Broken Dreams (39 page)

“Elaina!” Nick yelled, while holding Henry still. “Elaina, get away from him!”

“No,” I growled. I was calm and I felt at peace with what I was about to do. I knew it was murder, but I wanted to avenge Henry’s pain, humiliation, and possible true death. Kellan’s murderous eyes were watching me. I wasn’t sure if he was conscious or just out of it. I leaned down and spit in his face. Then I put the Sig to his forehead.

“Fuck off, you sick son of a bitch.” Kellan smirked at me. I had just about pulled the trigger when I heard Henry call out to me.

“Elaina. Don’t. I…need…him…alive.” Each word was dripping pain. He yelled out in agony again. He was trying to get up and get to me, but Nick held him down.

“Henry, you have to stay still or this is going to be worse for you,” Claire said to him, while watching me.

“I need…to get her away…from him. He’s unpredictable. He…will hurt her.” His worry for me was bringing him out of his state of shock.

“I understand, but I need to get you stabilized, or you could…” Claire shook her head, unsure of what he was or could be.

I needed to get back to Henry, but I wanted to kill that motherfucker first. Without warning, the ground was pulled out from under my feet.

Kellan had grabbed my ankle and hauled me down. He used all his might to crawl up on me. I was screaming and trying to push him off. He was on top of me, trying to bite me. He was weak enough that I was able to hold him back, but he was starting to overpower me because of my sudden onset of fatigue. The whole thing was emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting me.

I still had the Sig in my hand, holding it to his ribs, and pulled the trigger.

Click. Click. Click.

The gun was fucking empty.
You have got to be joking.

Kellan laughed and said, “Nice try, you foxy thing.” His words poured out of him with a sadistic edge. “I’m going to have you right here and now in front of lover boy, if it’s the last thing I do.”

I couldn’t believe he was going to try to rape me, even though he was shot and leaking. I felt his repulsive arousal against my thigh as he rubbed his hips against me. I wanted to puke.

He began clawing at my pants and his. I didn’t panic, remembering I still had the Sig in my hand. I pistol whipped him right across his temple. He let go of me and fell over onto the ground. I got up, breathing hard. The blow knocked him unconscious again.

For a second, I felt that I had conquered. My brilliant lack of judgment just happened so fast, no one had time to react. They were all too busy working on Henry, and Thomas was in his own little world. Nick ran to me when they finished. “Damn it! Why would you do that? He could have killed you!”

“I know, but what does it matter!” I yelled. My calm demeanor had purchased a ticket and left on the five o’clock train. I was back in Panicville once again. “Huh? Tell me. Fucking tell me!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “What does it matter if we die or not?”

“Elaina, it matters. We’re going to get through this!”

“Nick! Look at you! You are half-
fucking
-dead!” He swallowed hard. He wasn’t pleased that I reminded him of his new life status.

“I’m going to the cellar to get Mom.” He turned around, anger rolling off of him, and headed toward the cellar opening. I looked around.

There was blood everywhere. Henry was seriously injured and near true death. Claire was trying to give him water and wipe down his face, which was something that I should have been doing. Thomas was in shock. I didn’t know if my mother was undead, true dead, or alive. Sophie took over guarding Kellan, and there I stood, behaving like a fool.

I shook all over. I could feel Henry’s need for me, and could see him trying to reach his hand out. I dropped the empty Sig and hurried to his side. His eyes were closed.

I knelt down and kissed his forehead. He opened his eyes, and they were gray. I had never seen them so lifeless. “Oh, no. No, no, no!” I screamed.

“It’s okay, love. You’ll be fine.” He voice was garbled.

“Are you turning?” He nodded with a grimace.

“I need a fix, or it’s over.” He was trying to speak in a calm tone, but the pain was getting to him. “I’ve lost too much blood.” Claire jumped up and ran to the bin of supplies.

“Bite me.” I held out my wrist to his mouth.

“No. I won’t let you be like this.” I saw Claire rummaging through the bin. He was in agony, absolute agony.

