Chapter 254

“I’m gonna set him down,” I whisper not wanting to wake Rusty, leaving dad and Dana alone in the kitchen, before I can get to far I hear dad, “Thanks for telling him that… this isn’t Rusty’s fault,” I climbed the stairs, their voices fading until I couldn’t hear them. Oakley POV I was exhausted, but not yet use to this new place I picked up a pillow and the soft, light bed sheet leaving my room and heading to the right a few steps to knock on Benny’s door. Waiting, I heard him shuffling to the door, opening surprised. When he saw it was me, he was instantly on alert like I came with trouble and not a soft pillow to defend us, “Can I sleep in here for tonight?” I asked whispering. Tilting his head to the side, he nodded easily and I went to the side I saw he wasn’t on, his T.v. on, but on low. One episode of Spongebob and I finally asked, “Are you mad Ben?” I really wanted to know, I mean he was angry earlier, but maybe he was still. He had a right to be angry, “I’m not angry, Bee…” he said softly, “but why didn’t know let me listen to the recording all these years?” I sighed, turning to face him, “I didn’t want it too get taken away, you loved Sarah and Amelia and I know I told you that it was okay, but even though I love you so much, I didn’t want it to be taken away, or for you to mention it by mistake…” I said with a pitiful shrug, he watched me nodding, before turning back to the television. “She sounds like you said…” he whispered but said nothing else, if he did I didn’t hear because I was soon fast asleep. Marvin Lawson POV My father – Isaac – and I held my brother back, watching the Nissan Armada with our loved ones – demolished – fully engulfed in flames. Thick, flames reaching to the skies, the window blowing flames in every which direction, the alarms of cars in the drive near the house all ringing blaringly but not enough to cancel out the screaming but while chaos was around me, I was focused on preventing my older brother Pat. “Noooo!” he roared fighting us, giving it his best effort, dad and I holding him, by his shirt at first before the sleeve was ripped and we had to hold his body, torso, “Let me go!” he thrashed, “My babies ... no… why… fault … help them … go … Oak!” Even from our place, my back facing the fire I could still feel heat from the car, and in the back of my mind, a small – very small­ ­– part realized that there was no way, no way at all that this was accidental. I don’t know how long it is before we hear sirens; it was maybe five minutes because this was a small town but with dad and I wrestling to keep Pat away from the car made it felt like hours. He gave up – my older brother sank to the ground on his knees – going limp, wracking sobs and noise close to a whimpering whining animal join – mixed. But he hadn’t given up, he was crawling towards the fire dad and I holding again, our father crying, but securing Pat to him. Behind me, the firemen, are shouting, giving orders, I glance behind me and see them begin to shoot powerful water towards the car, however instead of the fire minimizing – the flames rose, rocketed to the sky, smoke – a sizzling sound joining – increasing, that second flash of fire is what stopped Pat from moving from his spot on the ground. Not just stopping him, no this time when he wilted it was because he had passed out. Paramedics, the police car and help came to us, “are you hurt?” Rodney asked. I knew his name, everyone in this town knew each other’s name, numb I shook my head, but with what strength I had left, I lifted Pat – stumbling a few times, my vision hindered with tears of despair – I carried him into the house, Sarah, dad, and mom trailing in behind me. “Okay ready, lets sing for daddy… A – b – c – d – e – f – g – h – I – j – k…” Norine and Oakley, the recording still playing on repeat not helping, “Now I know my ABC’s next time won’t you sing with meeeeeeee! Do you like that daddy?” “I’m so sorry Norine… so sorry… all my fault … always loved you … I was going too… I was going to ask Sarah to leave… give Oakley space … too late … thought you didn’t love me… left … all my fault … I love you still … I was lost … needed to be accountable to someone else … thought you moved on … married so I wouldn’t seek you out … Benny… our babbby –baby died … forgive me,” Pat mumbled not awake, pausing each time a bit as though he was having a conversation with someone. No, not someone, Norine. My father was comforting my mom, holding each other as they fell apart, but even they could hear the words whispered by Pat, as did Sarah, who released a broken sob, covering her mouth, stepping back from Pat, Amelia at her side, her family crowded around Pat, no one wanting to meet each others eyes. “I didn’t try… gone… alone… all alone… she’s gone and she doesn’t know… doesn’t think I loved her enough… I … sorry … so sorry…” he shifted restlessly, I glanced down for a second and when I lifted my head Sarah, Amelia and her mother were no longer in the room. Chaos was still around, crying, little children, my own children huddled against my wife in the corner of the room, and I knew that our lives would never be the same again. Chelsea POV My body never felt so tense, so rigid as I heard Nonno tell us – me maybe – to kill him, “What?” I choked out, Jack and Mikael looked at him as though he had lost his ever loving mind, which I’m sure my face said. She can bring back anyone, but if she brings an Innocent back, a Soulless is chosen, without her touch.