by Lucas Coon
ByLucasCoon
Copyright©2018LucasCoon Allrightsreserved.Nopartsofthispublicationmaybereproduced,distributedor transmittedinanymeanswithoutpriorpermissionoftheauthor.Ifyouenjoythis story,pleaseconsideremailingmeandtellingme,orleavingareview anywhere youseefit.
Thisispurelyaworkoffiction.Allnames,characters,businesses,places,events, andincidentsaretheproductoftheauthor’swildimagination.Anyresemblance toanythingthatactuallyexists(past,presentorfuture)ispurelyacoincidence. Anygovernmentagencyportrayedisdonesoinafictionalmanner,thereareno
endorsementsthathavebeenmadeonthisnovel.
Thisstoryisn’tperfect,andIdon’tclaim ittobe.Justknow Iputmyheartinto eachandeveryword,andIdidmybest.
Dedication… Thisstoryisdedicated,firstandforemost,toeachandevery personthathasreadthefirst,orboththefirstandsecondnovels withinthisseries.It’syouguysthatkeepmegoing.Thankyou!
Secondly,myotherhalf;Patience.It’sbeentenandahalfyearsat thispoint,andyou’restillaround,soIguessI’m doingsomething right.
Finally,theindividuals;Helen.Debbie.Michelle.Mymother; Shelly.Myfather;Lloyd.Mysisters;BreAnnaandCortney.You guysgavemethesupportIneededtogettothispoint.
IwouldalsoliketopersonallythankEricandhisawesome team atScooter’sCoffeeHouseofLenexa(Noah,Christian,that feelslikeprettymuchit).
IwouldALSO liketopersonallythankNatashaandher awesometeam atStarbucksinCorporateWoods(Abby,Amber, Sarah,Jenny,Gheed,Carissa,andtheonesthatIcannot rememberrightnow).
That’sright,Igotocompetingcoffeehouses.Iam absolutelyinsane.
ISBN-13:978-1986965798 ISBN-10:1986965791 REV1::06162018
WAIT,LISTEN!!!
Hello,reader!Thankyoufortakinginterestinthisstory;it meanstheWORLD tome!However,Iwantedtoaddthisnoteto makesurethatyouwereawarethatthiswastheTHIRDbookto thisseries.Thisbooktakesplaceinthesametimelineasthe othertwo,andusescharactersthatwereestablishedinthose stories.Itfollowsacharacterthatwasasecondarycharacterin thesecondbook,andiskindofa‘differentperspective’story.
Thatsaid,ifyouwanttoreadthisbookwithoutreadingthe firstone,Iwon’t(can’t)doanythingtostopyou,However,ifyou areinterestedinreadingthefirsttwo-thirdsofthestory,lookfor ‘SomewhereInTheMiddle’and‘EndingTheNightmare’,you can…
•Visitwww.LucasCoon.com
•Searchfor“LucasCoon”onAmazon
•[email protected]
Thankyouagain! Iappreciateallofyoursupport!
Thesunwasbeginningtofallintoitsslowedtrajectoryasthe secondsturnedtominutes.Thecloudshadpassedwiththe morningandtheearly-middaywasbeginningtoshow it'sface. Thecul-de-sacwasquiet;asquietasithadbeenforawhilenow. Thewindblew throughafew treescausingthebranchestorustle above.Asthegustsincreased,theycaughtthetireonachild's bicyclecausingittostartspinningslowly.Thescreechingfrom the rustedmetalwasenoughtopiercethesilenceasitechoedaround thecircularroad.Thehousesallremainedemptywiththe abandonmentofpanickedfamiliesthatfailedtolistentowhatthey weretold.Afew ofthewindowsreflectedthedisarraythatthey held,someofthefrontdoorsremainedopen.Afew ofthem had carsinthedrivewayorvariouspossessionsstrewnaroundthe yard.Thecul-de-saclookedlikeitwashitwithasmalltornado thatchosewhattodamageordisorganize,notthefearofa murderousparasite.