“Henry, do you have any more needles or IV’s, or whatever you use?” We didn’t pay any attention to her.

“I don’t care. This is all too much. It’s okay. I will allow you to bite me if it’ll save you.”

“Be s-strong, love. G-get my gun.” His words were staggered. Here he was, still trying to comfort me in all his pain, then he insinuates that he wants me to shoot him? I had no words. I felt dizzy again. Everything was spinning and fading around me. “Elai-na?” I had forgotten about my head wound with all of the craziness going on. I threw up again. “Elai-na! Claire. Hel-p her.”

“Shit!” She didn’t know what to do. Help me, or try to find something with which to tap herself. She got up and reluctantly ran to the trucks to get another pack. Henry couldn’t move. He was reeling, hissing, and growling from the pain.

Sophie yelled at me. “Elaina, you have to lie down! You must have a concussion.” I lay down next to Henry. He touched my hand with his icy cold, stiff one.

“Hurry, Claire! He’s turning! Hurry!” yelled Sophie. He was trying so hard to stay composed for me.

Claire ran back from the trucks, with needle and vials in hand. She dropped down next to us. “How do I do this?!” Claire’s hands were shaking.

Sophie ran over, but she was still watching Kellan. “I don’t think this is a good idea. You already gave Nick some.” She sounded concerned. Claire vehemently disagreed, and shoved the supplies at her.

“Here.” Sophie was very reluctant but, with a speed I hadn’t seen before, she tied off Claire’s upper arm, found a good vein, and started filling one of the vials.

Her eyes were welling up with tears. She couldn’t bear to see me lose the love of my life, like she had lost Marc. Sophie filled one vial, popped the next one on the needle, ran over, and poured the first one down Henry’s throat.

“Come on, Henry. Stay with me. Swallow.” Sophie’s voice broke. “Please…fucking swallow.” His hollow, lifeless eyes stared up at her. Her former protector, lover, and her only friend was on the verge of leaving her again, permanently. She ran her fingernails over his throat, trying to get him to swallow. Finally, he did.

Sophie ran back to Claire. She grabbed the near full vial off of her vein, plugging the next one in. Again, she ran back and made Henry swallow it. She ran back to Claire again and untied her arm. She took the last vial off, and forced it down Henry’s throat. I could see how much she still cared about him. His life meant so much to her. I appreciated her efforts.

Sophie wanted to save him, like he had saved her so many times.

While still lying down, I peeked over at Henry. I was scared of what I would see, but I could see the pain washing away on his face as he moaned.

“Thank you, Claire. I’m forever in your debt,” I said, knowing I owed so many people for saving Henry. She couldn’t speak. She just stared off into the distance, looking a little woozy.

I heard Nick clambering back up the cellar stairs. He was carrying Mom, and growling in pain from the fresh bite wound on his arm. She looked lifeless. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see if she was alive or true dead. The world started spinning at an alarming rate. The lights went out again.

***

“Thomas!” No answer. “Thomas! Get your arse over here!” Sophie was getting pissed about Thomas’ newfound silence and continual stagnation. As much as she wasn’t a fan of him, she needed his help.

He finally looked over at her when she trained her Sig at his head. “Thomas, so help me god, if you don’t get your arse over here, I’m pulling the goddamn trigger!” Everyone had a short fuse and a hair trigger. With careful strides, he walked over to Sophie. She was leaning over Henry, trying to keep him comfortable, hoping he didn’t change.

“Wha’?” he said.

“I want you to take Elaina’s gun and clear the house. We need to get everyone inside as soon as possible.” Nick had laid his mother down beside Elaina. He was checking for a pulse, and listening for breathing.

“Is she alive?” Sophie asked, trying to be as tender as she could. She had near zero experience in being soft, caring, or even compassionate with anyone besides Henry.

