Our Sins

by Kimberly Blalock

  “Thought you were going to escape?” I smack into something hard. Hollister grabs my shoulders stilling my movements.

  “Let her go!” A voice screams from behind this monster. Hollister turns into the direction of the familiar voice gripping me tightly. “Evan.” Hollister sneers.

  “Evan, they’re going to kill me and Nat to hurt you!” I spit out as quickly as I can before Hollister’s hand grips tightly to my mouth.

  Evan’s hand swings in front of him as he speaks to me, looking up to Hollister gaging his next moves. “Abby, no one is going to die.”

  I wiggle my face from Hollister’s hand biting him as hard as I can tasting blood as he yelps, leaving Evan to lunge forward pushing me out of the way.

  “I’ve got her. Get her out of here. Now!” Evan yells. They’re at a standoff. Evan and Hollister. “The day you took my wife marked your last.”

  “I don’t think so.” Hollister sneers.

  I’m holding the wall. “Evan!” I scream. He doesn’t turn to me. He doesn’t remove his eyes from Hollister’s, I wouldn’t expect him too. “I need to end this Evan.”

  “I can’t let you do that, angel. I can’t let you do that, I’m sorry.” His head shakes from side to side as every muscle in his neck tenses.

  Evan’s fists meets Hollister’s face knocking him back several feet against a wall. The same wall he’d began his mission to rape me. I grip the door frame, watching as Evan beats on him from the left and the right. Evan hits him from all sides leaving Hollister a bloody mess.

  I need to end this. I need payback for the things he’s done. I need to wash myself clean. My hands release from the door frame walking in their direction one padded step at a time. Bullets explode just outside the door leaving me aware we’re at war. But in here I’m on a mission.

  “Evan, I need to cleanse myself.” When I say those words, he stills in the center of the room. I pay no attention only moving one foot in front of the other. “I need to cleanse myself, Evan.” The words leave my lips with gritty desperation.

  “Abby,” Nat speaks from behind me grabbing my hand.

  “Get her the fuck out of here now, Natalia!”

  “I’m sorry Evan, I can’t do that.”

  “What the fuck?!”

  “Knife or gun, sister?” My eyes watch hers seeing that she knows so much of what I feel right now. She knows what needs to be done. And will stand here sacrificing her own life to see that it gets done.

  My lips part hearing the bullets and Evan screaming my name urging me to get out. I’ve dreamed about the things I could do to him. I want to feel his life take its last breath with my own hands. I want to be as close as I can when he dies. “Knife,” I answer.

  Her right hand leaves mine sliding down her thigh revealing a long, wide, and shiny blade from its sheath. “Cleanse yourself sister.” She offers an understanding glance. Nat knows what this means. She understands what I’m feeling. She’d done this very thing years ago.

  “Hold him against the wall, Evan. Do it now!” she demands with an authoritative tone.

  “Abby, please you can’t taint yourself like this. Please!” Evan begs.

  “He raped me, Evan! He hurt me, beat me. He’s responsible for my accident.” I pause. “The death of our child.”

  “What?” Evan’s eyes are black. Every cord of muscle flexing in panic. He’s going to snap.

  My hand holds the wall keeping me balanced and on my feet. “He’s responsible for so much pain and hurt!” Tears fall, my body shakes sliding me from the wall. I lose my balance almost falling over. Evan lunges forward with Hollister’s neck in his hold. But it’s Nat that catches me. “I have to do this. I need to do this for our baby, babies, me, you, Brent, Nat, Michael, my parents. Anyone he’s caused pain, Evan!” My eyes lock on his beautiful blues. My body inches forward moving closer into his direction. “I love you more than my own life. I’m asking you. I’m begging you Evan give this to me.”

  His eyes stay hard on mine for several long beats. “This will help you?” His question is full of raw emotion tucking deep inside every word.

  I nod “The only thing that will help me. I want to feel his blood on my hands.” I admit the sick fantasy I’ve had since he hurt me. My eyes slide to Hollister’s in a glare seeing the horrible acts he’d done. My memories are flooding in taking me by surprise. My breaths halt for five or so beats. “It’s the only thing.” My eyes slide back to Evan’s

  He had once told me he needed to be cleansed I understood then and I need him to understand now.

