Chapter Forty-Four: A Cry for Help in the Dark
Genovi:
"Remind me why we are in her bedroom." Avalanche groaned bitterly, passing me the saw. "There is just a filthy mat in here." Rolling my eyes, he stood back. Pulling a pair of goggles over my eyes, he watched on with curiosity. Tossing him my navy suit jacket, the floorboards creaked as I crawled in. Laying on my back, the saw roared to life with a tug on the trigger. Guiding the saw along the edge, dust covered my suit. Catching it before it fell, Avalanche passed me the new piece of sheet rock. Setting the painting aside, he slid me a power drill. Screwing the new piece in, his head poked in. A familiar curiosity twinkled in his eyes, my eyes rolling. The painting would be a key part of her recovery, my mind drifting to the image of the sunshine bathing her breathtaking features. Slapping my face to bring me back to reality, she was getting the help she needed.
"I am heading out. Thanks for the permission to do this." I thanked him briskly, anxious to get out of there. Pulling myself out, he examined the painting. Chuckling softly to myself, he didn't get it. Saying nothing, I dusted myself off. Peeling off my goggles, I threw on my jacket. Taking the painting from him, his lips parted to speak. Grabbing my shoulder, he spun me around. Why did he have to be as compassionate as Celly? That shit must run in the damn family.
"Are you okay?" He queried sincerely, a wry smile twitching on my lips. "It must be hard to be away from her." Sliding his hand off of his shoulder, he shook his head. No one needed to know my issues, a real man holds it in. Shooting him a death glare, his determined expression told me that he wouldn't let up. The guy was a pit bull when it came to making sure people were okay. Giving in proved to be my only solution, my mind wondering if a basic explanation would suffice.
"I miss her with everything I have." I informed him briskly, tucking the painting under my arm. "I am falling apart on the inside watching her decline day by day while I can't do a damn thing about it. It was my fault she got raped. I shouldn't have yelled at her but I was at my rope's end. I am useless when it comes to this shit. I am shit. I noticed the changes when we lost my mother. She was becoming stable when she was around, then she died. I haven't had time to grieve the loss of my mother. I am going to frame this and put this in our bedroom after she opens it because it was the last time I saw her smile. I want to see her smile again. Then I will work on myself." Buying my excuse, he let me go. Borrowing a clean pillow case, the cotton material floated over the painting. Getting into my car, tears welled up in my eyes. Setting the painting in the back, my eyes fell on the book collection she kept in the car. Nope, not going to cry now. Taking a deep breath, my steering wheel groaned underneath my strengthening grip. A loud scream burst from my lips, my fists banging on the horn. A knock on the window caused embarrassment to burn my cheeks, an eager Avalanche peering into the window. Opening the door, he slid into the passenger's seat. Clipping his seat belt, he refused to get out. Twisting his hair into a bun, my eyes falling on his black on black outfit.
"I am going to come with you. A blind person could see the stress on your face." He asserted sternly, checking for his wallet. "Then I am going to pay for your lunch. You can talk to me the entire time. Let's go." His million dollar smile could win anyone over, a defeated sigh escaping my lips. Turning the key, the engine roared to life. Dialing my cell phone, it was time for me to call Celly. An unimpressed expression plastered itself on my twitching lips, her ringtone echoing in the car. Of course, we forgot to leave her phone with her. Choosing to turn on the radio, heavy metal reminded me of my wife. A text alert snapped my attention from the road, Avalanche snatching my phone from me.
"What gives!" I snapped irritably, his jaw dropping. "What are you looking at?" Unable to find words, tears welled up in his eyes. Sniffling in his seat, his sensitivity seeming to always be a strength that I lacked. Pulling over to the side of the road, I snatched my phone back. A pristine sketch of her friends and us greeted me, my tears soaking the page. I'm okay was scrawled across the bottom, the pencil strokes showed how much she loved us all. Why was I crying like an idiot? Wiping away my tears, Avalanche rubbed my back.
