Disclaimer: see Chapter 1: The Painted Man for disclaimers, notes, and ratings.
To Serve
by Karolyn Gray
He slowly dialed the familiar number, debating with himself whether this was the right thing to do even as he did. He was at his wit's end and could think of no one or nowhere else to go. He was certain he'd burned this bridge when he left home and he could do was hope and pray and even beg (if need be) that someone would pick up on the other end.
He should have seen it coming. All the clues were right in front of him and he'd missed it. He had been too caught up in his school work, too caught up in partying, and too caught up in just trying to forget about everything that made him who he was and trying to be like just everyone else.
He squeezed his eyes shut as he listened to the dial tone trying to block out the noise around him. He forced himself to breathe slowly, not because of the pain that shot through him with every breath, but because the jumble of emotions washing over him. He feared if he didn't force himself to calm down he'd either end up hyperventilating in panic or screaming in outrage. Neither sounded appealing.
He was alone walking, stumbling if he was honest, back to his dorm room happily buzzed from one too many beers at the frat party when he heard the muffled cry. If it had happened a month or two ago he probably would have just brushed it off as drunk coeds using the landscaping to hide their sexual encounters. It was a common enough event after all. Except that recently there had been a string of brutal attacks and rapes on campus. It was probably nothing but he decided to search the area he heard the cry from any way.
The scent of blood hit him well before he reached the nightmarish scene.
After the ninth ring, he was about to hang up, feeling a sick desperation rising within him.
"Chief Wuornos, Haven PD."
Words were forgotten in the surprising rush of relief that washed over him. He squeezed his eyes shut harder at the prick of moisture he felt there.
"Hello?" The Chief started to sound annoyed now, which brought a strangled half choked laugh from him.
"Who is this?"
"D-Dad. It's Nathan."
Even in the dim light he could see the blood spattered everywhere. But it was the girls mangled body that froze him in his tracks, deep gashes marring alabaster skin, and dead eyes seeming to stare at him.
The sound of snapping twigs made him jump and whirl to find his roommate, Gabriel Wehler, standing nearby dressed in sweats against the chill evening, hands tucked into the hoodie's pockets. Nathan noticed the mud and stains on his clothes.
"Oh my god!"
"I just found her like this," Nathan said gesturing to the scene before them. "I thought I heard something."
"So did I," Gabe claimed. "I tripped coming down the running trail to get here. Obviously not in time."
Nathan nodded back towards the dorm. "I'll get campus security and call the cops. Will you stay here?"
Gabe nodded and waved Nathan on. "Sure, Nate. Damned shame though. Maybe people will listen to us next time, huh?"
"Nathan?" The Chief sounded confused and to Nathan's tired mind, even a little concerned.
"I'm sorry I'm calling so late. I- I just…," Nathan took a shuddering breath. "I was wondering if I could…could I come home for a few days?"
Nathan actually sniffled at little at the silence that greeted his question but pushed aside the tears that wanted to fall. He had only been back to Haven once for a period of three days last winter and even then only spent a few hours with his dad at the police station after they argued once more about his leaving Haven with Duke Crocker without telling anyone.
"I know I don't have any right to ask with the way I left…but I… Dad…," Nathan swallowed down a gasp feeling himself start to ramble and unable to stop himself. "It was there all the time….right in front of me…didn't see. I didn't…"
"Nathan, listen to me," his father spoke in away that was both gruff and reassuring. And for a moment Nathan was both reassured and amazed anyone, let alone his father, could do that. "You listening?"
"Yes, sir," Nathan replied softly.
"You get your things and you come on back home. You can tell me what happened when you get here," his dad ordered. "We'll figure it out, okay?"
"How do you know…?"
"You're my son," his dad interrupted. "And you're always welcome to come home."
Nathan stopped in his tracks at that.
Gabe had made it clear he disapproved of the partying and sexual conduct of many of his fellow students, even making some rather cruel remarks about the first rape victim, but he was also the first to assist Nathan in trying to get campus security and the students to be more cautious and aware of the danger.
"What did you say?" Nathan asked, suddenly furious at his roommates attiude. He calmed at seeing the serene look on Gabe's face, not an expression one would expect on someone who'd just found a murder victim.
"We warned them, Nathan," Gabe said gesturing to the body; bring forth a bloody knife from his sleeves as he did so. "We warned them to be godly or they would suffer for their sins."
"You did this?" Nathan asked in shock.
"Of course," Gabe smiled. "We are God's messenger, you and I. We warned them and they defied God! They had to be punished."
Nathan just shook his head in horror and backed away. "You need help, Gabe. I'm calling campus security and the cops."
"No!" Gabe shrieked in outrage. "Don't let them corrupt you, Nathan. I spared you because you are special, you pure of spirit like me. You belong with the angels, Nathan, just like me!"
Nathan just shook his head and backed away further. "You're no angel, Gabe. And there's nothing holy about this."
Gabe screamed and charged. There was a flash of light on the blade.
Nathan was grateful when the Chief simple opened the door to his, their, home and silently gestured for him to put his things in his old room. Just as quietly he offered Nathan a beer when he came back down and sat on the couch beside his old man. Nathan could tell his dad had noted the bandage on his arm. Nathan was pretty sure he already figured out the stab wound to his son's chest by the way Nathan carried himself.
Nathan was just grateful he let both go without comment.
Hours later, after the bottles were long since empty and still no words had been spoken, Nathan shifted to face his father.
"I killed someone. He was…hurting people, killing them. I didn't…I didn't mean to."
"I know," his Dad replied softly. At Nathan's shocked look he sat back on the couch with heavy sigh. "I was called by the police a few hours after you called. I'm sorry you had to go through that, son."
"I might be facing charges," Nathan said quietly looking down.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about that," The Chief assured him.
"Maybe I do deserve to worry. He was my roommate and I didn't see him for what he was!" Nathan protested.
"You're not a cop, Nate."
Nathan sighed heavily, scrubbing his hands across his face, frustrated and overwhelmed by the situation. "I don't know what to do."
"Well, you can stay here as long as need to figure it out. And I'll help you. You know, if you want some advice."
And while his father's words were stilted and sounded uncomfortable at that moment Nathan loved his father more than he could say. "Yeah, yeah I do."
Nathan blinked.
Gabe lay on the ground gasping with blood frothing at the mouth and blood pooling under him from the knife in his chest. The other man chest shuddered a few more breathes before he stopped, eyes fixed on the night sky above them.
He didn't know what happened. All he remembered was focusing on the bloody knife. There was a flash of light and then Gabe dead on the ground. It took him a moment to realize the pain radiating from his side and arm.
When Nathan returned to school the next week he went to his advisor with his new major: Criminal Justice. His brief trip home had made him realize he'd been wrong about a lot of things, particularly about himself and his father. Somewhere along the way he'd lost himself and he intended to get that back even if it meant going back to the one place he thought he'd never see again: Haven, Maine. Home.
