by Quil Carter
He would’ve hurt Jobe and Lex…
It doesn’t matter now. Whatever shit I’d caused, I now need to fix it.
I need to fix this.
That was the decision he’d made. Whatever shit he’d done, he will undo. Jobe and Lex were fine right now, so he couldn’t worry about them. He had to take care of the problems right in front of him, and that meant taking care of Kheva and… driving himself crazy thinking about Kel.
Sasha looked up when he heard the cat flap swing back and forth. “Hey, Jye,” Sasha said quietly. “How are you doing, buddy?”
The serval stared at him, his head lowered like he was sneaking in for some reason, then the cat trotted off to the stairs and began to climb them.
One of his beds was up there, or else he was going up there to nap on the bed in the master bedroom. Jye had been spending a lot of time upstairs and he’d barely been going outside at all. It was enough to make Sasha wonder if Kheva had the mental abilities to make the cat himself stay out of the woods, but no… Kel wasn’t out there. Kel wasn’t out there.
Sasha spent the rest of the day distracting himself with chores. Since it was only him now, everything fell on his shoulders. It was good that it ended up taking him a long time to finish the day’s work, but it was lonely work, he had no one to talk to but the chickens.
The evenings were worse. Jye would hide upstairs and Sasha would watch television and try to get any response he could from Kheva. It was eerie in a way when Kheva rose to relieve himself or to eat the soup Sasha put in front of him, Gabriel the child was right in what he said Kheva knew what to do and how to take care of himself. Kheva’s mind itself though, seemed absolutely gone.
The god, the most powerful man on earth, was just mentally gone.
Sasha lounged on Kheva’s black chair distracting himself with the television. He was watching The Simpsons, and had even made sure to tilt the television towards Kheva in case Kheva could process some of what he was seeing. Sasha didn’t think so but, well, it didn’t hurt.
Sasha jumped when there was a sudden flash of lightning outside. He rose from the chair and walked to the closed curtains and peeked out.
His heart filled with lead when he saw that it was raining outside, and moments after the lightning strike, there was a loud rumbling as the thunder rolled.
Lex’s cats were always scared of the thunder, they’d look around with wide eyes, and sometimes would even hide in small spaces. That and fireworks were two things the cats hated.
Wait, was Jye inside? Sasha turned from the window and swept the main level with his eyes. Most likely the cat was upstairs sleeping, but it would make Sasha feel better to know that he was inside safe.
Sasha walked up the stairs, another flash of lightning going off, brightening up the field and forest before plunging it back into inky darkness. He could hear the rain pinging against the glass upstairs, it’ll probably get windy out soon too.
Sasha stepped onto the second level and looked around. There were only bookshelves, a credenza, and some potted plants in the room that surrounded the stairs, then three doors: one leading to the master bedroom, one to a bathroom, and then the smaller room that Sasha now secretly called their sex dungeon.
Sasha shuddered when he glanced over at it; the door ajar as it had been since Sasha could remember. But as he turned to check in the master bedroom, he realized that the rain sounded louder in that direction.
It was a bit colder too.
Sasha walked over to the second room and reached a hand out for the knob, when suddenly the door itself opened. The suddenness made Sasha cry out from surprise, and he found himself jumping back with a panic.
Sasha looked down, and grabbed his heart when he saw it was the fucking cat pulling the door open with his damn paw. “Jesus christ, fuck you, Jye!” Sasha gasped, still clutching his chest. “You’re going to kill me, you stupid––” Sasha paused, and his brow furrowed when he realized… Jye was wet.
Sasha pushed the dungeon door open and flicked on the light.
And his jaw hit the floor.
The only window in that room was open, rain now wetting shackles placed on top of a side table, but on top of that… there were blankets strewn across the floor, all of them covered in muddy cat prints.
“Jye… what have you been doing?” Sasha whispered breathlessly. He walked to the window and looked out into the darkness, and though he could barely see a thing, he could see scrape marks on the top of the porch’s overhang.
The cat had been using this room, this window, to get outside… but why? He had a perfectly good…
Sasha turned to Jye, and his heart gave a pound. Something was happening here; the cat was doing something he was trying to hide from Sasha. That damn cat wasn’t smart enough to do shit like this, no fucking way he was.
