The Hollow

Chapter 18: Long Live the King

November 22nd: 7:28pm

The bang echoed through Jonah's head, his vision going black as he sat up, Dalton dead before him. His body screamed at him as he crawled over to Murphy, praying for the first time in his life. Murphy's breathing was shallow, but he was breathing. Jonah couldn't tell where exactly Dalton had hit him, too much blood soaked his shirt and he couldn't risk staying there longer than he had to. His side seared as he used the side of his car to drag himself up, pulling open the door. He ignored the pain as he dragged Murphy over and pushed him in as gently as he possibly could under the circumstances. Grabbing his dad's gun from the ground he jumped into the driver's seat, Jonah's tires squealed as he drove off, his vision flickering from the pain.

"Nil!" Murphy gasped behind him.

"It's alright. We're going home," Jonah reassured him.

"I dropped the gun," Murphy cried.

"I got it. Don't worry about it," Jonah told him, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Jonah, Nil. You can't be like that," Murphy sobbed out and Jonah wanted to pull over so he could comfort him but he needed to get him to Fred, "You have to show Zander."

"Show Zander what, buddy?" He asked, trying to keep the creeping hysteria out of his voice.

"That you love him!" Murphy cried out, "I know that you do but you have to tell him." 

"I do. I did before we left," Jonah reassured him, the car drifting into the wrong lane as Jonah's vision clouded up. 

"You're a good man, Nil. Don't let that change," Murphy whispered and Jonah wondered if he was even hearing him respond, "Please promise me."

"I promise," Jonah choked out, "And you'll hold me to it because we're almost there, Murphy. We're almost home."

"Acasă," Murphy breathed out, home.

"Murphy?" Jonah called out when he didn't say anything else, "Murphy, answer me!" 

Jonah turned and glanced in the back seat to see Murphy's eyes closed. It was too dark to tell if he was breathing or not. Begging him to hold on, Jonah flew through The City, taking out a couple mailboxes and at least one street sign as he barely retained control over the car. He laid on his horn as The Hollow's gates came into view but he didn't slow down. Blowing through the gates that had barely opened, his head slammed into the steering wheel as the car came to sudden stop. The two Vampires that had been watching the gate rushed over, one opening Jonah's door. Looking up into Elijah Salvator's face, another name from the list, Jonah didn't even give him a chance. Swinging his gun around and pulling the trigger, he stepped over Elijah's body and rushed over to the other guard.

"Regale!" Thomas yelled, panic in his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up and help me!" Jonah yelled back, pulling Murphy's door open.

Thomas hesitated and Jonah almost shot him too out of pure frustration. He knew he wouldn't be able to get Murphy up to The Tower alone though.

"Please. I don't have time to make it make sense," Jonah cried, trying to pull Murphy out of the car. They were running out of fucking time. He needed to get Murphy to Fred, "Please!"

Thomas seemed to snap out of the shock he had been in and helped Jonah lift Murphy from the car. Cradling him in his arms Thomas ran behind Jonah as he sped to The Tower. Finally with the door to Fred in sight Jonah began screaming for the man, Ivan peaking out before yelling for Fred to get a stretcher. Thomas placed Murphy on the stretcher, following Jonah into The Tower.