Chapter 102 History repeating

Chapter 102 History repeating
CHAPTER 102: History repeating

Silas

I arrived at the location on the GPS; an old townhouse on the outskirts of town, and Vera’s car was parked outside the property.

As soon as I turned off the ignition and came down from the car, Chauncey’s car pulled over beside me.

“I already dropped Lily at home,” he said, falling in step beside me as I made my way towards the front door.

A blood curdling shriek came from inside the house, and we froze momentarily.

Vera.

Without another word, I raced toward the door and kicked in, not even bothering with the handle. The door didn't just open; it surrendered under the lethal force of my feet as I stormed in, Chauncey burst in after me, a ball of adrenaline.

The scene that my eyes met made my blood turn to ice. Vera was a fragile, trembling ball on the floor, nearly unconscious, while Damien, that subhuman scumbag was raining down kicks on her, particularly her abdominal area with a sickening, rhythmic thud, a demonic rage on his face.

I felt a roar building in my throat, but I froze.

The baby.

My heart stopped as my eyes hit the dark, terrifying streak of crimson streaming between her thighs.

“Vera!”

Then, the world went silent around me.

Chauncey tore past me in a blur of slow motion, rushing toward Damien who had now registered our presence. He stepped away from a now unconscious Vera and scrambled toward the open window, but he was not fast enough and Chauncey tackled him mid-air.
They crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs, and then my brother was on him, his fists rising and falling in a visceral fit of rage.

He was yelling angrily while hitting him, but I couldn't hear anything. Because I wasn't in the townhouse anymore.

The peeling wallpaper and the dirty concrete floors had dissolved into a rain-slicked highway.

I was back in the wreckage of that bloody night, staring at Simone’s bruised, broken lifeless body. I was staring at the same terrifying hue of blood that flowed between her legs, the physical manifestation of the child that I had also lost.

“Silas! Snap out of it!” Chauncey yelled, his voice cracking the hallucination. He paused with his fist raised midair to pull me back to reality. “Vera needs you!”

The trance was broken and the scene in the dilapidated townhouse foyer returned.

In that split second of Chauncey's distraction, Damien surged upward, shoved him off and lunged through the window, escaping into the night.

I snapped back, the cold reality hitting me like a physical blow.

Vera had passed out, her face battered and bruised. She looked like she wasn't breathing from where I stood, and I felt my very soul fracture.

My feet kicked into motion carrying me towards her. I fell to my knees and gathered her limp form.

“Vera? Vera, look at me! Open your eyes, damnit!”

I pressed my fingers to her neck and relief passed through me when I felt her pulse.

Chauncey scrambled up, chest heaving as he moved toward the window. “I'm going after him. I can catch him, brother! I’ll kill that bastard!”

“No!” I barked, a hoarse, raw command.

“Leave him! We'll find him. But we need to get to the hospital. Now!”

He looked at Vera and understood the situation. I had to ensure the safety of my family first. The hunt and the revenge will come later.

The drive to the hospital was a blur of high-speed turns and the sound of Vera’s shallow, rattling breaths, while Chauncey drove at an insane speed, yelling profanities to drivers to get off the road.

Finally we arrived at the hospital, and I raced to the emergency wing with Vera in my arms. The staff swung into action, carrying her away for immediate care. I went toward the doctor. His face went pale when he saw the look in my eyes. I didn't give him room to speak.

“My wife is pregnant. Save them,” I said, my voice a low, lethal vibration. “Save my wife and save my child, doctor. I don't care what it takes. Do not let them slip away. I will not lose another child, or wife…again.”

He nodded, twice, stricken with fear. “We’ll do our best sir.” He turned and left.

The trauma doors slammed shut, leaving Chauncey and I in the sterile silence of the waiting room. I stood there, my hands and shirt stained with Vera’s blood—burning in a silent fury.

“How the hell could this have happened?” Chauncey asked, confused.

My eyes were frozen on my hands. “I have no idea. I came home and she was gone.”

“I swear I'm going to bash that bastard's face in,” he growled.

My mind was feverish with a lot of thoughts and questions, but no answers.

Why had she gone to see him again? Was it about the fraud that suddenly appeared? Was she hiding anything else from me?

I pulled my phone and dialed Max. He picked on the first ring.

“Sir, did you find—”

“Bring me Damien Vane,” I cut him off. “I want him alive, and I want you to do this within the next twenty-four hours. Do not give me excuses, Max.”

“Alright, sir.”

I dropped the call.

My hands were trembling. I told myself I hated her… I wanted her to suffer for what she had done. Then why did it feel like I was on the verge of losing everything now that she was in danger.

I couldn't deny it to myself any longer. She mattered to me. She meant more to me than a means to an end and an unsettled score of revenge.

I had feelings for her. Feelings I thought had died and were buried with Simone.

Chauncey stepped toward me, his hand resting on my shoulder.

“They’re going to be fine, Silas. Vera is strong. She’s... she’s not—she's not Simone. History is not repeating itself.”

I couldn’t look at him. My eyes were fixed on the red light above the doors.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the shrill ring of his phone.

He pulled it out, his face falling. “It's Lily,” he whispered.