The Mnemophobic

Chapter 8

Hudson's point of view

Xavier moved away from the car door nearly falling over in the process. He knelt down on the the pavement holding his stomach. What was going on?!

My attempts at coming to the rescue were nullified when the car door jammed. I forced it open and fell out. Ellis had gotten to him before me, Mennigin was somewhere in front of the car where I could not see and Serenity was peeking out. Xavier had his back towards all of us. Ellis picked him up and I raced along to join him. We took him in to the lobby where all eyes were on the scene we created. Ellis repeatedly asked him what was wrong but he held his stomach with a tighter grip every passing second. Clyde and Mennigin rushed in with the building's medical assistant. He gave Xavier a shot of painkillers and relaxant before anything else, it was important to be able to judge the extent of the problem before giving him the medicine. It took a while but Xavier came around. His face had a clear sign of relief plastered on it.

" What was wrong? We thought you were dying!" I exclaimed however my attempt at lightening the environment was utterly unsuccessful.

" I'm not sure, I had an upset stomach coming here, I think the wine made it act up." Xavier said taking deep breathes in between. The blood red colour slowly drained from his face as his normal tone came about.

The medic asked us to give both of them some privacy and so we did. I agreed to take Serenity home while Ellis, Mennigin and Clyde would stay and bring Xavier back. This day was getting more interesting by the minute.

While driving back I noticed Serenity wasn't her usual self, though she preferred to be quiet, she wasn't normally this quiet.

"What's up kiddo?" I asked childishly.

"Nothing, I'm not feeling well. What happened to the man outside the building?" Serenity asked instantly.

" Oh Xavier? Nothing, he had an upset stomach that took the moment to act up." I replied. " Is there something wrong?"

"No no." She said with a smile.

That was the brief conversation we had in the car. When she got home she was ecstatic. It seemed as whatever was bothering her disappeared after Dawn came home. That kid had a radiance to him, it shined everywhere he went. Serenity was a whole different person with Dawn, playing around, jumping about, talking non stop; simply lively. To be honest, I was really glad he was here too. It was definitely better than Mennigin showing up.

Ryan, Dawn and Serenity left the house to visit the cemetery, the only place they could go to see the rest of the family. It was rough. There are no other words to describe what you feel when you lose not one, but both of your parents the same tragic way. For a long time I had thought we'd never be the same again, and I still did, there was no going back to the way we were.

The house did not stay empty for long, Xavier, Clyde, Mennigin and Ellis came back within the hour. Clyde was told to prepare the guest room and so he left the lounge.

" So... you dying yet or what?" I asked carelessly. Xavier looked up with a sick face, almost as if he wanted to die. Weirdo.

" He has food poisoning, he told the medic by barfing on him." Ellis said trying to control his laughter while I burst out with mine. We both looked at Xavier with pity after which he tried to cuss but his stomach prevented him from doing so. We laughed even harder.

" I think I'll go to sleep now." Xavier said drowsily. The medicine must have made him dead on his feet.

Clyde took Xavier to his room.

I turned on the television and Ellis scoured the kitchen for something to fill his stomach. Mennigin sat with me but soon, as I expected, tried to make conversation.

" Do you boys visit the creek side?" He asked, " I don't know if you remember but you have a clubhouse there."

" We haven't been there in a while, a few years perhaps. Why?"

" The theme park needs that ground, I was going to consult with all of you to see if it is alright if we take it down."

I looked at him with anguish. " That place is like a family heirloom. It has all our memories in it!"

" Memories you keep in your heart, not in things Hudson. It was just a question for now." He said defensively. " Maybe we should visit some time as a family."

" I wish this were a family." I replied in a stiff way. Maybe I shouldn't have, who knows what I was soon to regret...

The rest of the day passed on quickly. Ryan and the kids came back before everyone called it a night and hit their beds. I was the last one up. I started to tip toe up the stairs when something startled me.

Ring Ring

The phone seemed so ring so much louder in the silence of the night. I dashed to pick it up, almost knocking over the vase next to it in the process.

" Hello?" I said panting away from the speaker.

" I'm sorry for disturbing you in this late hour but is Miss Serenity Taylor at home?" A heavy male voice replied.

" I'm sorry she isn't available, who is this? Can I take a message?" I said, wary of the unrecognized voice.

" This is Phil from Village, she'll recognize. I'm calling on behalf of Elaih, he missed Miss Taylor today, please ask her if she could come by tomorrow."

Astonished by the message I said. " I think you've got it wrong, she did leave for Village today."

" I'm sorry but when she comes she always meets Elaih. According to our records she never did come. Please convey our message. Good night." And with that the call had ended leaving me in a state of sheer confusion.

If she never went to village, then where was she today?