Chapter 2: Thursday, 7:55 PM
David sat on the floor holding his leg, keeping the hot blood from escaping, though it was no use. He lifted his hand and let a tear fall from his cheek. His whole body shook with fear. The blood on his hand dripped to the dark floor. His leg ached all through, but it was only stabbed in one place. Taksidian paced behind him, thinking about how to torture David to bring Xander. David didn't know why Taksidian wanted Xander and not David, but that didn't matter. He wouldn't tell Xander to come get him. He would die for his family, including his older brother.
"Not planning on contacting him? Then I'm afraid you're no use for me…" Taksidian said. David thought Taksidian was going to stab him with his dagger again, but he didn't do anything. David attempted to look back, but Taksidian had already started dragging David's weak body back to the pantry. He opened it, but didn't throw him in right away.
"Happy landing," he said, throwing David onto the floor and taking his dagger in his hand. David felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder. Taksidian had sliced the skin nearest to his bone, not causing anything that would cause death, but only pain. Taksidian kicked David's stabbed shoulder and let him fall down below into his skeleton chamber. He closed the door, letting him rot along with the other victims.
…
Xander had run for as long as he could, but his head filled with his brother's escape. Xander didn't bother with checking to see if David got out. Instead, he was selfish and didn't look after him like he promised. Xander stopped in his tracks and started running back to Taksidian's house.
I don't care if David got away or not. I'm going back to make sure…even if it means meeting Taksidian face to face, Xander thought. People beeped their car horns at him as he ran on the side of the road, almost close enough to hit him.
He reached the forest in front of Taksidian's home and ran through the trees, pushing branches out of his vision and tripping over dirt mounds and piles of tree debris.
Xander stopped when he approached the edge of the property. He could see Taksidian's vehicle still in the driveway, which made his stomach churn for his brother. He moved around sharp branches of thorny bushes and stepped onto the dirt just at the side of the driveway. Xander scoped around the house, attempting to see Taksidian or David.
Seeing neither person, he trotted to the backyard and entered from the window, standing on the garbage can once again. He pulled himself up. His hand slipped from under him, causing Xander to crash land into the floor of the room he entered.
Xander held his breath, expecting Taksidian to come running from the loud noise. He didn't.
I don't know if he's just playing with me or if he actually didn't hear it. He probably heard it, just decided to let me find him instead and then pounce when I least expect it! That sounds like him.
Xander pushed himself off the floor. He quietly walked along the floor towards the hallway.
This is gonna get messy, I can feel it, Xander thought.
...
Dad sat in the junky beetle with the tires popped. Taksidian had lured him out to the middle of nowhere just to keep him away from his kids. He'd known all along they were following him all the way from the school.
"Xander, David…please be alright," Dad said. Looking at his cell phone, he contemplated calling Xander's phone, but not knowing what situation he was in, it was best not. He might not even be in range, anyway.
I'm coming for you, boys! Dad decided, turning on the car. With popped tires, Mr. King floored the gas and trudged down the grassy, rocky hill to the road, on his way to Taksidian's house.
…..
Xander crept around every corner of the house, looking for Taksidian. Well, he'd rather run into his brother, but that was a slim chance if Taksidian was here or if David had already left.
Xander heard a creak in the floorboards far away. Someone was walking, but only when he did. Then Xander realized it was only his footsteps.
Stupid nerves! Get a hold of yourself, Xander!
Just as he rounded a corner, Xander really did hear something, and it wasn't him and his nerves. A banging from…below the house?
"David?" Xander whispered, hoping to hear his brother reply. He didn't.
"Dae?" he said, a little louder.
"I'm here…" a voice said from around the corner. Xander knew for a fact it wasn't David who replied.
Taksidian peeked around the corner from the living room. His face was dark from lack of light in the house. Regardless of Taksidian's expression, overly excited to see his prey, Xander shook madly.
"Your brother was scared of the outcome as well…I can see you two are related by blood," Taksidian said, stepping forward. Xander noticed his breathing had stopped. He gasped to bring air back to his lungs, but Taksidian took him by his neck, clenching his razor-sharp nails into Xander's skin. He gagged, feeling his death before it even happened.
"Where's…David?" Xander asked, overcoming his fear only for a moment to glare into Taksidian's evil eyes.
"Oh, the little runt? He's dead…or if you really want the gruesome detail, dying." Taksidian said. He grinned, shoving Xander against a wall behind him.
This time, Xander and Taksidian both heard the banging from below the house. Taksidian grit his teeth, turning his head away to listen for anything else. He rolled his eyes in Xander's direction.
"Looks like David just too his last breath…care to join him?" he asked, leaning closer to Xander's face. Xander could smell something grotesque emitting from the enemy. He wasn't sure if it was from Taksidian or behind him.
"This time…you're stuck. Neither your bodyguard nor your father is here to save you…" Taksidian whispered, digging into Xander's neck until he yelped, then groaned.
David, I'm sorry I can't help you…
"What the…" Taksidian said, hearing something else from afar. Xander recognized this sound. It was the little beetle he borrowed from that jock at school.
Dad?