Re-ans

Re-ans Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Loss

His dad was slumped against the bathroom wall covered in blood and sweat. He tossed the gun and flashlight aside and went down to his knees, he leaned forward and reached his hand out to check for a pulse, he was scared he wasn't going to find one.

"Uncle Jack." He faintly heard the sound from behind him, he swallowed hard and turned, hand still extended out in front of him. The others were standing in the doorway.

"Luke." Tavish said, coming in and kneeling by his side. The look on his friend's face said it all.

"He's." Luke began to say before his father took in a large breath and coughed. He turned away from the others. "Dad!" He exclaimed, grabbing for his father's blood covered hand.

"Luke?" His father asked weakly before squeezing his hand, there was barely any strength behind it.

"Dad, I thought..." He choked off. "We're going to get you some help okay, the hospital on Woodland avenue is gone but..." He turned to Tavish, "Platemont, It's only a couple miles away, that car ca..." He cut off and turned as his father began to cough again. There was blood slipping from the side of his mouth, they had to hurry.

"Luke," His father said again and sat forward suddenly grabbing his arm with both of his hands. "Behind the wedding photo." He said and began to cough up blood again, this time spraying it forward onto Luke's chest. "Be careful." Then he slumped back against the wall. "I'm so sorry." His eyes closed, Luke's head was starting to pound again but he ignored it. He just stared forward at his father's prone body. Tavish reached forward placing his fingers on his dad's neck.

"Luke." He said slowly, pulling his hand away. Luke skittered back disentangling his arm from his father's grasp.

"No." Was all he said as he scrambled to his feet and stumbled past the others into the living room. He backed up until his back slammed into the opposite wall. "No, no, no, no, no." He kept repeating as he slumped down to the carpet. He pulled his knees up to his chest and put his head in his hands. This wasn't happening, this wasn't happening. Monsters weren't real, this kind of thing didn't happen, and his father certainly was not dead. He wasn't dead, he thought as he slammed his head into the wall behind him, he wasn't dead, he thought, slamming his head again and again.

"Luke!" He heard several voices shout his name but ignored the sound as he slammed his head once more.

"Knock it off man, last thing we need is you knocking yourself stupid right now!" Tavish's voice rang out with panic. He continued to slam his head, he had to wake up, he had to end this nightmare. Luke felt a hand on his arm, it was way too soft to be Tavish's. He turned his head and opened his eyes. It was Jessica. She didn't say anything, just continued to stare him in the eyes, but somehow, looking into her frightened eyes, he knew it was real, all this was happening. He couldn't help the sobs that escaped him then. She reached forward putting her arm over his shoulder and pulled him into her. He put his arms around her and sobbed like he was a little baby. She held him tightly to her and stroked his hair, just like his mother had done when he was a child.

He didn't know how long had passed before his sobs quieted. He just felt numb. He disentangled himself from her arms and mumbled an apology as he stood. He was a little shaky. He looked around, someone, probably Tavish, had placed a sheet over his father. They'd pushed the couch up against the door as well. Gavin was slumped in a corner, slack jawed. Maybe all this had finally made him crack. Tavish was looking through the cupboards in the kitchen, upon seeing him standing he came back into the living room.

"I figure the deadbolt and the couch will keep anyone, or anything out. We should be safe here for the night." Luke turned toward the window and noticed the sky was darkening. He hadn't known that much time had passed. He turned back to Tavish, his friend was giving him a look that suggested he was quite worried about his sanity at the moment.