Ontheeasternsideoftheroad,neartheedgeofthecircle,there wasanicelittlehousewithawellorganizedyard.Itwastheonly oneinthesmallareathatwaswhite;therestwerevariousshades ofblueortan.Itwasbuiltaftertheothers,andthedesignwas similar,albeitinasmallerpackage.Thishousewasthesettingfor anumberoflife-changingevents.Itcontainedahappyfamily,orat leastonethatportrayedhappiness.Insidethedoorsitwaslessof ahappyscenario.Onememberofthefamilyhaddonethingshe wouldregreteverymomentfortheremainderofhislife.One memberwasdamagedsobadlybyhisactionsthatshehadended herownlife.Thelastmemberofthefamilywasavictim to everythingoutsideofhercontrol.Despitethepainandregretofthe family,therewasloveintheresomewhere.Thewallshadseen happytimesaswellasthepainfulones.Therewasneverany doubtinanyone'smindthatthosetimeswouldcometoanend; therewasnoexpectationitwouldbethissoon.Ithadn'tbeenmore thanamonthsinceeverythingfellapartforthefamily,andashort twoweekssinceeverythingelsehadgonetohell.Lookingatthe biggerpicture,theproblemsthefamilyhadallseemedrather minuscule.Intheend,comparingthetwosituationswaslike comparinggettingrunoverbyabusoratrain.Onemayhurta littlemore,buttheendresultislikelytobethesame.
“Areyousureyouwanttodothis?”Aman’svoiceshotbehind him asheexitedthehouse.“Youmaybeabletocomebackonce allthispasses.”
“Areyouplanningoncomingback?”Thebiggerofthetwomen respondedwithasarcasticremark.
“Well…”Thefirstmanthoughtabouthisanswer.Hestaredup attheskyasthecolorsturnedfrom orangetoblue;itwasalovely sight.“No.Ihatetosayit,but,afterthis,Ithinkwe’regonefor good.”
“AndIdon'tblameyouforitatall.”Thebiggerofthetwomen tiltedaredplasticcontainer.Theliquidpouredfrom thespoutand ontothefrontporch.“AtleastthiswayIgettowatchitallburnto theground.Consideritalittlebitofclosure…”
“Thatsmellsfunny.”Ayoungvoiceshotfrom thedirectionofthe vehicleparkedoutfront.
“Yeah,dad,she'sright.”Anotheryoungvoiceshotouttoward thetwomen.“Thefumesaregivingmeaheadache.”
“Yeah,thefumessmellbad.”Thefirstvoicemimickedthe second.
“Well,ifyouwouldhavestayedinthecarlikeIsaidto…” “Don'tbelikethat,Alex.IfyouwereinCiara'sposition,you'd wanttotakeitallinonelasttime.Iknow Iwould.Iknow Idid…” Hestareddownattheconcreteforamomentbeforeshakinghis thoughtsoff.Heturnedtofacetherestofthegrouptogetthem backontrack.“I'llgetthegirlsinthecarandmoveitawayfrom thehouse.”Hehurriedtowardthevehicleandpickedupthe smallerofthetwogirls.“Ciara,doyouneedhelpor…”
“It'salright,Igotit.”Ciaradismissedhisofferofassistance.He smiledandopenedthedoortoputtheyoungerchildintheback seat.
“Bucklein.”Hepointedtotheseatbelt.Shehuffedand reluctantlydidasherequested.Helookedoverandnoticedthat Ciarawasstruggling.Hewalkedaroundandmovedtohelpherin. Hegrabbedherarm andhelpedtoliftherintothecar.
“Thanks…”Ciarasmiledshylyathim.Shewasn’tusedto needinghelp,butitwasstillappreciated. “Don'tmentionit.”Hewavedthegestureoff.Hequicklyentered thedriver’sseatandturnedthekey.Thevehiclesshiftedinto reverseandhebackedoutofthedriveway.“Alright,Alex,we're good.”
