Book Two: Corruption
Chapter Ten:
The return to Iceland was a long and depressing one. Charlie's heart hung heavily in his chest. Grief fogged his mind. His world had shattered all around him. He stayed in a log cabin near the docks. He used cabin's phone to contact Hoshi.
Hoshi: hey dad
Charlie: Hoshi, I've got some bad news. I was too late to save your mother. She was dead when I got there. Your sister has been kidnapped as well.
-Hoshi goes quiet—
Hoshi: today just keeps getting worse huh? It seems like we've been dragged into something that we can't get out of.
Charlie: I'm sorry, Hoshi. I tried everything I could to save her
Hoshi: I knew better than to leave her alone. Why is it that when I turn my back things go wrong? What's it going to take to keep everyone safe?
Charlie: I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out. I need to find Sarah. Meet me down by the docks.
Hoshi tossed his phone onto the nightstand. He turned around. "he was too late." He whispered. "mom is dead." James hugged his brother tightly. Hoshi kept from crying. "we're all the family dad has left." Cedric bowed his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you guys into this." Hoshi snarled. "your damn right your sorry! Thanks to your stupid ass my mother is dead!" Cedric flinched. "I don't know why you had to pick PontyPandy of all places to start a god damned war!" Sam growled softly. "Don't blame him for any of this! Bronwyn's death wasn't his fault and you know that! I know you are angry. I know you are upset but this isn't a time to start pointing fingers." Hoshi stormed out of the room. He couldn't stand to be around them for a moment longer. White snow swirled around Hoshi. He tucked his hands into his pockets. He sat down on the front steps. His breathe came out in white puffs. Cedric had followed him outside. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." Cedric sat with him. "I don't blame you. I put your family in harms' way. That was never my intent. I just wanted to find my father. I promise you that I will help you get revenge on whoever killed your mother." Hoshi looked down at his feet. "and I think I know who did it." Cedric gets to his feet. "we'd better meet up with your dad."
Sarah ate while Ashley talked. "Your Uncle and I were very close. We were separated when those assassins like the ones you saw attacked." Sarah frowned. "that's too bad. I'm sorry that happened." Ashley leaned forward on her hands. "ever since then I've been trying to find him. I was hoping maybe you would have a clue as to where I can look." Sarah smiled. "he's in Iceland with Penny. They left shortly after they arrived." Ashley raised an eyebrow. "how interesting. Allow me to thank you by rewarding you with something beyond your imagination." Sarah lowered the fork she was holding. "like what?" she asked. "how about with powers that are far stronger than the ones your uncle is possessing?" Sarah giggled. "my Uncle doesn't have powers and neither does my dad." A snake-like smile played on Ashley's lips. "you are about to be impressed my dear. You have no idea what capabilities you'll have once you've received this gift." She waved her hand. A dark red mist appeared in the palm of her hand. "focus on the swirling pattern." Sarah did exactly as she was told. The world blurred out around her. She began to grow dizzy. Sarah woke up in a dark room surrounded in red mist. The ground had the same spiraling pattern on it. Ashley stood in front of Sarah wearing a black cloak. "rise my child." Sarah got to her feet. "where am I?" she asked. "I have drawn you into the void. This is the only way I can reward you with powers." Ashley allowed her fangs to show. "now hold still." Sarah whimpered quietly. Dark red vines wrapped themselves around Sarah. Ashley yanked Sarah close to her. Ashley bit down on Sarah's neck. She started flooding Sarah's system with venom. Sarah freezes in her grasp. She calls out in pain feeling her veins burn. She feels her body go numb. Her veins started glowing underneath her skin. Her eyes turned from green to red. Her body went limp and her vision went dark.
Hoshi and Cedric met up with Charlie at the docks. Charlie stayed close to Bronwyn's body. Hoshi knelt by his mother's body. He held her cold hand in his. "goodbye mother. We'll see each other again soon." He whispered. He kissed the back of her hand gently. "it's never goodbye its see you soon." He got to his feet. "where are we burying her?" Charlie laid flowers by Bronwyn's body. "near PontyPandy cliffs. She felt at home there." Hoshi nodded. Charlie turns to Cedric. "are you coming with us?" Cedric shook his head. "no. You guys need a moment to grieve with family and friends. I should probably let James know that you guys are getting ready to leave." Charlie placed a hand on his shoulder. "you are already a member of this family." Cedric smiled. "once dad is feeling better, we'll be by to visit." Sheliah slithered out of Cedric's pocket. She grew to a larger size. She lowered her head for Cedric. "I'll be back." Cedric climbed onto her back. Sheliah spiraled into the sky disappearing amongst the clouds. James waited for his cousin out in the snow. Penny stood by his side. She laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'll take good care of your Uncle. Just go with your father. Don't worry about us." James looked up at her. Penny gave him an encouraging smile. "your father needs you now. We'll be fine." Sheliah touched down in the parking lot. She lowered her head. James climbed up with his cousin. He waved goodbye to Penny. Penny waved back. Sheliah took off into the sky again.
