Epilogue

Is it really ever done?

I sat on the balcony that joined onto my hospital room. I was trying not to move the bandages on my shoulder even though healing wounds are always so itchy.

The oldest of those three teens, Jason had been the one who had carried me back to town. He'd offered to take care of Alex while I was recovering. As much as I hated to be in debt to anyone, I definitely owed my life to those kids.

They had done what I hadn't been able to do, and they'd put themselves in danger to save my son and I. They were either very brave or very stupid. I still wasn't sure which.

"Dad-dy!" A little voice squealed and Alex was running toward me. He stopped when I didn't bend over to pick him up and just looked at me.

I turned around to see a very tired looking Jason standing in the balcony doorway. Alex must be a handful for a kid that’s never had a two-year-old around before.

"Daddy up!" Alex stamped his little foot and crossed his chubby baby arms over his chest. He frowned at me and the very beginnings of tears were forming in his eyes.

"Alexander Gray, don't you dare throw a tantrum right now! Daddy can't pick you up ok?!" I knew that Alex wouldn't understand that I wasn't being mean. That I really couldn't pick him up because I didn't have any hands.

"Come here kid, I'll hold ya since your dad can't" there was a new voice, Jason was gone. Probably to get some well-earned rest, and in his place was Jim.

"Heard you lost your other arm, so I thought I better come and thank you for destroying my apartment" he bent over and scooped Alex into his arms. Even though he sounded mildly annoyed about the apartment he smiled at Alex.

"You remind me of my sister kid, I'm glad you lived even if she didn't" Alex giggled and tugged on Jim's gray hair making him wince.

"I'll keep my promise and help you fix your apartment up, it’s the least I can do..." Jim cut me off before I was able to finish my sentence.

"No offense Alexander, but a man with no arms can't really be of much help with fixing up things, however that young guy Jason who was here before... Told me he's an Apprentice at a construction company. So when he's done babysitting I might borrow him" Jim was right of course, I couldn't do much work without my arms.

"I'm going to take this young one to get something to eat... If you’re in pain, make sure you tell the nurses" thank God for good friends like Jim. I'd never be able to manage Alex on my own like this.

I leaned back in my chair and sighed as my shoulder throbbed. I was so relieved that it was finally over. I could have a semi normal life with Alex and know that we are safe.

In the distance I spotted something that made all thoughts of a normal life freeze up and my blood ran cold. Like a beacon of death, crimson light shone from the forest. A warning, a nightmare come back to haunt me.

The Crimson Tree was Alive.

Author's Note

Ohno... I smell a future sequel. I hope you all enjoyed Hide and Seek. Looks like the Hiding isn't over yet.