“Jye?” Sasha whispered. “Where’s Kel? Tell me where Kel is?”
Would he know that command? Was Kel even here? Oh, fucking christ, did Kel send the cat to get him a blanket? Could he do that?
Sasha closed the bedroom window and dashed out of the room. He sped down the stairs with his mind already running through the woods, but then he spotted Kheva still lying on the couch.
‘Whatever you do, don’t bring Kel here. Don’t bring Kel near Kheva.’
Fuck. If Kel is out there… what do I do? What the fuck do I do?
“I’ll think of something,” Sasha whispered, then with a shake of his head, and the serval following behind, Sasha ran to the sliding glass door, slipped on his shoes and jacket, and grabbed the flashlight Kheva kept around for when the generator was off. Then without a second thought, Sasha ran out into the darkness.
“Jye, where’s Kel?” Sasha yelled, the downpour of rain and the wind stealing his words. It was horrible outside, and it seemed to be getting worse by the minute. “Take me to…”
No, not that way.
Jye, Sasha said inside of his mind. He found the cat’s dim beacon with his roving thoughts, and pushed his words into him. Take me to Kel. Sasha brought up Kel’s image. Take me to him.
The image… it was the image that did it. The moment Sasha brought up Kel’s image the cat’s brown eyes enlarged, then with not even a parting glance, Jye dashed off towards the treeline, near where the truck was parked.
That was it. Kel hadn’t been given to Nik or Sterling, Kheva had… what had Kheva done with him? His fucking leg and his arm had been broken.
The guilt was almost too much to bare. Sasha swallowed down the bulge of sorrow and picked up his speed. With every hurried step, his shoes squished on the ground and rain beat his face, the flashlight beam bouncing around as he struggled to keep from wiping out.
Kel, Kel, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. Sasha made a promise as he broke through the trees, he promised that he would do everything needed to make sure Kel was okay. It was the least he could do, all of this was his fault.
“Kel!” Sasha shouted. He swept the flashlight through the woods, a maze of trees in front of him, along with bushes and dead logs covered in moss and shrubs. The terrain was uneven and Sasha stumbled with almost every step, but he pushed through, soaking wet and shivering, and called Kel’s name again.
Then the flashlight beam fell on something red and black, right beside a pair of glowing feline eyes. Sasha raised the beam, and saw a sight that broke his heart.
Kel was bundled under two blankets, one covering his body, the other draped over his head. Surrounded by what looked like chunks of grey meat, Kel was huddled down, his bruised and battered face grey, and his lips almost the same shade of blue as the rain-filled bucket that rested beside him.
But Kel was alert, he was awake… he was staring at Sasha with eyes filled with hopeless despair.
“Kel!” Sasha cried, the guilt too much to bear. Sasha ran over to Kel and kneeled down, careful not to kneel on any part of his body. He didn’t know how bad of shape Kel was in, only that his body must be broken in many places. Not only that, he’d been out in the elements fo
r almost four days now. “Oh, baby. Fuck. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Kel’s own eyes filled, his expression a twist of desperation. “Sashy. Sashy. I think Kheva doesn’t want me anymore.”
Sasha clasped a hand over his mouth, tears springing to his eyes. “Oh, sweety,” he whispered. He looked behind him, to see how far away he’d run through the woods. There was no doubt he’d have to carry Kel out of here, how far was the…
I can’t take him to the house.
What the fuck do I do?
There was only one thing Sasha could do, and the thought of it terrified him.
He had to get Kel out of here, he had to bring his nightcrawler brother to a hospital.
“Kel, can you stand with help?” Sasha asked. He framed Kel’s rain-drenched face with his hands, Kel’s skin cold and the colour of ash.
Kel nodded sadly, but then he paused and looked down at his blanket-covered body. “Why doesn’t Kheva want me?” he asked.
Sasha rose to his feet and Kel gave him his left hand. “It’s my fault, Kel,” Sasha said as he pulled Kel to his feet. “I’ll fix it though. Fuck. I’ll––”
Kel cried out with pain, the blankets falling from his body. A shivering figure leaned against Sasha, Kel’s arm and leg both twisted at awkward angles underneath his shirt and jeans. His clothes held patches of rust colour, dried blood, and his skin, it was so fucking cold.