Penny closed the door to Sam's room. She leaned against the door. Sam made space for her on the bed. She flopped down next to him. She curled up into a ball. Sam cuddled up next to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Bronwyn's death isn't your fault. You need to stop blaming yourself for other people's death." Penny let out an annoyed sigh. "you guys always say that! Why do I feel guilty?!" she snapped. She pulled away from him. "you guys always say things are going to get better. You guys always say that pain is only temporary." Sam scooted close to her. "Penny, you have to learn to forgive yourself. I don't know what happened to you in the past and I may not be able to relate but I believe that you will pull through it. You are a strong woman." Penny stayed quiet. "I knew better than to let him go after me. He should have left me to die in that fire." She whispered. "the stupid idiot would still be alive. He wasn't allowed to die on my watch. We were responding to a house fire. I got my foot caught on some burning panels. I wasn't able to move very far. The house was coming down around us. Daniel managed to get me out but.." her eyes grew hot. "he didn't make it. I've had nightmares ever since. I haven't been able to forgive myself for it." Sam held her in his arms. "it's time for you to move on. He died doing something he loved. He died trying to protect you." Penny buried her face in his chest. "we've both lost something. We both experience pain from time to time. Penny, I want you to know that I am willing to sacrifice my life for you. I am willing to bring you happiness. I am willing to bring you whatever it is you need for life. I want to be your rock. I want to be something in your life." He kissed the top of her head. "you shouldn't be afraid to fall in love again." Penny bit her lip. "you can't keep running forever." He lifted up her chin. He brought his lips to hers. Penny knew he was right. She knew she couldn't keep fighting him. She tossed her arms around his neck. He leaned back so she could get on top of him. His back hit the sheets. Penny finally broke the kiss. She stared into his eyes. "you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." She whispered. He touched her cheek. "I'm going to keep my promise." She laid down on his chest. His warmth lured her to sleep.
The spring months had just settled in. Charlie opened the blinds up on the second floor of the café. A set of arms wrapped themselves around him. Charlie let out a soft hum. "hello love." Bronwyn smiled. Charlie turned around to face her. He gave her a kiss. "morning." He nuzzled her gently. He held her close to him. His brother, Sam stirred out of a dead sleep. His ginger hair poked out in all directions. "why don't you come out on the ocean with me, Sam?" suggested Charlie. Sam held back a yawn. "Sounds like a lovely idea. Just let me wake up." He scratched the lower part of his back. Poor Sam could barely keep his eyes open. He sat down on the couch. "I take it the twins aren't up yet?" he asked. Charlie shook his head. "no. They won't be up for another hour or so. It's the weekend so I expect them to be sleeping in like usual." Sam scratched behind his head. He blinked sleep away from his eyes. "we might as well head out now. No telling when the tide is going to whip up again." Charlie followed his brother downstairs. They were happy to finally be free of the people who had been chasing them for years. Charlie untied his boat from the docks. He tossed the rope onto the deck. Sam moved the throttle forward. The propellers churned against the current pushing the boat forward. Charlie checked the map of the sea he had pinned to the cabin. He tapped one area of the map. "head towards PontyPandy Island." Sam saluted him. "you got it captain."
Charlie lowered his net into the water. He motioned for Sam to move forward. The net floated out behind the boat. Charlie watched the net for silver specks. Some of the fish got caught up in the net. They began to flap their tails madly. Charlie used his wince to bring in the net. "there you are." He pulled the net onto the deck. He freed the fish from the net. He placed the fish into a container that he kept near the cabin. "that's the first load in. Now let's set out for the next." The two stayed out at sea for two hours before heading back. Sam helped his brother unload the fresh catch of fish. They managed to fill Bronwyn's freezer for the week. Sam woke out of a dead sleep. The warm memory he had of his brother and his sister-in law faded away. He closed his eyes. "goodbye Bronwyn. Thank you for everything. Please watch over my brother and guide him home safely." He whispered. A light rain came down outside. Sam could make out the light shadows on the wall next to him. It felt weird to him that he was still having flashbacks. He was starting to have two maybe three of them at a time. He used to only have one flashback each night. My memory must be coming back. Whatever kept it locked up is wearing off finally. I can remember bits and pieces. Names are starting to come back to me too. He rubbed his head. The accident must have caused them to start coming back. I should tell Penny. He looked down at her. But I'll wait until after she's woken up. Her name finally has meaning to me now. I remember us working together at some point. He touched his forehead again. But I can't seem to remember anything other than that. Ah well. He laid his head down on his pillow. He drifted off to sleep again.
Charlie knocked on his brother's door. Sam poked his head out. "we're home." Sam smiled. "How'd it go?" Charlie was grinning from ear to ear. "it's going to take him some time to adjust but the interview went wonderfully. He was able to come home with us today." Sam hugged his brother. "I'm very happy for you. Where is he?" Charlie pointed downstairs. "He's with Bronwyn at the moment. He's trying to get used to the twins." Sam followed his brother downstairs. A black-haired boy stood watching Sarah and James. Sarah grabbed hold of his hand. He looked up at Bronwyn unsure of what was happening. She gave him a smile of encouragement. The boy nodded to the twins. Sarah opened the door for him. "we'll be down by the beach!" she called over her shoulder. The boy chased after his new siblings. "what's the kid's name?" Bronwyn smiled. "Hoshi." Sam leaned against the counter. "as I told Charlie, I'm very happy for you two. I know he'll make a wonderful addition to the family." Charlie clasped his brother. "he's a natural born sailor too. I can tell. His eyes lit up when I mentioned I had a boat. He even asked if he could come out with us on fishing trips." Charlie hugged his wife. "there's a fire in his heart. I just know the future is going to get better for us."
I hope you guys have been enjoying the story thus far. I will be working hard to please you guys with this one. As you can tell I've divided the story up into books. I am using a format to help introduce the different arches for this story instead of just creating different stories.
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Let me know what you guys think of this one.
And I will see you guys in the new chapter
-Hosty