Chp 26
He heard a soft voice echo his name. He felt someone's tender touch gently stroke his hair. But he couldn't see. Everything was still pitch black.
"Please wake up. Come on. Please," he heard the faint voice beg. It sounded so far away. His temples throbbed and he felt sore all over.
'Jesus, who's truck ran me over?' he thought bitterly as he squirmed slightly at the discomfort he was feeling.
"Can you hear me?"
"Yeah," he groaned slowly opening his eyes. His vision was blurry but he could see the outline of a girl looking down at him. Soon her concerned green eyes became clear and the events of before came flooding back to him. "Elena?"
The girl smiled. "Yes. Are you ok?"
AJ furrowed his brow. "I think so." His eyes darted around the room they were in. Was it a room? It looked more like a prison cell with the gray cement walls and heavy metal door. "Where are we?"
Elena nervously took in her surroundings. "I'm not sure. I think it's a storage room or something."
AJ cautiously sat himself up immediately being overcome by dizziness and pain. "Ow." He put his head in his hands hoping that the room would stop spinning.
"What's wrong?" Elena asked panicking. She didn't want him slipping back into unconsciousness again. This kind of head trauma could lead to a coma.
"I have a headache bigger than Nick's ass." Elena couldn't help but giggle. He looked down at his hands and noticed that it was encrusted with dry blood. Blood that wasn't his. He turned to Elena with fear and concern in his eyes. "Did he hurt you?!" He searched her body for any wounds. "I saw blood on your bed!"
Elena smirked. "I'm fine. I hit him with a picture frame on the face while he was trying to kidnap me. I got him good."
AJ relaxed. "Speaking of, where the hell is that mother fuckin' bastard anyway?"
"Hey! That's not a very nice thing to say!"
AJ and Elena twirled around alarmed only to be met by a grinning Nathan leaning against the opened doorway brandishing a gun.
"Believe me, that is the nicest thing that'll come out of my mouth about you," AJ snarled narrowing his eyes. He saw the still bleeding cut right above Nathan's right eye and snickered in his mind.
Nathan laughed and then sauntered into the prison-like chamber. "I'm so glad you've returned to the world of the living. You had me worried there for a second. How could I possibly torture you if you're in Lala Land?"
"What are you going to do to us? Stab us to death like you did your ex-wife?"
Nathan's eyes darkened. "How did you find out about Sheila?!"
Elena looked at Nathan then to AJ and then back to Nathan in confusion and shock. "You had a wife?! And you never told me?! You fuckin'---"
"Elena, calm down. It doesn't matter anymore. He killed her. You did, didn't you."
"They never proved it. Anyway, enough about my past. Let's talk about your futures. Your very bleak and short futures. Get up," he commanded aiming the gun at them.
Having no other choice, AJ and Elena did as he said. He ushered them out of the room and into a big space with dust covered boxes and crates stacked up against the walls. They were in some sort of abandoned warehouse.
"You," he said referring to Elena. "Get over here." Scared, Elena looked over to AJ. There was nothing he could do. He just nodded. She sighed nervously and then cautiously made her way over to Nathan. He came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. He dug his nose into her hair and inhaled it hungrily. "You smell lovely, my dear," he sneered removing the soft brown strands from her face. Disgusted, she turned away. He kissed her exposed shoulder and started making his way up her neck. She winced at his actions and balled her fists.
AJ felt the anger rise in him. He could do nothing but watch as Nathan practically slobbered all over her. His eyes focused on the gun. Nathan held it pointing to the floor. Maybe AJ could rush him and knock it out of his hand. He'd have to be very quick about it. He inconspicuously positioned himself, preparing to pounce. Unexpectedly, Nathan raised the gun to his level and eyed him angrily.
"Don't even think about it, McLean. You take one step and I'll blow your fuckin' head off."
Elena looked at AJ wide eyed and frantically shook her head no. AJ exhaled and clenched his fists. He didn't move from his spot. "Nathan," AJ began calmly. "Why can't you just leave her alone."
