time of the month they stole it, and because of the sudden evacuation which left things majorly unused. And people do keep a spare supply of fuel which the Mafia didn't forget to embezzle.
What if the vehicles deterred working midway or had any technical or mechanical malfunction that would have slowed them down.
At the time they seized those vehicles, it was the first week of the month when most of the vehicles are conditioned so that is least possible.
But. But...
Shut up! I win!!!"
With her hopeful side's victory, she blinked off the mist in her head and continued her walk on the edge of the road in case of any required action.
However, it never came to that need as the dusk fell heavy across the sky.
But before the last of the blue could dissipate from the western skyline, there it was.
To the right of the road, the wheel tracks. They were very much faded and continued to fade away as it distanced from the road.
The land had a thin layer of sand around the road so the wheel trails remained somewhat visible and as it moved towards the denser sands, it eventually vanished completely.
So they have diverted long ago. Judging by the trail marks, at least two days ago. There may have been more tracks left by all the vehicles but only the heavier trucks' imprints survived for this long, but they too are moribund.
Her shoulders sagged with relief and she let out a long sigh she had not known she'd been holding back.
So she went trudging the road before her but kept her senses alert enough to be watchful against any possible threat.
It was a great relief to know she was so close to the shore. The road would take a near 90° turn around the rocky ridges to trace the coastline towards the nearest settlement.
The turn was still possibly a night's walk away but she was grateful to God for whatever she had been blessed with, which overwhelmed her to no comprehension.
Her steps excitingly hastened, not with hurry but with confidence, savouring the sureness of the hard surface beneath her steps.
After a long time of only watching sands scaling the horizons, her eyes had now been graced by the sight of something else. Which was to her solace and favour. Or at least she hopes it.
Ebony expanse was spread all above her head with dotted stars littering all across to where they vanished which could only be the skyline, marking the end of the fifth day.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone