The good stuff should be beginning in a few chapter, so you should probably stick around for that. As for this chapter, I hope you enjoy the drama.
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade
Too late
Another glass of whiskey went down his throat and he shuddered as it seemed to burn the flesh. He slammed the glass down on the table beside the half empty bottle so hard in a sober mind he'd be surprised it didn't crack. That was his main problem. He wasn't sober. He was as drunk as he'd ever remembered. But that was good. Drunkenness gave him courage to do what he needed to do, finish what needed to be finished. He poured himself another glass and it was gone within thirty seconds. His vision was getting blurry but that was good. It was almost time. Day was beginning to dawn. He'd have to get a move on if he was going to make it to her house on time. Well, it was really his, her new partner, but she lived there and no doubt she'd tried to take over the house. That was her style and he should know. He had been married to her for ten years, after all. After such a long time, you get to know a person. And, after a year of watching a person continually, you got to know a lot of things about a person. What they ate for breakfast, what they washed their hair with, their daily routine. Yeah, he'd learned a lot of things. He knew the daily aspects of her life better than she did.
His eyes drifted towards the gun lying behind the whiskey bottle. It gleamed in the pale light of his kitchen like some menacing beady eyes, watching his every move, encouraging him to drink some more. Just another glass ought to make sure his mind doesn't change, as it had the past three times he'd tried. He couldn't afford to not go through with it this time. He had a feeling if he gave up now he'd never try again. If his bottle went this time he'd never get it back. That message was branded in the back of his mind by the red hot poker known as alcohol. Ever since his divorce two years ago, alcohol had been his only friend and tormentor. It had been alcohol that had made the courts decide he was unfit to see his kids. It had been alcohol that had ended his marriage and it was now going to be alcohol that would be his final release. Once, of course, he had taken a few people with him.
The sun was rising steadily from behind the shafts of his blinds. The sky still had tinges of reds and pinks that looked more like cotton candy than clouds. Still, the signal was the same. It was almost time for him to set off. The kids would soon be dropped off at daycare so he would have to make sure to be there for them while they left the house. A nice little surprise. Daddy coming to visit. Daddy and his handgun.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Four shots and it would all be over for his family. Then they would be together always. He would have slain his demons and in death would be free. They would love him again. That's what his mind was telling him anyway and he believed it. He had no reason not too. He had no reasons at all. In fact, there wasn't even any reasons anymore. There was just the end and how to get there.
Tipping back the rest of his whiskey, he left the table, making sure the handgun was concealed down his jeans. With one last look behind him, at the misery he was leaving behind, he felt a manic grin spread across his face.
Gasping, I sat up in my bed. I hated dreams which were like that. They made my heart pound like a million beats a minute. It was awful. The worst thing was that it was true. Jack Collins was on his way to murder his family and no one could do anything about it. No one but me. I was glad that Mariah and Garnet were still sleeping beside me. They hadn't noticed my rude awakening. It was a wonder they couldn't smell any of that nasty whiskey Collins had been drinking. The stench of it was stuck in my nostrils like boogers. Disgusting I know but that's the way it was. I almost felt drunk from the fumes of it and I'd never got drunk before. I mean, I've had wine and stuff at my cousin's weddings but that's about it.
Even so, I was still trembling all over and feeling terrified for that family. They had maybe an hour or so before the psycho arrived at their doorstep with a different kind of wake up call. I had to get to them and fast. As far was I was aware, Moira Collins took her two young children to daycare at eight o'clock. It was now seven. That meant my dad was probably already on his way to work and contacting him was not going to be easy. Still, I knew I had to try. My phone was beside my head, so I dialed his mobile number and hoped for the best but as expected it was turned off. My dad's one of those cautious drivers who doesn't drive with his cell on. This made me panic slightly. I didn't know what to do. I mean, obviously I had to get help to the Collins family but I didn't know how. I was really scared for him. Like, doe stuck in headlights scared. I couldn't stand the thought of Moira – who was a really great mother and was deeply sorry for divorcing her husband though she had no choice – and her two boys who weren't even into double figures yet being murdered by a drunken psycho. I would not let that happen.
Taking care not to wake either of the girls, I crept out of the bed and down the hall to were Kai was sleeping. He'd know what to do. It was Kai, after all. Besides, after last night I was sure he'd help me out. Sure, the walk home had just been us talking about different things: school, friends, music. Things we didn't know about each other. But it had still been so great. His hand seemed to fit mine as if it had been made for it. It was comfortable and warm and I felt safe. Now I was relying on him being able to keep other people safe. I already knew I was going to call the police but since my dad always took care of those calls I had no idea how to go about it. Kai, being so eloquent in the way he spoke, would probably have a better idea at how to approach such a sticky situation. I mean, how could some one take you seriously when you just so happened to know that there was going to be a murder because you dreamed it in your head? Strange, much?
I knocked lightly on Tala's bedroom door. I didn't want to just barge in or whatever since I didn't know how the boys slept when there were no girls present. I don't think either of them would be too amused if I walked in on them naked or whatever (though it wouldn't bother me in the slightest). I waited a few seconds until there was no answer and knocked again, slightly heavier this time.
There was a groan that sounded like Tala and I could hear a movement in a bed which sounded like some one putting a pillow over their head. "Who is it?" Kai asked, sounding as if he was still asleep.
"It's Hilary,"I replied quietly. "I need your help...I had a dream."
"I'm coming out," he replied straight away and I heard him pull on some clothes. He was at the door in less than a minute, with jeans and a fresh t-shirt on. I wish I'd put some clothes on other than my faded Pooh bear pajamas. We went into the living room and sat down. "What happened?"
I gave him as detailed an account as I could. He looked notably concerned but he wasn't exactly shaking in his boots. Or bare feet, in this case. I finished off with, "I have to tell the police but I don't know what to say. You seem pretty good at that kind of stuff, right?"
Kai shook his head and at first I thought he was going to be modest. I was so wrong. "You can't call the police."
I could only stare. Maybe he hadn't understood what I'd said or something. I'd told him I hadn't been able to contact my dad, hadn't I? I couldn't phone Grandpa Granger because there was speculation about his phone being tapped or something so what else could I do? "You don't understand. People are-"
"I do understand!" Kai cut me off aggressively and it stung. "I know that this family could be killed but so could we. If you phone the police they can trace the call and they'd trace it right here. They wouldn't waste anytime in getting my grandfather involved."
I bunched my fists up. I don't think I've ever been so angry or frustrated in all my life. "Could you stop thinking about yourself for one second! It's a freaking anonymous call. They're not going to say 'maybe this person's with Kai'. They're going to freaking follow up the call and save a family's lives! Stop being so Goddamn selfish and just help me!"
Kai softened his face in a way that was probably supposed to be charming. Well I wasn't in the mood to be charmed. "You can't help everyone you dream about. That's not possible."
I had sudden visions of my mom. I hadn't been able to help her. I wish I'd have known at the time what I was experiencing was real and I would have. Now, I had the chance to redeem myself and the only was I could do that was to answer every dream I got. It was the only way I could make up for letting my mom die. "I helped you. I didn't have to but I did. I'm in danger now because of it. I should say you owe me." It was a petty line but I was getting desperate. If I was going to help Moira and her sons I had to do it now.
"I'll pay you back some other way. I'm sorry, but we've come to far to just throw everything away because you've found someone else who needs you."
"Fine," I replied calmly. It wasn't fine at all, not by a long short. I was so close to despising Kai right then. Forget all that had happened the night before, forget everything we had and everything we'd done. I needed him and he wasn't going to be there for me because he cared too much about himself. I think my feelings were very reasonable. "If you're too selfish to help some one out then that's just fine."
His eyes narrowed at me and he glared. I glared right back. He wasn't going to intimidate me. I'd come up against kittens I was more afraid of. "It's not about me. I'm pretty fucking annoyed that you think it is but it isn't. This is about being a leader. A leader has to sacrifice others so they can protect their own. That's what I'm doing. It hurts like hell, but I'm going to sacrifice this family-who I know nothing about, incidentally – so that we have a chance to be safe. If you're going to be mad at me then so be it."
"Believe me," I said darkly, taking a few steps towards him. "What I feel right now is so much worse than anger." I looked at my watch. I was running out of time fast. "I'm going to tell the police what I know. They might not believe me but I'm going to try anyway." I went towards the phone but Kai had moved so quickly I hadn't even seen him and blocked my path. This infuriated me so much I felt like slapping him. He looked regretful but I didn't care. He could pack his regret in a shopping bag and shove up his a-hole for all I cared. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way." I hissed.
He shook his head so that his bangs fell over his eyes. "No. I'm sorry but I can't let you. It's not worth the risk. I really am sorry, Hils."
"Hils is something only my friends can call me," I replied nastily and I enjoyed the hurt look that crossed Kai's face for a fleeting second. I waited few seconds to see if he would move but he didn't. "I'm going up to my room. I'll call then from my mobile." I turned to go upstairs but he grabbed my wrist firmly. I looked up at him in shock. Barring my path was one thing but grabbing my physically? That was crossing a whole different boundary. "Let go of me!"
"I can't."
I tried to pull my wrist away but his grip got tighter. I didn't notice then, but it never got tight enough to hurt me. At that moment, I was outraged. "Let go!" I screamed.
"No."
I screamed again in frustration and did the only thing I could think of. I raised my free hand and slapped him across the face as hard as I could. He winced. Of course he did. I once slapped a boy so hard because he was being a pervert that he cried. His cheek had already turned red but his grip didn't loosen. That made me more angry. My breathing was ragged and my hair was clinging to my face. My eyes were full of a loathing like they'd never been full of before.
Kai leaned in towards me and whispered, "Hit me again if it'll make you feel better."
I didn't get a chance. I wanted to so badly but I didn't get a chance. Everyone had come running down stairs to see what the noise was all about, some in time to see me hit Kai. All saw that he wasn't letting me get away.
