The Red Doves

Chapter XXVII

          The car finally stopped in the park. The sirens were further near the mountain. Soon enough, the officers would find them. But for now, Alan and Suziky had to give Nick to Sora. On their way to home, the loner told them in a phone call to bring the teen in the woods. Alan followed his orders and was driving there.

Jasminia was sleeping at the back of the car and Nick was still unconscious. Alan stayed on his seat, staring at the road.

- What's wrong? asked Suziky, who was sitting next to him.

When the adult turned his look to Suziky, she was staring at him. The tone in her voice was way calmer than lately.

- Nothing, said Alan. Just thinking.

Alan took back his attention to the road where some cars were passing by. It was the end of the afternoon. Suziky and him would soon be sitting on a chair, eating a warm supper made by Carolina. Actually, only Alan would be sitting there since Suziky would be gone again, alone with Jasminia.
He wanted her to come. He needed her presence. But she had the task to look over the kid until Hana comes back. Alan was upset about all this because he couldn't stay near her for the night and wouldn't be able to tell her all his thoughts. « I'm sorry I was a big jerk to you! I'm sorry for being a loser! I'm sorry for being a traitor, a coward and a nobody to you », he would like to scream to her.
But two children were sleeping at the back and he couldn't take the chance to wake them up and cause more trouble. So, instead of screaming all his pain out, he opened the door of the car and walked out of it. He then opened the door on the side of the young Nick and picked him up while Suziky was checking on Jasminia before closing all the open doors.
Alan locked the car and walked away, following the road made of dry dirt on the ground leading to the forest. Suziky was following some steps behind him, her footsteps synchronized to his. They both walked in silent, and a familiar face showed up later. Sora was waiting on a big rock, looking at both of them with a short smile.

- Here is your kid, katana man, spitted Alan, putting slowly Nick on the ground. Now let us go in peace and mind your own business.

- Of course, you are free to go. I won't stop you, Sora answered even if it wasn't a question.

Like nothing happened, Alan turned around and walked back to the car. As for Suziky, she stayed with Sora, probably talking to him about things Alan didn't know. And he would never know. He knew she was fading away, he knew she would leave one day. Maybe this day was coming soon.
Suziky and him were close since kindergarten. They were almost twins, siblings. Alan always wished for a sister liker her. They played together, learned together, succeeded together. They even took baths and showers together at the age of 6. But these time were slowly erasing. It was breaking him.
When he arrived at the car, Alan was surprised to see Arlen standing in front of the car. The young adult was somehow waiting for him and he kept staring at him with this new face of his.

- What do you want, shorty? shouted Alan as he arrived to him.

- The boss want to see you, started Arlen.

- Now? cut Alan.

- Do you think I would be there if it wasn't the case? said Arlen with a pissed voice.

Since Suziky and Alan kidnapped him and brought him to the Black Doves, Arlen wasn't the same. He wasn't crying every night because of his lost lovers ; he wasn't scared of the dark or the loud noise of the gun shots ; he wasn't smiling or laughing about life ; he wasn't wearing these colorful clothes.
Arlen's eyes were now like an empty ocean. His skin was even paler than before, almost like he was sick. Even his black hair looked darker.

- You want to tell me something or you're just staring at me for no reason? asked Arlen, glaring at Alan with an annoyed look.

- Sorry, I was just in my mind.

- I saw that, the young adult commented to then look behind Alan. Your girlfriend is there.

- I don't have a girlfriend, said Alan, turning around to see Suziky coming to them.

When Alan turned around, Arlen was already walking down the road, his hands in his jeans pocket and his hood on his head.

- Who was that? asked the Suziky.

- Arlen, answered the guy, looking at her. The boss wants to see us.

- You'll have to go alone, started Suziky. I have to-

- I know! screamed Alan. You have to go! Like always! Leave with this child and don't worry about me! I'll just take all the hits once again...

Suziky stared at Alan, surprised and sad at the same time. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it and stayed silent, her eyes looking down. Alan kept his sight on her, trying to keep his anger in. After some time standing like this, he took a big breath and grabbed her. Then, he held her close to him, hugging her tight with his shaking body.
Suziky let him do. She hugged her friend back, her eyes closed, letting a tear fall and roll down her cheek. As for Alan, the tear multiplied into many and he let them slide all the way down to land on the dirt. They were holding themselves against each other, their arms on the back of the other, for a big 5 minutes.
The sun was slowly going down when they decided to let go. Suziky walked to the right side of the car then entered in to sit at her place. Alan took a look at the forest, then the park. He paid attention to the birds singing their last songs and the wind blowing in the branches of the trees. He entered in the car and drove to Hana's house.
He let Suziky in front of Jasminia and Hana's house. She got out of the car and took the sleeping kid with her. After waving at her from the window, Alan left the parking and drove back on the road, his way to the famous bus station. He knew the path by heart. He was driving on this street for now almost a year. It was written in his mind, like the ink on a map or the pen in a book.
The same flowers, the same grass, the same lampposts. Sometimes, the grass was shorter because it was cut. Another day, there would be a missing lamppost because it was too old and people had to replace it. Another time, it was an accident in the middle of the road and the asphalt had to be changed because of the damaged. But this night, nothing was different.
On his way to the station, Alan started hearing the good old sirens. Closer he was from his destination, louder the sound was. He thought of driving back but he was almost there so he decided to continue. He was focusing on the street and nothing else. He turned to the left where he would usually leave his car and then sit on the bench of the little cabin.
Instead of that, another car was driving by and Alan paralyzed. His hands stood in place, his eyes staring at the other driver. In a quick minutes, the two cars bumped into each other. The head of Alan hit the ceiling and the laughing face of Parker disappeared, giving place to a dizzy feeling and a total darkness.