West Ten
Sarah
He is life. . . for us. . .
I woke in a bed, Ethan’s arm over my stomach.
His head rested on the tip of my shoulder like it had partially slid off while he slept so deeply.
When I looked around the room, I had no idea where I was.
I could tell the sun was just starting to rise through the lace curtains.
The décor, the furniture. I didn’t recognize any of it, although it felt like an older woman’s bedroom.
Or a room that had been decorated many years ago.
Ethan didn’t move when I slipped out from under his arm. I didn’t want to leave his embrace since it was a favorite place to be, but there was a call of sorts reaching out to me. Or telling me to go to… him.
Along the walls of this room were familiar duffle bags and backpacks. There were even some stuffed black garbage bags. We had slept while others had grabbed as many of our belongings from Dale and Harmony’s as they could.
A wave of grief slithered through me, wanting to take control of my emotions, except my heart rejected it. The call insisted time was of the essence.
After glancing at Ethan, I tiptoed out of the room, my bare toes careful not to cause the wood under the balls of my feet to squeak.
Right outside the bedroom door, there was a low ceiling and more bags of our belongings.
To my right was a little bathroom, decorated the same as the bedroom. Lace, pink walls….
I kept tiptoeing to answer the mystical summons.
Once clear of the low ceiling, I realized it was a loft over my head. Walking past stairs, my hand grazed the worn wood. The little bit that I had just seen was half the house. The other half was one room, consisting of a little living room and a petite dining area.
Another wave of sadness tried to take hold as I realized how accustomed I had become to Harmony’s table, large enough to seat an army. I guess it did.
In a corner to my right, at the back of the house, was a kitchen I couldn’t get inside of completely. But there was a pass-through window with two stools on the outside. It looked like food was passed through from one person to another.
Taking up the living and dining room areas, there were two mattresses and stations for personal belongings like more bags of clothes, big boots, and phone chargers.
I grabbed my chest. These bikers had been here for some time. Not that any of the men who lived here were in their beds. Foster kids were sleeping safely. Finn had a bed. Gage was sprawled on another. Sebastian was on a floor of couch pillows next to Bluebell, snuggled on a floral loveseat.
Aw. I circled in place, finally realizing where I was. Noma, so nice to finally meet you.
No Johnny or bikers in sight, I quietly went out the front door, sensing it was where I needed to be.
Four big men, standing under a tree in the front yard, turned to face me. The misery on their faces made the pit in my stomach ache. Then, in unison, they all looked toward the yard at the side of the house.
Understanding, I stepped off the tiny set of stairs and crossed the front yard.
As I passed the men, Styx said, “I’m sorry. We had to. To protect you all.”
The bearded man, who made me think of Kristen’s kiss, motioned next to his chest as if telling me to take a deep breath.
The star-dancing tears in all their eyes told me that breath was needed for strength.
Visibly, I inhaled deeply and prepared myself for yet another heartbreaking sight.
Turning the corner of the house, there was a shed with open doors.
It was very dark inside, even with the sunrise offering a slight glow, but I could hear movement, so I slowly got closer.
As I did, I realized there was a carefully wrapped body next to it.
On the ground, a blue blanket surrounded the tightly tucked form.
On top of this deceased person was a freshly plucked bouquet of flowers.
I covered my mouth to muffle a cry.
It was the flowers we had planted… Oh, my Caleb.
To protect us all, he had been removed. Had he been found by police, buried in the backyard, the risk was too high that we would all face charges of some sort.
Deep inhale…
Tears streaming like a river needing to find her ocean, I lifted my chin and kept stepping forward.
The closer I got, the clearer it became that Johnny was in there.
He was sitting on a chair, his back to me, his black sweatshirt damp with sweat.
Hunched over, as if lacking the strength to sit up straight, he rested his left elbow on his left knee.
His right arm kept rearing back, then shoving forward.
Every time he did this, there were sounds I will never forget. They were wet. They… sloshed and sucked. So much blood pooled at Johnny’s feet that my imagination went wild.
I had to stop my mind from seeing anything but a friend in need, so behind him, I closed my eyes, took another strengthening inhale, and then I squared my shoulders.
To love someone meant to love all of that person. Even his feral side.
Opening my eyes, I took the last step forward and placed a hand on his left shoulder. I whispered, “My turn to give you the time needed.”