  When my eyes narrow on him, I see the understanding in the shift of his shoulders shift and Adam’s apple as it moves from the large swallow of fear Evan’s just taken.

  “Okay.” He puffs out a restrained breath. Bracing Hollister forcefully against the wall he says, “Okay, angel, if that’s what you need. If this is going to heal you. ” His gaze turns to Hollister.

  “You killed my father and now you’re going to kill me. Your father must be so proud of you.”

  “You’re father rapped my mother you sick fuck! That’s why you even exist. He raped her and then she had you. I’d kill him every fucking day of my life if needed. Only this time I’d do it with my bare hands. You know that makes us brothers right? You took my pregnant wife.” His body lunges closer to Hollister’s, nose to nose. “You fucking rapped her? Hurt her?” Deep breaths echo from Evan. “I would cut your fucking dick off and feed it to a mother-fucking dog while you watched if she didn’t want to kill you herself. Either way you’re not leaving here alive.” Evan shifts his position turning to me with Hollister turning blue. His hands are gripped around his throat.

  “Evan.”

  “I’m so sorry this has happened to you.” His face is red and pulled into a painful position. Every wrinkle on his face exposed. “I’m so fucking sorry that happened to you. I didn’t protect you.” Tears spill from his eyes.

  I pad closer reaching my hand out, pressing my palm to his cheek. “Do you forgive me?”

  “You? Forgive you? Angel that wasn’t your fault. Can you forgive me? For letting this happen, for not protecting you and keeping you safe.” Hollister’s eyes are bulging from his sockets as he watches the moment in front of him choking for air.

  “Baby.” A cry escapes my throat. “I love you so much.”

  “Guys we need to get this on the road here.” Nat hisses shaking my eyes from Evan’s “Kill the prick and let’s go.” She gestures towards Hollister with her black gun.

  “Yeah. If you’re ready.” His head falls slightly never taking his eyes from mine.

  “Thank you.” I smile.

  “Abby, make it snappy. We’ve got incoming.” Nat positions her gun towards the door.

  “You don’t have it in you, bitch!” Hollister coughs. “You loved it when I fucked you. Tell him! Tell him how you screamed my name!”

  Evan just revealed that he did, in fact, kill Hollister’s dad, but only because he had rapped his mother. I feel so much sadness in my heart for his mom. I know exactly how she must’ve felt. But she wasn’t given the opportunity I have in front of me. This opportunity will save me. My soul might turn black. Maybe I will be haunted by it later. But for now this is what I need. What I crave.

  “Abby, NOW!” Nat screams through the sound of gunfire.

  The weight of the knife in my hand makes this real. The cold metal tucked in my palm acts as my healer. I’d been dreaming of this moment without actually thinking it would come. But here it is.

  My feet take me in the direction of the man that’s stolen so many things from me. And while he’s caused me weakness I have found strength. Strength I didn’t know I had. My eyes are locked with his as I come closer and closer until I’m right next to the man I will end.

  I’ll take from him until he’s never able to hurt my family again. “You shouldn’t have taken my obedience for weakness asshole.” My hand raises like it had earlier with Kale. Only this descent is so much sweeter. I feel euph
oria in my gut. A tingling of satisfaction in my fingertips.

  I was hurt from the first part of my life. A desperate need to shun the pain to lose the guilt I’ve always known. Wounds that wouldn’t heal. I never thought that time would heal and wipe away that pain. Until I met Evan Young. He’s been there, always everything I needed. He’s loved me when even I didn’t know who I was. He never gave up on me. I love him, and I’m bound to him forever. I’ll do this for him. I’ll do this so that we can move on with our lives and live the next years happily with our girls. I’ll put this blood on my hands for us.

  My eyes watch Hollister’s, dark and evil. The knife descends slowly in a glide toward the target. A deep breath releases from my parted lips. The knife making hard contact with his chest. I hear victory beyond the hardness of his ribs. I hear freedom as the knife delves deeper straight into his cruel heart. He gasps in a few deep breaths. I watch as the life drains from his face, digging the knife in deeper. His last breaths come agonizingly slow.