"I miss her so much. I want to hold her right now." I wept brokenly, burying my head into my palms. "I miss her smell. I can't sleep at night. It kills me that I can't fix her. Her whole life has been a fucked up novel where tragic character keeps getting fucked over repeatedly. The moment she jumped off the building scared me. I thought I was going to lose her." Pulling me into a warm embrace, all of my emotions soaked his shoulders. Stop it! This isn't what a real man does.
"I get it." He comforted me, letting the tears soak his outfit. "Let's get that framed. You will have to date her again to get back to that point. If anybody can do it, I know you can." Sitting back into the driver's seat, pride swelled in his chest as I peeled back onto the road. Trees turned to the highway, the art store coming into view. Pulling into a parking spot, the engine died down. Undoing the seat belt, Avalanche was already outside the door. Stepping out of the car, women stared hungrily in my direction. A snarl twitched on my lips, Avalanche grabbing the painting from the back, an awkward silence hanging between us. The bell dinged, everyone looking up at us. Choosing to ignore him, our boots echoed in the silence. Walking to the custom framing desk, a blonde twenty year old popped up from underneath the tarp blue desk. Her ocean blue eyes glittered with excitement at the painting, her eyes flitting between the two of us. The pure appreciation pleased me, knowing full well that her father should have been a famous artist.
"I can have that ready by the end of the day." She chirped cheerfully, accepting it graciously from Avalanche. "I have an empty schedule today. What frame would you l-" Pointing to an all natural frame, the knots in the striped birch tree branches speaking to me. Sliding me a paper, the pen glided across the lines. Sliding it back to her, she disappeared with the painting. Avalanche dragged me out of the store, the clock reading eleven eleven. Smiling warmly to myself, that was her lucky time. Plopping into the driver's seat, he plugged in an address. Following the directions, a simple brick building confused me.
"My friend wants to meet you. He is a human and offered to make us lunch today. I lived with him before I became Alpha. I have some things to show that I have been meaning to pick up." He remarked with his trademark million dollar smile, pulling me in. "Nico, we're here. This is Novi, my cousin-in-law." A five foot four guy with wild chocolate curls stepped out from behind a wall of colorful beads, his olive eyes shined with excitement. His beat up vans squeaked with his leap towards Avalanche, his olive khakis fluttering away.
"Bro, I missed you! How the hell have you been!" He yelled with a crooked grin as Avalanche caught him by the collar. "Hello, new pal. I am so excited to meet you." An orange flame colored his pale skin, a gaming system playing in the bedroom. Setting Nico down, a fit of laughter burst from their lips. Guilt ate at me for how I treated Jarod. Seeing them smiling and laughing frayed my nerves, the third wheel dread coming over me. Hovering by the door, he clearly didn't leave his home. The two of them stepped through the beads, the thought of running appealing to me. The curtain opened, Nico poking his head.
"You coming? I made an excellent quiche." He offered kindly, uncertainty dimming my eyes. "I don't bite. Have you ever played video games before?" Narrowing my eyes in his direction, his question infuriated me. Folding my arms across my chest, I never had time for that. My parents made me get a job to earn my spending cash.
"Whatever." I grumbled under my breath, walking through. "My job stole all of my free time. That is how I got my car." Awards lined the wall, neon lights flickered away. Scanning one of them, his ability to play video games paid his bills. A fifties' style booth sat in the corner, a steaming quiche reminded of her spinach pie she had made to save my parents' restaurants. Cutting me a piece, the plate glided to my hand. My appetite was gone, Avalanche picking up on my shifting expression. Plopping down across from them, my hands began to tremble. Picking up the fork, Avalanche carried the conversation for me. Finishing the piece, their conversation faded in and out. Laying down on the bench, exhaustion weighed heavily on my eyelids. Sweet slumber stole me away to her dreamland.
"Novi!" Celly's voice called out, her face smiling down at me. "I need to leave this world now. Thanks for being my husband." Snarls echoed behind me, hell hounds pounded past me. Her shrill scream shattered the night, the scene shifting to the burnt remains of Dr. Benston's home. Her wolf leapt over a pile of burning rubble, her golden eyes watching me intensely. Celly faded away, her wolf scooping me up. Carrying me over to the center of the remains, two torn up bodies lay in the center of the mess. Sinking to my knees, one of them was hers. Clutching her body close to my chest, my teardrops soaking her body. Nudging my shoulders, the wolf's face was centimeters from mine.
