Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Ninety Two

     "I can't let you do that. If either of you try to touch him, you risk getting electrocuted also."

     "I don't care! I don't care, please," she sobbed, dropping to her knees while clutching Baker. Rhett turned his head to look at the little machine that Paul had his fingers on and he watched as he cranked it up a little higher. He noticed that he was only on the second amp, and he turned it to the third.

     Link screamed even louder, balling his hands up into fists as his eyes leaked with tears. Rhett couldn't even swallow, his throat constricting like he was being choked. He had the urge in his legs to run over and punch the guy out that was hurting Link, but he knew that it was necessary to help him. He watched as Baker eyed Paul and he cranked it up to the final amp that was needed to completely burn it out of his system.

     The scream that tore out of Link was so pitiful and ear shattering that Rhett found himself doubling over with his hands over his ears, squeezing his eyes shut. He couldn't hear anything past the scream.

     Baker was trying to console Christy, while she was crying out in anguish.

     Suddenly, Link's screams ceased and Rhett opened his eyes, straightening himself up abruptly.

     He just convulsed madly, and Rhett could swear that he could smell something burning. He scrunched his nose, hurriedly looking toward the machine again. The dial was slowly ticking toward the fifth amp.

     Rhett growled. "Don't you think that's enough?" His eyebrows furrowed, taking a step forward with his fists balled. He couldn't control himself. He knew they were trying to help, but he couldn't bare to watch Link suffer like this anymore.

     Baker was nodding his head, wiping the sweat off of his brow with his free hand. "Cut the power, Paul," he urged, and Paul did as he was told. The crackling, popping and the electricity whirred to a stop. The light stopped flickering and left in its wake was a plume of smoke billowing off of the wires. Rhett blinked several times, dashing to the side of the bed.

     He looked Link over frantically, waiting for him to say something. His eyes were stuck open, his entire body trembling. He looked like he'd just been told that the world was coming to an end today, his lips trembling feverishly. Rhett couldn't bring himself to say anything, waiting with bated breath for something to happen. He finally managed to find an ounce of hope that this actually worked, and he was able to take a breath. He looked to Baker, who didn't seem to look worried.

     Christy had stopped fighting against his grip and she was staring at Link, her eyes watering. Rhett thought that they had a chance, but then Link began trembling even worse.

     He pulled against the restraints one last time, hoping to free himself from this place. His entire body felt like it was growing cold, beginning from the feet and snaking its way up his legs. It wrapped around his middle and forked up through his arms, torso and neck. His heart was beating so fast, the pressure building up in his chest like he had felt the night he had the encounter with the wolf on the full moon. His lungs ached like he was holding his breath way longer than he should, as if he were submersed under water and his life depended on it. His head eventually began to feel fuzzy, and he used the last bit of strength he had left in him to turn his head to look at Rhett.

     Rhett was shaking his head, and Link could see the tears pooling in his green eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't force the words out. There was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to tell Rhett not to cry. He wanted to tell Christy that it was going to be okay, and that she needed to stay strong for the kids. He wanted to thank them for not giving up on the fight, and he wanted to say that he loved them.

     Rhett moved to reach for Link's hand and he paused, looking to Baker. Baker nodded his head, giving him the okay that it was safe. He took Link's cool hand into his own and he knelt beside the bed. Link relished the warmth of Rhett's large hand, and he wanted so bad to tell him that he was cold. He felt so cold.

     Rhett took a deep breath, blinking back the tears. "Link," he said, giving his best friend's hand a gentle squeeze. Everyone watched the two of them in silence. "I don't even know where to begin. I should start off by swallowing my pride and saying that I'm sorry, but I realize that I'm too late." He looked away, a massive lump creeping up in his throat. "I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping this a secret, but I only wound up hurting you even more." The tears welled in his eyes again and he forcefully swallowed, squeezing his eyes shut for a second to take a deep breath.

     "My heart is completely severed in a million pieces, because the best part of my life began when I met you. It got even better from there when we swore to be blood brothers for life, and I feel like I've let you down. I," he trailed off. His breathing had become erratic, and Baker looked on with tears welling in his eyes. "I couldn't ask for a better friend, co worker, and companion. You didn't deserve this, and if there was a way that I could switch places with you right now, I would do it in a heartbeat."

     Christy began crying again, burying her head in Baker's shoulder. He rubbed her back consolingly, a single tear rolling down his cheek. A deep frown had creased Paul's lips.

     "You are my brother, and I love you." He squeezed Link's hand again, looking into Link's eyes expectantly.

     Link swallowed, the corner of his mouth tugging up just slightly. He wished he could talk and say how much he appreciated having Rhett as a friend. He couldn't have asked for a better friend and brother for life, either. Worry gripped Rhett's heart when Link didn't respond. His eyes seemed more distant than usual, the rising and falling of his chest slowing. Rhett leaned forward and laid his head gently on Link's chest, not caring what anyone was going to think. He listened closely to his heartbeat, and his eyes narrowed as panic rippled through his chest. He sat up and looked into Link's eyes, and the two seconds that he had been looking, they had drooped closed.

     Rhett took a sharp breath and he took two fingers to Link's neck to find a pulse. For a second, he convinced himself that he'd been holding his fingers on the wrong spot because he didn't feel anything at all, so he finessed a little bit. He still felt nothing.

     Link's head lolled to the side lifelessly and Christy screamed.

☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️

Thank you so much for reading! Have you:

Commented?

Voted?

Added this book to your library?

Shared this book with your friends?

Any support would be greatly appreciated! ~ 𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓵𝓮𝔂𝟜𝟚