Chapter three: Pops
I couldn't believe that Speed was really gone. And now come to find out my oldest son was still alive after all these years we had thought him dead. I didn't want to believe it, but here I was looking at him, standing before me. I could tell he was angry but I didn't know if it was because his little brother had died in such a harsh manner or if he didn't really want to explain to me why he had changed himself. I guess I could understand why he did it, back then I wasn't exactly supportive of his wanting to change the racing business. Now Speed was gone because he wouldn't conform and do what some big shot loser told him to, he lost his life.
In the midst of all this confusion my youngest son, Spritle had ran off. I knew he was upset and he didn't understand why things were going the way they were, and truth be told I didn't understand why they were going this way. Rex having told me that Royalton would harm Spritle; succeeded in making me angry. No one should harm an innocent child, especially since he had absolutely nothing to do with the current situation.
I felt like breaking down and sobbing but I needed to find Spritle, and knowing that Royalton would kill my little boy, made me wish I knew where Spritle had gone, so that I could protect him with my life if necessary. What he had done to Speed already made me angry enough to want to go and stab Royalton through his back.
"Speed, didn't deserve to have to die like that" I said to break the silence that we had been traveling in.
"I know" Rex said looking over at me "he deserved to win this race many times over."
"What kind of man must Royalton be to have paid someone to stab a kid through the back" I muttered and as I looked at Rex. I noticed he had dried blood all over him.
"You were with Speed?" I asked when he caught me looking at him.
"Yes," Rex replied "I arrived too late to save him but I was with him when he died." I noticed only a calm exterior but I wondered what he must be feeling on the inside, he had adored Speed before all this had happened and the Casa Cristo incident had taken Rex from us. "Did he know who you were?" I wondered out loud, remembering how much Speed had cried when Rex had first been supposedly dead.
"Yeah," Rex said quietly "I had to tell him; I just couldn't let him die without him knowing that I was there for him."
Rex turned silent after that and I understood his silence was his way of trying to keep his own pain at pay for the moment.
"He never stopped loving you" I said remembering how Speed would always visit his brother's grave the day before a race. "He never stopped missing you either; he always had your picture in his jacket during a race." I didn't realize Rex had been listening to my rambling until I looked up and saw tears in his eyes and I instantly knew that I was unintentionally causing him more pain. "I'm sorry" I said "I guess I can't accept that Speed is gone."
"I wish that I could have helped him" Rex said as we exited the hallway and came out into another hallway, here we stopped and Rex took out a cell phone. He quickly dialed the number and had it up to his ear before I could count to five.
"I'm looking for the youngest Racer" Rex said while he talked I took in his features. His once dark hair was now a light blonde. Once upon a time he had looked like his mother now, he did not. I could tell he'd had plastic surgery and it made my heart break to know that I had driven him away and had forced him to fake his own death. I wished with all of my heart that I could take my words and actions back, but I couldn't and I doubted a simple apology would take away the pain I had caused him.
A few minutes later, Rex had ended the call, without looking at me he said:
"He's in a bathroom near to where we are now" without saying anything else, Rex made a left turn and headed down that hallway. I followed after him, worried about Spritle. I knew any words I had would not be enough to ease his pain. And I wondered if I would be able to do anything to help my little boy. He had loved Speed with all of his heart and I wondered if Speed's loss would scar Spritle for the rest of his life.
I voiced my concerns to Rex who shook his head no.
"I doubt it; kids are pretty resilient when it comes to things like this."
After that we came to the bathroom where Spritle was supposed to be hiding.
"You better go get him" Rex said "I don't want to scare him with all this blood I have on me."
"You're probably right," I said reaching out and pulling the door open. I saw Spritle immediately; he was huddled in the furthest corner away from the door. My heart broke as I watched him vomit as he sobbed, brokenly.
"Spritle," I said gently as I walked towards him, careful to avoid stepping in the vomit. Spritle looked up at me and I could see the pain in his light green eyes. He jumped to his feet and leaped into my arms. I wrapped my arms around him, and slid down to the tiles, while holding him. I wished that I could absorb my little boy's pain, I wanted too so bad; it wasn't fair that my little hyperactive son should have to suffer so much.
"Why did it have to be Speed, Pops?" Spritle asked "why did Speed have to die?"
"I don't know" I replied wishing my words would bring comfort to my hurting son. I closed my eyes so that Spritle wouldn't see the pain his questions brought me. I wasn't ready to admit my child was gone never to be seen again.
"I guess this man, Royalton couldn't stand the fact that Speed is a much better driver and a man then he ever will be."