“Barely. Keep an eye on her please, Claire. I’m going to go with Thomas, just in case. And if this fucker,” Nick kicked Kellan in the side, “even thinks about moving an inch, pistol whip him again. Just stay out of his reach. I’ll fucking kill him if he lays a hand on you. I don’t give a shit what Henry wants.” Claire nodded. She was a little surprised by Nick’s comment, but then she remembered that he called her ‘My Claire’ and told her she was beautiful back at the convenient store.

Nick checked his Sig, and grabbed the gun Elaina had been carrying and gave it to Thomas. Nick looked at saw that both guns were empty so they went to the truck to reload.

Claire scooted over to Maria, Nick and Elaina’s mother. She grabbed her hand and tenderly rubbed it. Maria was chilled, and her breathing was shallow. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were sunken into the sockets. Claire started pulling out all of the intravenous connections Kellan had put in Maria’s arms, and bandaged her as best she could. She could see marks around Maria’s mouth where there had been a gag. She realized Nick must have removed it before he brought her out of the cellar.

Maria had played the maternal role in Claire’s life after her parents passed away in the car accident. She tried to be subtle about it because Claire never wanted to acknowledge their death. It began to hit Claire that she could be losing the last maternal role model she had left in her life. She held Maria’s hand and kissed it.

“Oh, please, Mrs. Cooper. Please, don’t die on us. Elaina needs you. Nick needs you. I need you,” she whispered, and tears formed in her eyes. “We should have listened to Elaina and tried to find you sooner. I’m so sorry.” Claire broke down.

***

Thomas stood quiet as a mouse while Nick searched for more bullets in the trucks. All the packs were empty of magazines, except for the one in Henry’s bag. He realized that they never grabbed enough when they left to find Elaina. Plus, they used a bunch while they were looking for her.

“Shit,” he growled to himself.

“Wha’s wrong?” Thomas asked.

Nick laughed. “Oh, Thomas. You’re just one funny little fucking prick, aren’t you?” Thomas stepped back a little. He feared he was about to get bit. “‘What’s wrong’.” Nick laughed again, talking to himself. “He asked what’s wrong. Wow.” Nick whipped around and grabbed poor Thomas by the shirt collar. “You want to know what’s wrong? Do you? Do you really want to know, or are you that fucking stupid? Are you?”

Thomas’ lips trembled. He couldn’t speak. Fear was rushing over him like a wave.

“Answer me!” Nick screamed in his face.

Sophie came running over. “Nick! Nick!” She grabbed him by his arm. “Stop it! Leave him alone.” He grumbled. “Nick. Please.” Nick let him go with a slight push, and Thomas fell backward to the ground. “Control yourself, damn it! I know how you feel. You are angry at everything and everyone. I understand, but you need to clear out the house so we can get your family inside! Your mother is dying, for god’s sake!”

Sophie tried to say it quietly, but it didn’t come out that way. Nick looked down in shame, then swallowed his anger. He held out his hand to Thomas, offering to help him get up. He accepted, only because Sophie was standing right beside him. It was a change in pace, but he was certain she wouldn’t allow Nick to attack him.

“I’m sorry,” Nick whispered.

“Now, tell me what the deal is.”

Nick held up the clip, waving it at Sophie. “Last one,” he said.

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.” Sophie checked her gun. It was half empty, as well. She suspected most were that way, if not completely empty. They had spent a lot of bullets trying to reach Elaina.

“I will get this sorted out. Just clear the house, and be fully aware of what we have left.”

Nick loaded the full clip into his gun, and swapped out the empty clip for the half clip in the other gun. He let out a great sigh. “Ready?”

“I guess.” Thomas was leery of Nick, with due cause.

“Right. Follow my lead. I know my way around this place.”

Chapter 19

oth Nick and Thomas jogged up the front stairs to the porch. Nick looked through the side windows, trying to see if there were any undeads roaming inside. He put his hand on the door handle, and sucked in a deep breath.

Nick had a moment of clarity. His parents always kept a spare key under a rock in the front garden. He jogged back down the stairs, hoping that it was still there. After lifting about a half-dozen rocks and garden decorations, he found the key. Then he headed back up the stairs to unlock the door.

