The Hunter and The Butterfly

Chapter 36

It is theorized that when actions occur that people are unprepared for, that is the path that their life will travel down. For the pair, it seemed like fate had given them a second chance at years nobody knows what road they will lead them down. It had all been a blur ever since their rescue. Atticus and Bridgette had escorted the pair to the awaiting cruiser, where Lorna collapsed as she grasped the handle to the car door. The paralysis drug on-and-off again kicked in at random times, resulting in her legs rendered utterly useless. Atticus held onto her waist as she was hoisted into the backseat, the hospital awaiting their arrival. The last thing James remembered was being wheeled onto a gurney with his paralegal by his side, only her eyes were closed, her skin changing sickly pale. He was still covered in dried blood as he never took his gaze from her, groaning as he felt the bumps in the floor adding to his own pain. Doctors had wheeled them into separate rooms, where they immediately got to work checking vitals, taking x-rays, and performing various tasks to help heal them faster.

Beside the successful police rescue, the bodies of Stuart Strange and Edgar Dumbarton were recovered from the scene, labeling both killings as "self-defense." Benjamin Wilton and John Pettifer had survived their injuries when they were previously thought to have died, both were quickly handcuffed and placed in custody. Things had settled down afterward, but it would be a long journey to puzzle together the pieces of the aftermath.

"Please don't kill him! He's had enough!" Lorna rocked back and forth as she struggled to untie her bound hands.

"Say goodnight, Mr. Delaney. May God help you find piece." Stuart aimed a gun right between his eyes, a sickening smile grazing his lips.

Lorna screamed as a single shot rung through the house, sending James's lifeless body to the floor.

"James!" Lorna cried as she shot up from bed, fresh hot sweat slicking down her face. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths as she looked around the hospital, panicked stricken and dazed. Her parents noticed her reaction and moved to her side, her father taking a cloth out of a pink bowl filled with water and dabbing at her forehead.

"It's all right, sweetheart," Bradley comforted her. "You're safe now."

"Wh-where…where am I?" Lorna stammered.

"You're in the hospital. It's ok, my love," Sandy adjusted her glasses and stroked her head. "You were taken here about a week ago."

"A week?! I've been out for a week?!" Lorna was shocked as she tried to stand up but felt a tugging at her wrists. Looking down, her eyes widened when she saw two white cottoned medical restraints tied to the railings of the bed around her wrists. Her mouth hung open and wordless gasps escaped her throat. Shaking her head back and forth, she started to whimper and struggle, the memories hitting her in a flash. Her hands balled into fists as she sobbed, screaming that she did not want to see them anymore. Sandy tried to calm her down as Bradley rushed to the door, calling for two nurses who sprinted inside and saw the struggling woman. Immediately one of them hurried over and undid the ties, releasing her wrists as she grabbed onto her mother's waist tightly.

"Lorna, I'm sorry," Sandy's breath hitched in her throat as she wiped tears from her eyes. "They were afraid you would hurt yourself. You would lash out at night, flying your fists around in all direction."

"Impossible," Lorna shook her head. "I mean, oh no…what's happening to me?"

"Nothing of your doing," one of the doctors explained. "The effects of the succinylcholine are fully worn off, but they didn't do it right. The drug causes temporary paralysis in all muscles, in your case it was on-and-off only in your legs. We had to sedate you so we could get you moving normally again."

Lorna looked down at the floor and fell back on the bed. Gritting her teeth, tears began to flood her vision as her body wrecked with sobs. The nights before had been awful, those bedroom walls closing in on her as she drifted into unconsciousness from what those men had done to her. The visions she suffered, the nightmares she encountered down to her rescue, it was taking a toll on her sanity. Gripping the blanket, she pulled it over her head and commanded that she be left alone. The doctors obliged and gently ushered her parents out of the room, both not looking back as she was left with her own thoughts.

Once she was by herself, Lorna sighed heavily and felt the first peaceful wave of fatigue to wind over since her rescue. Closing her eyes, one final sigh left her lungs as she drifted into an endless sea of sleep.

Sandy and Bradley walked down the hall towards the elevator when they noticed a familiar face exiting one of the rooms. James limped out the door, wearing normal clothes except for the halt in his step. Shockingly, his injuries were not as severe as the staff had come to think. The tactical vest had protected him from the initial kicks and punches he had suffered, decreasing bruising by a staggering 85% much to his family's relief. He still had trouble walking, but everyone was positive that he was going to live a life to the fullest. Atticus decided not to charge him with knocking one of his officer's unconscious and stealing his gun on behalf of Baymore, who understood why he had done it and held no grudge against him for saving his lover's life. It was going to be an outlook that was uncertain and with much obstacles, yet perhaps this could make room for a bigger road that held a brighter future. James stopped halfway up the hallway with his family by his side when he noticed Lorna's parents staring at him in front of the elevator.

"Sandy, Bradley," he greeted them. "I'm happy to see you here."

"James," Zilpha touched his shoulder. "Anna and I are heading home. We'll meet you there."

"Yes," Anna gave her son a wide smile. "I knew God would bless us with your fast recovery. Take care, my son."

James watched them disappear towards the stairs before he turned back to Lorna's family.

"How are you healing up?" Bradley asked.