Alexlookedbackandgaveathumbsup.Hegrabbedtheglass bottlethathe'dfilledwithliquidandlinedwithacloth.Hepulled thelighterfrom hispocketandlitthegasolinecoatedrag.Assoon asthefirelittheclothitgrew toasubstantialsize.Theflames kissedtheairandfellbackontotheclothonlytospreadfurther andfurtherdowntowardthebottle.
Alexheldthemolotavinhishand,theheatofthefirecaressing hiscoldhands.Hiseyesslowlydriftedbackandforthbetweenthe flameandtheinsideofhishome.He'dmadeuphismindawhile back,buttheactionwasmoredifficultthantheidea.Hewatched theheatriseoff thefireanddistorttheair.Thewaveringheatwas justenoughtoblurthesceneinfrontofhim,justenoughtomake him wishhewasn'tthere.Hedidn'twanttodestroyhispastany morethanthenextguy,butitseemedliketherightthingtodo. He'dmademistakesinhislifethatleadtonothingbutpainfor othersandtheonlywaytofixitwastodestroywhathislifeused tobe.HehadtomakeitalluptoCiara.Heknew that,todoso,he wouldneedtoloseeverythingelse.Hestaredattheflamesfora few secondsmore;hedidn'twantanyofthis.Hewanted,more thananything,tojustgobackafew weeksandtryagain,togo backtothatdaywhereallofthisstarted,whereitallfellapart…
“Whowouldbecallingyouthisearly?”Thesoundblaringout ofthecellphonewasenoughtowakethewomanlyingbeside him.“Hey,Alex.Yourphone.”Sheshookhim inanattempttoget hisattention.
“Huh?What?”Alexshookhimselftothepointofbeingawake. Hisbreathinresultedinasnortasheinterruptedasnore.“No. Noone'scallingme.”
“Alex,seriously.”Shesatup.“Yourphoneisgoingoff.Ican seefrom herethatissayssomeone'scallingyou.”Alexrolledover slightlytolookinthevaguedirectionofthenoise.Whenhisbrain finallykickedintomotionherealizedthatthenoisewas,infact, hisphoneringing.Hepulledhimselfupandgrabbeditfrom the nightstand.Assoonashishandgraspedtheplastic,thesound stoppedsuddenly.Hecontinuedhismotionandsta
redatthe screen.
“Oh,heyIhaveamissedcall.”Alex'smouthmovedfasterthan hisbraincouldtoprocessthesituation.Hetappedonthescreen afew timestoseewhatinformationhecouldpullfrom it.“Five, four…”Hestaredatthenumberinhisattempttoprocesswhat thescreenwaspresenting.“Five,four,five,nine.Whydoesthat numbersoundfamiliar?DoyourecognizeitAshlyn?”
“Whatdidyousay?Fifty-four,fifty-nine?”Ashlyngrabbedher cellphoneandtypedthenumbersin.“Isthisit?”Sheshowedthe phonetoAlex.
“Yeah.”Henoddedandlookedbackathisownphone.Ashlyn madeafew moremotionsbeforesherespondedwithananswerto hisinitialquestion.
“Lookslikethat'sSaintBarron'sEast.”Sheputherphoneon herlapandlookedbacktowardAlex.“Whywouldthehospitalbe callingyou?”
“Idon'tknow.Maybeit'sawrongnu–”Alex'scommentwas cutoffbyhisphoneringingagain.Thenumberonthescreenwas thesameastheonethathehadmissed.“No,it'sthem again.I'm goingtohavetotakethis.”HemotionedtoAshlynthathewas goingtobeunavailableashestoodupandansweredthecall. “ThisisAlex.”Heheldthephonetightlyashesteppedtowardthe slidingglassdooronthefarwallofthebedroom.“Yes,I'm AlexanderLangley.”Hisvoicehadasenseofconfusion.Ashlyn watchedhim forafew moments,butquicklygotboredwithnot beingabletohearbothendsoftheconversation.Shegrabbedher phoneandopenedacolorfulgame.Shefocusedintentlyonthe puzzleinfrontofherasshemovedthecoloreditemstomatches ofthree.“Hangon.Saythatagain.”Alex'svoicequicklyturnedto oneofconcern;Ashlynbarelylookedupathim.“No.No,you havetohavethewrong…”Hisconcerningtoneturnedtooneof denial.“AretheyOK?”Heincreasedhisvolumeasheheldback anyemotionsthatmayhavebeenpushingtheirwaythrough.“Oh god…”Hequicklybrokehissterncomposureandthewaterbegan it'sjourneythroughthecornerofhiseyes.
