Family Business

Chapter 8

Frank was yelling!
William was yelling too!
They were both covered in blood.

William grabbed Frank's arm, trying to stop him from digging the fork in further into his other arm....
Frank's eyes were red and popping out of his sockets. Suddenly he stopped screaming, muscles relaxed, letting go of the fork, he collapsed. William, who already had a firm grip on him, managed to slow his fall and gently laid him on the ground.

Just then, a few people busted into the room and crowded around them. Some of them gasped and the rest of them stared.

William had been holding the fork in his hand after pulling it out of Frank.

"Get help! Quick!" William yelled, outraged that no one came forward to help but just stood there, staring. He dint know anyone, but was sure they were other residence of the same building.

Finally the manager arrived with another man who had a stethoscope round his neck and a medical kit.
He took one look at the scene and then rushed to Frank, barking orders to everyone, to get him towels and clear off from the scene.

The manager pulled William aside and asked "what happened?"

"Sir, I'm not really sure." William replied shakily, looking at the blood on his hands and then down to Frank, who was being treated to by the doctor. "One minute we were having dinner and the next he stabbed himself."

"You mean he did this?" The manager said in shock.

William's eyes snapped back to the manager. Did he think I did this to Frank?

Furious, William turned away to watch the doctor and few other, move Frank onto a stretcher and take him to the hospital. A few minutes later there were at the ambulance, trying not to let Frank get wet. But then William wasn't allowed in.

"He will be fine, but he needs to be taken to the hospital to be checked on. I'll be with him." said the manager as he got into the ambulance. Leaving William standing there in the rain, Socked for the second time the same night. He dint realize things were so mysterious at Lanchester and it was only his first night.

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It was dark and rains hit the car hard as it made its way into the little town called Lanchester.

Louis was fast asleep on Sophie's lap, not disturbed by the sounds of nature. Sophie was almost asleep herself, she was not accustomed to road trips. Derrick was quietly sitting beside the driver, occasionally directing him when needed. Alice and Eric were finishing the last of the food she packed for the trip, while David teased Dana for planning a boring trip.

"Ok guys, we are almost there." announced the driver, "The hotel is just down this road."

Dana sat up straight. The excitement began to pour in. She ignored the fact that the place looked deserted and almost haunted, convincing herself that the hotel and maze will compensate all other disappointments.

Finally they stopped in front of the hotel and began to unload their luggage, when they heard the siren of the ambulance as it passed by them. The boys were distracted trying to see inside through the windows but Dana's eyes followed the place the ambulance came from. A man stood there alone watching the ambulance go. He dint seem to realize he was soaked and that his white shirt was stuck to his body, taking shape of his muscles. She stared until she accidently dropped her bag on her foot. Eyes watering in pain and going red in the face, she tore her eyes away from the stranger and joined her parents in the lobby. 

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Dana kept her eyes peeled for Aaron Davis, Her boyfriend... No... ex-boyfriend. She had exactly three days to figure out how she would find him and what she would tell him. She got a room to herself which was a connecting room to her moms. Danny got the connecting room to the boys.

Opening her suitcase for pajamas to change into, her hand fell on an envelope she packed. It was just for backup, incase words failed her when she meets Aaron.

Sighing, she turned to look out the window. Nothing was visible through the heavy rains. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and she jumped. There was a figure standing on the grounds not too far from the maze. She was not too sure because it was so sudden, but suddenly a chill ran down her spine. Quickly changing her clothes she crawled under the bed sheet, trying to fall asleep, too scared to turn off the lights as her thoughts slowly moved from the hooded figure to the stranger in the rain.

********

Derrick sat on the end of his bed feeling empty. He never liked family trips, he just felt lonelier by the end of it. All his kids would have fun together, his ex-wife and her wife cuddle and he would just sit and watch over all of them.

Sophie, who was very observant, tried setting him up with girls after his party phase was over, but he never could connect with anyone like how he did with Alice. Till this day, Alice remained to be the most beautiful and amazingly kind hearted women he had ever met. He liked Sophie too, which is why he dint mind that she took his place. He trusts her to take care of his wife and kids.

Unable to sleep, He went down to the hotel bar which was still open. There was only one couple sitting in the corner, legs intertwined under the table. Trying to ignore them, he went up to the bar and ordered a whiskey.

The bartender was a young man, he looked tired and sleepy. But he kept his tired eyes open by snapping a rubber band around his wrist.

Suddenly the lights flickered. First only for a few seconds and then for almost a minute. Derrick felt something move around him but before he could react, the lights were back.

He looked around but there wasn't anyone. The couple in the corner was now kissing, wrapped around each other's arms. Downing the rest of his drink, he hopped off his stool. Hearing a little splash at his feet, he looked down. There was a trail of water around his barstool till the door.

He did not understand where it came from. It couldn't have come from him so was it already there when he came in?

Shaking it off, desperately tired now, he told the bartender to put it on his tab and went to his room. Giving the boys a final check to make sure they settled down, he went to bed and everything went black.

********

There was a hooded figure near the maze, getting soaked in the rain. He watched the ambulance take Frank away and William visibly upset. He watched a big family check into the hotel and waited patiently until the lights in their room slowly went off. Their rooms were on the first floor and he could see into their rooms fairly well. He noticed the only adult male had left the room. Sneaking into the lobby, he watched the man go into the hotel bar.

Perfect! He thought, smiling to himself. Just where I want him.

After a quick phone call he moved closer to the bar. Then the lights flickered. It was time. The second time was a bit longer, enough time to sneak in and out unnoticed. Smiling to himself at his success, he left the hotel without a backward glance, not noticing the trail of dripping rain water he left behind.

********

What just happened at the bar? Is Derrick in danger?

Poor Frank. He seemed like a normal nice guy until he stabbed himself. All this and it's just William's first night at Lanchester.

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