"Because I've come to take what's mine," he hissed running his hand down her cheek and neck finally placing it on her shoulder. He clutched her tank top strap and slowly brought it down. She whimpered in protest. Only then did AJ realize Nathan's malicious intentions.
"No! Don't do it!"
"Oh come on. It'll be fun! You can watch while I make her screamwith pleasure. Isn't that right, sweetheart? You know you want it."
"No," she croaked out with the tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes.
"Yes you do," Nathan said angrily. "Because if you don't" Nathan pointed the gun right at AJ's heart and slightly squeezed the trigger. "Your little song bird here dies."
"No," she begged him crying. "Please don't."
"Take off your shirt," he demanded with desire burning in his eyes. "NOW!"
Sobbing, she brought her other strap down her arm. She wasn't wearing a bra. It was driving Nathan mad. He could feel his pants getting tighter. He could hardly control himself. Finally, he attacked her like a vicious beast, kissing her hard all over and touching her in forbidden places. She yelped in pain as he bit down on the soft flesh of her neck.
AJ couldn't stand watching her writhe in such anguish. Without even thinking twice, he took a few quick steps forward. All he knew was that he had to help her and that nothing or no one could stop him. "NO!"
Nathan automatically reacted by pulling the trigger. AJ faltered but did not give up. He clutched his thigh where the bullet hit him. "You bastard! You shot me! You fuckin' shot me!"
"Nathan, STOP!" Elena cried.
"I warned you! You didn't listen, so now I'm just going to have to do away with you. I can't have witnesses now, can I."
AJ continued to stagger towards him. He wasn't going to get away with this. Nathan did not hesitate to shoot again. He aimed blindly and let another one slice the air. This one entered AJ just below his ribcage. Shocked, he looked down at the wound. Rivulets of blood ran in between his fingers and it felt like his side was on fire. Staring at Elena with fear in his eyes, he collapsed onto his knees and then finally fell forward face first onto the floor.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Elena screamed with sobs racking her body. She tried to get to him, but Nathan had a firm grip on her arm. "Let me go! You son of a bitch! AJ! AJ!!!"
AJ squeezed his eyes shut and curled up into a ball. The pain was unbearable.
"NO! LET ME GO!!!" Nathan started dragging her away. "AJ!"
"If you don't shut up, I'll finish him off right here right now! You hear me?!" Nathan threatened aiming the gun at AJ once again. Elena stopped struggling and continued to cry hysterically. Nathan slowly made his way over to a crate and pulled out a can of gasoline from behind it. He popped it opened and then poured the content in a steady line around AJ. Then he emptied it out all over the warehouse floor. He brought out a lighter from his pocket and smiled down at the incapacitated AJ.
"Never play with fire. You'll always get burned," he recited before flicking on the flame and dropping it. A second later, AJ was trapped in an inferno.
"NO! Please! Nathan, please!" Elena pleaded as she was being pulled out of the blazing building.
"Shut the hell up!"
"AJ!!! AJ!!!"
AJ thought he heard someone call his name. It was a faint sound coming through the loud roars of the angry blazes. He raised his head a little and tried to see through the thick black smoke. "Elena?" He could barely distinguish her shrinking form. "Elena!"
Elena heard him weakly shout out her name. He was alivebut not for long. "You can't leave him in there!" she screamed.
"I can and I am!" Nathan spat. "I warned him not to get involved, but because of his stupid devotion to you, he's going to die! How does it feel, Elena? How does it feel to know that his death was all your fault? Now the teenyboppers are really going to be all over your ass!"
Elena shook her head at his harsh words, but deep down, she knew he was right. She got him involved. She put him in danger. And ultimately, she got him killed. She broke down at the thought.
Inside the burning building, AJ remained in his scorching enclosure. There was no way out. It was becoming hard to breathe and the visibility was zero. "Elena?" He realized she was gone. "I'm sorry," he whispered sadly before closing his eyes. He just lied there helplessly, praying that his suffering would soon end. He was waiting to die. Soon, everything around him started dimming. His breaths were shortening. His heartbeat was becoming slower. He could almost hear the angels of heaven summoning him ever so gently. He could feel them luring him into the clouds and sky. There was a bright white light right in front of him. He floated towards it. He wanted to go through it. Finally, he'd be free
"NO! Do NOT go into the light! Don't you dare go into the light!"
