The Salvation

Chapter 20

|Felicia|

"What you're saying isn't possible Andrew! I'm sorry but you must've been delusional after the sparks hit you in the eyes or something," Felicia argued, "that's the only logical excuse..."

"Be that as it may, Craig and Nikolai seen it too!" Andrew retorted, face red and flustered.

"He's not lying Felicia." Craig agreed. "We're telling you this thing was as big as a bloody tower..."

Felicia rubbed her eyes tiredly. She'd been up for almost twenty-four hours now dealing with Andrew's eyes, Nikolai's injuries and eventual death and helping Jane however she could. Jane was recovering decently, but Felicia couldn't be certain if she was okay. Jane barely spoke about herself, and spent most of her day by her new sons side. Felicia was on edge ever since the birth, hoping that the baby, named Mike by Craig, would survive.

"I'm sorry, but you's are delusional..." Felicia shrugged the two men off and walked outside, where Venelope sat solemnly on the ground by the wrapped up body of Nikolai. Shale sat beside her, head hanging low in mourning despite not knowing the man. Felicia sat herself by Venelope's side and threw her arm over the teenagers shoulder. "You need to eat. And sleep too."

Venelope wiped her nose. "No... I don't want to sleep..."

"Venelope, you're not going to do yourself any good sitting out in the cold with him all night. Go and get some rest, I'll bring you something eat and tomorrow I promise we will take Nikolai somewhere nice to bury him." Felicia reassured Venelope.

Venelope just shook her head and looked down. "I'm fine..."

"No you're not! Get up Venelope!" Felicia tried on a stern voice. "Get. Some. Sleep."

"I'm not going... I don't want to..."

Felicia closed her eyes, frustrated. "Venelope please."

"Just leave me alone, is that too much to ask?" Venelope shook Felicia's arm off. "I just want to be... Alone..."

Felicia sighed and stood up. Shale bounded to his feet and tried to jump on Felicia and knock her over, but she dodged the dog's clumsy attempt. Funny how he could go from being sad about the death of a man he never knew, to wanting to tackle Felicia and lick her face clean. As much as Felicia would love any opportunity to be clean again, Shale was the last thing she'd let lick her face at all.

Inside she found Craig gone back to his own house to enjoy his new son. Andrew was alone on the lounge with a full bottle of whiskey, downing it with ease. Felicia walked over and plunged into the lounge beside her husband. Andrew didn't seem to take any notice of her. Felicia grabbed the bottle from his hand and considered it for a second, before taking the smallest sip. It tasted foul, like earwax burning in her throat. She cringed and handed the bottle back to Andrew.

"Believe me. Don't believe me. Doesn't matter..." Andrew finally said, staring blankly at the wall. "I saw what I saw..."

Felicia shook her head. "Okay Andrew, you saw a fucking monster! What do you want me to say?! It's bloody stupid and you know it!"

"I thought the stonehounds were monsters... But this thing..." Andrew continued, not taking any notice of her.

"Give it up Andrew, someone must've been playing with your mind or something!" Felicia argued, refusing to accept his nonsense. "The stonehounds were monsters, and there's likely more of them out there, hell there is likely to be other mutated things that make no sense, but think within reason..."