Fracture

Part 10

                 

I was walking through a dark, dingy corridor, the clicking of my shoes the only noise following behind. The cinderblock walls were crumbling slightly as the floor cracked and leaned. Following the long hall, I walked to a room with one light hanging in the center, a light bulb dangling over a chair. I looked to the shirtless man sitting down, his head hovering slightly, his shoulders slumped over his large frame. Wire held him to a sturdy metal chair beneath the lightbulb. I recognized he beard before anything else.

            "Lex." He stirred softly before looking up at me, dried blood spattered on his face. His expression softened and he sighed, a frustrated sneer creeping over his face.

            "You were supposed to stay with him." He spat. "God damn, woman. You never fucking listen. 26 years old and you still can't follow directions. Go back to be free. Make your choice. Not me. Not him. Let me die here so you can live. Go." My heart shattered as he cried, blood and tears mixing on his dirty cheeks. I walked to him, covering his cheeks with my hand, my fingers tangling roughly in his beard.

            "I came for you and I'm not fucking leaving with out you." My hands fumbled over the wire holding him to the chair, his skin was rubbed raw from the sharp edges. I fumbled through the pack I was carrying and found a small pair of sharp pliers, hoping they would be enough to cut through the wire holding him. He whispered a sigh of pain before I clipped him free, his hands, waist, and feet. I put my arms under his, trying to help him to his feet, but he fell to his knees. Wrapping my hands around his waist, I pulled, demanding he get his feet underneath him.

            "Lex. Stand the fuck up. I came all this way and I sure as fuck won't be letting both of us die." He grunted as he stumbled, his feet finally making their way to the floor. As he rose, he stared down, his eyes piercing my soul. "Walk." I grabbed his waist, helping him stand straighter before turning to walk in front of him. With his first step, a gunshot rang out, shattering my willpower and eardrums. Lex fell in a pool of blood to my feet before a man came out of the shadows in the hall. Another gunshot rang in my ears before I made eye contact with the man behind the silver handgun.

            "Daddy!" I shouted, jolting awake. I looked to my left and right and found I was alone, again, withering in silence. My trembling was uncontrollable as I stood from the bed, struggling as I tried walking to the door. Pain radiated over my body. My hand reached for the handle, but before I could touch it, the door swung open and two familiar men ran in.

            Lex and James rushed though the door, their hands reaching out to me as I stumbled backwards, my hands desperately trying to brace my fall. I cried in pain as more men ran in.

            "Ah, my boys, glad to see you could make it." Jack's voice knocked on my eardrums, sending a shudder down my spine. I covered my body with the blanket, hiding my undergarments.

            "We called you, Jack." Lex broke the awkward tension before looking at me.

            "Why did you call? What's wrong?" I asked, confusion coursing through me.

            "We needed his help. It was never him, Sarah. It was never my father. He's telling the truth." I shot a look to James as he gestured for my mother to enter the room. Her face was white and pale.

            "What is it? What did you see?" I winced as I reached for her.

            "It was never Jack. Jack was never going to hurt you. I've seen it, Sarah, he just wanted me. He never wanted you dead. I- I was wrong." She shifted towards me before stopping. "Sarah, I don't know how to say this. I was so wrong about your father. He is not a good man." Her voice broke as she sobbed, guilt racking her visage. "It's been your father, Sarah. All of these dreams. Your father all along."

            "I saw." I said. A cold silence filled my heart as I painstakingly stood, waiting for my breathing to slow. I stared at the cold walls, letting the blanket drop in shock. Jack took a step closer to me, trying to cover me, as I held my hand up signaling for him to stop.

            "You got what you want. My mother is here. Now, give me what I want. Bring me my father." I turned to walk towards James and Lex before looking back at Jack.

            "I told you I wouldn't hurt you. I just wanted the chance to explain myself to your mother. That's it. I don't kill without reason. And I certainly don't let my men treat my guests like they treated her. None of this was on me. None of it." He was just as guilty as any of them, if you ask me.

            "You bought her, you took her from her child and her piece of shit husband and you left me to be his pawn. As far as I'm concerned, it's all on you. You should have taken us both. If you truly loved my mother as you say you do, you should've taken me, too. Who was supposed to protect me? Huh? What if these two never came?" I could feel the visceral anger creeping up, echoing out of my throat. I snapped my head to James and Lex, both standing with their hands over their mouths, trying to hide their shock.

            "I deserved that." Jack looked to my mother. "But I also deserve a chance to explain myself." My mother folded her arms. "Nicola." His tone grew nervous, almost pleading.

            "Fine. Explain." She sighed, leaning against the wall.

            "After I found about your, well, skills, I promised you I'd keep them and I did. I swear it. Sam still found out. He came to me asking if I knew about you." He ran his hand through his hair. "One night, we started drinking- heavily- and your mouthy-ass husband started spewing bullshit and making bets. He bet his wife on a horse and lost. I mean, I'm a piece of shit, but I'd never bet my wife. They were about to shake on it when I offered a few million to take you instead and he accepted. I made it look like you just left." Jack's eyes looked to mine. "I'm sorry for that, Sarah." His eyes snapped back to my mother's.

            "Then what happened with me? I was told that I was his payment. What was he going to do with me?" I asked, my eyes glossing over with tears.

            "I don't know. When I heard that he made a deal for you, I immediately sent guys to find you and I heard Lex found you first. He wasn't selling you to me, that's for sure. I don't know who was supposed to have you, but, I'm sure whoever it is is pissed. You're not safe." His head cocked slightly, concern drowning his eyes.

            "Josiah." I looked to Lex, reaching to him and James. "I've been dreaming of Josiah and my father. Guys, what if it's him." A dark voice interrupted my thoughts.    "It's not me. As much as I'd love to toy with you, I've been given strict orders to leave you be after our hospital fiasco." He eyed Jack remorsefully. "I do apologize for my roughness, dear, but, with this line of wor-" My hand flew up to stop him from speaking, my voice interrupting.

            "Save it. You could've killed me. Let sleeping dogs lie." I extended my hand to shake his. I was going to need every ally I could, and, despite Josiah's disgusting smell and putrid attitude, he was very good at his job.

            "Deal." He stepped to me, but Lex put himself between us.

            "Don't push it, Uncle." Lex's voice was firm and unforgiving.

            "I won't hurt your precious angel." Josiah glared, looking at me. When he took my hand, my knees fell weak, darkness dancing in my vision. I crumpled to the floor with a thud, dreams overtaking me once again.