Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 25: Justice

Quickly Zander and James returned with Nina's requested items. After a quick order, they lifted Mallix off of the ground and back on the couch. Sitting at his side, Nina placed the cold cloth on top his forehead while covering him with a light blanket.

"Did Mallix say...was what he was saying...was it true?" Zander stumbled looking back and forth between his friends. To the outer world Zander was able to put up a barrier of protection. One that made him seem confident and laid back all day-everyday. But once he was in the presence of his closest friends, all those barriers came down. His true constantly worried and nervous self came out.

"No idea, Alex's never said anything about this before. He's always talking positive stuff about him and his wife." Nina shrugged getting back up to her good foot.

"I'll be honest, I remember Alex as the guy who solved all his problems on his own. I mean when everything went down hill for his family he was the one who picked up the bills. Sure he started working in the Cave to do so, but he still managed that and school almost flawlessly. I wasn't expecting this at all." James added.

Nodding slowly in response to them, Nina noticed the slight discomfort in Zander's posture. "You hungry?" She asked seeing as it was still breakfast time.

"No" Zander shook his head softly running his hand worried up and down his arm. "I think I'm going to go check on Alex."

Sweetly smiling Nina nodded following her hungry man slowly into the kitchen to begin prepping their own meal.

Meanwhile, Zander crept down the hallway. He stopped in front of Alex's closed bedroom door anxious to knock on it. After a few seconds of building up the courage, Zander knocked on the door easily waiting for a response.

"Who is it?" Alex's shaking voice called out from within.

"Zander."

"Come in." Peering in through the doorway Alex was stood tensely with his arms crossed in front of his chest by his window looking out into both the forest and lake that surrounded the cabin.

Shutting the door behind him, Zander sat on the edge of his bed slowly rocking his feet back and forth lightly tapping the bed frame underneath. "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry about me I'm fine." He said standing tall trying to emit confidence, but the redness in face and clamminess of his hands proved otherwise.

There was a gap of silence between them. Zander stared down at his shoes while Alex turned his attention back outside at the scenic view. "What happened?" Zander abruptly brought Alex's attention back. He was still looking down at the floor beneath his feet when he felt Alex looking at him. "Why does she want to have a divorce?"

Alex gulped picking up the pace of his breathing and could feel his heart coming up his throat. "We...we uh..." he coughed moving his crossed arms to fall limp to his sides. Taking a seat besides Zander he brushed his hair back, "after I got my job as a lawyer, I got to stay home most days. When I wasn't working we were going to the beach and having movie nights and everything seemed fine." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "But once things started getting heated I had to start traveling a lot. My meetings were done internationally, some for actual business and other for business." He emphasizes the second one harshly to make his point. "Anyways a couple years of that passed and things started going downhill. At first we argued over it about one a month, but then it turned into a weekly occurrence, then a daily one, and soon we were at each other's throat every second of the day." He admitted to his own shame. He felt his sharp pain in his heart every time he confessed anything.

"You guys were arguing about changing jobs?" He asked checking to see if Mallix's accusations we're correct. And indeed they were when Alex nodded.

"After my schedule started picking up and we were only seeing each other for a few days every few weeks, she asked me to quit my job as a lawyer." His voice cracked throughout his entire speech. "Said we would be happier if I did something else."

"But you didn't want to quit, did you?" Zander filled in trying to follow along to Alex's story.

Nodding in agreement to Zander's prediction he continued, "I was making a steady income as a lawyer and we were able to live comfortably. I didn't want to just give it up. But that wasn't the only thing, this job means more to me than just being called an attorney. Working with the Cave was horrible. I was young and naïveté and the Cave is not meant for such creations. It breaks and tears everything in its path, devouring those who get too far into it. What's terrible is that I was apart of a small league during my time there. One that was made up of just us kids. We would get into so much trouble getting things for companies or anyone willing to pay us money. I don't want anyone to have to cross paths with anyone from the Cave. Cause chances are if you do, you'll lose to them. Everyone in the Cave, there smart. They know how to work around the system and how to avoid trouble. I don't need anyone wasting time behind bars for something they didn't do." He said almost poetically seeing Zander slow clap for him.

Sending him a sympathetic smile the two men laughed softly. "Some hero you are." Zander remarked.

"I try." Alex broke out into a lightly louder laugh before he suddenly pulled back from his happy moment of peace.

The strange cut in the middle of his laughter caused Zander to look at him with confusion. Just as they were getting on a high note, the sudden change in moods struck him instantly.

"What was that?" Looking further into things he could see just how shaking Alex's body was.

Seeing how pale and ghost like Alex looked, Zander knew there was more than what he was telling. "That wasn't all? Was it?" Zander's face fell looking to see Alex staring back out the window from his seat, watching as the seagulls outside were dangerously circling the ocean.

"Alex?" He nudged his friend by hitting his arm with enough force, which caused him to jump back slightly. Shaking his head, Alex looked at Zander opening his eyes wide.

"That wasn't all you guys argued about was it?" Zander repeated looking down as Alex nodded.
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Let me know what you thinks going on with Alex. Thanks Lexx signing off