"I just got done with Dr. Henry," James grunted. "He says I'm recovering awfully fast. However…"

His look grimed. He had been present by Lorna's side ever since her admittance, waiting for the moment for her to wake up so he could run in and be right by her side. She had suffered the most out of all, having endured nights and days in Hell before experiencing the bliss of Heaven once more. He was eternally grateful for the family and friends that cared for her so much, especially her parents. Unfortunately, he was aware of the trauma she was going to experience.

"James," Sandy stepped in front of her husband and cleared her throat. "Lorna…she's awake."

His eyes widened as the hall grew silent for a few moments. "She…she is? Right now?"

"Yes, but…" Bradley frowned. "She's not in the right state of mind."

James closed his eyes and nodded in sorrow, unsurprised at his words. Looking down the hall, he turned towards the pair and cleared his throat. "May I see her? I believe she needs me more than ever."

"Go right ahead," Sandy obliged. "We're just heading out. Now that my daughter's back, I think it's best to try and get some rest."

James watched the elevator open before Sandy turned around, grasping his shoulders firmly with a wide smile, the first time he had ever seen one. The words that came out of her mouth caught him off guard.

"What you did for my Lorna…would make any mother proud to call you son-in-law."

And with that Sandy and Bradley walked into the elevator, disappearing as James was left to ponder her words. His huge eyes stared at the floor, motionless for moments as he could not comprehend what they had said. Their opinion of him had suddenly changed, yet he still felt like a whole weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Earning Lorna's family's approval was something he fought for, but in a moment like this, it felt selfish to be happy when a loved one's mental health was at risk. Shaking his head, he turned down the hallway to Lorna's room. He stared at the room number, his frown deepening as a shaky hand gripped the doorknob.

James was met with darkness apart from the lamp on above Lorna's bed. He noticed she was turned on her side, her chest slowly rising and falling with each light breath that crept from her opened mouth. Suppressing a muffled cry, James slowly made his way towards her bed and sat in a chair next to her. It looked as if her hue had returned, still his eyes, she looked worse than before. Lorna was white as a ghost; her hair lost its volume and the color faded. Shaking his head, he hissed as tears formed in his eyes, remembering why she was like this. Those four bastards had almost cost him something dear, the future he held with this beauty. If only he could turn back time and stayed with her the night she was abducted.

Lorna's soft groans interrupted his thoughts as she turned over on her side, eyes fluttering open as she adjusted to the darkened room. She faced James as her gaze locked with his, both staring at one another for several minutes before her mouth opened to speak. "James…you're here."

"Hello, Ms. Bow," James smiled sadly. "It's…it's a relief to see you awake."

"I just woke up," Lorna rose up slowly. "When did you get here?"

"Minutes ago," James answered. "Your parents are heading back to get some rest."

"Good," Lorna firmly stated. "I need some time to myself. I already feel overwhelmed."

James nodded as she took a sip of water from a plastic cup next to the bed. He could see her eyes were not as bloodshot as before, but her pupils were trying to recover from the drugs she had suffered through. More silence followed before he tried to speak, that is until he felt two arms wrap around his neck. Lorna pulled herself as close as she could into him, tears streaming down her face as audible sobs escaped her throat. James gaped as his body stiffed, unsure of how to react.

"Hold me," Lorna swallowed. "Just hold me."

Without a second thought James enveloped her into an embrace that spoke more than words. Sniffling, muted tears clouded his vision as he tightened a fist, exulting in the arms of the woman he adored. After more minutes of reveling in one's embrace, they slowly pulled apart as Lorna rested her head on his chest.

"Benjamin and John have been charged with conspiracy and attempted murder. They will never see the light of day and Stuart's law firm has been shut down as a result."

"And that's supposed to make this all go away?" Lorna gritted her teeth. "What they did to me, to us…they should have died."

"Lorna…"

"Don't!" Lorna snapped. "I've suffered hell because of them! Those bullets should have taken their lives, you needed to kill them!"

"No," James grasped her wrist. "If I did, I would've stooped to Stuart's level. I know I took two lives, and that is a burden to hold, but it was to save you. If more lives were taken…it cannot work out like that."

"Listen to yourself, James," Lorna shook her head. "Stuart hurt George and Pearl, he used me to try and kill you. He may be dead, but don't the others deserve to die with him?! Those men are monsters, you hear me? MONSTERS!"

"Lorna, enough!" James commanded as he held her against his chest. Before he knew it, Lorna began to rant on how the world never works in her favor, saying that criminals don't deserve to live if they did such a heinous thing like taking a life. Tears streamed down her face as she broke into hysterical sobs, asking why this had to happen to them if the world was trying to do some good for her by giving her a chance at his side. James listened in silence, wishing he could explain to her that they would find a way to start over, but for now, it would not be so.

"I know things don't look great now," James finally spoke. "But I promise that what happened to us will never happen again."

"I hope," Lorna regained composure. "This is too much. I don't know if I can handle myself anymore."

"You're a strong woman," James cupped her face in his hands as he shook his head. "And you won't go through this alone. I will be with you the whole journey, Lorna, because…"

Lorna's eyes widened.

"Because I love you."

"I love you, too, James."

James pulled her towards him and kissed her passionately, no protest escaping as she wrapped her arms around him, hungrily demanding for more. For the first time, the road to recovery did not look bleak.

To Be Continued

I was tempted to end the story here, but we need just a few more before we can close this. Lorna needs her family, friends, and her boyfriend before she can finally be at peace, and James for sure needs her more than he needs himself.

Thank you for everything and see you next chapter! :)