Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Why Now?

Alina had passed out on the floor. There were four men pointing guns at him through the tall glass windows and he didn't have an exit strategy. Thoughts ran through his brain. Who where they? How had they been able to get here with the snowstorm? Why were they here and with guns? As he stood there weighing his options  he saw the man standing in the center, motion for them to lower their guns. That made him feel a tiny bit better but not by much. The same man came closer to the windows so that Evan could see him more clearly and he yelled My name is Michael Graves. He looked to where Alina was on the ground and and then back to him holding on tight to his gun. Evan yelled back "what do you want here?" Michael continued to look at Alina and then back to Evan. He yelled "I'm not here to hurt her but to warn you both....my brother brother, twin brother, has plans to hurt her. We need to get you both out of here". Just as Michael was saying all of this, Alina started to wake up. Within seconds he heard pounding on the front door. As he shifted the end of the barrel of his gun alternating between the two entrances. The men on the patio scurried away wile Michael came closer to the window putting his hands on the glass and yelling "let me in". Evan felt sweat pouring off of him and his entire body was on self defense mode. "Alina I want you to stay down and look at me. Crawl on your belly to the fireplace and lay as flat as you can. Do you trust me? Her eyes were big and round with fear and confusion. He repeated himself again. "Alina. I wont let anyone hurt you. Now please,  do what I said. Now!" Alina kept her eyes on Evan and crawled over to the fireplace where the two walls met and she couldnt see out through the window and none  could see her. The pounding on the front door continued. The next sound he heard were male voices and then one in specific that he recognized immeduately. "Evan, its Christian; open up." as Evan approached the door he heard a scuffle and then yelling and then finaly his brother again. "Evan its alright. They're all right! Let me in please. I have Miranda here as well". "Miranda?" Alina finally spoke in disbelief. Evan moved to the front door but first asked Christian again if it was safe to open the door. "Yes bro, its alright. Things may look strange but these guys are here to help. I know that Alina may not immediately understand but that's why Miranda is here. Please open up", Evan looked to Alina for confirmation and approval before he unlocked the door. She was hesitant. She looked at Evan and was clearly frightened but then she looked at the door and said. "Im so sacred Evan. I don't know if hat to do!" He nodded but didn't move from hid place. He beckoned to her now in a half whisper motioning her to walk to him. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to gather courage. Why was Michael here! Why!!!". As soon as she came to him he wrapped his arm around her and told her quietly. " I trust my brother with my life, but I won't open that door until you tell me I can". She looked from the door to his face and felt a surge of confidence at the level of connection they shared. He was listening to her without her asking him to. He was there for her and only her. "I trust you Evan. Open the door".

Standing on the front porch of the cabin Christian stood with his eyes on the door and then on the men gathered on the driveway. Michael stood with them, looking at the cabin door with a certain amount wariness. Christian had learned through Miranda all the details about the attempted assault in Alina and then Kyles crazed attack in their vehicle as they drove away from his psychotic road rage. Now he stood between the man who Alina had once dated and his brother who was obviously involved with her now. He knew that Alina had struggled to recover emotionally and physically and had taken on the burden of blame and guilt created by her involvement with Michael which caused her brother to loose his ability to ever walk again. Leo in an effort to protect his sister from that family never told Alina that he had discovered accidentally that Michael and his bother Kyle were identical twins and that it was Kyle and not Michael that had assaulted her and caused them needles suffering. Miranda had told him that Alina was a strong woman but that seeing Michael again could only cause her pain and dredge up fears in the worst way. Christian assessing the situation told Michael that under no circumstance was he to enter the cabin without Alina's express consent. In her mind he had been the one to have caused her so much pain. Michael could not refute Christians assertions and agreed to wait in the vehicle until he was told otherwise. "Christian, Alina never learned from my own mouth that I had a brother much less that it was he who caused all of this. I just want the"......Christian it erupted by raising his hand with his palm facing Michael and simply said "what you want is irrelevant right now. Right now all that matters is getting Alina out of here and to safety. And if I know my brother at all he will be the one to do that". With that he turned around and knocked in the door again this time he heard the unlocking of the deadbolt and a moment later the door opened. Just inside stood Evan with a gun at his side and a dark haired beauty just behind him with her arms wrapped around his waist. If Christian has had any doubt about where his brother stood in this relationship that was all cleared up in that moment. He allowed Miranda to step in front of him and enter and then he followed closing the door to all that stood outside and all that threatened to come in.