Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who continue to read this story! Onward to Chapter 26!

Chapter 26

Everything

(Erik)

The world around me had gone fuzzy, and I felt numb all over my body. I could still make out her form above me though. She was screaming with tears streaming down her cheeks. Even though she was screaming I could still feel the relief coursing through me to see her there screaming instead of silent and skill. "Erik," she said her eyes unfocused, trying to find the sound of my voice, "Erik please you can't-" I reached up and gently touched her cheek which caused her to jerk in that direction.

"I am sorry my love," I said softly my voice hoarse and tired, "I am so sorry."

(Erik – A week earlier)

"I still feel like we are forgetting something Will," I said as we sat in the study going over our future plans.

"Erik we have planned for everything," Will said defiantly, "The plan is going to work, and you need to let that stupid dream of yours go. It is starting to cloud your judgment."

It was true…I used to be such a cold and calculating creature. Now my emotions ran too deep, and I still was unable to shake that stupid dream I had a couple of weeks ago. "She's starting to notice it too Erik," Will said, "Why don't you tell her about the dream and just put it to rest? Besides it's a dream Erik…they don't come true."

But how could I tell her about it? How could I tell her about a dream that featured her dead and peaceful? And especially since that man had been in the dream…that man that even an incredible person like her now hated to her very core as well. I would not see her vengeful again…not after last time.

William let out a hacking cough and even I found it hard to ignore the amount of crimson that was showing up on those white handkerchiefs now. "We are running out of time," Will said knowing my eyes were on him. "We need to set things in motion before I become to weak to carry them out."

I heard laughing outside and I could see Rebecca running around. Jasmine was sitting underneath that willow tree of hers, with a wide smile on her face. No doubt enjoying hearing her sister's laughter after all the tension of the last few months. I would not see their smiles disappear again.

(Jasmine)

Things had been peaceful the last few weeks. Or at least on the outside it did. I had not been so happy in a long time, and yet something still felt off. Erik and William's private conversations hadn't bothered me at first…now they were. Especially since they were happening with increasing regularity.

I heard the door to the house close and I quickly gathered myself. I didn't hear footsteps so I knew it had to be Erik. "So did you and William have a nice talk?" I asked simply.

I felt him sit down beside me and his pause was making me anxious. "We were just discussing his condition," he said softly. "He's starting to get really worried about you two in case something happens to him."

It sounded like a good explanation, one that I had to endure with William himself. But I knew better, and I knew how to read his voice when he was improvising. "Its funny," I muttered to myself, "I thought all this hiding things was going to stop when…"

"When what?" he said a note of nervousness in his tone.

I shook my head frustration boiling in my chest, "Nevermind," I muttered getting up, "God forbid I thought that we actually trusted each other." I was regretting these words, but to hell with it….it was about time I spoke my mind for once. I felt his hand on my wrist.

"Jasmine wait," he said confused, "I don't understand what is going on?"

I chuckled to myself turning on him, "Oh you knew exactly how far to take me didn't you? You knew that if you told me your life story I would believe anything you had to say after that."

"Jasmine," he said taken aback, "for one that is not true. Do you really think I think of you that way? I know you're not an idiot Jasmine."

"Then prove it," I said angrily now, "what is going on just tell me that. Or tell me what has had you so scared the last few weeks?"

I listened for any words, I would take any excuse at this point but all I was greeted with was silence. I shook my head turning from him, "And that is exactly my point Erik."

He didn't even call out to me as I walked away and my heart broke even more.

(Erik)

I was an idiot. Why in God's name hadn't I said anything? I unfortunately cannot say anything about the plans, but the dream…why couldn't I talk about the dream? Was it because I was afraid that if I told her I was afraid it would come true? "Dammit," I muttered running up the stairs, "Jasmine!" I said running to her room and throwing open the door. There was nobody there.

"Jasmine?" I called down the hallway, and then I preceded to check every room after that. She wasn't up here. But I had seen her come up here…I know I had.