He found himself winded, and he wondered if breathing was even necessary for a freak crossbreed like himself. He unlocked the door and it creaked slightly. He looked back at Thomas and held his finger to his lips. Thomas nodded.

They crept into the foyer. The formal dining room was to the right, and the formal living room was to the left. Both rooms were empty of any sign of life, or unlife. It was as neat as a pin, just as his mother had always kept it. Never an item out of place. Never a speck of dust to be seen.

Directly across from the door was the staircase to the second level. Nick opted to go through the dining room into the kitchen. Still empty. He led Thomas through the family room, which was an addition his parents had put on when both he and Elaina were young.

Memories of his childhood came flooding back. His thoughts were filled with holidays, birthdays, and the joys of everyday life. The first time he met Henry was in that house. He chuckled a little.

-January 2013-

After two months of her “no-shows”, Nick and Elaina’s parents, Maria and Ken, had called Elaina, yet again, invited her to join them for their traditional Sunday dinner. Nick was standing outside on the front porch, listening to his voicemails, and watched a blacked out Tahoe pull into the driveway.

“Must be a turn around,” Nick grumbled. “Hate it when people… Whoa…” Elaina got out of the passenger side and some buffed out, GQ douchebag rolled out of the driver’s side. “Perfect.” Nick grinned. He realized that this guy must be the reason for Elaina’s absence at their family dinners.

He jogged down the porch stairs and met Elaina halfway to the house. “And who might you be?” Nick drawled.

“Cut the shit, Nick.” Elaina was already annoyed. Nick chuckled at her.

“You can’t just bring a guy up here without forewarning me first.” Elaina rolled her eyes at him. Nick and Henry were staring at each other. It was obvious neither one was going to back down.

“Like I need your permission to bring my boyfriend to Sunday dinner.”

“Captain GQ” looked rather uncomfortable. He had his hands tucked into his designer jeans pockets, looking between Elaina and Nick. Then he spoke. “Name is Henry. Henry Daniels.” He pulled his hand out of pocket and held it out to shake hands. Nick just looked at it. “Alright then.” Henry put his hand back in his pocket, and rocked back on his heels.

“Henry, this is my brother, Nick.”

“Nice to meet you.” Henry slapped on his best, albeit fake, grin.

“Mom’s going to have a field day with this one.” Nick turned around and walked up to the porch to head inside. He heard them chatting amongst themselves.

“Shit. Maybe I should have warned them. I don’t understand why my family must act like cannibals sometimes.”

“Do you want me to leave? I can swing by and pick you up later. Then we can go out for a few drinks to settle down.”

“Absolutely not. You are with me, and you are eating Sunday dinner with them peacefully, even if it kills me.”

“I don’t want to cause you any stress, love.” Nick shook his head when he heard Henry say that. He opened the front door and slammed it shut.

“Story of my life,” Elaina said under her breath.

When Elaina and Henry walked into the house, Ken met them at the door. Nick hung out in the dining room and listened to the conversation that occurred. “Elaina, nice of you to join us for a change.” Ken’s hair was gray, he was slightly overweight, and he and Elaina were the same height. “Who might this be?”

“Henry, sir. Henry Daniels. I presume you are Mr. Cooper?” Henry flashed that million dollar grin again.

“You presume correctly.” Henry held out his hand, and Ken took it without pause, unlike Nick. He looked Henry up and down. Nick chuckled. Elaina was getting madder by the second. “Your hand seems mighty cold, young man.”

“I apologize. I have some circulation issues.” Ken nodded.

“Now, are you two just friends?” Elaina wrapped her arm around Henry’s waist with confidence. “I see. Well, come on in. Be prepared for your mother. She is none too pleased that you haven’t been coming to Sunday dinner.” He raised an eyebrow at Elaina. She looked down, and he walked toward the kitchen, pulling Nick with him. She chewed on her bottom lip.

