No escape from reality Book 3 AU

Chapter 5

Edith returned back home, but Richard decided to stay a bit longer. He explained that he wanted to spend more time with his niece and nephew. Louise liked his reasoning but was perplexed because he rarely interacted with them. Brendon was in the studio a lot lately. He said that he felt like he had another album in him to make.
One Friday morning, Louise took the kids to the local park. Nico had made a friend there and was playing with her. Poppy was in the sand pit, getting sand everywhere, whilst she made her latest creation. Louise's phone rang, and it was Sydney, Richards wife.
"Hi Syd," Louise answered.
"Hi Lou. Erm, are you with Rich?"She asked.
"No, why?"
And Sydney preceded to tell Louise the situation with her husband.
Louise couldn't believe what her sister in law had just told her. She texted Richard, saying that she needed to talk to him. Louise said nothing else but that to him she didn't want him to know that she had spoken to Sydney just yet.
As Louise rounded the kids up to walk back home, her phone rang again. This time, it was Brendon.
"Hi Lou, do you know what's up with Richard?" He asked.
"No, why?" Louisr said, walking along holding Poppy's hand, whilst Nico rides his bike.
"I heard him shout something, the front door slammed, and he sped off in his car."Brendon explained.
"No idea. I do need to talk to you about something, though. " Louise told her husband.
"Oh, ok. Are you on your way back from the park?"
"Yea, we are nearly home." Louise replied.
Nico stopped at the kerb, waiting for his mother so they could cross the street.
Louise caught up to Nico, and they started to cross when Louise heard a screech of tyres. Next thing Louise knew there was a car speeding towards them all. Louise immediately picked Poppy up and went to grab Nico when one of her worst nightmares came true.

Richard didn't know what to do. He needed to do something, but he wasn't sure what. His text notification sound went off. Richard picked his phone up and saw a text from his little sister, saying they needed to talk. He paced a little.
"FUCK!!" He yelled and left the house. He slammed the door, got into his car, and sped off.
He found an ATM and withdrew what he could, which wasn't much. He was hoping it was enough, though. If it wasn't, he could get some money another way.
Richard was pissed. He didn't have enough money. He went back to Louise's. He stepped on the gas and screeched around the corner. The quicker he got what he needed, the quicker he could get the money.

Brendon had walked into the kitchen to get himself a coffee and bagel. He was humming along to Alexa. Frank Sinatra played. As Brendon spread cream cheese onto his bagel, he called his wife about the odd way that Richard left the house.
After finishing up the call, he started to walk out towards his studio. Brendon took a sip of coffee and carried on walking. He was about to go out into the backyard when he heard tyres screech. Somehow, he just knew. The coffee cup and plate smashed on the concrete. Brendon turned and ran out the front door.

Louise was laid in the middle of the street, clinging to a crying Poppy. Poppy was crying. This was a good sign.
Louise realised she could only hear one crying child. Why couldn't she hear Nico? Where was her baby boy?
"NICO!"Louise yelled. No answer. Louise could hear footsteps running towards them. Then she looked up to see her brother stood there.

Richard ran his fingers through his brown hair. He was muttering to himself.
"What have I done? What have I done?"
He looked at the scene in front of him. His sister and niece laid on the road, and there was no sign of his little nephew. Richard then preceded to run in the opposite direction. He couldn't face the fact that he may have killed his sisters son.

Brendon ran as fast as he could the block from the house to where he heard the screeching tyres.
As he approached, he couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Brendons, wife and daughter, laid on the road clinging to each other. Poppy was crying. Louise was crying and shouting Nicos' name. Brendon looked towards the distance. He could see a man running away that looked like Richard. Brendon then noticed the car. He realised that the car did indeed belong to his brother in law.
"What the fuck?" Brendon said to himself. He went over to Louise and Poppy. Poppy had her little arms outstretched towards her Daddy. Brendon scooped his daughter up in his arms. He held her tight, stroking the back of her head.
"Shh, it's ok, baby girl. Daddy's got you." Brendon soothed her.
"Bren, I don't know where Nico is. I can't hear him crying." Louise sobbed. Her heart was breaking right now, at the thought of what could have happened to their little boy.
"It's ok, baby. We will find him." Brendon said to Louise. Poppy was still upset, but calming a little.
Louise tried to get up.
"Lou, stay there, baby. Let the hospital check you out." Brendon said.
" I am not going anywhere until I know where our son is." Louise was determined. She called out Nicos' name again and again. Louise was getting more and more hysterical every time she didn't hear his little voice.
Brendon was still hugging Poppy tightly. He could then hear sirens in the distance.
"Oh, thank goodness ," he sighed, closing his eyes. Brendon didn't even want to think about what was happening to Nico. He wanted to get Louise and his daughter to the hospital first. Then, look for his son. He didn't want Louise to watch her husbands heart breaking in front of her if the news was the worst possible.
The emergency vehicles came into sight and stopped near the scene. The paramedics took Poppy and checked her over. Apart from the trauma, physically, she was ok. Another paramedic looked Louise over. He wanted to put her on a spinal board and immobilise her neck.
"We need to make sure there's no spinal injury." The paramedic said. Louise protested profusely because she needed to see if Nico was OK.
The paramedic did her best to calm Louise and loaded her onto the ambulance. Brendon got into the ambulance, still holding Poppy.
"Bren, you stay here. Someone needs to be here for Nico." Louise said, gripping his hand.
"What about Poppy?" He asked.
"She can ride with us." The paramedic said.
Brendon handed his little girl to the paramedic, and then the doors closed, and Louise was rushed off to the hospital.
Brendon let out a huge gulp of air and ran his hands over his face and hair. He was hoping that Nico would be OK.