Cold from the Inside Out

Trafford Publishing

Chapter One

Stop this, her brain ordered! Panic will not help you. Maybe you should stop. Stop where and for why? There was no help on this road, no one to turn to. Just freeze to death calmly. Don't make a fuss. They say it's just like going to sleep. They say it does not hurt. What do they know? They are not the ones in danger of freezing to death.

What is that up ahead?

Flashing lights – flashing red lights. Maybe there were people. She would be much calmer if there were people. Closer, it was closer now. It was – a school bus – in the middle of the road – in the middle of nowhere – all its flashers going like it was stopping for kids. Maybe it wasn't in the middle of nowhere. It was a school bus stopping for children. Where were the children? Why didn't she see any children? Were they already gone inside? There were no buildings, where were the children? Were the children on the bus? The windows were frosted and snow was collecting in the corners. Was that movement inside the bus? Were there children on the bus?

Driving on was not an option. She rolled to a stop slowly, not too close to the back of the bus. Leaving the car running, she made her way to the door of the bus and knocked - sort of. The door flew open and there she saw a boy. He was a beautiful child and showed no sigh of fear or even surprise.

"Hi, my name is Lucas," he greeted her, "and this is my brother, Tristan."

Another child joined the first and she would have thought she was seeing double except for the eyes. Lucas' were black, shining and dark. Tristan's were green, a glowing green that reminded her of forests and jungles and places that man had not touched.

"Hello, my name is Kate," she responded. "Is everyone OK in here? Where is your driver? How long have you been stranded here?" She rapid fired the questions.

The boys answered them in order. "Yes, we are OK. The driver went for help when the bus died. We don't know how long it's been, but long enough to run out of gas and lose all the heat in the bus."

Kate nodded her head, thinking quickly. She knew they had to leave.

"Do you know where this road goes?" she asked Lucas.

"Sure," he replied. "It leads down to HWY 21, which will take us to the High Valley"

"Is it far to the Valley? Can we make it by nightfall?"

"Don't you know where you are?" asked Tristan.

"No" replied Kate. "I've been lost for several hours, but since I have a car, and you know how to get out of here, I suggest we all go together."

Luc and Trist, for that is already how she thought of them, looked at the other children, who simply nodded to indicate they were ready to go.

"All right, let's see if we can get everyone in the seats without unloading the back. Luc and Trist, I'll need you in the front to give directions," said Kate as she started down the steps.

All the children piled into the car without comment. She counted nine. She had no idea her small SUV would hold that many people, but she was glad everyone fit without hassle or argument.

I could really use a cigarette, she thought as she climbed into the driver's seat. Not now, responded the alternate side of her brain. It's no time to be distracted while driving. Therefore, she eased around the bus and continued slowly down the road. The children were all quiet, grateful for the heat, except for Luc and Trist, who did running commentary on where they were and what was to come. It bounced effortlessly between them as they finished each other's sentences and continued each other's thoughts.

They were on a slight downward slope around a big looping curve when she saw a strange lump in the middle of the road. She thought it must be road kill until Bobby sang out with, "That's John Paul!"

"What is a John Paul?" Kate asked.

"Our bus driver," they all replied in unison.

Kate carefully brought the car to a stop, but again did not cut the engine.

John Paul lay face down, covered with snow. He had been here for some time. Kate searched for and found a pulse. It was slow and weak, but it was there. Luc dribbled a little snow into his mouth and he swallowed as it melted.

They needed to get John Paul into the car. They knew he would be no help to them. Despite their best efforts, he remained unconscious.

Kate repositioned the car to put the front passenger door close to John Paul. With Kate and most of the children working together, they managed to get John Paul levered into the car, at least most of him was in the car. The road was slick. There was ice under the snow. Kate just needed to finish tucking John Paul up a bit and they were on their way.

As Kate attempted to get both his legs folded into, what now appeared to be her small front seat floorboard, John Paul stiffened and spasm after spasm ripped through him. One of his wild swings caught Kate, throwing her to the ground where she landed hard on her left side. She had been so careful, tried so hard not to slip, and then she was falling. The cold bare highway kissed her hip and the side of her head violently. The children all heard her land and feared that something was broken, leaving them stranded again.

Kate moaned and they crowded round her. They knew she needed help, but seemed paralyzed to do anything. When they began to ask questions, they all came at her in a jumble.

Kate was still conscious, which was good. She was in great pain, which was bad. Luc finally took charge of the little group. He was neither the largest nor the oldest, but he was the most stubborn.

They packed snow against her left side, especially her head, to try to manage the swelling. Kate soon began to complain about the cold. Both Luc and Trist considered that a good sign.

"Kate, we know its cold, but it needs to be done. Now we need to know if anything is broken," said Trist.

Kate replied distinctly, "My head is broken." The boys did not know exactly what she meant, but at least she was coherent and responsive. They proceeded to check her for broken bones. The hip and leg did not appear to be broken. She could move them, albeit with great difficulty and pain. Her left arm had somehow escaped the worst of the impact and was moving easily, if not quickly.

"Can any of you drive?" Kate suddenly asked. All the children looked uneasy. Most had bragged at one time or another of their adventures behind the wheel, but none really had any experience and now they had to admit it.

"I can't hear you! Can anybody drive? We are stuck here." Kate prompted a response.

Melissa finally answered, "No ma'am. No one can drive."

"Kate, Kate! Don't go to sleep. That's bad. We could all freeze here. You can't go to sleep"

It came at her loud...