As she spoke, she never said IF and he was pretty sure that said something about her character. Willpower alone was not enough to overcome a disease but this strength would see her to the end. “Of course I want you’re help.” It took people like them to make it through stuff like this. For now though- they shouldn’t think too far ahead when each day was proving to be a challenge. Focus on surviving and THEN consider tomorrow. “Get some more rest Cassie.”

The further they went the colder the weather became. Moisture began to fog the windows and then rain came down in a great thundering mass. Throwing itself against the windshield and regardless of how fast the wipers slapped it away it never seemed to falter. Visibility was cut down to only a smidgen and Rex considered pulling over when he noticed two lights in the distance- squinting his eyes over the dash.

These lights wavered in the rain, rapidly growing larger in size and smaller lights appeared in straight lines branching out from the first. Rex turned off their own headlights and steered them off the road. Tree roots bounced them as he pulled the car into shelter between some trees. Suddenly the storm seemed quieter- muffled against the high canopy. He turned off the engine and listened.

There was a faint purr from the highway, nearly lost to the sound of rain. Rex leaned towards the window as light danced across the slick pavement- reflecting off a thousand drops of water. Suddenly the vessel was nearly upon them. Its center was oval like an egg and thin ’wings’ stretched out from its sides lined with tiny lights (it had no wheels). The moment it drew close enough to see Rex had ducked though, hidden from the view of searching lights.