The New Student

Chapter 29

Dylan's POV

I remember the moment clear as day. When she fell to her knees. When the ground shaking scream left from her lips. I could see death in her eyes like she wearing it clear on her sleeve. All I could do was hold her close. 

"It's okay." I remember telling her over and over again. I know this was going to be hard to swallow. It hurt losing one, but losing both? I don't know how I would live. 

I had to pick her up and take her into the house because when she tried to stand and take a step, her legs gave out and she almost hit the ground if I didn't catch her. 

When we got into the house, AJ looked alarmed and looked like he wanted to ask all different type of questions but sighed instead, knowing it wasn't the time. 

I took Naomi upstairs and laid her in my bed. At first she just sat there, not moving. I got on my knees and looked into her eyes. They were emotionless. I know she could see me but it looked like she was looking straight through me. 

I helped her switch to more comfortable clothes before I laid her down in the bed and put the cover over her. I was still crouched down on my knees, staring at her pain filled face. I slowly begin to rub her shoulder, knowing that I could barely do anything in this situation except for comfort her and let her grieve. 

Silent tears rolled down her face as we stayed in each other's presence in silence. Soon, her eyes closed and her breaths soothed, and I knew she was sleep. 

I felt for her. This is the last thing I wanted to happen to her. This is why I wanted her to stay away from me. Because now, her parents are gone, she has no more family. I'm all she has left. 

I got up and laid beside her in the bed. I carefully wrapped my arms around her waist. My hand found her hair as I softly caressed it, pulling it out of her face. 

I don't know how long I laid their and brushed her hair for but the next thing I knew, I was waking up from sleep. Naomi was still asleep in my arms. I held her tighter, not wanting to let her go. But I knew there was still work to be done. Especially after this. 

I got up as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb her. I went downstairs and into the kitchen. There, I found AJ sitting at the island counter. When I entered, his head shot up. When our eyes made contact, the look in his eyes told me everything. 

He knew. 

A sigh escaped his lips. "I........uh, got a call several hours ago telling me of a shooting going down in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania." he started. 

"In the exact buildings that Naomi's parents are located in." he continued. AJ looked distraught as he told me more. All I could do is let my head hang low. 

"Their gone." I tell him, already knowing he was going to say it soon anyways. No trace of shock appeared on AJ's face. His face actually stayed neutral. 

"Not exactly." he says out of the blue. My head shoots up at him. I walk towards him in question.

"What do you mean?" I ask. There's no way they could've survived that. Unless...

"I called up some guys, told them to scope out the wreckage. Unfortunately, they found the mom's body. But not the dad's." When AJ finished his sentence, I was in utter shock. It is true, we never heard them shoot him on the phone. 

"So there's a chance that Naomi's dad could still be alive?" I ask, still in shock. AJ nods and my hand flies up to my hair, my mind still trying to wrap around the sudden news. 

"I have to tell Naomi." I say. Even though I feel like I shouldn't, it's the right thing to do. 

"You know what that will do, right?" AJ asks. I looked at him. We both knew the consequences. 

But at the same time, we didn't. If I told her, it could give her even a dash of hope, possibly lift up her spirits a bit, but if it doesn't she'll probably fall deeper. The list of different ways this could go flowed through my head. 

All the possibilities, all the outcomes, everything that could go wrong, but everything that could go right. 

"I know. But it has to be done." I say before turning around and heading upstairs. When I reached my room, Naomi was awake, sitting up on the head of the bed, staring straight into nothingness. 

I walked up to her and sat beside her legs. She didn't look at me, just stared blankly in front of her, even though nothing interesting was going to occur. 

I reached up and tilted her chin in my direction. Her eyes finally reached mine, but they still weren't looking at me. Still, looking through my very existence. Her beautiful brown eyes that once sparkled, were now glossy, and empty with no emotion glowing through them. 

"Gōngzhǔ, I have news." I say quietly. 

She says nothing. 

"When my men went looking through the buildings, they found your mother's body." I say, my voice breaking mid-sentence. 

A watched a lone tear fell down Naomi's face. But still, no words came from her. 

"But, they didn't find your father's." I let out. She still didn't say anything, but her eyes came back to Earth. It no longer felt like she was staring through me, but straight at me. Like her eyes finally came back to focus. I even barely saw a twinkle that used to show all the time in her orbs. 

"What?" she said quietly, barely even a whisper. Her lips were dry and her voice was weak and croaky. Shock traced my face; she finally talked. 

"It's a possibility that your father could be alive, but is being held captive by Salo." I continue. 

Before I could say anything more, Naomi's eyes rolled into her back of her head and she fell forward, into my arms. 

"Naomi?!" I say laying her down on the bed. I sigh, already knowing that this much information in less than 24 hours would do this. Being overwhelmed the grief from the fact that both of your parents died and then being told one of them might be alive is too much to handle. 

I should've waited. But this could change everything. If there's even a chance her father could be alive, just so I could see her smile once more, I willing to take it.