"Jesus, Kai!" Tala yelled. "Let go of her. What the hell is wrong with you?"
The harshness of Tala's voice made Kai slacken his hand just enough for me to get free. I got as far away as possible from him, rubbing my wrist even though it wasn't sore. I didn't do it on purpose. I was just alarmed that he'd been so adamant about stopping me he was willing to cross the line.
"She wants to phone the police!" Kai pointed an accusing finger in my direction but I didn't care. He could try to blame me all he wanted but I think even he was aware that he had gone too far. I should have known that the word 'police' had made him panic. I should have known but I didn't.
"There's going to be a murder!" I insisted. "I dreamed about it! I have to tell the police so they can stop it. A whole family's going to die!" I let my own accusing finger point. "He didn't want me to. He's so freaking paranoid he said that they'd trace me anonymous call and connect me with him."
All eyes turned to Kai but he didn't seem to care. He just kept staring at me, glaring at me. I didn't care either. He could glare all he wanted but it wouldn't make one bit of difference to me. As far as I was concerned we were finished. It didn't matter what we're shared the night before, not any more. He'd tried to stop me from doing what I had to do and right then that was unforgivable.
"Go make your call, Hilary." Garnet's eyes never left Kai's. They were calm. I think she may have been the only one who was. She wasn't angry, she wasn't scared. She was just calm. I would have loved to know what was going through her head but I didn't ask. I ran upstairs and made the call that would hopefully save the Collins' lives.
For the rest of the day, I avoided Kai. I just stayed clear of him. A few times – more than that – he tried to approach me but every time he did I dropped what I was doing and moved away from him, followed by a growl. If he tried to talk to me I just ignored him of gave him one word answers. I know that's really immature and what not but I was raging at him. After all, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or something like that. And fury I had. Tonnes of it. I would get over it, but Kai wouldn't give me a chance too. Yet, even more annoyingly, our friends were trying to get me to talk to him. All the 'he's really sorry'-s and the 'just say something to him'-s were starting to seriously get on my nerves. He freaking restrained me! He actually grabbed hold of me to stop me going against his orders. I mean, that's pretty harsh. I just couldn't believe no one else was really that mad at him. Some were even back to normal and stuff.
I suppose they probably just didn't want to take sides, which I guess was fair enough. I couldn't hold grudges for that. But when they tried to get me and Kai to make up? Please! I should be clear that 'they' were Garnet and Mariah. No one else bothered, thinking I would get over it and accept one of Kai's apologies eventually. To his virtue, he knew he'd been out of line and I know I should have slapped him. That didn't mean I regretted it, by the way. I just know I shouldn't have. It was like the way we were kissing the night before. We shouldn't have been doing so but it had felt so good that we couldn't possible regret it...
...No! No, no, no. That was in the past. I had to focus on the present. Kai was a dominating asshole. End of. Thanks for playing. It didn't matter that he was an incredibly good kisser or that I knew he genuinely cared for me or even that deep down inside I knew that the way he had acted that morning had been him being cautious because he didn't want anything to happen to me. Maybe too cautious, but still cautious just the same. It sucked that I could see where he was coming from once my head had cleared. Voltaire was naturally going to be wondering how Kai had managed to escape him twice already. It was a perfectly reasonable assumption that he was going to all lengths to find out how and if an anonymous tip meant that a murder had been stopped, something fishy would catch in any dirty cop's nose.
Oh, crap.
Well, there was nothing I could do about it anyway. Even if I had understood then I would still have made that call. Luckily, I hadn't been on long enough for the call to be traced. I'd watched enough CSI to know that it took more than thirty seconds to trace a mobile call. But I was wrong. Kai had been right and I'd been wrong. That didn't mean his lengths to stop me had been acceptable. No, I still wasn't happy about that but I knew I would have to admit sooner or later that his motives had been sensible. Pride was always such a hard thing to swallow, wasn't it?
After mulling this over and over again in my mind I knew I had to talk to Kai. And I was actually about to when the ten o'clock news came on the T.V.
"In the early hours of this morning, Moira Collins and her two sons Robert and Jack – aged just four and seven – were shot dead by estranged husband, Jack Collins Snr. before the gun was turned on himself.
"The police arrived just minutes too late after an anonymous tip informed them that drunken Collins was on his way with a handgun to his ex-wife's house to kill her and their two children who he'd been given a ban from seeing as a result of excessive alcohol consumption which led to a violent nature.
"Fiance of murdered Moira, Eric Holden, is said to be beside himself with grief over the loss of what seemed like his family and was unable to make any comments on the events which had occurred outside his doorstop.
"In other news..."
That's when I stopped watching. That's when I stopped listening. That's when I'd just stopped. I'd been too late. My insides felt like they were about to be torn apart from the despair I felt for the poor family who'd never done a thing wrong except try to escape from a neglecting father/husband. I actually felt sick. They were so beautiful, the mother and kids. It wasn't fair that they should have died. It just wasn't fair that they should have died. It just wasn't fair. For the second time in my life I'd been too late. Only this time, there was some one else to blame.
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