Sasha took off his own jacket and hat and put both on Kel. Kel whimpered from pain when his broken arm was being gently put through the sleeves, but he didn’t stop Sasha. Sasha zipped up the jacket as close as he could, and adjusted the hat so it was covering Kel’s frozen ears.
“I shouldn’t leave if I’ve been bad…” Kel said, his voice barely audible over the rain. Sasha put Kel’s good arm over his shoulder and began to take steps towards the truck. “Kheva will be mad.”
“Shh, don’t worry about Kheva,” Sasha said. He looked ahead but there was only darkness in front of him. The truck seemed a thousand miles away. What was Kel’s range? Could Rob still attack Kheva if Kel was present? How the fuck did it work?
I’ll walk diagonally, Sasha said to himself. When we hit the road, I’ll put Kel on the side of the road and bring the truck to him. That way he’ll remain a good distance away.
Sasha nodded, and found, to his own inner relief, that the terror was beginning to leave his body. He could freak out and be scared later, once Kel was at a hospital and safe. Right now, panicking was the last thing that was needed. It was the last thing that Kel needed.
He’d be strong for Kel, and show his friend, his nightcrawler brother, that he was in good hands.
With every step, Kel had to lean on Sasha and hop. Several times Kel was thrown off-balance and had to use Sasha for support, but even though it was slow-going, no one fell. They were making progress in this horrible storm, even if it was gradual.
At one point, Sasha looked over his shoulder, checking to make sure Jye was still trotting behind, and there was a flicker of warmth in his heart when he saw that the cat was dragging the red and black blanket behind him. The blanket itself was now covered in wet twigs and dirt, but that serval was trying his best to obey his master. Had he been bringing Kel food and the bucket for water too? He was sharing his food with––
Oh, jesus christ.
Sasha pushed that disturbing thought out of his mind, and concentrated on the task at hand.
The cold easily sunk through the t-shirt that Sasha had on and coated his body in what felt like a sheet of ice. In no time at all, he was shivering violently, his teeth chattering and his legs becoming jelly, but he pushed through the discomfort and continued walking, one step at a time, diagonally towards the dirt road.
No one spoke, they only shivered. One foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other, ignore the cold rain stinging their face, their strength that was slowly waning. As they walked on, flashes of lightning lit up the forest like the gods were wanting to take a picture of such a sight, then on its heels the rumbling applause of thunder, thunder that was getting closer every minute.
Do it for Kel. Do it for Kel.
It seemed to take forever until the flashlight beam shone on the dirt road and not the endless grove of trees and brush. Sasha almost cried out with relief when he saw the break in the forest, the exhaustion had been creeping through the determination and the wobble in his knees was getting worse with every step.
But they made it. Fucking thank god, they made it.
“Okay, Kel, you have to stay here, okay?” Sasha said. He dashed back into the woods and picked up the blanket that Jye was dragging behind him. It was wet and covered in dirt, but it was better than nothing. “I’m going to go get the truck.” Not only that, he fucking had to leave food out for Kheva. Kheva could eat the soup and drink, but Sasha didn’t want to chance that he’d be able to unthaw and reheat the soup. It wouldn’t be much, but it would do until Sasha could return home.
And what about the cat? The chickens? Jye was going to have to come with them, the chickens would be okay for a few days, he’d just leave out extra food. Kheva’s mind should be coming back any day now, right?
Sasha wished he had the time to ask Gabriel, but he had a feeling even the young boy wouldn’t know. Perhaps once Kel was feeling better he could ask him. This had to have happened before.
Fuck. I can’t believe I’m leaving this place… but I have to. I can’t let Kel die. Fuck. Fuck. I know he’s done terrible things to me but he’s a product of his environment and his master. None of this was his fault––it was mine.
Sasha ran to the chicken coop and left out several day’s worth of food, then grabbed a Ziploc bag full of meat for Jye. Sasha didn’t give a shit in that moment that he was bringing along human flesh, no one would know and he was past getting freaked out by it. The cat needed to eat.
