Broken Bear (13 page)

“Well, at least that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about anymore.” He said.

Daniella knelt down and rubbed the dog’s head. As Millicent licked her in an excited manner, Daniella replied, “Yes. Thank God. Something went right for a change.”

“Should we take her back down to Mrs. Ballston’s?” he asked.

“No,” Daniella replied. “It’s late. We’ll keep Millicent in the house tonight and take her back in the morning.”

As they
walked inside, Daniellatook the first deep breath she had in days
.
Neither one of them was hungry but Daniella found leftovers and gave them to Millicent.

“Come here, girl.” She said.
Daniella set the plate on the floor and watched as the dog inhaled the food.

“Poor thing,”
Daniella said. “There’s no telling how long it’s been since she’s eaten. It’s weird that she wound up here instead of back down the street. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” Jett replied. “But, judging by the scrapes on her coat and the mud on her, I’m guessing she just got disoriented in the woods.”

While Jett spoke, Daniella grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. She started to pour and said, “Yeah, I suppose that’s possible. The important thing is that she’s okay and not well, you know…”

“Dead?”
Jett replied. “You can say it Daniella, I know that’s what you’ve been thinking.”

“I’m sorry.” She replied.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’d be the same way if I were you.”

Daniella
looked at him for a moment. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I promise.”

“It’s okay.” Jett replied. “Not to change subjects or anything but can we talk about what happened at Dr. Mallory’s office?”

“Oh,” she replied as she took a big gulp of wine. “That.”

“Yes, that…” he said. “Why are you being so mysterious about it?”

“Jesus, Jett,” she exhaled. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

“Huh?” he said. “Did I say or do something to upset you or Dr. Mallory?”

Daniella groaned.

“Something
like that, yeah.”

“Well, what
Daniella?” he said. “What happened? Would you please tell me?”

“Okay,” she said as she took another swig. “Here goes…
You, um,
me, Jett
.”

“What?” he said. “Turned into something?
Turned into
what
? What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know!” She exclaimed as raised her arms in the air. “Like, I mean that your arms, legs and face, they all began to change shape. It happened while you were under in front of me and Dr. Mallory.”

Jett turned white. He looked as if he were about to pass out.

“
Daniella, you are freaking me the fuck out.” Jett said. “When you say change shape. What does that mean?”

“Honest to God, Jett.”
Daniella said. “You want the truth?”

“Yes!” he exclaimed.

“Okay, fine,” she said. “You looked like you were turning into a bear, a goddamn grizzly bear, Jett.”

Jett roared with laughter and leaned back in his chair.

Incredulous, he replied, “Daniella. That’s insane. Maybe you were just imagining it.” He said. “I mean, after all, we’ve both been under a ton of stress.”

“Yes, that’s true, I have been stressed but I wasn’t the only one who saw it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dr. Mallory,” she said. “She saw what happened to you as well.”

“Dr. Mallory
saw
this happen?” He asked. “But, I don’t understand. If she saw something, why didn’t she mention it when I came out of the trance?”

“Because you terrified her, Jett!”
Daniella screamed. “She threatened to call the police if we didn’t leave right away.”

“Holy shit…” he replied. “I don’t even know what to say.”

As bizarre as it was, Daniella couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He got up from his chair and walked around. She wondered how anyone would be able to deal with news like that. For several minutes, he paced back and forth in silence.

At last he stopped and said, “I am so sorry,
Daniella. The last thing I ever wanted to do was frighten or hurt you in anyway. You believe me don’t you?”

At that moment, she
wasn’t sure what to believe.

“Jett, please.
I can’t, I won’t be lied to by you.” She said. “If you are hiding something from me, don’t.”

“
Daniella, I swear.” Jett replied. “I don’t have any idea what happened to me in there. Man, was there anything else?”

She swallowed hard and replied, “Yes, there was.”

Jett shook his head.

“Just tell me,” he said.

Daniella wasn’t sure how to say it so she blurted it out.

“You have a brother, Jett.” She said. “His name is Wyatt.”

“What!?” he exclaimed.

“You heard m
e.” She replied. “Under hypnosis, you said you had a brother named Wyatt.”

He collapsed onto the couch.

“A brother?” he said as he shook his head.

Daniella
rushed to his side and said, “Whatever the situation, I want to help you. There’s no obstacle we can’t overcome together, not a single one.”

