Page 25 of Remnants
FOURTEEN
“Where is she!”I scream as I shove Mac, though he doesn’t budge. I walked out of the hospital moments ago from my check-up and what I think was an attempt to keep me in that room until James arrived. I can’t be sure though. But when I came out, I had expected Nora to be standing here waiting—not Mac with Sam in the truck.
“Katie.”
“Don’t ‘Katie’ me!” I snap, shoving him again. “She went after him, didn’t she?” His eyes soften and he gives me a slight nod. My heart pounds harder as a ringing begins in my ears.
“Where will she meet us?” I whisper, fear coursing through my body. My blood runs cold when Mac stretches out his hand to me, offering her dog tags.
“No,” I breathe as I take them and stare at her name punched into the metal. I look at Mac whose eyes are red-rimmed.
“Mac.” My voice cracks. “I’m not letting her do this alone.”
He looks up at me, eyebrows raised. “Katie, if you go, you will be arrested. Nora, she knows you’ve spent your life in a prison, she loves you and wants you to be free.” My bottom lip quivers as I grip her dog tags tightly while glaring at him.
“I’m not leaving her,” I state forcefully. “Either you help me, or give me the keys.”
We pull up in front of my house and I feel a wave of nausea rush over me. The last time I was in this home James…No, I can’t think about that right now. I get out of the truck and walk to the front door. It’s locked and I don’t have a key. I turn to Mac and Sam who are at the bottom of the steps.
“James always forgets to lock the patio door,” I say while running past them and around my large home. I pass through the garden that I hated tending to, and through the gate when I’m stopped dead in my tracks.
“Nora!” I cry out as I see her unconscious body slumped over, halfway out on the patio. I run to her and fall to my knees only to cover my mouth in horror at the figure laying over her legs. James lays in a massive pool of blood over her. If it weren't for the grey look of his usually tanned skin, I wouldn’t know the blood belonged to him.
My husband is dead.
I feel hollow inside. Not sad, not angry, not happy. Just… hollow.
“Holy fuck.” Mac’s gasp snaps me out of my trance and I look at him.
“Keep Sam back,” I say as I look over Nora. She and James are both covered in a layer of white powder of some kind. I touch her arm, giving her a squeeze.
“Wake up, baby,” I plead, my eyes beginning to sting. This is all my fault. I should’ve never walked over to her house with those damn cupcakes.
I hear the weakest groan as Nora begins to stir. She gasps and tries to jerk back, but I hold her shoulders.
“Nora,” I say forcefully so she will focus on me. “Look at me.” Her hazy eyes blink a few times before she turns her attention to me. Realization washes over her and she glares from me to her brother.
“We had a plan,” she snarls.
“I forced him. Leave Mac alone,” I state calmly, earning an eye roll. No one could force that giant to do anything.
“You need to get out of here,” Nora groans as she tries to sit up. “I need to call the police.”
Shaking my head, I pull a patio chair over so that we can help her sit down. Sam starts to walk over to us and Nora commands him to sit and stay.
“There is…” She grunts as she lifts herself into the chair. I notice her prosthetic is missing. “There’s powdered rat poison all over in there, and on me. Don’t let Sam near me or the door.”
I stare at Nora as the tears slip out of my eyes. “Let me help you,” I plead. “I’m really good at cleaning.” I try to joke, Nora gives me a small laugh before wincing and gripping her side.
“Sweet girl, there’s no cleaning this. And even if there was… you’re done cleaning up his mess, and you will not be cleaning up after me. Get out of here, Junebug.”
“Do you really think I’m that cold?” My voice snaps as I glare at her. “Oh, Nora, thanks for risking your life and freedom to protect me, peace out.” I watch as her gaze focuses on the wooden deck. “Do you really think so little of me? Of yourself?”
Her dark gaze finds mine and I watch a tear slide down her cheek. “I deserve—”
“To be happy, comfortable, and not alone,” I cry out through my clenched teeth. Nora’s tears continue to fall, her bottom lip quivers as she takes in a shaky breath.
“Katie…”
