Cruel Heart

PART 13

"Harlan?" Mia's voice wavered down the ruined halls of the mansion. Paintings that lined the walls hung in tatters, ribbons of what was once no doubt priceless art.

Shards of glass littered the floor with streaks of blood peppering the scene. As if Harlan had strode through the mayhem barefoot without a care.

"What happened?" she muttered into the empty space. The air was taut with a tension she could feel pulling at her fingertips, telling her to turn back and leave.

But like most signs in her life, Mia promptly ignored it.

"Hello?" she called out again. She was careful to dodge the piles of glass on the floor. Mia caught herself on the marble banister before nearly tripping on blood.

She could still hear Harlan. It was a distant echoed of his voice, but it was there. He screamed. Roaring words she was too far away to make out. His screams were occasionally punctuated by the sound of crashing.

"Calm down! Talk to me, you jackass!" Tegan's voice was closer than Harlan's. Echoing footsteps trailed in his voice's wake.

"Oh, you're here," Tegan said while strolling into the front foyer. "That was fast."

Mia jumped when she saw the man's face. He was sporting a black eye, the bruises fresh. His shirt sleeve was torn and a bloody cut the size of Mia's finger ran down his upper lip.

Her hand flew up to cover her mouth with a gasp. "What..." She shook her head incredulously. "Are you okay?" she managed to rasp out.

Tegan shrugged casually, waving his hand in the air. As if he was oblivious that he looked like he'd just walked out of a Saw movie. "I'm good!" he assured. A little too loudly. She wondered if Harlan had burst the guy's eardrum with all his shouting.

"What's happening?" she asked.

BOOM!

The sound of glass meeting the marble tiled floor with a sickening crash echoed down the halls.

Mia flinched.

Tegan muttered a curse under his breath. "I wish I could tell you," he admitted. "Harlan still hasn't said anything to me. Maybe you can talk to him?" he suggested. He gingerly prodded the swelling skin around his eye. He cringed, as if it was the first time he was noticing it.

Mia crossed her arms. "I really don't know why you think I can help," she said over Harlan's distant shouting.

Tegan sighed. "Just try talking to him," he insisted.

Mia's eyes widened as another crash sounded from down the hall. "Okay, it really sounds like Harlan is past the point of talking," she said. "Whatever is going on; I highly doubt I'll be able to fix it." She uncrossed her arms only to cross them again. "I'm just his assistant."

Not a total lie. But not the whole truth either.

Tegan sighed. "That might be true," he agreed. "But you're here now, so you might as well give it a try."

Mia laughed incredulously. "You're as crazy as Harlan," she muttered.

Tegan smiled. "You don't even know the half of it," he said with a grin.

Mia set her purse down by the pile of glass at her feet. "Don't think I want to," she murmured while looking down the hall. "Where is he?" she asked.

"Down the hall, take a right. Can't miss him," he said. Tegan headed over to the kitchen no doubt in search of ice and Advil.

"Down the hall to the right," she repeated out loud. She started down the hall, carving her way through the minefield of broken glass and shattered furniture.