"We'll find 'um Carl, don't cha worry about that one," David said, with the same worried tone. He had never had to search for his son like this and it made him a nervous wreck. It all started when they got the phone call from Stephanie from the emergency room. Shelby went nuts and Katherine ran for the door. Laura was with grandma at the grocery store, getting last minute things for Christmas dinner. Shelby was left to stay at the house and listen for any phone calls and to wait to give her sister the bad news that her sons were missing.

But Carl was used to this in a way, but it did not change the fear inside that one of his sons might be hurt or even dead. Adam's accident was a wake up call to Carl, who thought that nothing would happen to his boys. Now he was afraid that it would happen again except this time, it could mean loosing all three boys. David drove the jeep for all it would go down the windy and dusty road to the last location that Stephanie saw Jacob.

Meanwhile, Jacob was carrying his older cousin carefully, but swiftly towards the road. He knew he was getting close when he heard the sound of a car engine coming. That sound made him want to move even faster. Jason was going in and out of consciousness and Jacob knew that time was going to be a factor. He drudged onward, even though his muscles were screaming for rest. This was his chance to prove that he was a man, just like everyone else his age. Jacob made it to a small clearing that overlooked the road. His heart almost skipped a beat when he saw the vehicle approaching and it was his beloved jeep. Jacob knew this even though it was dark by the roar of the engine and the size of the headlights. He ran to the side of the hill overlooking the road, but the jeep sped past, not even noticing him holding Jason above. His heart fell, but he knew he had to get to the road to be seen and he did not waste any time getting there as he made his way by moonlight to the road.

"Are you sure we did not pass it?" Carl asked looking around at the valley. It had been awhile since he had been in the area, but things were coming back to him. But David was too nervous to respond to him. He just kept driving and looking along the side of the road. They had not gone very far until Carl spotted a pair of red lights in the road ahead of them in the distance. As they got closer, the lights never moved.

"What on earth is that up there?" David exclaimed, slowing the jeep down. He stopped about 20 feet from an object that he just could not describe. It was just like Jacob and Adam had described. David was frozen in fear as the creature made its way in the air towards the jeep.

"Dear God, do something David, turn this thing around! Let's get out of here!" Carl said with a stammer. David at first did not move, but then jumped to life. He quickly turned the jeep around and headed back the way that they came with the Creature right on their tail. David rounded the corner to be met by another sight. There off the side of the road was his own son, carrying Jason in his arms. Creature or not, David was going to get his son and nephew. The jeep came to a screeching halt and both fathers jumped out of the vehicle. Carl quickly gathered his oldest son into his arms and helped place him in the backseat of the jeep. He sat down beside Jason, examining his son. Taking off his own coat, Carl covered his son up and held him close. Jason smiled up at him and he tried to talk. But Carl quickly put his hand across his mouth gently to hush him. He turned around, remembering the odd creature, but there was no sign of anything. He was just glad that whatever it was, got them turned around to find the boys.

"Everything is going to be fine. We are going to get your brother and Jacob and get all of you over to the hospital," Carl said without even really looking around.

Mr. Kramer never even knew that Adam was not there until David and Jacob got back into the jeep and made their way down the road as fast as the little jeep could go.

"Wait, we forgot Adam," Carl said with alarm, fully realizing that his younger son was not there.

"He is with Paul and Junior. We need to call the police. I am going to try to get them on the CB right now," David said. Jacob must have given him a fast insight into what was going on. As David raised the sheriff on the CB ban channel 9, Jacob explained what had happened to Jason and Adam. Jason kept looking at his father, worry deeply embedded on his face. He had to see his little brother again. He just had to. Jason wanted Adam to know that he was wrong about what he said in the woods earlier that day. He knew his brother loved him, but the look on his younger brother's face when he overheard him talking to Stephanie haunted him to the core. His pain was now a burning sensation that never seemed to stop, but he still felt a chill go through him when he thought about Adam. He saw his father's face fill with concern as Jacob told the story. Carl looked down at Jason.

