Count On Me(85)

Shaking off the fear, I turn the knob and push the door open with my hand once it clicks. It’s then I see the damage that’s been done.

Dean’s standing in front of the bar, his face red, eyes empty and dead, blood covering his hands. If he heard me open the door, he doesn’t acknowledge it. His gaze never leaves the floor in front of him. Following it, I see what he’s looking at and the sick feeling in my stomach grows so big, my being there can no longer be a secret.

Trying to catch it before it happens, I cover my mouth, but it’s no use. The soda from the dance and the crackers I tried eating come flooding out and when it hits the floor, Dean finally turns to me.

“Don’t you know how to knock or do they not teach you that in the retard class?”

His words cut me, but not enough to stop me. No matter how scared I am, how much I want to cower in the corner and cover my ears, I can’t do it. Kayden needs me.

Sliding my hand into my pocket, I feel the cold metal of my phone, but instead of pulling it out and doing what I should, I start moving toward him.

The glass table that only a few weeks ago had been standing upright with bottles and cans all over it, is now a bunch of broken pieces and shards all over the floor. On top of it all, is the only boy in the world with the power to hurt me. Except this time, he’s the one broken and hurting. I need to get to him, make sure he’s still breathing and then I need to get him out of here before Dean can do any more damage.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He screams at me, as I bend down on the floor as carefully as possible, trying to avoid the small shards of glass I see sticking out of the carpet. Doing what my mom taught me, I lean my head to his chest. I’m met with the steady beat of his heart and even though it’s weak, I feel the air from his nose as it tickles my skin.

“You hear me stupid? What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Spinning around, I level him with a look that I hope says everything I’m not sure I can say. I’ve never felt this way in my life. I’ve felt a lot of different things before, but this is new to me. I actually want to get up right now and hit him, not stopping until he’s the one on the floor barely breathing.

Kayden is his brother. He should be protecting him from stuff like this, not be the one causing it. He should know better. He’s ten years older. He’s an adult, just like my mom. If she can handle everything that’s been thrown on her, then why can’t he? Why is beating on the little brother that loves him, the right thing for him to do?

Sliding my phone from my pocket, I dial 9-1-1 and put the phone to my ear, praying they answer before Dean takes it from me. As soon as I hear the operator’s voice, it’s like a block has been lifted and I start talking, even though I know that any second it could be over. Nothing is going to stop me, not even Dean.

Giving them the address, I listen to the operator as she tells me things to check and do, to make sure that until help comes, Kayden keeps breathing. The altercation I expect to come from the older guy behind me doesn’t, as I continue doing everything she tells me to. It’s only when I turn around and face him again, that I really get a good look at him.

He’s standing completely still, the anger in his eyes gone, replaced with something I’m not familiar with. Whatever it is though, as long as it keeps him where he is and away from his brother, I’m okay with it.

“You can talk…” he says, the gruff tone of his voice significantly lower than it had been when I got here.

“Yeah, imagine that.”

Turning back to Kayden, checking his pulse as I hear the sirens in the distance, I lean in as close as possible, resting my head on his chest. I let the beating of his heart calm the fear welling up inside of me. It’s only when I see the flashing lights flood through the room that I raise my head and again, focus on the person now standing to the left of me.

“I’m going to make sure you never hurt him again.”





Chapter Twenty-Four



Kayden



When I passed out, I thought that was it. I was just waiting for the end to come.

As it turns out, me being ready to die means squat, because I’m still here. I’m a little more broken and bruised then before and my head hurts so bad, I’m pretty sure it’s going to explode any second, but otherwise I’m exactly the same.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital; there were a couple of cops leaning against the wall and a lady in a white coat over me. When I saw the white, I thought it might be Heaven, but that was quickly thrown out the window the minute she started prodding at me.

Angels don’t probe you, aliens do.