Man in the Wall (Who is he?)

Chapter 41 - Running out of time

Frank's eyes bulge in his skull and it's as clear as daylight that he's stunned by my reply. I would be lying if I said that I didn't surprise myself in the process.

"If she's still alive and comes after me, maybe me having a gun will scare her into hesitation of firing at me," I hurriedly correct myself. 

There's no way I'd be able to shoot at her. A warning shot into a nearby object perhaps, but to put a humans being's life at risk simply to save your own skin, that's ridiculous. No single mortal being has greater value than the next.

"Peggy I'm not giving you a fucking gun. If you need a weapon use a syringe." he suggests, rather mockingly.

I open my mouth, knowing a dispute will follow once I voice my opinion on the situation at hand, but with a click of a button, or a snap of a finger, I decide against it. Sometimes it's better to remain quiet than to yap about like a whining dog left alone for too many hours. There are times and places for everything in this world and right now it's just not that.

"If you don't- don't mind, cou- could you two hurry u-up please." Sheriff Porter interrupts our growing quarrel and I decide to comply.

With the medical kit in one hand, I use my free hand to grab under Leonard's arm to aid him to his feet. Frank catches on and grabs the other side of his father. After discovering that my upper body strength is not as significant as I thought it was, I place the kit on the ground to free both hands.

Both Frank and I swing Leonard's arms across our shoulders as we lift him. I then make sure to keep my left arm wrapped around his waist as my right-hand remains pressed on his dressed wound to prevent him from bleeding out another mass of blood. There would be no time to redress his wounds now.

Once we reach the car, Frank opens the backseat door and after great difficulty, we finally manage to place Leonard inside. "Dad hang on okay. You'll be fine in no time," he reassures his father. Leonard grunts in pain and mumbles profanities beneath his breath.

"Fuck, he really needs to get to a hospital." Frank hisses as he slams the car door shut. 

"Then take him. I can manage with Ste-"

"No, I'm not leaving you to go find Steven by yourself. I told you-"

"I know! But for crying out loud Frank, we're running out of time here!"

I feel like ripping my hair out at this point. Our back and forth bickering is, once again, getting us absolutely nowhere. Frank runs a hand through his hair in frustration and it's clear that his thoughts are quite conflicted at this point.

Just as I am about to throw my hands up in the air as vexation seeps through my veins, our surroundings suddenly dawns on me as reality kicks in.

"Could we possibly be anymore dense!" I yell out in anger and Frank's quick to question my outburst. "We're standing right next to the Sheriff's station." I point out and realisation soon dawns upon him aswell. "Quick, use your dad's radio, get someone to come and assist him. Call in an ambulance, just do what you have to. I'll go ahead in the mean time. Steven's waited long enough. Come find us as soon as you're done."

Without waiting for a reply or his attempt to change my mind, I spin on my heels and take off running. I stop for a brief moment to pick up the kit before sprinting off in the direction of the abandoned storage room.

I can only pray that Steven's heart still beats. No matter how infuriated I become with him at times, he has been the only one to help me survive and stay sane during this job for so long. I remember my first day like it was yesterday.

I was petrified.

Nothing could have prepared me for what my crime-less eyes witnessed that day. But Steven, as callous and insensitive as he may be, helped me through it all. What bewitched him to care for me in the first place still baffles me. At least I can say that somewhere in that charcoal heart of his lies a splinter of a red glow. A glow of kindness, compassion, and surprisingly love if only he'd allow it to grow. But I know that's a long shot.