  “I’ll see you in Hell.” He laughs spitting through his clamped teeth.

  “Maybe, but you’ll get there first.” And with that comment I rip the knife through his chest in a sideways motion slicing his heart into pieces.

  “We’ve got to go now.”

  Evan checks Hollister’s pulse then drops his body to the cold, grimy floor. He retrieves the knife, wiping it onto Hollister’s clothing to remove the bloody contents.

  Evan picks my up in a rush. “We’ve got to go.”

  “Michael, where the fuck are you?” Nat asks.

  I sink my head into Evan’s chest feeling safe and sound. My hand grips our girls’ safe in my belly. My family. All the world could be falling apart, and I wouldn’t care. This is where I want to die. Right here in Evan’s arms.

  “I don’t know where he is, E,” Nat says leaning against the door frame. “He’s been radio silent.” She takes a few deep breaths looking out the doorway then looks back to Evan and asks, “Can you get her to the chopper?”

  “I’ll go,” he demands.

  “Not on your fucking life! Get your girl to the chopper, and I’ll see you on the other side, Brother.”

  “Be careful.” I reach out for my friend, my sister.” She nods exiting the building.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Evan whispers in my ear as we exit the building. “I’ve got Abby, and I’m heading for the chopper. Get someone with Natalia!” Evan runs toward the large chopper that’s landing in front of the building.

  He climbs on board securing me in a harness with fear in his eyes.

  “Is it just the two of you, sir?”

  “NO!” I scream. “It’s just me. Go get our family, Evan, but come back to me.” I smile holding his warm cheek. “I love you. You will always be my bliss, my oblivion baby.”

  “Sir, we’ve got to go.” The gun shots continue outside.

  His lips descend onto mine with a long deep kiss. “I love you, and I’ll be back soon. Take her to the others. I’ll be there soon!” He gestures the pilot to start the rotors.

  His hand slips from mine as he runs off into the war. I cry, tears slipping down my cheeks as I watch the only man I’ve ever loved dodge bullets to save those that have no doubt sacrificed their lives to save mine.

  The helicopter rises into the sky as I watch fire erupt below. The entire building encased with large flames. The same building I’d seen Evan run towards. I leap forward with an ear piercing scream ripping through my throat. My chest heaving in and out. Tears spilling into my mouth. Moments later the helicopter lands and several men run in its direction.

  “Ma’am, you’re safe. We’re here to help you.” My weak, limp body still screaming folds into strong arms. I don’t even bother wiping the tears away. My eyes see on a glow from the bright light of fire in the distance. I’m laid on a gurney with several paramedics tending to me. One placing an IV into my arm and another taking my vitals. I don’t even flinch. I shouldn’t have let him go. My head falls to the side my eyes still see a man in the distance, but can make him out until I do finally sweep away the wetness pooling in my eyes. Thomas!

  “What is he doing here?” I hiss leaning up.

  “The Senator, Ma’am?” A very military appropriate woman with dark hair resting on top of her head in a bun, covered in full tactical gear steps forward a few inches asking.

  “That man. Yes!” My hands twitch as they rest to my sides.

  “This is his show, ma’am.” She stands tall with her chin up, chest out, and hands hiding behind her back. “He organized the extraction team that saved you, ma’am. Now please, rest while the medics check on you and your babies.” She approaches crossing the small gap between us encouraging me to lay down placing her cold hand on my shoulder.

  I do as I’m told because I can’t let myself worry about him right now. I need to make sure that my girls are okay. The paramedics attempt to lift me into the ambulance. “No! I’m not leaving without Evan!”

  “Ma’am, he’s instructed us to get you to the hospital.”

  “I don’t care if he instructed you to fly to the moon. I’m. Not. Leaving. Without. Him.” I’ll jump right out of this thing if I have to.

  The paramedics look towards the senator who then nods his head. “”Okay ma’am.” They agree.

  Thomas’ eyes are soft. I’ve only seen evil in those eyes. What’s changed?

  The chopper starts and the rotors turn lifting the massive machine. “Where is it going?” I panic.

  “To pick them up.” The woman smiles.

  “Oh thank God.” My eyes close.