Johnny’s right arm stopped moving, but a dark voice told me, “This man stole from me.”
Softly, I agreed, “He did.”
“He almost stole you,” he growled.
Gently, I assured him, “I’m here.”
The silence of the early morning was haunting when carrying the deep voice to my ears. “So is someone else he stole from us.”
Caleb. My lips trembled. “I know.”
Johnny jolted. His back straightened slightly. Now, the dark voice was full of regret. “I was forced to disturb his rest.”
My jaw shivered. “You were… Thank you for bringing him to me.”
Johnny’s shoulders uncurled, and he released a deep rumble. “How can you thank me for this?”
Even though my voice wobbled, I was speaking the truth. “I’m grateful no strangers will touch him after Dale and Harmony are found.”
Unnervingly, his head moved to see me from over his shoulder. Glowing blue eyes found me.
Chills broke out over my whole body as I fully realized the young man named Johnny was gone. However, the admirable qualities that made his soul so rich, his heart so kind and giving, were beaming brightly. My friend was never going to be the same. He was now… ethereal.
“You are magnificent.”
His widening eyes and shocked expression had me wondering how he had been envisioning himself.
“I swear it, Maddox.”
This time, he sucked in air. His dark voice eased from its harshness and cracked. “You know my name.”
I tried to smile, but my lips quivered through my vast emotions. “I do.”
No longer having to hide his name—his true identity—and his marvelous gifts, the creature in Maddox began to fade, and the boy started to resurface.
Slowly and pitifully, Maddox turned in the chair, exposing a ghastly mutilated corpse behind him. The pastor had been stabbed so many times that his midsection no longer existed. He was now a shell. And I hoped he was in Hell.
With my hand still on Maddox’s shoulder, I exposed my palm and waited.
Maddox’s hand was covered in blood—and goopy matter I tried to ignore—as he relinquished the blade.
Tenderly, I told him, “You did right by us. You always do.”
He struggled to move. It was like his shattered heart was surrendering to a sea of exhaustion.
“You need rest, my friend.”
Maddox needed to free himself of this drive for revenge. It was draining him, his light.
At this moment, I was so grateful for Sebastian’s decision to choose Bluebell over the pastor. Only a supernatural beast would survive this carnage.
To lead Maddox away from the foul carcass behind him, I stepped back from my friend and offered my clean hand and inspiring words. “Blue says thank you, too.”
As if the fatigue of killing someone so brutally had finally caught up to Maddox’s human side, he barely rose from the chair before taking two faltering steps, then fell to his knees right in front of me. Magical blue eyes now brown again, he gazed up. “I failed Dale and Harmony.”
“No.” With the weapon in one hand, blood and tissue dripping, I proudly wrapped my arms around Maddox. “You don’t know how to fail.”
His worn-out arms did their best to wrap around my waist, yet failed. All he could do was lean into me, asking me to bear his weight. “They’re gone.”
Kissing his sweaty hair, I folded over him, holding him so tight. “Yes, but they prefer it this way since it means we’re safe. You know this. Search your broken heart. I got to see how often Dale gazed at you as if you were a true living angel.”
After a pause, Maddox began to cry. “What would he think of my stained wings?” My body shook with every sob he released.
I refused to let go. “That you’re still made of brass. A wonderful element, full of nature, strength, and the ability to survive anything.”
He howled his agony into my stomach.
I accepted all his pent-up pain and realized that, sometimes, even leaders need a chance to break down.
The morning sun exposed a grisly scene. And a destroyed young man.
I was done with both. Ducking down, I put a shoulder under Maddox’s arm, wrapped it around me so I could grab his hand, then stood, demanding he come with me.
My friend had been growing and gaining weight before he left and had continued to do so while gone.
Not that it stopped me. With a determined grunt, I got him to his feet.
I think he slurred an apology before his head lethargically rested on the top of mine.
Four sets of mature eyes watched as I led Maddox toward his grandmother’s front door. I told them, “You must be as tired as he is, but Bluebell is not to see that.” I chinned in the direction of the shed.
All four heads nodded.
Styx promised, “Not a trace will be left.”
“Thank you.”
Stepping inside, Finn, Gage, and Seb woke and jumped up. Horror crossed their faces as their eyes scanned the wrecked young man that I was keeping on his feet.
I had no time to explain. Only direct.