AJ was hastily snapped back into reality. Dammit, he was so close! He was going to kill whoever did that! Wait a secondwho did that?
"Come on, AJ, you can't die! Not now, not yet!"
He opened his eyes half way. "Who?" An image began materializing above him. AJ held his breath as it became clear. "No way."
"Yes way, now get off your bum and save yourself!"
"Buthow?"
"Quite simple actually. I see a friend in distress, I come down and help him."
"I'm not in distress."
"Umm, you're trapped in a burning building bleeding from two bullet holes. It's as distressful as they come."
AJ squinted his eyes and tried to comprehend. "You're an angel?"
"You can say that."
"Well, go away. Leave me alone."
"Can't do that. Nuh uh uh, don't you go closing your eyes now. You have to get out of here."
"Don't you understand? I want this. I want to die. The last couple of years have been pure hell for me. I don't want to go back to the way things were."
"Things are going to get better. It's not your time yet."
"How do you know?"
"I just do. You can't give up."
"You did," AJ retaliated. They became silent. The only thing that was heard was the crackling of the flames. Howie diverted his eyes to the ground and crouched beside him.
"Come on, AJ. You have to get out of here."
AJ painfully sat himself up and glared at him. "Why?! We're all going to die anyway! Why prolong the inevitable?! I invite it! Let death take me! I don't care!" he shouted angrily.
"But I do! Everyone has their place and time and yours is NOT here and NOT now!"
AJ lied back down and closed his eyes. "Go away," he muttered.
"No."
"I said go away!"
"And I said no!"
"Why won't you let me find peace?! Why do you insist on making me suffer during the last few moments of my life?!"
"Because these aren't the last few moments of your life! I can't let that happen! Don't you see?! If you don't come out of this alive, then I've failed!"
AJ looked at the pained expression in Howie's eyes and softened his tone. "Failed what?"
"Everyone. If you die now, then what was the point of me dying for you five years ago?"
"What was the point?"
Howie shrugged dejectedly. "I don't know. I just knew I had to do what I did."
AJ's eyes were brimming with tears and his voice came out small. "Why are you helping me? After all I've put you through and still am putting you through, why?"
Howie shook his head somberly. "Haven't you learned yet? Friendship never dies," he responded quietly.
"Howie"
"AJ, you have so much to live for. Why can't you see that? You've finally gotten what you always wanted. Elena finally loves you."
"She never said---"
"She does."
AJ began to ponder his words. "But---"
"Nathan's got her. He's going to kill her if you don't do something. If you don't want to save yourself for you, then do it for her. It's not her time either."
"But I don't know where she is."
"Yes you do. Trust me, you do. Hurry, you don't have much time. This building's going to combust any minute now."
AJ slowly stood up wincing at the pain in his leg and side. "But---"
"Go already, you silly ass! Stop wasting time!"
"But what about you?!"
"I'm already dead, remember?" he smirked and then pushed AJ through the flames. Amazingly, they did not hurt him or even leave a mark. God was truly with him. But the suffocating smoke still stung his eyes and made him choke. He ran through the thick haze taking one last look back at his savior.
"Howie!" he coughed. Howie gave him a thumbs up and nodded his head smiling before stepping backwards into the engulfing fire and disappearing from sight.
AJ felt a twinge of sadness, but didn't hesitate any longer. He dashed across the warehouse and out the door diving onto the ground as the building exploded. Hot particles, shards of glass, and debris hit his hands as he protected his head. He just lied there until he was sure it was safe to get up. Cautiously looking back, he saw that the warehouse was nothing more than just a pile of burning rubble. The only thing left standing was the cement dungeon that had held him prisoner. Standing up, he brushed himself off and then calmly walked, or more like limped, into the dark of night. It was time to kick some serious aass.
Chp 27
Chp25