  “He’ll be with you soon, ma’am.” She continues to smile warmly.

  My mouth opens and my hands reach out grabbing the woman’s arm. “He’s okay? Their all okay?”

  “Yes, ma’am. They’re safe.” When this woman had first approached me, she’d reminded me of the mean principle from the movie Matilda with similar cold hard features. But now her eyes are soft, crow’s feet at the edge of her eyes.

  Evan will wrap me in his arms soon. We will be safe.

  My hands are gripping my belly as I tightly close my eyes feeling the warm tears tickle the side of my temples as they fall.

  “Is she supposed to be in so much pain?” I ask the nurse that’s not doing a damn thing to help her. “Is this why you said she should have drugs?” I ask Michael.

  “Dude, don’t you watch TV? Seriously they scream like a truck is coming out of… that.” His face wrinkles.

  “Hey, that’s my wife you’re talkin’ about,” I growl.

  “She’s okay, this is how it’s supposed to be, but I do agree. Pain meds are probably better for her than not,” Alison says while holding Abby’s hand.

  It’s been almost three months since we rescued her from those psychopaths. Three months and I haven’t left her side. Literally haven’t left it. She’s been in my constant protection since that night. Well except, for that one time Nat said she’d do a rendition of the gun over the head. I did walk out of the room then, but I only gave her fifteen minutes. I’m supposed to protect her. I failed for too long. I won’t fail again.

  “Why is everyone talking about me like I’m not here?” Abby hisses through a contraction.

  “Angel, I’m sorry.” I rush to her side grabbing her hand. “Would you like to have an epi- thing?”

  “Yes!” She hisses again squeezing my hand till it’s numb. “Yesssss!” She spits with her chin pressed against her chest.

  “You heard her. She’s ready.” I snap at the nurse that’s been trying to talk her into this natural shit.

  “Evan.” Alison glares. “She’s doing her job. Be nice.”

  “He’s a worried papa, Ali. He’ll be fine.” Alfred pats my shoulder. “Step out with me for a second?”

  I look towards Natalia. “Don’t leave her side until I get back,” I demand pointing to Abby.

  She nods.

  The door closes behind me leaving my screaming wife on the other side.
I tuck my hands in front of me and lean on the wall. “What’s going on?” I tilt my head back.

  “I haven’t gotten to… really talk with you since that…” His head falls. “Since Abby-.” He can’t bring himself to say it.

  I nod straightening my stance.

  “I want to thank you for doing as you promised, Evan.” A tear falls from his eye leaving him to quickly wipe it away with the back of his hand. “I know that you had to do things that you may not be proud of. But you did them nonetheless, and I’m forever in your debt. Anything you ever need, please ask.”

  My eyes fall to my hands. “Alfred. I love your daughter. Abby is my world. I’d do it a million times over. I’d sell my very soul to the devil if it meant she was safe.”

  Our eyes lock. A man to man stare that speaks volumes that words never could.

  “Yes. I believe that’s true, Son.” He nods.

  Abby screams again as someone approaches us with a cart.

  “Anesthesiologist,” Alfred announces when I tense.

  “Yes, yes. Let’s get back in there.” It’s been ten minutes since I left the room and I need to get back.

  The doctor follows us in. Abby’s gripping Nat’s hand and by the sounds she’s making it’s hurting like hell.

  I rush to her side helping her prepare for the relief to come. “Angel, it’ll all be over soon. The pain will go away.” My hand sweeps her face. Her green eyes sparkling. She’s breathtaking. She captivates me with every piece of her soul. Even now with all the pain she smiles.”

  “Evan?”

  “Yes? Do you need something?”

  She screams again.

  “I need to check her before we begin.” The nurse tells us. I nod “Everyone needs to step out for just a minute.”

  Our family head to the door with soft glances of their support flowing to Abby. Our girls will be here soon.

  The nurse checked Abby, and she was nearly nine centimeters dilated, too late to get the epidural I desperately wanted for her. The pain has been off the charts. We tried the rubber ball, I massaged her back and feet, but nothing’s helped. Watching her in pain brought my skin to a boil. Nothing I can do to help her. Nothing except stand by her side and willingly take the hand squeezing that could take down the Rock.