"You need to go now to save her. Your new powers will allow you to see the hell hounds." She warned with bloody tears staining her cheeks. "When you wake up, the only gun in the world that can kill them is going to be by your side. Hunt like your life depends on it. The world will fall if she dies. Wake up."
Snapping awake, a worn pistol lay on the table. Running out the door, they both barely looked up from their game. Flying into my car, the hours passing by were painstakingly slow. A sigh of relief flooded from my lips, the building was still intact. Sprinting on the door, the hinges creaked as it swung open. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, my heart seconds from pounding out of my chest. Snarls echoed behind me, three hell hounds stood in the doorway with their shadowy fur floating up. Ripping the gun from my pocket, Celly's hand wrapped around mine while taking the gun away from me. Her hair floated behind her, gold painting the gun. Cocking the safety back, she aimed for the biggest one. Pulling the trigger, a golden bullet shattered its skull. The other two launched into the air, her quick reflex saving our skin. Decaying to dust, her arms wrapped around my neck. Kissing me feverishly, another couple of bullets shattered the moment.
"I am trying to save Dr. Benston." She explained briskly, inky sludge covering her ghostly pale face. "They broke my artificial leg, so walking is a bit difficult. Those damn dogs bit me a few times." Coughing up blood, her left arm reminded me of shredded deli meat. Tugging her hair up into a ponytail, the sparks lit up the dark hallway. Fresh bruises and cuts covered her face, a slow clap causing her to sneer in response. Struggling to stand, my arms caught her. An ashy face sent chills up my spine, yellow cat eyes greeting us. His sunshine yellow silk suit contrasted the shadows, a busted Dr. Benston hung over his slender shoulders. Mouthing a healing spell, the wet noises of her healing threatened to make lunch come back up. Her chest wound had reopened, her hand clutching her chest. Ruby blood pooled at the corner of her lips, raw fear showing in her eyes. Cupping her left eye, a single spell left her lips. An inky blackness dyed her eyes, silent tears of pain slid down her cheeks. A scarlet mallet manifested itself in her shaking hands, her strength dwindling. Sprinting down the hall, her nimble fingers spun the mallet over her head. Leaping off the wall, she aimed for his head. Panic gripped her face, the monster grabbing her mallet. Flipping over his head, her ponytail brushed the back of his shiny bald head. Snatching Dr. Benson from his shoulder, her bare feet crashed down the hall. Knocking out the lights, darkness bathed the hall. Metallic clangs echoed on the wall, a demonic version of Celly popped up in front of him. Midnight black hair whipped around her face, her maniacal grin scaring the demon in front of me.
"Luxia says hi, Baldy." She taunted cruelly, standing on the ceiling. "I don't have a lot of time with her so let's play. I would like my toy. " Stealing the mallet back, Baldy didn't stand a chance. Clapping her hands, she popped up in front of him. Swinging the mallet towards his head, the crack of his neck shattered the piercing silence. Onyx claws extended from her fingers, her hand slamming into his chest. Ripping out a rotting heart, the tissue oozed between her fingers with each squeeze. Giving it one final crush, her body collapsed into a heap. A shadow figure stood over her, the tenderness of its touch warming my heart.
"You make her so happy." An icy female voice confided bitterly, scooping up the mallet. "She gave me a home in her soul after nearly beating me to death. Our deal is to let me play when she is at her limit but her emotional strife has kept me locked in a cage. Her heart is shattering by the day. I am doing everything in my power to heal her soul but nothing is working. The Dark One found her. Watching her get her ass handed to her like that frightened me to my wit's end. I am scared for her. I healed her chest wound for you. See you another time, Novi." Flowing into her mouth, Celly's kindness knew no bounds. Yawning groggily, her eyes fluttered open. Struggling to her feet, her fingers snapped. The glass repaired itself, a gentle blue light bathed the hall. Rubbing her forehead, her body refused to move.