"I know you are worried, but I am sure Adam is going to be just fine. We are going to get you help and I promise we will search until your brother is found," Carl said with determination. That was all Jason remembered hearing as he sunk into the black abyss until the sound of the doctors and nurses at the Tri-County Hospital awoke him from his trance. And even then, it seemed that all he could do was look around and watch helplessly as people rushed furiously around him. The words mumbled together, yet he felt relaxed peaceful except for the deep worry in his heart for his brother. A nurse came and put an oxygen mask over his mouth.

"We are getting you ready for emergency surgery, dear. Just lay still and everything is going to be fine," the older nurse explained, but Jason pulled the mask off to give her one last message. He was hoping his lips and mouth would work, he just had to tell them one thing before he went under. The nurse at first fought him until she realized that he wanted to tell her something.

"What is it hon?" she asked as she bent over to his lips.

"If-my brother---needs blood--- give it---to him," Jason whispered. The nurse was taken back by his response, but smiled with an assuring look that comforted Jason. Then he was back into the black abyss for another visit.

Jim just kept driving through the small town of Sugar Creek. He drove past the riverfront, the brickyard, the small marina and the older section. He was nearing Krogers, the town's grocery store when Jim suddenly threw on his turn signal.

'I am sorry Paul, but I have to go to the bathroom. Just pump some gas and we will get there," Jim said nervously, but jumped out of the van before Paul could argue with him. Paul muttered a few words and had Junior pump the gas. Adam just glanced out the side window at the grocery store. He was not paying too much attention until he spotted his mother pull up in his aunt's car right next to him. Feeling like a little boy looking through a soundproof glass box, Adam's heart skipped a beat. His mother pushed back her long hair from her face. Junior, who was returning from paying for the gas, interrupted the moment.

"Jim isn't back yet?" he asked.

"Nope, I think the fool darned well fell in," Paul muttered in disgust.

Adam did not pay much attention. He just tried to freeze his mother and grandmother into his memory just like his brother. He was hoping that Jason was doing fine. The brothers sometimes had so close of a connection that they felt like twins, and Adam did not sense any danger concerning his brother. But he was still just as worried. Watching his mother walk across the lot to pay for the gas, he wished once again he could smell her and feel the warmness of her bear hugs. She always smelled tropical since her favorite body lotion was Calgon's Hawaiian Ginger.

"Ima bout to go in thar an see what is a goin' on!" Paul exclaimed, getting even more frustrated. Soon though Jim came along, and the van was once again pointed towards the river. Adam looked back at his mother coming out of the station. But something was different. She did something that he did not expect. She waved at the van and ran back into the store. Adam looked back at Jim. He knew that Jim knew his mother. Jim was looking in his rearview mirror. Adam could have sworn that he saw Jim wink his eye.

"What are you a winkin' at?" Paul yelled, noticing something was up.

"I jus' had sumthin' in my eye, that is all," Jim said. Paul was about to inquire further, but Adam thought he would change the subject.

"I don't understand how you are just going to drop me and the shipment over the side of the bridge without being seen," Adam chimed in.

"That is easy. The state has been conducting several tests and stuff with the bridge all year long. I stole one of the magnetic signs that they use on the side of their vans. No one thinks a thing about it. I even dropped a whole crate of snow to the boat below with a patrolman waving at me once. No one thinks anything of it around here. I love the trustin' atmosphere," Paul answered. "Now no more questions and if you even try some funny business, your family will pay the cost for your stupidity."

Adam just sat back quietly, contemplating his next move. He could not take a chance and endanger his family. He gave his word to save Jason and now he must accept fate. The van rounded up the ramp to the famous bridge and Jim pulled over right before getting onto the four-lane bridge. Paul got out and put on a tan jumpsuit along with Jim and Junior. Junior then went around and put up the magnetic decals on the van and grabbed the crate. Jim was grabbing the gear. While Paul started walking with Junior, Jim had Adam come back by him.

"Help is on the way, just stall them for as long as we can kid," he said without even looking at Adam. "I am sorry, but I am not killing anyone, especially a nice lady's son like your mother. I told her where your brother should be. Now play the game and stall."

