The Death of Jacob Track (Book One of the 33X Series)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

November 2, 2014

Zacchya had spent the morning with her mom, Hollie, shopping at the malls in the nearby town. After a filling lunch at Applebee's they returned home, tired and happy. Hollie was trying as hard as she could to keep Zacchya's spirits up. After the Halloween scare in the bathroom, she was almost afraid to let Zacchya out of her sight. She also knew that she had to try and trust her daughter, though. Zacchya was trying very hard to fight the depression. And Hollie knew all too well that losing the man you loved changed you forever.

When the twins were only two years old, Hollie's husband, George Packers, was murdered. George had a gambling problem for many years, but he was overall a good guy. He had loved Hollie and the twins very much, but he couldn't stop gambling. Larry, her brother, warned her that George was bad news, but she didn't listen. She was 20 years old and sure she could save George from all his faults with just the love in her heart.

However, one night she returned home from grocery shopping with the twins to find George was shot in the head, lying in a pool of blood on her living room floor. She would never forget that image as long as she lived. It took all she had not to drop a sleeping Trevor in her arms. With her hand still holding Zacchya's small hand, she raced out the door and called 911. Everything after was a blur. The incident changed her for life and she was never the same again.

Larry offered to watch the kids as much as he could, between all of his schooling. Larry and she had been so close growing up. They had an abusive father, Frank, growing up. Larry had been the older child, by two years, and Frank always favored Larry for the abuse. Larry never mentioned it to Hollie, but she was sure some of it had been sexual. The thought of her father doing that made her skin crawl. She could never understand how a father could hurt his child, physically or sexually. Hollie tried to jump in whenever Frank was hitting Larry, but it never helped much. She would get hit and then Frank would turn even more aggression to Larry for not "taking it like a man."

When Larry turned 18, he and Hollie moved out of the house. Larry held a job as a waiter, supporting them both, while they finished high school. After high school, Larry went to the local community college and then realized he was made for more than life he'd been handed. Hollie kept the apartment, got her CNA license, and Larry moved to New York to start his doctorate. They kept in touch, calling at least twice a week. Larry had always tried to send her any extra money he had for bills. Life had not always been good to them, but they always had each other to lean on.

Hollie still had trouble believing Larry had grown into the man he had. He graduated at the top of his class, became a doctor at 25 with a minor in Chemistry. He was working with different hospitals and an organization for Alzheimer's, trying to find new medications. He was by far the smartest man she knew. She was so proud of him. And she was so glad that he continued to be a large part of the twins' life. He always spent a lot of time with Zacchya, trying to help her understand the depression and finding ways to cope. He was a good male role model for both of the twins, and she couldn't be more appreciative.

As she and Zacchya walked into the house, Hollie thought that maybe a visit to Larry would be a good for Zacchya. She was having such a hard time. It was the one year anniversary of Jacob's funeral. They heard about Trina and Alicia who had been injured on Halloween as well. Plus, her best friend, April, ran off to Vegas to get married, so she was without a best friend to lean on. Hollie was sure that Zacchya was trying, but barely keeping it together. Maybe she needed a little family time and a good talk with her uncle. She definitely needed all of the support she could get.

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When Alicia Green woke up in the hospital, she was beyond confused and scared. She barely remembered what happened to bring her there. She could only remember crawling on the tracks, cold and bleeding, wishing for enough strength to reach the street. Apparently her wish had come true and she was saved. Alive. The nurse told her that she had surgery for a stab wound to the right side of her chest. She also had numerous cuts and abrasions, and a badly sprained ankle.