Nicole

Chapter: 22

By the time Nicole and her siblings set off to go to the warehouse, the sun was already setting. Nicole's cheeks were red from the cold and her hands were in the warm pockets of her jacket. She was used to New York's winter but she still felt cold. Not as cold as Isabelle though, who was practically shaking in her boots.

Their father hadn't joined them, saying he would first check with his brother who might be in New York. He'd left Axel in charge of them although Nicole doubted that it mattered. They were going to find their brother. No one was in charge.

The walk to the café was silent as everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Nicole's mind, too, was stuck on Nathan. She tried not to imagine what condition he would be in by now. Instead, she tried to think about what they would do when they got there.

There was going to be a fight, she was sure of it now but she wasn't sure if any of them would be ready. None of them knew what they were up against or how far Derek had planned this. But they had to save Nathan and that couldn't wait. There was no time for them to get ready. They all just had to give whatever they had.

As they neared the café, one of the employees came out. Nicole recognized her coworker and sighed. Judging from the way her face lit up, she'd recognized Nicole as well.

"Hey, kiddo," she spoke, making her way toward them. Nicole was used to her calling her 'kiddo', even though she was only three years older than her. "Nice to see you around. Where've you been?"

Nicole never talked to any of her coworkers unless they talked to her first. And they never did. Except for Jess. Though Nicole always gave her a cold shoulder, Jess was friendly and easily approachable. She was one of the people Nicole never understood. How could someone be so nice to someone when they never did so much as greet them?

"I moved," Nicole merely answered. As she spoke, she realized how scratchy her voice had gotten. She suspected it may be because of the cold.

"Moved where?" Jess asked. Nicole looked up at her, feeling the lack of sleep clinging to her. She could see flicks of her blond hair escaping her cap. Nicole always thought Jess was pretty but she realized she was wrong. Jess wasn't pretty; she was beautiful.

"California," Nicole said.

Jess nodded, "That's nice. I heard about your mother and I've been wanting to say this to you but I never saw you after that. Sorry for your loss."

Nicole's throat tightened. She wanted to say something but she couldn't find her voice. So she nodded, forcing a smile. Jess returned it, putting a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezing it. Then, she looked up at Nicole's siblings and smiled at them, sparing a glance at each of them, before nodding and heading to her car.

Nicole sighed and looked sideways at her siblings who were looking at her in concern before continuing around the café. About a block behind it, Nicole could see the warehouse she had seen a year ago. She hesitated for a moment before starting towards it, her siblings at her heel.

It seemed abandoned though Nicole knew it wasn't. Somehow, she knew that Nathan was in there. She didn't even give it a second thought that maybe it wasn't the same warehouse her father's brother owned. She felt determined, the air of New York circling her.

Nicole moved toward the worn-out door and pushed it open, revealing a large, empty space. It was dark; the only light was what was coming from the windows. She couldn't see any sign of life inside but still, she knew Nathan was in there.

Nicole felt herself move inside the warehouse, her siblings at her side. Before they knew it, they were calling out Nathan's name.

"Nathan!" Nicole yelled, finally finding her voice which echoed in the warehouse. Before she could think that maybe there was no one there, footsteps echoed above them. Their heads whipped up and Nicole saw the outline of a thin figure, running along the path behind the railing that was fixed to the sides. Nathan. Nicole's heart leaped as he hurried down the worn-out, spiral staircase.

As he got closer, Nicole caught a closer look at him. His clothes were ripped and bloody. She caught a faint glimpse of the gashes along his arms. Her heart began to pound. Though he was hurt, she had expected him to be relieved at the sight of his family. But he wasn't relieved.

He was terrified.

"Nathan!" She heard herself, Izzy and Axel yell in unison. They started toward him, matching his pace-

But then, something whipped through the air, and Nathan froze where he was, causing his siblings to stop as well in confusion. His eyes were wide, horror written all over her face. Then, Nicole noticed the reason.

Just below his chest, a blade had dug into him. Nicole's eyes widened in horror as blood trickled down his shirt, staining it. He was stabbed in the same spot her mother was.

"NATHAN!" Nicole heard herself scream. She hurtled toward him, her vision getting blurry with tears. Nathan collapsed to his knees and suddenly, Nicole was there, catching him as he fell. She stared, horrified, as Axel and Isabelle ran to either side of him. His head fell on Nicole's lap as he shook, struggling to breathe.

"Nathan," Axel muttered softly, closing his hands around the blade below Nathan's chest. Slowly, he pulled it out and Nathan screamed. As soon as the blade was out, all three hands were there at his wound, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

Nicole looked down at Nathan, breathing shakily. She blinked away her tears to clear her vision and stared at Nathan's pale face. No, no, no, not Nathan. She sobbed hard, feeling her siblings do the same. She pressed hard on his wound to stop the bleeding but it wouldn't work, even with three hands.

"Nathan!" Izzy wailed, tears rolling down her cheek. Nicole bit down on her lip, hard. With her free hand, Nicole grabbed Nathan's hand, holding it tightly as if he would disappear if she let go.

"I know now," Nathan spoke in a low, scratchy voice. He looked up at Nicole and smiled, shaking wildly. "I know who you got cut for." Nicole instantly knew what he was talking about and her mind pushed forth the memory of driving Nathan to the bookstore.

What's so dear to you that you would risk getting hurt for it?

Nicole sobbed, staring at Nathan, "I still couldn't protect you."

"No," he said. "It's not your fault."

"Nathan, hold on," Axel told him, struggling to contain his own tears. "You're gonna be alright." The three of them pressed harder on his wound. Their hands were drenched in blood and so was Nathan's shirt.

Nathan coughed hard, blood splattering from his mouth. Nicole could see the blood gathering at his lips and her heart screamed. She held on to him tighter, feeling his soft, dark hair against her.

"It's okay," Nathan spoke scratchily to the three of them. "It's alright."

"No, no, Nathan, stop," Izzy said, her face wet with tears. Nicole sobbed again as Nathan shook uncontrollably in her arms.

"There's more to the story," he said, reaching out his other hand to his brother. Axel took it and held it firmly. "You'll find out soon." Nathan's breath hitched again and he grunted. He looked up at Nicole, his green eyes becoming free of color. "Finish my book for me." Nicole felt her heart break as she pressed her lips in a thin line, nodding at Nathan as the tears dampened her face.

Nathan looked at them one by one. He inhaled shakily before saying in a low and broken voice, "I love you. All of you." Then, he exhaled for the last time in his life, turning his head to the side in his sister's lap. He stared at the dark-haired girl whom he shared the color of his eyes with before letting his eyelids fall. He stopped shaking.

Nathan was dead.