“Well, this is slightly awkward. I should have thought this through better,” she said. Nick stood just inside the kitchen door, listening in. They had no idea he was still lingering.

“Don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine. I’m in the house. That’s a step in the right direction.” He turned and cupped her face in his hands. “Just don’t tell them I have been staying the night at your place.” He smiled and gave her a quick kiss. Nick’s upper lip curled into a snarl. He didn’t want any pretty boy taking advantage of his baby sister.

“Yeah, really. They would probably disown me, even though my brother has lived with his fair share, but it’s a double-standard since I’m the helpless female.” Henry chuckled.

They walked into the kitchen, brushing past a seething Nick. She introduced Henry to Maria, who was in her usual Sunday gear: sweater and khakis. Her almost completely gray hair was pulled back into the usual tight ponytail. She was polite, and told him to go have a seat in the family room to watch television while dinner was prepared. Henry smiled and thanked her, walking out of the kitchen. Elaina was just standing there, looking like a lost puppy.

“And where did you meet him?” Maria’s question broke her out of a daze.

“Oh, yeah. Remember a few months ago when I had a flat, lost my phone, and I couldn’t get ahold of anyone? Well, he saved me, in a way. And we have been dating ever since.” Nick rolled his eyes as he leaned back on the dining room table with his arms crossed.

“Well, that’s nice, I suppose. I would think that you would tell me about a new boyfriend, instead of just not showing up to Sunday dinner.”

“I didn’t know how long it would last so I didn’t want to get your hopes up.” More like she didn’t want to deal with the criticisms.

“Is it going well?”

“Yes, I think so. He’s so sweet and nice to me. Respectful, and…well, he’s pretty hot.” More eye rolls from Nick.

“Good. I’m happy for you. He
is
easy on the eyes.” She smiled. Something was eating at her as she was chopping up some potatoes. “Does he know your job track record, and the fact that you can’t seem to hold one down?” And there it was.

She sighed, and Nick smirked. “Yes, Mother, and he doesn’t care.”

“Have you found another job yet?”

“No.” She hung her head, and Maria shook hers.

“We can’t pay your rent forever, Elaina.”

“I know,” she mumbled. “I’m not proud of it.”

“Well, you had better figure out what you’re going to do. But for now, start chopping up those veggies for the salad.” Maria handed Elaina a knife and she got to the chopping.

“He’s offered to take care of my bills until I find a job.” Nick choked on his own saliva.

“Oh no, he will not!” Maria barked at Elaina. “Then there would be an obligation.”
Oh, hell no,
Nick thought. He’d kill that GQ bastard if he took advantage of his baby sister. She continued, “And, besides, why burden him with the stress of your bills on top of his own. Your father and I are happy to continue paying your rent until you find another job.” Maria had a slight change of heart because she wasn’t about to let Henry pay Elaina’s bills and make her feel like she was trapped.

“Mom,” she leaned in close. “He’s loaded. Like, has one of those ‘invite-only’ black credit cards loaded.” Maria’s eyebrows lifted. “He refuses to let me pay for anything, including my groceries.”

“What does he do?”

“Runs the blood bank downtown.”

Maria’s face screwed up into a confused stare. “How can he be loaded doing that?”

Elaina shrugged. “Inheritance, maybe? I don’t ask. Not really my business and it doesn’t matter, but I do enjoy him spoiling me.”

“Well, hopefully he doesn’t do anything illegal where running the blood bank is just a cover up.”

“Oh, for the love of all that’s holy,” she mumbled. “He’s a nice guy and makes me happy. I make him happy, as well. He treats me like a queen. Why can’t that be enough for now?”

Nick had heard enough and his blood was about to boil over. He made his way past his mother and sister, and stood in the doorway of the family room. Elaina immediately felt a rush of anxiety run up her spine. He was glaring at Henry’s back. Nick could practically hear Elaina’s stomach flip-flopping when Henry turned around. She wanted to die. Henry was trying to look relaxed even though she knew he was uncomfortable. Nick smirked at him.