“Whatthehell?”Ashlynpulledherfocusawayfrom hergame enoughtorealizethatAlexwasactuallycrying.“Alex,what's goingon?”
“Yeah.I'llbethererightaway.Room three-thirty-one?Yes,do everythingyoucanandI'llbethere.”Alexpulledthephoneaway from hisfaceandthrew itonthebed.Beforethephonehitthe mattress,hehadalreadypulledapairofpantsfrom thefloorup andtohiswaist.Hismotionswerefranticanditwasobviousto Ashlynthathewasinastateofpanic.
“Alex,hey.”Ashlynstoodupandpulledashirtfrom thechair nearthebedoverherhead.“What'sgoingon?Whatwasthat about?”
“Ihavetogo.”Hequicklyreplacedallofhisclothingand pulledhisbeltthroughhispants.Heshovedhisphoneintohis pocketandfollowedthroughbydoingthesamewithhiswallet. “I'm sorry,butIneedtogettothehospital.”
“Dammit,Alexander.Whatthehellisgoingon?!”Ashlyn stompedtowardhim inprotest.“Youneedtotellmewhat's happening!”
“They'reinthehospital,Ihavetoleave,Ashlyn.”Hestepped towardthedoorandshequicklymovedinfrontofhim.“Ashlyn, move.”
“Notuntilyoutellmewhat'sgoingon.”Shestaredathim with darkeyes.“Who'sinthehospital?IsitCiara?IssheOK?”
“IfshewasOK,wouldIberushingoutofherelikethis?”Alex puthishandsonhershouldersandleanedin.Hislipspressed againstherstightlyandheheldthereforonlyasecondbeforehe movedheroutofthewayofthedoor.“I''llcallyoulater.”
“OK…”Shewavedathim ashedashedoutofthebedroom andthroughthedoortotheexteriorhallway.“Bye,Iguess…”She sthrew herselfbackdownontothebed.
Alex’sstepswererhythmicasheranthroughthehallwayand outintotheparkinglot.Hishandshovedintohispocketpulleda smallkeyringout.Hisfingersfiddledwiththevarioushoops untilhehadfoundtheonehewaslookingfor.Hepushedthekey intothedoorofaredtruckandtwistedit,thelockshotup.Allof thevariousmotionsfelttooslow forwhathewasneeding; grabbinghiskeys,unlockingthedoor,throwinghisphoneonthe passengerseat,startingthecar.Theprocessfeltlikeitwas takinganeternityandAlexdidn’thaveaneternity.Hetriedto speeduphismovementasheshiftedthetruckintodriveand pressedtheaccelerator.Thewheelsslippedastheenginepushed toohardandthetransmissionfellbehindwhatwasbeing requestedofit.Ittookanothereternityforthevehicletostart movingandtohittheexitofthelot,anothereternitythathe didn’thave.