"Ow." She uttered simply, attempting to twitch her fingers. "Why does Luxia make it impossible to move afterwards? Are you still here, Novi? I need you to go back home. My work isn't done here. I have a mess to clean up anyways. I love you." Confusion dawned on my face, my head shaking. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her fingers twitching. The darkness drained from her hair, a sea of emotions flashing in her eyes.
"I will put a series of protection spells around here. I am a bit of a witch after all." She babbled with a false cheeriness. "I have to help the good doctor out." Sitting up, tears flowed from her eyes. Gazing up at me lovingly, her real smile brightened her features. My heart fluttered at the sight of the rare item, my hand clutching my chest. Wanting to see more of it, my inner wolf begged for me to stay.
"It's kind of fucked up, isn't it?" She continued tiredly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "My life keeps punching me in my face over and over again. I can't seem to catch a break. Sometimes I want to be a normal person with no problems but I was given a hellish gift basket. What I never told you is that I graduated when I fourteen to get away from the bullying. What did I do it for? Bullying is ten times worse when it comes from your parents. Your parents are supposed to be your original center. What does a kid do when they are forced to find their own way? They grow up too fast and forget to be a kid. I don't want our kids to be put in that situation because I can't pull myself together. I was scared of letting everyone down and now I have to save the world. I'll probably fail at that too. You should probably finish your surprise for me when I come home. Hold on just a moment." Jumping to her feet, she spun down the hall. Waiting patiently for a couple of minutes, an orange envelope rested in her palms.
"Open this when you get home or when you get in the car. I think I found a new emotional outlet." She sighed gently, pecking me on the cheek. "There are only eleven more days left. I will be counting down to see your handsome face again. I will be safe." Pressing her palm against the wall, golden symbols glowed to life. Kissing her on the top of her head, her wolf would come get me again. Accepting the envelope, scarlet colored my cheeks the moment she leapt into my arms. Embracing her desperately, we both refused to let go. Wandering back down the hall, that was my cue to leave. Tears welled up in my eyes, tears already staining her cheeks.
"See you soon, Celly!" I called out nervously, wishing time would move faster. Locking the door behind me, my arms felt empty without her. Dirt crunched with each step towards my car, my trembling hands clutching the envelope to my chest. Sinking into the driver's seat, it took everything for me to leave her behind. Peeling onto the road, tears blurred my vision. Watching the pale moonlight flicker in the trees, images of her genuine smile stabilizing me. The art store loomed in the distance, my attention snapping back to the road. How did I get to this point? Dirt crunched underneath the tires, an anxious Avalanche knocked on the door with art supplies and the framed painting. My breath hitched at how flawless it was, the light flame emphasizing the raw talent. Letting himself in, I pulled out my wallet. Stopping me, he shook his head.
"I owe so much to her. Let me take care of this." He asserted firmly, his stubbornness twinkling in his eyes. Dropping him off, the long ride back home was the loneliest I had ever felt. Breaking to a slow halt, I climbed the stairs with a new level of exhaustion. Hanging up the painting, the moonlight hit it just right. The moonlight bathed the pasture, all of it looking more natural. Crashing onto the bed, her envelope fluttered out. Laying on my back, I ripped it open. A tender blush rose to my cheeks, the perfectly drawn moment of when we first met. The white light bathed the two of us, her annoyed look matching the one that day. My breath hitched at the way she drew me, her strokes getting every aspect of my face perfectly. Hugging it to my chest, another one fell out. She was really talented at drawing, my eyes falling on all of the small details. Picking up the other one, the image of our wolves stole my breath away. A full moon framed us, the fur looking so real I could almost feel it underneath my fingertips. Flipping it over, the words I am always howling for you caused my eyes to well up. Tears stained my cheeks at her messy signature. Holding them both to my chest, the pictures she gave me relaxed my fraying nerves. Sniffing her pillow, her scent relaxed my nerves even more. Yawning once, sweet slumber stole me away.