“Can I speak to you in private?” Nick said in a rather abrupt tone.

“Shit,” Elaina whispered. You could never trust Nick to keep his hands to himself. Plus, Elaina knew Henry was well-versed in kickboxing. He had even hospitalized one person.

“Certainly.” As they walked past Elaina and Maria, Henry ran his hand across the small of Elaina’s back. She set the knife down. Her hands were shaking. The front door quietly opened, then slammed shut.

Nick and Henry walked out onto the front porch. Henry stood still, with his hands on his hips, watching Nick pace. He watched his every move and every muscle twitch. Finally, Nick stopped right in front of him, and they were nose to nose. Henry had no expression on his face, and zero emotion. He had slipped into program mode.

“She has had her heart broken too many times for me to tolerate it happening again. If you so much as make her shed one goddamn tear, I swear to you, I will fuck that pretty face of yours up.” Henry didn’t say anything. He just looked through Nick. “Did you hear me? Or is your hearing compromised?”

“Yup. No need to worry.” Nick grabbed his shirt. “Get your hands off of me,” Henry said in a rather calm manner.

“What are you going to do about it?” Henry smirked, and Nick shoved him into the side of the house. “Am I wrinkling your shirt, pretty boy?”

“I could care less about my shirt. The only thing I care about is Elaina. But I would suggest that you remove your fucking hands.”

Nick laughed. “And what are you going to do about it?”

“You have no idea who you’re fucking with.”

“Full of yourself?”

In a flash, Henry reached up and grabbed Nick by the throat, squeezing just enough to cause him distress, lifting him just enough so that Nick was on his tiptoes. Henry pulled him to his eye level, only leaving a couple inches between them. “Now, let go of me,” Henry growled through a clenched jaw. “Or shall we tango some? Because I’ve got plenty more of this in me all fucking day. How about you?” Nick let go, as did Henry.

“I swear, if you break her heart…” Nick rubbed his throat.

“You don’t have to worry about that. She means everything to me, and I live to make her happy. Understood?” Nick nodded, completely humiliated, and walked back inside, leaving Henry on the porch.

Nick stormed through the kitchen.

“What happened out there?” Elaina was worried about what may have transpired.

“We had a chat, man to man.”

“You leave him alone! He was the only one there for me when I had car trouble, and nobody else seemed to be able to get away from their very important bullshit while I rotted on the city street.”

“Watch your mouth, Elaina,” their mother warned.

“He was preying on a helpless woman!”

“Preying? He loaned me his phone, and we sat and had a cup of coffee until the tow truck arrived. If you call that preying, then he must be doing it wrong! And, just so you know, I’m the one who asked him out on our first date!” She slammed the knife down on the counter, and stormed out of the kitchen.

Nick and his mother heard the front door open in haste and slam shut.

“Nick…”

“Don’t start with me, Mom. I don’t want him using my sister, or making her feel like she’s obligated to sleep with him just so he’ll pay her bills! Classic user move, Mom. He’s probably just trying to get in her damn pants, the bastard,” he growled.

“Stop, just stop. She’s smarter than that.”

“Are you sure? She seems pretty smitten, and when women get that way, they’ll do stuff they normally wouldn’t.”

At that moment, Elaina stormed back into the kitchen, ripped open the refrigerator door, grabbed two beers, and stormed back out.

-November 2014-

Their home was always full of laughter, until Elaina became the difficult teenager that every parent dreaded. Nick smirked at the thought of Elaina and her famous attitude. Thomas nudged him. It brought him back to the present.

“Sorry. Just thinking too much, I guess.” Thomas nodded, but was worried that his nudge was going to drive Nick into having a mid-morning snack.

As they walked back out of the family room, Nick could see everyone else outside. He took great pause in knowing that it could very well be the end of everyone he knew and loved. The end of everything. He shuddered.

After all, it was the end of him. He began to wonder why they were bothering. What were they even looking for? Why didn’t they just end it? Nick jumped again when Thomas said his name.