Maggie

They would find him.

Tom crawled his way to a small, rock alcove at the bottom on the ridge, his clothes were still soaked through from the storm. He grimaced as he pushed himself up against the cold stone. In front of him lay a huge open plain, there was no protection aside from the small rock formation that he now laid against.

The late afternoon sun fought its way through the grey clouds, offering a small scattering of light after the heavy downpour. Tom looked up at the sky, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He took in the cold air, the deep breath providing little relief. With every breath came a barrage of pain, like tiny daggers piercing his lungs. He instinctively moved his hands to his ribs. They were broken.

A warm liquid trickled down his shin. A sickening reality plagued his gut, knowing that this would be the final chapter. He pulled the small knife from his back pocket and carefully cut the front of his trouser leg.

His lips formed into a thin line as a flush of heat ran through his body. The bone protruded through the skin, the wound was dirty, and blood pulsed out with each faint heartbeat.

He moved his hand to his top pocket, his fingers shakily opening the button. He pulled out the worn and battered heart shape locket. He pulled it open and smiled seeing the familiar face inside.

‘’Hey Maggie. Sorry, I know that I probably look like a bit of a mess. This might be the last time we get a chance to talk. I, I messed up. I know I said that I was going to take the lower walkway and you told me to take the higher one, well, I should have listened to you’’.

Tom looked up behind him, realising the true height in which he had fallen.

‘’I fell. I fell quite a long way down off the ridge. I know you are probably mad, and you have every right to be. It was a stupid mistake’’.

Tom stared at the black and white image; he could feel her stare bore down at him.

‘’It was raining, I lost my footing. I’m sorry Maggie’’.

His thumb traced the outside of locket. He closed his eyes, taking in the familiar sensation, it grounded him.

‘’My leg is broken; it can’t be fixed’’.

His lip started to tremble, the stark reality finally hitting him.

‘’I didn’t think it would end this way. They will find me, and I don’t want to know what they will do to me’’.

An eerie silence surrounded him. There was no life around him, no birds, no rustling of trees.

‘’You know, it’s been three years since we found each other, isn’t that crazy?’’, he smiled. ‘’Three years you have guided me. Do you remember Austin? That was crazy’’, he laughed at the memory.

Maggie’s pearly white smile beamed through the dirt and the blood.

‘’I’m scared, Maggie’’. Tom’s lip trembled; a wet glaze filled his eyes.

‘’I’m sorry I let you down. You have always been there for me. When I found you, you gave me hope, but I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this situation’’.

His hands felt clammy, his mouth dry. He knew the signs of shock and he prayed that it set in before they found him.

He lifted the locket up to his eyes, his vision now blurry.

‘’Maggie. I wish we could have met. Thank you for being my guide. You saved me in so many ways’’.

His breathing strained, as his lower leg continued to bathe in a growing pool of blood.

‘I have to…’’, he took a sharp intake of breath, ‘’I have to go now. I promise to keep you safe; they won’t get you’’.

With the butt of his knife, he slowly pushed it back and forth into the sodden ground. Every movement laboured. When the small hole was deep enough, he looked at the locket for the final time.

Her wide, bright eyes lit up her face. Her thick, dark curls tumbled around her. She was warm, she was hope, but to him, she was Maggie. His guiding light through these dark, dark times.

‘’I hope when someone finds you, this world will be a better place. Goodbye Maggie’’.

He closed the locket and brought it to his lips. He kissed the cold metal as a solitary tear ran down his cheek. He carefully placed Maggie into the hole and covered her gently with the soil.

He wiped his face with his dirty hand, spreading mud across his skin. He leant back further into the cold stone. It was getting dark. They always came at night.

He could feel the fever coming. The disorientation hit him like a freight train. His time was over. He didn’t think it would end like this; he was always so careful.

He closed his eyes, wishing they wouldn’t reopen.

He felt his body fall deeper and deeper into oblivion, a wave of relief began to wash over him.

The ground vibrated.

Tom heard the distant cackles and calls of the familiar enemy, but he wasn’t afraid. He grasped his knife in his hand. With his eyes still closed, he smiled one last time.

They would find him, and he would be ready.