See You in Hell

19

Gene was pacing anxiously in the lobby when she emerged from the elevator.
"I've been calling you! Why the fuck aren't you picking up?!" He didn't give her a chance to answer. "I had to walk here! II don't even know Logan's last name so they wouldn't tell me anything! What happened?" Then when he saw her face "Are you okay?" The question broke her. The tears that she'd been fighting to hold in the whole way down to the lobby, flooded her eyes and streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"Woah, what's going on?! Is Logan okay?" He was getting more and more alarmed. She could only nod in response, unable to speak. "Hey, hey, it's gonna be alright." He pulled her into a bear hug and she buried her face in his shoulder. Gene squeezed his little sister tight, her whole upper body was convulsing in silent sobs. His voice was gentle, "Louise, tell me what happened."

The story had gushed forward in pieces on the drive home. Gene teased it out as gently as he could. He could be self absorbed and theatrical, but when it really mattered, he was a good listener. When she finally finished her confession, he sat silently, hands still on the wheel. The car was idling in the back alley of their house.

"I was feeling terrible about almost killing that kid, now I kinda want to go back to the hospital and beat the shit out of him."
Louise couldn't help but laugh. The thought of scrawny Gene in his cut offs and bedazzled jacket pummeling Logan was a bit comical. She was still trembling a little from all the crying, but it had felt good to tell her brother.

"He's an idiot."
"Yea."
"But you're not exactly guiltless here either."
"I know."
"You gotta make things right with Ollie. You can't keep jerking him around like this."
"I know." Louise stared down at her hands ashamed. "But I just don't know how. I don't want to hurt him."
"He's a big boy, he can handle it. Just be honest."

Back inside the restaurant it looked like a bomb had gone off. Gene had barely had time to lock the door on his way out, much less tidy up. The shards of smashed plate and the expired Epi-pen still lay scattered on the floor around where Logan had passed out. Gene ushered her toward the kitchen in a noble attempt to shield her from the grim crime scene.
"Why don't you take the back. I can clean up here."

It was a disaster in the kitchen too. Dishes were piled up in the sink, burnt food caked on the grill, and a garbage bin had been knocked over in all the chaos - spilling trash everywhere. Louise set to work. At least the labor was distracting. All the scrubbing and sweeping was a welcome diversion from her misery. It was a long evening.

Later, as she and Gene headed out the back door, hauling the garbage into the alley, she tripped over something hard. She looked down to find what had been the contents of Logan's backpack, still spilled out by the exit. She dropped to her knees and began gathering up the mess. Her hand paused over one item. A VHS tape. But it wasn't the one from the night they'd been caught in the storm. This one had its original cover; Hawk and Chick battling a six headed creature.

"What is that?" Gene craned his neck to get a look over her shoulder, straining to keep a hold of all the bags he was carrying, while she cleared their path.
"No idea." Louise quickly tucked the tape into the backpack and tossed it aside. She pressed quickly on through the heavy door and into the alley, before Gene could ask any follow up questions.

Louise's mind raced with what she had just discovered. As soon as they were back inside and Gene was busy counting out the register, she opened the bag again and pulled out the tape, examining it more closely this time. A small corner of notebook paper peeked out from beneath the sheath of the VHS. She gently tugged it free and found a short note.

'I'm sorry I messed this up.
Hope you'll give me another chance.'

"Ollie is outside." Gene had come into the kitchen behind her. Louise started, tucking the note quickly into her pocket before she turned back towards her brother. He was eyeing her sidelong, as if assessing her stability. "I can tell him you already went to bed?"
Louise considered for a moment. Her heart was racing from the shock of her discovery. It had been a brutal day, but she wanted to put at least one thing right.
"No, that's ok. I think I should go talk to him." Gene gave her a meaningful glance.
"I didn't mean you have to tell him today - maybe you should get some rest?"
"I know. But I think I need to get it off my chest. Rip-the-Band-Aid-off, you know?" She forced a smile, trying her best to relieve his brotherly concern. She was feeling especially grateful for Gene now. He could certainly be obnoxious, but when it really mattered he had her back. She braced herself before pushing open the kitchen door. Ollie rushed forward when he saw her.

"Louise! I've been calling you - I was getting really worried! What happened?"
"Yea, I'm sorry. I didn't have my phone on me. It's a long story." She glanced back at Gene, who gave her a reassuring nod. "Do you wanna go for a walk?"