Blue Horse

Chapter 4

It was the day of Luca's wake. Two weeks after his death.

People with many different liscense plates drove into the parking lot of the grey white funeral home.  Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, North Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Brunswick, Quebec, New Jersey, West Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Michigan. Most of them were from Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Fax's aunt was the one who arranged the whole thing after a long call from Fax in the hospital. Apparently she called all of the family and boy does Fax have a big family. Fax was standing under the large awning in front of his aunt's car. The sky was dark and it was snowing at the moment. There was a thin layer of snow that covered the black asphalt ground. 

"Hi sweetie," Fax's aunt said coming from the other side of the car. Fax was staring at the street watching all the cars pour into the single entrance driveway. He was befuddled by the amount of cars and people that he has never seen in his whole life. His aunt was there for him when he was little and then her husband got a job in Santa Fe so they didn't get to see eachother for a long time. 

"Hi aunt Carol," Fax replied turning around to see his red-head 45 year old aunt with a dark black dress on and black high heels. Her green eyes looked straight into his as she walked over to the other side of the car to hug her nephew.

"I am so sorry. I should've been there for you guys," she said starting to sob. Fax hugged his thin aunt back and started to cry. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and pulled away. 

"I need to get back inside. Come in whenever you want," she said. She put her hand on his face and walked back around the Black BMW and into the Victorian styled building slowly. Fax turned around and looked back at the street.

"Fax?" he heard behind the car almost right after he turned around. The voice was girly and he could smell the strong scent of lavendar perfume. Turning around, he realized that it was Kate. She was standing in front of the door in a short, black, skin tight dress and wore small high heels. A charm bracelet was warn around her her hand with only one charm shaped like a heart on it. You could see the hint of mascara and eyeliner that she used around her deep blue eyes. Her hair was wavy and flowed down to her mid-back.

"Kate?" he said. She walked over to him, down the red carpeted steps that lead to the door to the other side of the Beamer. 

"I'm so sorry," she said hugging him, holding on for a long time. He wrapped his large hands around the small girl as well. He couldn't help but to tear up yet again and he tried his hardest to hold it back, but the more he tried, the harder it came out. The snow started to fall harder and faster and the wind was buzzing quickly past their ears. Goosebumps started to form on Kate's body and she shivered in his arms.

"I'm going to go inside," she said pulling away. She held her hand out and lead him up the stairs into the elegant red room. The casket was to the left and Fax immediately looked to the right locking eyes with someone who looked old and feeble by accident. He looked down embarrassed while still walking to the seats with Kate. They sat in the way back of the room together.

"I tried my hardest. And he still killed him," Fax said leaning back in the seat softly crying. Kate was uneasy at the fact that he was killed. Fax finally got himself to look at the casket. The small size made the pain even worse. It was a closed casket becuase of the many disturbing deformaties. 

Kate wrapped her arms around his upper body and looked into his eyes.

"Look, I know we dont know eachother well at all, but I bet that you tried your hardest and as long as you try your hardest, you always succede," she said quietly before letting go. A tight squeeze was upon him and she let go of him. He kissed her on the cheek and then got up to walk toward the casket. The small white wooden thing surrounded by flowers made Fax uneasy. He was not crying as much as before but his face was stll red and tears were dried on his cheeks. His short blond hair was in his face and his arms were crossed, ruffling his black sport coat. People were stuffed in the room, talking and mourning. 

"Hey dude," said a male voice from behind. Knowing it was Danny, Fax turned around and looked at his friend who was with his mother and sister. Jenni was crying a little for the infant that she knew since it was born, and she went to kneel in front of the casket to pray for the little thing. Gale gave him a hug and then knelt next to Jenni. 

"Let's go take a walk," Danny said and put his arm around Fax's shoulders. They walked outside and took a right to go down the street slowly. 

"He did it," Fax said starting the conversation. 

"Who?" 

"That monster I call a father," Fax said. 

"What happened?"

Fax told Danny the whole story about what happened. Now his leg was down to a small limp and it was easier to walk. Tears were streaming down Fax's face as he told it. 

"I didn't know... we need to call the cops. Now."

Danny pulled out his iPhone and started to dial 911 but Fax flipped the phone out of his hand. 

"What the hell dude?"

"I need to settle this myself. He's beat the fuck out of my mother, me, and my sister. The line has finally been drawn. He needs to die."

"Sit down," Danny said with his hands on Fax's shoulders. Fax was so angry and sad, it looked like his head was going to explode. Danny pushed him down to the ground and right when Fax hit the grass, tears poured down his face. He was breathing and exhailing very fast and hard. Danny sat next to him and patted him on the back after picking up his phone in the street. They sat outside for a long while before walking back into the funeral home. 

The day of the funeral, the same people and more came to the funeral home in the town of Duxbury where Luca was born. People walked up to Fax and shook his hand and hugged him. People he didn't know.

"Halifax? Is that you?" said an old and feeble smokers voice. It came from an old man with a full head of white hair. He looked very aged and fragile. 

"Who are you?" Fax asked.

"I'm your grandpa. God it's been a while," he said he outstreached his arms and slowly walked over to Fax giving him a big hug. Fax hugged the stranger back.

"I haven't seen you since you were born!" he said. He looked very happy to see him. 

"Why haven't I seen you in so long?" Fax asked.

"Your mother hasn't talked to me since that day. Her asshole husband cut me off completely and wont let her talk to me," he trailed off. Looking down at the ground, he kicked his feet stepped back a little. He raised his head and made eye contact with Fax.

"I am so sorry," and walked away. Fax scanned the room looking for Danny. Anxious to leave now, Fax pulled out his flip phone and called him

"Danny, where you at?"

"Outside. I needed air."

Fax hung up and ran outside. 

"What's wrong?" Danny asked but Fax didn't answer. He grabbed him by the hand and ran to Danny's car. Opening the door, Danny shut it and looked him straight in the eye.

"I need to get out of here. I don't know anyone! Let me in!" Fax shouted, starting to cry a little. Danny opened the door and ran to the other side of the car. 

"Drive," Fax demanded. Danny shoved the keys into the ignition and let the car roar to life. The air around them warmed as the heat started to circulate. He backed up carefully out of the parking spot and floored it out of the parking lot. Some people who were leaving watched these two teenagers, confused, as they sped onto the street.

The people outside shoveling their side walks and driveways looked at the two boys, both with anger and confusion. 

In the car, Fax couldn't contain his tears and he cried into his palms. They got to Danny's house and went to the TV room on the bottom level. Turning on a movie, Fax falls asleep on the comfortable leather couch.