A Life Once Broken (Hosie)

Untitled Part 5

Alaric, MG and Lizzie are driving through the gate and up the long drive to Hope's house.  Lizzie's got a touch of anxiety now but she's trying not to show it.  She needs to do this for her friend.  Alaric is driving a large van he's borrowed from his work.  He's a janitor fora large private school that have a number of these vans so Alaric borrowing one doesn't make any difference.

He brings it to a stop outside the entry doors.  Alaric has never been to Hope's house before.  He's known her most of her life growing up with Lizzie.  He feels like a father figure to Hope in the absence ofher own and he would always be there for her.  But he never got on with landon so never socialised with him then in turn unfortunately Hope.  But he always made a point to spend time with her when she was at Lizzie's.

As they were getting out of the van,  Landon comes crashing out the front door with a baseball bat,   he's drunk and it's obvious he can hardly control his body.

"What the fuck are you doing here".

Alaric takes control and stands in front of his daughter.

"Look Landon,  we don't want any trouble.  We are just here to get Hope and Ava's belongings, and then we'll leave you alone."

"If Hope and the mistake want their clothes,  then Hope can come and get them herself'  he spits out with venom.

"Well-she can't do that  can she cause you half killed her last night,  you piece of shit, or are you so drunk you don't remember."  Lizzie's spits back.  "And your daughter is not a mistake,  the only mistake would be you Landon!"

"I remember everything" he says.  "She had it coming  she deserved it coming home late and do you know what,  I loved every minute of causing her pain." he smirks at her.

"Fuck I want to rip your head off"  Lizzie says stepping towards Landon, MG pulling her back quickly.

"I only wish I did kill her last night,  she always wanted to see her parents again,  that would've been her chance!  He laughs and-stumbles.

Alaric looks at him not believing what just came out of his mouth,   his paternal instinct boiling to the surface, he steps forward and punches Landon hard.

Landon drops to the ground with what looks like a broken nose,  bloods squirting out.

"You don't come to my home and punch me" Landon says in a high pitched voice,  resembling a chipmunk.  Holding his nose.

Alaric laughs and says "this can go two ways,  you let us in to get what we  need and don't cause any trouble or I'll knock you out and tie you to a chair and aim my cross bow at your head.  Your Pick."

Landon stumbles inside without even answering and sits down in front of the tv.  He lifts a beer and starts drinking from it.

They come in and as they head up stairs Lizzie looks at Landon.  "What did she ever see in you?"  She says with  shimmering eyes.  "How could you treat her like this?  Hope is good, she is strong and you beat her for being a great wife, mother, business woman.  You don't deserve her".   Lizzie's voice is cracking,  thinking of her best friend in that situation,  hurts her to her core.

Landon looks up at her,  with cold black eyes.  He looks evil.  He doesn't answer her questions he just scoffs and rubs a hand through his oily,messy hair.  "As I said, she did deserve  it!  He looks at her with an arrogance".

"Tell her.... Tell her I will be around to finish the job but this time it won't only be Hope in a coffin,  it'll be our daughter too."

Lizzie feels a chill racing up her spine and she can feel bile come up  from the pit of her stomach.  She can't believe what she just heard.  The mere thought of it makes her want to vomit.  She bolts upstairs unable to be in the same room as Landon.   She goes into the bedroom where  Alaric and MG are ,  they have quickly thrown everything in bags  and are about to  start going up and down the stairs to load everything in the van.  MG sees Lizzie trembling .