"William!" I said running downstairs and I was met with his form down at the bottom of the stairs, "Have you seen Jasmine?"

"I thought she went upstairs because you two were arguing?" he said eyebrow raised.

"She's not up there," I said my voice desperate now.

William looked at me for a second and then he ran upstairs himself a horrified look in his eyes. "Jasmine!" he cried.

"What's going on?" Rebecca said followed immediately by Evelyn.

"Listen to me," I said approaching Ev, "You need to take Rebecca and barricade yourself in the study. I mean it if its not me or William you do not open that door to anybody."

"Erik you're scaring me," Rebecca said eyes wide.

I leaned down in front of her putting my hands on her shoulders, "Don't worry…I am not going to let anything happen to any of you." I gave a look to Ev who immediately took Rebecca by the hand and dragged her away in the direction of the study.

"Some items were overturned in her room," William said a gun in his hand, "Somebody else was in there."

My heart was racing now, and so was everything I had come to fear. "My god," I said softly, "Why did I let her go off by herself?"

William was silent at that comment, and I knew he was cycling through that comment and holding back every criticism he could think of. But right now that wasn't at the forefront of my mind. I was hoping we were overreacting, that she had decided to go off on a walk to cool her head. I was hoping that…

"I will check the main road," William said, "You check behind the house, the woods, check all the way to the lake. Sometimes she walks out there when she wants to be alone."

My heart froze at the mention of water, "There is a lake near here?"

"Stop it," William said his voice raised, "Don't you dare bring that damn dream into this. She is probably making us run around like madmen just to get back at you. In which case I will kill you for that."

The truth was I as about ready to kill myself too if it ended up being that I was overreacting that badly. I bolted out into the woods behind the house my heart racing as I looked for a sign that somebody had been back here. There were marks on a small trail that led away from the house and I made my way in that direction.

Why oh why had I let her go off by herself? That statement kept running through my mind as I kept pushing my way through the foliage. Until I finally hit the lake. It looked beautiful the waters shining and a beautiful shade of blue. I looked along the bank and then I felt this great relief course through me as I saw her down the bank leaning back against a tree. Her eyes closed in concentration but otherwise she was breathing peacefully.

"Jasmine," I kind of called but my voice caught in my throat. That was still enough for her to sit up and I could tell she was trying to tell where the voice had come from.

(Jasmine)

I had been half asleep when I heard somebody faintly call my name. I sat up trying to find the voice again. I didn't need to though as I felt his arms around me and holding me close. "Erik?" I said surprised, "What on Earth-?"

"You were dead," he muttered in my ear. I sat there unsure of how to react to that statement. "In the dream," he said pulling away, "You were dead and there was nothing I could do about it. It scared me half to death and that's why-" he said taking a deep breath, "that's why I didn't say anything. I was afraid that if I told you about it then it would come true. And I can't afford to lose you anymore." That last statement made my breath catch, and I suddenly felt very foolish about the words I had said earlier.

"I'm sorry," I said shaking my head, "I must have scared you wandering off like this."

He let out a deep sigh at that comment, "We should actually probably go back to the house," he muttered.

"Why what's wrong?" I asked smiling.

"Everybody's kind of on alert because well we as per usual assumed the worst and had your aunt barricade herself and Rebecca in the study." My head dropped at that I let out a chuckle.

"Oh you two are just too much sometimes," I said laughing.

"Hey I was genuinely worried here," he said trying to act irritated but I could hear that hint of humor in his voice. I heard him lean forward and he gently kissed me on the cheek, "I'm glad you're okay...in more ways then one." He gently stroked my hair out of my face and his fingertips were so soft against. "Its just that...the thought of losing you...it affects me in more ways then probably even I understand."

