Torn

Chapter 8: Turned Around

Jacqueline's eyelids started to feel heavy as she remained in Thomas' arms. She felt the streams of tears dry up and her eyes swollen from crying, she could barely keep her eyes open for another minute. Thomas' hand started to slowly stroke her back and she closed her eyes, awaiting the peacefulness of sleep.

"I love you." she heard him whisper before sleep devoured her.

Blood. The sight of blood, but it wasn't just someone's blood, it was Dylan's. His limp body was in Jacqueline's arms as she pushed his hair back and his chest scarcely heaving up and down once every few seconds while his eyes were closed. Muffled sounds and blurred backgrounds surrounded Jacqueline, just about making out Thomas pacing up and down the entrance area of their home. Scratches, cuts and bruises covered Dylan from head to toe, some with blood gushing out, and some with mildly dried blood that looked like it stained his skin. Jacqueline was crying more than she ever had in her entire life, no matter how much she tried to be brave and strong, tears always seemed to escape from her eyes uncontrollably. The night sky made most of the house dark except for the kitchen and entrance.

"No, no, Dylan please. You can't go, not now." Jacqueline sobbed as her head rests on Dylan's forehead.

"You still can do so many other things in your life, things that you always wanted to do. Please Dylan, don't leave--"

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Before Jacqueline could finish her sentence, a team of paramedics burst through the doors and grabbed Dylan away from Jacqueline, placing him on a stretcher and carrying him to the ambulance. Without hesitation, Jacqueline jumped up from her sitting position, running after the team of paramedics carrying Dylan away. An arm that suddenly stuck out in front of Jacqueline sent her screeching to a halt before falling backwards, Thomas catching her in the process.

"You can't go with him." a paramedic with a stern voice stated.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T GO WITH HIM? WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT IS THAT? HE'S MY BROTHER! ARE YOU STUPID OR SOMETHING?"

Thomas held her back from running after them.

"NO! THOMAS LET ME GO! I NEED TO GO WITH HIM!"

"I'm sorry. I can't let you do that."

Another tear from Jacqueline fell onto the driveway. Thomas spun her around so that she was facing him, avoiding eye contact with him but couldn't hold it in any longer, she fell into him and burst into tears. Thomas tried to calm her down, but she kept fighting. He took her inside and up to her room, trying not to step on the broken glass.

Jacqueline watched as they put an oxygen mask on Dylan to help him breathe and drove away, the sound of the siren going off all throughout the city, red and blue lights flashing slowly faded the further away they got. Thomas eventually got her to calm down and put her to bed. When she was sleeping, he cleaned everything up downstairs, hoping that if she woke up, she wouldn't have to clean it up herself.

Jacqueline gasped when she awoke from the memory, burying her head into Thomas' chest.

"I'm here, I'm here. You're okay."

Jacqueline calmed herself down as she whispered a 'Thank you' to him. Thomas just nodded and lightly kissed the top of her head before hugging her a little tighter.

"What time is it?"

"Almost midnight. You should eat something, you have barely eaten anything since breakfast."

As if on cue, Jacqueline's stomach growled and they enjoyed a laugh together before Thomas made it serious again.

"We should really eat something. Room service?"

"Do you think they would be awake at... 12:03 in the morning?"

"Well, they better be, otherwise that's pathetic."

"I love your attitude." she said kissing him on the cheek.