Dark & Light

~Chapter Seventeen~

Paige's POV

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His brother?!

Chris had never mentioned that he had had a sibling. Ever. Now this cocky young man of about twenty was telling me he was Chris's brother. And by the look on Chris's face, I knew he was telling the truth.

"I'm Alex," he grinned, holding out his hand. Tentatively, I reached out to shake it. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Oh...my name is Paige," I said quickly.

"Nice to know ya. So I'm wondering- how did this louse manage to persuad you he's worth dating?" he laughed. Though Alex seemed to be joking, I was surprised. Louse?

"We're not dating, Alex,"  Chris said firmly.

"Oh...just friends? Like I believe that one."

"Well you should," I responded before I even thought about it.

Alex glanced at me sharply. "Feisty, eh? I could see you guys practically making out up in that tree. Don't lie," he growled.

"We're not lying, and its none of your business anyway," Chris pointed out while grabbing my hand. "Come on, Paige."

"You think you're just going to walk away?"

"Yep," Chris answered coolly.

As we continued to walk away from Alex, I heard the rush of footsteps, probably Alex's, but Chris just continued to walk faster. Only a moment after I sensed Alex close behind us, I heard a loud thump and felt Chris relax his grasp on my hand, and fall towards the ground, head first. My jaw dropped in shock, and I fell forward towards him, and shook him by the arms. "Chris! Chris! Wake up! Please! Oh my gosh, Chris!"

I turned to Alex, stunned. "What did you do to him?"

"Only gave him what he deserved," was the older brother's cold reply as he looked down at his unconscious brother. 

Without realizing what I was doing, I pushed into Alex. I  swung my fist onto his face. Then, because he was so surprised and hadn't yet recollected himself enough to fight back, I pushed him onto the ground. And tackled him.

"What the frick is the matter with you?" Alex practically roared as he finally began to push me off him.

I glared at him. "Don't you ever, ever touch Chris again."

Alex got up and grabbed me tightly around the shoulders. I shuddered at his touch and struggled to wrench free. With a sneer he finally said, "I can do with him as I want."

"No, you can't."

He tightened his grip on me and I gasped. "Why not? You just tried to attack me. You're lucky I don't bash your brains out for that."

"He's your brother. How could you? Especially after knowing what he's been through." Oh help.

"Do you think that means anything to me? Do you?! What he got in the past was coming to him."

I couldn't even respond now. Alex was holding me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"Let me...go," I finally let out.

Instead of releasing me from his grip, he leaned his head down towards my face and whispered in my ear.

"You think you're anything at all? Anything? Or worse yet, that boy there? Do you think he's worth it? Save yourself the trouble before you feel the need to save him yourself."

With that he let go of me with a jerk and I fell to the ground. I crawled over to Chris. He still was unconscious, with a purple welt the size of my hand forming just above his temple.

"Chris! Wake up!" I nearly screamed in panic.

He stood there, motionless. 

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket, and my fingers trembled as I dialed three numbers.

Almost immediately, an impossibly calm female voice answered. "911, what is your emergency?"

"My friend...he got hit in the head and he's unconscious. Please. Help me!"

"We'll be sending help right away, ma'am. Can you please give me your location?"

I looked around me, forgetting my surroundings in the craze of the moment. "I'm at Oak Tree Park, but please, hurryyyy!" I spoke breathlessly, fear tearing at my heart.

"We're sending an ambulance right now, and I will stay on the line until emergency responders arrive."

Ignoring the emergency respondent, I dropped the phone on the ground and I could hear it crack. I crawled over to Chris; I was still weak from the loss of air Alex had caused.

Laying my hand on Chris's chest, as it faintly moved up and down, I lay next to him, and only prayed he could make it.

Suddenly, a strange thought occurred to me. What if what Chris said about God was true?  Would God think Chris was worth saving again?

"God, if you exist, or you care, or you can hear me right now...please save Chris. Don't let him die. Don't let him die. Oh god, don't let him die," I whispered as the first drop of a heavy downpour touched my cheek.

~~~

Hello my lovely readers!

I do realize this chapter was probably totally unexpected and perhaps shocking, but I can't wait to read about your thoughts in the comments, so make sure to share them below ;)

By the way, since its summer now and I have more free time, I will be updating this book twice a week, on Mondays & Thursdays until its finished. :)

XoXo,

Veronica