Adam was surprised by the comment from Jim, but knew then for sure that he could trust him.

"Let's just take a run for it," Adam said, stopping Jim before he got on the other side of the doors of the van.

"They will shoot us right on the spot. Paul is cold-blooded and no matter who was around, he would shoot. I don't want him opening fire on this bridge. Just stall them, help will be here." With that, Jim had Adam walk in front of him to the center of the bridge. Adam just kept looking down at the moonlit river. It looked almost like ice. As cold as it was, it just might be ice, Adam thought again.

"You don't want to go down there. The currents will drag you under and you would freeze to death if they didn't," Jim said, hoping Adam would not do something stupid. "I know that you have no reason in the world to trust me, but please listen to me. I don't like killin' for any reason and I truly mean that."

Soon everyone was at the center of the bridge and like clockwork, the men rigged the bungee gear up and had the crate hooked in hardly anytime. When it was ready to be dropped, Adam looked down at the river again. He could see a small family boat making its way to the bridge. Probably the pick-up man Adam thought.

"Why don't you just give it to him on the side of the road?" Adam asked. It seemed like they were going through an awful lot of trouble to make the delivery.

"Because there are narks everywhere. On the river, we can limit our audience so to say. It has worked for four months believe it or not," Paul smirked back as he did a final inspection of the riggings. "All set. Now this is where we part ways."

Adam was taken back at the speed that the men worked at and he did not see how he was going to be able to stall. He did not even hear any sirens in the distance. All he could hear was the sound of the late night traffic making their way into West Virginia.

"You said that there would be no killin'. That we could just drop him somewhere," Jim piped up.

"I also said that he could swim so we aren't killin' him. He can decide if he wants to live by sinkin' or swimmin'. Now get over by the rail," Paul yelled, hiding a small pistol under his jacket. Adam followed the direction. Maybe Jim was putting him on, but his mother waved at them. Maybe she was waving at someone else, but why did she run inside? These thoughts were flooding Adam's mind as he climbed up onto the rail and sat down very carefully. Paul placed the crate in his hands.

"Now yer gonna jump and if ye hang onto the crate, ya might stand a chance," he laughed.

"And if I don't?" Adam peeped back. He was terrified looking down at the water. The cold air cut through his jacket.

"You will sink when I pump lead into your system. If you make me do that, you don't stand a chance at all," Paul said, holding the gun up again. It was a very quiet next few seconds because Adam was froze with fear. "What are ya waitin' fer, it is not gonna get any warmer kid!"

Suddenly the sound of sirens filled the air, but it was not in a distance, but right next to the van. Adam saw all kinds of policeman jump out and get into position. He felt relieved, but not enough to move. It was then he spotted his father jumping out of the back of one of the cruisers.

"DAD!" Adam cried out, but he was not met with a reassuring hug or hand. Instead, Paul decided that he was going to take revenge and make his delivery.

"Oh, no, we had a deal!" He screamed as he pushed Adam off of the side of the bridge. Adam tried to grab the rail or anything on his way down, but he could not reach a thing. He heard his father cry out his name. He was going off the side of the bridge and his only hope was to hang on to the bungee cord and the crate. Trying to not panic, Adam tried to prepare himself for the inevitable hit. It was like things were moving in slow motion, but he knew that it was just in seconds. The crate and Adam hit the water with brutal force, but the bungee cord sprang back up with unrelenting force. Adam lost grip of the cord and crate and was flipped into the air.

This is it, he thought looking back up at the bridge. He could see people looking over the side and flashlights lighting up all around him. But nothing could save him from the waters of the mighty Ohio River. The water welcomed him with a jolt and instantly took his breath away. Adam felt disoriented. He did not know if he was in the water or still in the air, but he felt himself drift off into nothing. He could not feel his feet or his arms. All he could think of was his family. "I love you Dad, I love you Mom. Oh and then how could he forget Jason? His big brother Jason. Jason, you had better get better and be all right. I will see you soon big brother, for now I must go to sleep." And those were the last thoughts of Adam Kramer.