It was then that I realized what he was saying. He wasn't just worried about losing me physically, but emotionally also. I knew now how deep the scars with Christine truly ran and he knew of my own personal pain with Paul. I gently took his hand in mine, "You're not going to lose me," I said softly, "I am not going to leave because now I feel exactly the same way. And even if God should take me from this Earth physically I will never leave you here," I said gently putting my hand on his chest, "or here I said gently feeling my way to his temple."

He let out a small sigh, "And I am not about to let either of those thing happen so quickly." And then he leaned forward gently kissing me at first and then becoming more and more...well passionate was probably the most appropriate term.

I smiled, "I thought Aunt Ev and Rebecca were barricaded in the study?"

He sighed at that, "Damn it I hate it when you do that."

I laughed, "Well unless you want William to come out here and find us..."

"Ah fine," he said reluctantly helping me up, but I could feel now that he was much more relaxed in his touch. "We'll just take our time walking back," he said softly, "I need those moment of peace if it is only a walk down the road."

"I couldn't agree more," I muttered softly gripping his hand in mine.

(Erik)

I felt a little stupid about this whole event. Just telling her about the dream had taken a huge relief off of both of shoulders. She still hadn't questioned me about the plans me and William had made, and I was sure that was another conversation for the future. But my mind wandered away from that as we approached the house. It was dusk outside and not a single light was lit in the house.

"What is it?" Jasmine asked.

"The house is still dark," I said softly, "I would have thought William would have come back by now."

I grabbed her hand and rushed to the house. We went inside and headed towards the study, "Evelyn?" I called outside the door. The door quickly opened and a distraught Evelyn came out.

"My god where have you been?" but as she caught sight of Jasmine relief washed over her face, "Jasmine thank goodness you are alright."

"William hasn't come back yet?" I asked anxiously.

"No he hasn't," Ev said, "That's why we were getting so worried."

I gently squeezed Jasmine's hand, "He was supposed to have gone out to check the main road. I will go check on him now. Stay with your sister and I will hurry back." I could tell by the look on her face that she wanted to argue that command, but she held it back.

"Alright go and please hurry," she said her voice worried. I turned on my heel without a second thought and took off out of the door. I felt very nervous about leaving them there, but William not returning was bothering me too. "

"William!" I called listening to the sound of my own echo. "William!" There was still no answer, not even the faintest sound of someone answering. I kept looking and then my heart froze as I caught sight of a collapsed form beside the road.

"William," I muttered running towards his still form. His breaths were coming in gasps and there was a small line of blood coming from his mouth. As I gently picked him up his whole body was shaking as well as drenched in sweat from a fever.

"Dammit boy why didn't you say anything?" I muttered to myself. This was bad...William had been so worried the past few days about his health. And it seemd every week that he only grew weaker and weaker. I pushed my way into the house the door closing behind me. Jasmine ran into the room her eyes worried.

"Erik?" she said waiting for the sound of my voice so that she knew where I was.

"We are going to need a cool rag," I said quickly taking off as many layers as I could of William's clothes. William let out a hacking cough and I thought I saw Jasmine's face pale as he did.

I went to her side gripping his hands, "Listen to me, I need you to stay calm and focused. We need to bring his fever down now before it gets any worse. We need a cold rag and water." She closed her eyes taking a deep breath before she nodded her head and headed into the kitchen. I ran upstairs to grab a blanket for William.

When I came back down Jasmine was leaning over him gripping his hand and applying the rag to his forehead. "I don't understand," she said as I approached, "I didn't think it was this bad yet."

"I know," I muttered, "I know he had been worried the past few days. But he would keep certain aspects of his condition from us, just to keep everything functioning normally."

She shook her head, "This can't happen now. I'm not ready to-" she said her voice shaking.

I grabbed her hand, "Its not going to happen. I can still feel that strength in him fighting even now. This is a bad day and nothing more. Now we pray that his fever breaks and that he wakes up tomorrow with that attitude we have come to love so much. She let out a deep sigh nodding her head as well. I reached over taking her in my arms. "Everything is going to be alright," I whispered softly, "I promise."

TBC

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