Jett looked down at his body.

“I’m a fucking monster, a freak.” he said. “Why would you want to help me?”

“No, you aren’t,” s
he said. “Jett, you are the most beautiful man I’ve ever known on the inside and out. Please don’t say that.”

“It’s true, isn’t it?” he replied. “I mean, how the hell do you even begin to
explain everything that has happened?”

“I can’t, okay?” she said with exasperation in her tone. “And, for once in my life, I don’t care to try.”

“Daniella, you don’t understand what you are saying.” Jett replied. “I don’t know anything about the evil inside of me and you sure as hell don’t either.”

“What evil, Jett?” she said. “Why do you assume your condition is evil?
I want to help you. I want you to discover the beauty inside of you that I already see.”

“
Daniella,” he said. “You need to take care of yourself. Move on with your life and forget about trying to fix your past by repairing me now.”

Tears welled up in
Daniella’s eyes.

“Take that back, Jett.” She said. “Fucking take it back, right now…”

“Take what back, Daniella?” He replied as he moved towards her. “I am a goddamn monster and maybe that’s part of the reason you think you can fix what happened to you. If you took pity on me before, I can imagine what you must feel now.”

Daniella
slapped him with all of her might.

“Fuck you, Jett, you prick!” she exclaimed. “I am in love with you.
Can’t you see that?

“Yes, I can.” He replied. “I’m in love with you too and
and that’s why I have to go.”

“Go?” she said in a nervous tone.
“What do you mean?”

“I don’t belong here,
Daniella. Not… my kind, whatever I am.” He said. “I have to figure this out. On my own.”

“I’m not letting you go anywhere, Jett.”
Daniella said as stepped in front of him.

“Get out of my way,
Daniella.” Jett warned. “I’m in no mood for this.”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to kill me?” She asked. “Because
you are going to have to before I let you out of my sight.”

Jett looked at her and shook his head.

He sighed and said, “I don’t want to fight with you but, I’ve got to figure out who I am. I need to know where I come from and most of all, what has happened to my brother.”

“I’m coming with you…”

“No, you can’t. I don’t want to disrupt your life anymore than I already have, Daniella.”

“I don’t care what you say.
My mind is made up, Jett. Nothing and no one can separate us.”

***

A knock at the front door interrupted her.

“I’ll be right back.” She said.

Jett’s head bobbed in an incoherent manner.

Daniella
walked to the front of the house and opened the door. Billy Holder appeared before her. Right way, Daniella assumed that Dr. Mallory had reneged and reported them.

Daniella
said, “If this is about what happened at Dr. Mallory’s office, it was just a misunderstanding.”

A confused look came over Billy’s face.

“Well, I don’t know anything about that.” He said. “But, that’s not why I’m here.”

His expression turned serious.

“Where is Jett?” He asked.

“In the living room, he…”

Billy reached down and put his hand on his service revolver when Jett came around the corner.

“Stop!”
The officer said as he brandished his weapon and aimed it at Jett.

“Don’t move,” h
e said. “You piece of shit. I knew it. Raise both hands, turn around and place your palms flat against the wall.”

“What
?!” Daniella exclaimed.

“
Daniella, step back! Now!” Billy shouted. “Do as you are told Jett, at once!”

“Okay, okay!” Jett said. He pivoted in place and pressed his palms flat against the wall.

Frenzied, Daniella cried out, “Jett! What is going on?!”

As he faced the wall
he said, “I don’t know, Daniella. I have no idea. Why don’t you ask Billy?”

As he spoke, Billy frisked him and within seconds placed him in handcuffs.

“Wait!” Daniella screamed.

Billy held Jett by the arms and spun him back around to face her. It was clear by the look on Jett’s face that he was every bit as shocked as she was.

“I knew you were trouble.” Billy said as he leaned in towards Jett’s ear.

“What?”
Daniella exclaimed. “What are you talking about, Billy?”

Billy
disregarded Daniella and instead kept his attention focused on Jett.

“Jett,” he said. “You are under arrest for suspicion of murder.”

“Murder?!” Jett and Daniella exclaimed in unison.

“Pine Hill,” Billy said with a grunt as he tightened the restraints.
“For the murder of Wyatt Conrad. Your brother I understand?”

***

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Broken Bear

The Wandering

Copyright 2013 by Gabrielle R. Demonico

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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

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