“Whatthehell…”Alexquietlywhisperedashestruggledto focusonhisdriving.“Whatthehellhappened…”Hishandsand feethadshiftedintothestateofmusclememoryandhismental auto-pilottookthedriverseat.Thiswasenoughforhisthoughts tocontinueoninadirectionthathedidn’twant.Hepressedthe gasandbrakepedalswithoutthinkingaboutitandcontinued downroadsthathe’ddrivenbefore.Hisvisionblurredashekept mouthinghisendlessquestions.Hecontinuedattemptingto piecetogetherapuzzlethatwasmissingmostofitspieces.He wasquicklyshakenbackintorealitybyabeepingcomingfrom theseatnexttohim.Heglancedoverattheglowingphone screen,thenbacktotheroadinfrontofhim.Itwasonlythanks tothisannoyancethathe’dhadthetimetoslam thebrakepedal downashardashecould.Therubberscreechedasitslidacross theasphaltinanattempttobringthevehicletoahalt.Theframe lungedforwardandbouncedbackasitcametoasuddenstop. Alexclosedhiseyesandletoutaheavysigh,halfofasecond moreanditwould’vebeenmuchworse.Thenthesoundofa policesirentoldhim thatitwas,infact,abouttogetworse.He openedhiseyesonlytoseetheblackandwhitevehicleinfrontof him coveredinflashinglights.“Ofcourseitwasacop,there’sno otherwaythatthiscouldgoforme.”Alexreachedhishanddown andgrabbedhiswallet.Heopenedthefoldsandremovedhis licenseandinsurancecardinpreparationforthefollowing situation;he’ddonethisonceortwicebefore.
“Rolldownthewindow,son.”Theofficerwalkedbacktoward thetruckandmotioneddownward.Alexcomplied,hewantedthis togoasquicklyandsmoothlyaspossible.“Alright,Ihavetoask; whathasyouinsuchahurrythatyoualmostatetheback-endof mycruiser?”
“Myapologiessir,andIdon’tmeantobedisrespectfulinany way,butIreallyneedthistohurry.”Alexpushedhishandwith thetwocardsoutthewindow towardtheofficer.“Ifyoucouldjust givemetheticketandwecanmoveon,Iwouldreallyappreciate it.”Theofficerstaredthemandownforafew momentstoread thesituation.Afterafew secondshenodded.
“How aboutthis;youtellmewhathasyouinahurryand,ifI believeyou,I’llletyougo.”TheofficerleanedintowardAlex.“So, justtomakethisgoquicker;tellmeyourname,andwhyyou’re inahurry.”
“OK,Officer…”Alexlookedattheman’sbadge.“Officer Barnes.MyNameisAlexLangley.Iknow thatI’m drivinginan unsafemanner,andIknow Ishouldn’thavelookedatmy cellphonewhiledriving.ThismorningIwasawokenbymyphone goingoffandIwasadvisedthatmywifeanddaughterwereina reallybadcaraccidentandtheyarebothcurrentlyincritical condition.Ireallyneedtogettothehospitaltotryanddo whateverthehellIcantohelpthem.Iknow thatIcan’tactually doanything,butIneedtobethere.”Alex’seyeswerewellingup. “Look,I’llslow down.I’llpayattentiontotheroad.Hell,I’lleven justtaketheticketrightnow ifIcanjustgo.”Therewereafew momentsofsilencebetweenthetwomenasOfficerBarnestook intheinformationandanalyzedAlex’sdemeanor.
“Yousaidtheywereinanaccident?Doyouknow whatkindof cartheyweredriving?”ThequestionwasconfusingtoAlex. “Idon’tunderstandwhy…”Alexpaused.Hedecidedtojustgo alongwithit.“Yessir,itwasawhite,two-door,sedan.”The officer’sfacebecamemuchmorestern.
“Licenseplateendinginvictor,eight,zero?”
“Yes!”Alexperkedup.“Youknow whathappened?Didyousee theaccident?Didyouseemydaughter?” “Comeon,I’m goingtoescortyoutoSaintBarron.Keepasafe distancebehindmeandpayattentiontomesoyoudon’tsmash intome.Understood?”Theofficer’shelpwasincredibly unexpected,butalsoincrediblywelcome.
“Uh…yes.Yes,sir!Thankyou!”Alexwasunsureofwhatto say.OfficerBarneswalkedbacktohiscruiserandsteppedinto thecar.Alexshiftedthecarbackintodriveandstartedtofollow theofficerashepulledawayfrom thecurb.Alex’seyeswere lockedonthecarinfrontofhim asthetwoofthem acceleratedto speedsthatwerehigherthanthepostedspeedlimit.Hefollowed therestofthewaytoSaintBarron’sEastwithasafedistance betweenthetwovehicles.Theybothpulledintotheparkinglot anduptotheclosestspotstothedoor.Alexgrabbedhisphone andkeys,thenboltedoutofthevehicleandtowardOfficer Barnes.Hewasn’tsurewhyhewenttotheofficerinsteadof towardthedoor,itseemedlikeareflex.
