Time Stands Still

Chapter 12

Brent was on high alert for the next few weeks, even though Trevor was now dead. He insisted on driving me to school and picking me up every day, and I couldn’t bring myself to protest. I knew he blamed himself for what had happened, even though it hadn’t been his fault.

            He finally relaxed when we went to the Caribbean for our honeymoon. We spent the first week there alone together, but the second week he surprised me by having Matt and Mandy show up. It was nice having a girl to go shopping with, which is why he had invited them to come down.

            When we got back home, he remained fairly relaxed. He didn’t insist on driving me to and from school, letting me take my car once again. Mandy and I started carpooling all the time, since she spent most of her time at my place now anyways.

            I was watching TV alone on a Friday evening when someone knocked on the door. Curious as to whom it could be, I went to answer it. I was surprised to see that it was my brother.  “Connor? What are you doing here?”

            He shifted from foot to foot uneasily. “Is Brent here?”

            I was even more curious now. Connor and Brent tolerated each other, but they were hardly friends. “Yeah, he’s in his office. Why?”

            “I need to talk to you both about something.”

            I frowned as I stepped aside to let him in. “What’s going on?”

            “It’s best if I talk to both of you together.”

            Neither of us said anything else as we headed through the house towards Brent’s office. I knocked once and then poked my head inside. “Brent, do you have a minute?”

            He looked up from the papers on his desk. “Sure.” He stood up and started walking towards me, pausing briefly when he saw Connor. He nodded once and then pulled me into his arms for a hug. “Connor.”

            Connor hesitated for a moment. “I’m sorry to intrude like this, but there’s something you both should know.”

            Brent stepped back, pulling me with him. “Come on in then.” He led me to the couch and sat down with me. He watched as Connor paced back and forth, and his attitude changed slightly, becoming more protective and alert. “What happened?”

            Connor focused on me for a moment before turning to Brent. “Do you know the whole story of what happened to Tara before you met her?”

            I nodded before Brent could answer. “He knows everything.”

            Connor ran a hand through his hair. “There’s no easy way to say this,” he muttered, then blew out a harsh breath. “He’s escaped.”

            I didn’t understand at first. “Huh?”

            “Brian escaped a few days ago.”

            He started saying something else, but I couldn’t hear him over the sudden roaring in my ears. Fear rippled through me and I shuddered violently. I was vaguely aware of Brent leaping to his feet and shouting something, but everything around me melted away as the memories of the last time I’d seen my father surrounded me.

Flashback

            I crept silently down the stairs, hoping against hope that I didn’t wake him up. Normally I wouldn’t have risked going downstairs, but I was so hungry after not eating that I couldn’t fall asleep. My whole body was aching from the beating I’d gotten earlier and it hurt to walk, but my hunger overpowered the intense pain.