Simpler Things

Part 22: Surge.

The key got a hit. The corrosion made the key 40-50 years of age. The forensics guessed it was probably to an old shed or barn. Still, it didn't give them much too work on. A day or two later, after testing it again, a forensic found high traces of oxidized iron, which didn't help. They removed it and found a number. The kind that goes with an address.

"Listen, Alyson, we are close. We're gonna get her back." My father said over the phone. I could hear traffic behind him, and another low voice in the background. He was at the department, probably with Lee.
"I know. Has any new evidence arisen?" I asked, sitting down onto my bed.
"Alyson-"
"I know. 'Try not to get involved'," I purposely did a terrible impression of my father, "I just feel I could help more." My father sighed.
"The numbers came back, we have a guess too what area it's from."
"Where do you think that is?" He paused again.
"On the road where your mother was..." He trailed off. "I'm heading out to the barn we searched."
"Can I come?" I asked.
"Absolutely not."
"Fine, but text me how it goes."
"We'll see. Love you."
"Love you too."
The call ended. I heard a creaking outside of my room. My head snapped in that direction, I nearly fell off my bed. I saw Charlie exit his room. I sighed, and pressed my hands to my temples. This whole thing gave me a headache. I want to help, she is only in this situation because of me. This is my fault. I felt terrible. My insides churned with guilt. I needed to see someone, in real life. I needed to talk to someone. Someone who would listen to all my problems, just so I could get this out of my system. I had just the person in mind.

               I stepped out of the Nisan. Closing the door, I faced the hospital. I began to walk towards it, already feeling less tense. 10 minutes later I was facing the door to my mother's room. Hesitatingly I opened the door. A man sat in the chair next to mom. It was Kyle. His right hand lay on her's, his left a his mouth, nervously biting his nail. His head hung, I saw that his eyes were shut. When he saw me he stopped, and slowly began to stand up.
"It's okay," I said softly, "You can stay." He sat back down and nodded,
"Thank you." His voiced had an uneven tone. One I'd never expect the Kyle I knew to have. I walked in and closed the door. The beeping of my mother's heart beat was comforting and terrible at the same time. She was alive, and stable, but it reminded me of why she was here. Why it had happened.
"Alyson?" My attention snapped back to reality. Kyle sat looking at me.
"Yeah?" I said, quietly. He didn't need to respond, his eyes told me what he wanted to say. He didn't know how to voice it. The lighting from the window cascaded across his face, half was in the shadow. The half that I've never seen was now brightly lit.
"I'm not fine." I said, "there's a killer, hurting everyone I love." He didn't say anything in return. I continued,
"He's killing the people I love. He killed James, Ms. M, he hurt someone for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he killed innocent people. And now he has my best friend." Kyle still didn't say anything. I went and pulled a chair up to my mom, and sat. I held back sobs as I looked at my mother, the most important person in my life, in a coma because of me. I felt my eyes water, as my vision blurred. The pressure in my throat grew as I held back crying. Warm tears streaked down my face. I didn't bother wiping them away. I didn't bother trying to stop. I wanted too. I needed too.
I didn't hear Kyle stand up. I didn't hear him walk over. But I felt him when he hugged me. I felt his warm embrace, I felt how tight he held me. I felt how sorry he was. He didn't need to say anything. He just hugged me. The same person I thought didn't care about me. The same person who was once a reminder of my parents ended marriage. The same person I thought I could never trust. I knew what I needed to do. I needed to get the ones I loved back. And protect the ones I have. I needed to catch this guy. I needed to take back everything he took from me.
I needed to find him.

And that's where it all started.