“Alright,Alex,yougetinthereandtakecareofyourfamily.I’ll keepyouinmythoughts,son.”
“Thankyou,OfficerBarnes.”Alexreachedouttoshakethe man’shand. “YoucanjustcallmeHarold.”Hesmirkedandmadeamotion forAlextogetgoing.Alexnoddedandtookofftowardthedoor. Hisfeetflew quickly,oneinfrontoftheother,untilhehitthemat infrontoftheframe.Hethrew himselfforwardtothefrontdesk.
“Goodmorning,sir.CanIhe–” “Ineedroom three-thirty-one!”Alexyelledatthefrontdesk clerk.Hedidn’tintendtoyellather,itjustkindofhappened. “So
rry,Room three-thirty-one,please.”
“AreyouMr.Langley?”Shestoodupfrom herposition. “Yes,I’m AlexanderLangley.”Thenursenoddedandpulleda small,clip-on,radiofrom herhiptohermouth. “DoctorRafferty?AlexanderLangleyishere.”Shepulledthe radioawayfrom hermouthandtowardherear.Therewasan indiscerniblesentencethatwasstatedinreturntohercomment. “Onit.”ShelookedupatAlex.“Alright,Mr.Langley,Doctor Raffertyisgoingtocomedownandescortyoutotheroom.She needstodiscusssomethingswithyouontheway.”
“OK,thanks.”Alexturnedandwalkedtowardtheelevators. Hestood,staringatthedoors,waitingforoneofthem toopen. Hewaitedforseveralsecondsbeforehebegantogrow impatient. Hecouldfeelhisfoottappingasthesecondspassed.“Comeon…” Hewaitedforseveralmoresecondsbeforehebegantoget frustrated.“Oh,comeon!Whatthehellisgoingon?”
“MisterLangley?”Avoiceshothim from behind.“Alexander Langley?”Heturnedaroundandsaw thewomanaskinghis name.Hewalkedtowardherandnodded.“I’m DoctorMadison Rafferty.Pleasecomewithme.”Shestartedwalkingback throughthelobbyandtotheothersidewheretherewerethree moreelevators.Thetwoofthem gotintotheelevatorandthedoor closed.Madisonpressedthebuttonlabeled‘ICU’andturnedto talkwithAlex.“Alright,Alex,Ineedtoletyouknow thatweare doingeverythingwecantokeepherstable.She’slostagood amountofbloodandwewillneedtodiscussanotherprocedure thatwearegoingtohavetodo,butIdon’twanttoputyou throughthatyet.”Shepulledapieceofpaperandplacediton theclipboard.“Iknow theadministrativesideofthismayseem ridiculous,butIneedyoutosignthis.Itbasicallystatesthatyou consenttouspullingallofhermedicalrecords,bloodtype,past issues,andsoon.Italsostatesthatyouconsentforustodo anythingandeverythingtokeepherstable.”ShehandedAlexthe penandclipboard,heimmediatelysignedthedocument.“Alright, thankyou.”Shepulledanotherdocumentoverthatoneand handedtheclipboardbacktohim.“Thisisaninformation securitydocument,wejustneedthistoshow thatyouknow we willhavepossessionofyourdaughter’smedicalinformation.”He signedthisdocumentaswell.“Alright.That’sallI’m goingtoneed from youforthemoment.”Thedoorsopenedtotheelevatorand Madisonquicklystartedwalkingdownthehallway.Alexfollowed likealostdog;thequestionshadn’thelpedmuchandhewas unsureofwhatwastofollow.Madisonstoppedsuddenlyand turnedaround;Alexnearlysmackedintoher.Thetwoofthem meteyesforamomentbeforeshemotionedforward.“Your daughterisinhere,Alex.”