The Dead Kings

Rag Dolls and Raging Wounds

"And we'e so busy healing, that we don't even notice our new pain"

Kids In Glass Houses

"Yeah, here was I feeling like this world had changed me, and then it sends you along like a slap in the face." I laugh at Gale's analogy, not really paying attention to where we're going anymore.

"Plus I've never been..." he trails off, so I turn around to see what's caught his attention.

It' a house and, at least by British standards, it's enormous. But I don't thinking that's why Gale's currently gaping. Something's not right.

"Gale, What's wrong?" I ask, scanning the house, but I no longer need an answer. The front door is open. No, in fact it's hanging open, tethered to the house by a single hinge at the bottom.

"Who's house is that?" I ask more worried this time.

"Nova, listen to me," he says, in a slow and careful voice, but that's all I need to hear. I race towards the house and through the door.

"Elizabeth?! It's me, Nova, and let me tell you right now that I'm pretty mad you didn't tell me you're getting married!" I yell in an attempt at mock-angry, but everything about it sounds fake. There's no humour in my voice, there's not even a trace of anger. Only fear and desperation.

I fear that something awful has happened to my sister, and I am desperate to see for myself that she's okay. The house is deathly silent and large enough for me to lose any hope of finding my sister. As I consider my chances, Gale comes through the doorway.

"You check upstairs, I'll check down here." He commands, the seriousness that scared me earlier back, but comforting. I run up the oak stairs, taking two at a time, praying I don't trip. On the landing I note there's a room in front of me and three to my left.

I check the first one: an empty bathroom. The second is a bedroom that's full of dust. The third one is much the same as the second, the details just don't seem important. Maybe I'm categorising them on what they don't have more than what they do.

The last room's a little further down the hallway. I run towards it, my heart sinking deep into my stomach with fear.

I open the door and check inside. The room looks well-used. Standing in the middle, I scour every section with my eyes, as if I might find my sister merging with the walls.

The room's empty.

I should feel relieved but my desperation only increases.

Nothing's okay. Everything's wrong.

Where is she?

Doesn't she know how much I need her to be alright?

"Nova? Where are you?" I walk towards Gale's voice, which gives nothing away. I hope and pray my sister's safe and well as I quickly descend the staircase to where he' standing. The look on his face says it all.

"Where is she?" I ask in as stern a voice as I can manage.

"Are you sure you want to see?" he asks, and I'm worried the situation is irreversible, irreparable. What if I've already lost her?

Wouldn't I already know if I had, somehow?

"She's my sister." I reply to Gale as if that could answer all the questions he could possibly have. As if it will magically solve everything.

"Alright." He nods in acceptance and walks away with a remorseful look, mixed with guilt. Although I'm a little surprised, I brush past it as I make my way towards him. It makes sense for him to feel the way I do if he already knew her. I just didn't know they'd met before.

I follow him through the living room into a study, and there she is.

Sitting on the floor, leaning against the desk like a rag doll.

Except her eyes are closed.

"I'm sorry." Gale says. Those two words annoy and offend me, like salt on a raging wound. What does he have to be sorry for? How highly must he think of himself to use those words like they might make me feel better? Or as if he caused this. How dare he use this moment to make himself feel better?

But I don't look at him.

I'm glad I don't, because if I did, I would have missed the perfect, gentle lifting of my sister's chest; It flutters delicately as she inhales ever so slightly.

"Gale, did you see-"

"Phone an ambulance, Nova" He throws me his phone, effectively cutting off my moment of awe with decisive action.

"How did I miss it?" He mutters, most likely to himself, as he leans towards my sister, kneeling as he does.

"What?" I ask, slightly stunned, my fight or flight reactions now shutting down.

"Quickly, now. The sooner you make the call, the greater the chance you sister has at living."

That was all the motivation I needed. I've already punched the number as I sink down to Gales level, cushioned by the same plush carpet that's soaking in Elizabeth's blood.

I watch Gale examine my sister as I talk to the guy on the other end of the line, rattling of our location's address with what feels like an inhuman speed.

"Yes, she's breathing, but barely. Yes, she's hurt quite badly; she's bleeding a lot from the head. Sir, I'm not exaggerating, it's bleeding heavily and the lady in question is unconscious. Please get here quickly, I beg you."

As I finish answering the attendant's questions, it doesn't escape my notice that Gale seems to be talking to my unconscious sister. He looks to be apologising, but for what, I don't know.

I'm also painfully aware that my sister's dear, sweet fiancé is nowhere to be seen. If that b*st*rd is the one who hurt her, I'll bury him myself.

***

The ambulance arrived in, what is apparently, a record time of 15 minutes. Gale and I get in the back with Elizabeth, but I can't bear to look at her at all. Instead, I focus on the more animate in the room.

"Listen, mate we're taking her to the hospital. Yeah, I know what you said but she's obviously not strong enough. Look, I'll admit that I was wrong too, but it has to stop now. I have her sister with me. Just meet us in the hospital waiting room. I'll see you there." Gale hangs up on, whom I'm assuming is, Elizabeth's fiancé without so much as a goodbye.

Their conversation sounded shady, and I'm willing to bet Gale knows more about my sister's current condition than he's letting on. I'll hold back until we're alone for now, though. Or, at least, until her betrothed is present; Gale's words only confirm my fears of his involvement, but until I know exactly what her intended's done to her, I need to leave him alone.

If her condition worsens though, all bets are off.

+++++++++++++++++++

Please COMMENT

What do you think those two did to her sister?

Why wasn't the douchey fiancé there to save poor Elizabeth?

If you like what I'm writing, maybe vote?

If not, I would love an angry comment...

Shrib

(P.S. The picture above is of our dearest Nova)

(P.P.S I hope you all like her)

(P.P.P.S. Has anyone here ever read P.S. I love you? Wasn't it great?)