Partners In Crime

Chapter 7: Flashback Part 2

-Holmes Chapel, Cheshire

18th February 2009

11.13 P.M.

“I-I think he’s dead.”

Harry took a deep breath to regain himself.

“What? Nic, what’s going on?”

“I killed him, Harry! I didn’t mean to do so! I only wanted to protect myself…” Nicole hiccupped through the phone and continued on to sob.

Harry looked back at his sister. She was done calling the hospital and was now staring at Harry.

“Is something wrong, Haz?” Gemma asked curiously.

“Everything’s just fine, Gem. Why don’t you, uh, clean the place up, it’s getting a bit hard to call the police here.”

“Oh, right, I’m on it.” She wiped off the remaining tears and proceeded to pick up objects from the ground. It hurt to see his sister so broken, so fragile. Gemma’s supposed to be the stronger one. She claims to be one all the time. But perhaps it was time for Harry to take care of her, of his family. Now that the support of their lives were gone…dad. The thought of his father pained him as well.

“Harry you have to save me.”

The sweet voice emerging from Nicole’s mouth was heard. It snapped his focus back on her.

“I will, I promise, I will. Please stop crying. I’m sorry I can’t be there to wipe your tears away, but I will soon. Where are you?”

“C-Cranage Hall, Room 3034. Harry, I love you so so much. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright love. I’ll be there as soon as I can, alright?” What in the world was happening to her? He has never heard Nicole so scared before. She hung up and he looked away from the phone.

His family was in a mess.

What was he to do?

To go to his love of his life, or to stay with his family at a time like this?

He looked at Gemma, who flinched at the sight of their mother on the couch. The only sign that she was alive was that she was breathing.

He had to choose…and he did.

* * *

11.35 P.M.

Harry had called the police on his way there. He had to leave.

He could still remember his sister’s face when he told her he was going to have to go, that something bad happened to Nicole. Gemma pulled onto his shirt, like she was 5 again.

“You promised you wouldn’t leave.”

“I know, I know.” Harry pulled on his curls, a habit when it comes to nervousness.

Gemma looked at him, at how she has been relying on him, how he has been so much stronger than she has when she was supposed to be the elder one.

She let go.

“Just…come back, okay? We’ll both be waiting.” Gemma looked at mum who was passed out on the couched. Harry gave a small kiss on her forehead. He was a little taller than his sister even though she was elder. He loved teasing her about that.

“I will.” And with that, he left.

He parked his bike at the parking lot provided outside the hotel. He opened the door and rushed in. It didn’t take him long to find room 3034. He hesitated before going in. He didn’t know what to expect.