Take Me Away | ✓

» 33

P H O E N I X

The garage was full of dust when I opened it. The majority of it was clutter really, diy things that dad didn't bother taking when he moved out. There was a random wooden block sitting to one side so I brushed off the dust and sat down. In the far corner of the garage were piles of cardboard boxes.

I knew if I got up and opened one it would be full of clothes or books. Matt's stuff. In a way, he'd made it easy for us. He'd already packed his stuff away to move out so there was no more 'Matt and Ethan's room', it was now just Ethan's room.

The biggest thing in the room was the car, the gift dad had given me. A tarp covered it now, collecting dust but I could still see the red paintwork peeking out front underneath. In this light, it was a more muted red like the colour of blood or the bottom of my wine glass.

Dad kept his promise and told everyone the reason for his absence in the months after the accident. Kat fell into his arms, asking if she could meet Khoni. She'd forgiven him within minutes and though I knew I had done the same, there were still doubts floating around the back of my head.

He'd invited us all to New York to stay for the summer. To meet Khoni, his other self, his other life. But I didn't think I was ready for that.

I heard my phone ring then. Zach's name lit up the screen. I ignored it.

Then a ping came from my phone. It was from Zach.

R u home?

I ignored it.

It's urgent

I frowned at my screen.

Please

I unlocked my phone, finger hovering over the contact before dropping it and shoving it into my back pocket. I got off the wooden block and poured the last drops of wine onto the gravel. The liquid ran through the cracks and out the slope of the garage.

I followed the trail to see approaching headlights. I squinted into the distance wondering if my mom had cancelled her overnight business trip. Other than her, I didn't know who else it would be.

The headlights came closer until the car was right in front of the garage. I shielded my eyes from the light but from under my raised arm, I made out a door opening. Zach hurried out of the driver's seat to the other side. He struggled to get something out.

First there was an arm, then a leg, a head and then-- "Kaden."

I got to their side quick enough to grab hold of his other shoulder and support him. My hand clasped his to find that it was it was encrusted in blood. I was too afraid to look up but when I did, I sighed in relief to see his eyes fluttering open.

With Zach on Kaden's his other side, we slowly carried him up the path towards the house. I felt the limp in his stride as well as his pain filled breaths. It seemed to ease slightly when we lowered him onto the couch.

He had one hand clutched to his side and that too was red. His clothes, hands. Everything was red.

"Phee." Zach snapped a finger in front of my eyes. "I said do you have a first aid kit."

"Yeah, sorry." I went to the kitchen, opening the drawer that had the kit. I dropped it once because my hands were shaking so much before giving it to Zach.

"Towels."

I went to get the towels. I got a lot of them.

When I came back I saw Zach had ripped open Kaden's blood soaked shirt. I winced when I saw the wound. It was a long gash across his torso, alarmingly wide too.