Then he ran inside, a blast of heat hitting his face. It was a welcoming, comforting heat but Sasha couldn’t enjoy it, even if it was fleeting. Kel was out there in the dark, cold and suffering.
“Kheva, if you can hear me… I can’t let Kel die. I’m sorry, I can’t,” Sasha said as he grabbed the large pot of split pea soup he’d made. He began dishing it into bowls. “There’s enough soup here to last you for three days. I’ll come back in three days, I promise. I just… I’m sorry, Master. I know I can’t bring him here inside, and he needs medical attention. He’s nowhere near you, so you’re safe. I hope you understand. I know you love him too.” Sasha put three of the bowls on the kitchen island and one in front of Kheva. The man’s eyes open but staring off.
Kheva said nothing. Deep down, Sasha was hoping Kheva would jump to his feet and yell at him, tell him what to do. But there was nothing, the Master’s mind was still on lockdown.
Sasha walked to Kheva. He leaned down and kissed his warm head. “I’m bringing Jye with me,” he said. “I’ll take care of him too. Please, come back soon… everything is going to hell without you.”
That’s an understatement.
Sasha grabbed several bags of Jye’s meat and put them into a bigger reusable cloth bag, all the while wishing badly that Kheva was here right now. Then, with one last fleeting look at the Master Nightcrawler, Sasha left the house.
And with the flashlight in one hand, and meat in the other, Sasha ran through the heavy downpour and towards the truck.
The first time he’d tried driving the truck, it hadn’t worked out, but he was rushing then and terrified. Now Sasha had been a passenger in the truck several times, he knew the twists and turns, and he was confident that if he went slow… he could make it to the highway.
But what if I get lost…?
Kel, Sasha said to himself. I have Kel, I won’t get lost.
Sasha started the truck, the roar of the engine muffled by the rain. He threw it into reverse and backed out onto the water-logged grass, then turned it towards the road and began to slowly drive.
The truck was crawling along, Sasha’s eyes peel
ed the entire time for Jye’s glowing orbs or the huddled mass that was Kel. As he drove, Sasha cranked up the heat in the cab, the cold enough to make him hover a hand over the blowing hot air.
There was Kel. He had the blanket wrapped around him, his good hand holding Jye’s collar. The blanket that was thrown over him was soaked and darkened from dirt, even a few tears in places which spit out white cotton that glowed under the headlights.
Sasha put the truck into park and jumped out. He ran to Kel, the downpour even colder now that he’d been in temporary warmth, and helped the shivering man get into the passenger side. It was painful for Kel, but even though his face winced and twisted in pain, Kel kept quiet, only small whimpers escaping his chattering teeth.
Once Kel was secure, and Jye in the back grooming his muddy paws, Sasha allowed himself a single sigh of relief.
“Are you starting to warm up, Keli?” Sasha asked, quickly glancing over at Kel before his eyes went back to the winding road. He was still driving slow, especially when winding around the sharp turns. There would be no chances being taken this time, Sasha wasn’t fleeing from Ciel Lake, and Kel was stable enough to hold on until Sasha got him to a hospital.
“Yeah,” Kel’s tiny and meek voice sounded. An ashen arm was poking out of the wet blanket, hovering over the heating vent. “Kheva has a blanket in the back of the cab… can I grab it?”
“Of course you can,” Sasha said. “Just be careful of your arm and leg. Take your time.”
Sasha saw Kel nod out of the corner of his eye, then movement as he turned to get the blanket.
Kel pulled up a thick Hudson Bay blanket from the back and stuffed the wet one in the cab beside Jye. He gingerly wrapped it around his body, then tucked himself up close to the heater. His bad arm was covered by a long sleeve shirt, but whenever Sasha saw the angle he cringed.
It was quiet for a good twenty minutes after that, possibly more. Sasha’s full concentration was on driving down this dark road, little rivers of water now cutting through the soft muddy dirt.
But when there was sniffing, Sasha looked over at Kel and his heart gave a surge. Kel’s eyes were glistening with tears, and his trembling lower lip was stuck out.