"Who is he to decide who gets to live or die?" Spritle said "he had no right to take Speed away from us."
"I know" I said softly "in the end Royalton will get what he deserves because the truth will come out."
"He better not get away with taking Speed" Spritle said his tears slowly coming to an end, but I knew more would be shed before Spritle would be able to move on.
"He won't" I said "I don't think Racer X will allow that to happen." I knew this to be true, I could see the pain Racer X/Rex was in when I looked at him. I had the feeling that he wouldn't hurt for nothing. He would pay Royalton back for what had happened today.
"What does Racer X have to do with anything?" Spritle asked.
"He was with Speed when he died" I replied, hating the words I had to say.
"Then why didn't he keep Speed from dying?"
"He didn't get there until afterwards and by then it was too late to save Speed."
A few minutes later, Spritle was calm enough to leave. Until he saw Racer X, when Spritle saw him, he went off kicking him and screaming at him.
"It's your fault my big brother is dead" Spritle screamed; his tears once more streaming down his face. I quickly grabbed Spritle around the waist and pulled him away from Rex. As I did I noticed the tears in Rex's eyes and I wondered if they were because of the things Spritle had said to him. Then again I doubted it, I bet the tears were because, Spritle was so young yet he was hurting so bad.
"Spritle," I whispered "it's not his fault, he called for help but they didn't get there in time." Spritle could not be calmed; he couldn't understand that Rex was in no way responsible for the death of his big brother.
"Spritle, I am very sorry about what happened" Rex said gently "I wished I could have gotten there sooner but I couldn't" Spritle stopped fighting and just cried into my shoulder. I felt bad for Rex then, I could only imagine what he was feeling right now. Watching his youngest brother grieve for their lost brother; yet he was unable to experience his own grief out in the open. I wished I could find a place behind closed doors where he would be safe to just let out his emotions, but I knew he wouldn't want to do that until we were all safe first.
"I want Speed back" Spritle sobbed and I rubbed his back gently.
"I know you do" I said gently "I do too" I wished with all of my heart that I could bring Speed back and end Spritle's pain.
"You know if I could I would bring him back" I doubted these words comforted Spritle as much as I hoped they would.
"Why would he want to come back?" Spritle said against my shoulder "I got on his nerves" I froze for a moment, closing my eyes I felt a few tears drift down from my eyelid. I hoped that Spritle didn't really believe that, because I knew it wasn't true. Speed had loved his little brother, everyone knew it, and we could all see it in Speed's actions every single day.
Rex who had turned his back to us, to give us some semblance of privacy, turned back around to look at Spritle. I could see pity in his eyes. I knew at one time that Speed had thought that he had gotten on Rex's nerves, but even if Speed had thought it; he had never given it voice, because I knew Rex would have shot it right down. I just wished Speed was here to do the same thing for Spritle; I knew he would listen to Speed. But alas, if Speed were here we wouldn't be here to doubt how much Speed loved for his little brother.
I pulled Spritle close to me and just held him, for a few moments before speaking quietly.
"Spritle, Speed loved you. You meant the world to him" I said soothingly "I bet he wishes he could come back and end your hurt." Spritle continued to cry and I wished I knew the words that would bring him some comfort.
"We should go now" Rex said "it won't be long until Royalton's goons discover that your family has disappeared."
Spritle said nothing but he pulled back and looked at Racer X.
"Does mom and them know about Speed yet?"
"The Inspector Detector is having them moved to a safer location and then he is going to tell them" Racer X replied, as we once again began moving. I could sense just how willing Rex was to once again protect his family from the danger we were now facing. Even this time we were heading towards an exit and I had the feeling we wouldn't be watching the race today, not after what happened to Speed.
"You really believe Royalton will have my family killed?" I asked the idea seemed preposterous to me. But something inside told me he would, the man wasn't exactly playing with a full deck.
"Yes, I do" Racer X replied "your family knows the truth about him and he can't have anybody knowing the truth because it's a risk that he will end up in jail and he wants more money."
"Of course, he would end up in jail, he murdered my son" I exclaimed my anger towards Royalton slowly reaching the boiling point. I was ready to go hunt Royalton down myself and make him pay. I had the feeling that Rex could sense what I was feeling because he placed his hand on my shoulder and said.
"Do no do anything stupid. Leave Royalton to me and I promise I will make him pay. Speed will be avenged and not a hair harmed on your family's head." I couldn't doubt the sincerity I saw in Rex's eyes nor the pain I could hear in his voice, I knew he would make Royalton pay.
sorry it took me so long to update but I have been writing more chapters for this one Lizzie10