Faith Hope Love Repeat pt.19
Hello, everyone. This is a warning. The first half of this chapter is a little gory.
Adam heard noises outside and he looked around but thought it was the wind. Then he heard the noises again.
"WHo's there?" Adam questioned. He grabbed a hammer and walked out to the door and looked around, but saw no one. He went back to what he was doing. He heard footsteps and just as he turned, he was hit with a shovel. He cried out in pain as he hit the ground. He looked up and saw a man facing him with pure rage and greed in his eyes. Adam grabbed the man's foot and pulled it till the man hit the ground. The man grabbed Adam and bashed his head against the workbench till Adam stopped fighting and his head was covered in blood. Then he grabbed Adam by his hair and dragged him to the center of the floor. He grabbed some long nails and a mallet and walked back over to Adam who was recovering from the pain in his head.
Adam pulled his hand away from the head wounds and saw blood. He looked up at the man and saw what he was grabbing. He tried to get up and ran away, but the man grabbed him by the neck and pushed him to the ground and then sat on Adam's back. Adam tried to cry out in pain but couldn't.
"Please, don't hurt me. Please." Adam begged fearfully. The man grabbed Adam's left hand and placed it flat on the ground. Then he pressed the nail against the hand and hit it with the mallet. Adam cried out in pain as he felt the sharp nail dig into his hand. Soon, the nail was all the way through Adam's hand and into the ground. The same happened with Adam's other hand. Adam was in too much pain to fight as the man pulled out a whip and began to whip Adam. Adam cried out in pain but remained still. When Adam's back was covered in cuts and deep wounds, the man grabbed Adam's arms and pulled on them till the nails came out of the ground. Adam screamed and begged for the man to stop. The man grabbed hold of Adam's right leg and broken it in several areas. The man did the same with his left leg. Adam cried out in pain and tried to fight as he was brutally beaten.
When the man was done, he watched as Adam tried to move. He kicked Adam's chest and Adam coughed till he had no strength to cough. The man sat down on a hay bail and waited for Adam to die.
"Oh, God, please help me. Please." Adam whispered to himself as he started to regain strength.
Just then, Adam heard barking. He looked and smiled when he saw Anne running in barking angrily. She attacked the man and fought him off. Adam removed the nails from his hands and somehow managed to drag himself across the ground. He found the mallet and grabbed it when he heard the man push Anne away and come after him. Adam turned and hit the man as hard as he could. The man cried out in pain and fell to his knees. Adam used the mallet and started to beat the man to death. Even when the man was dead, Adam continued to strike the man's body. Anne barked at Adam and tried to stop him, but couldn't. She heard a truck pull up outside and she ran outside barking.
"There's Anne." Hoops said when they pulled up to the barn.
"SOmething's not right. She's usually calmer than this." Mike answered. They got out of the truck and Anne went back into the barn. They followed and saw Adam beating the man's dead body. Hoops and Mike ran over to Adam. Mike grabbed the mallet and Adam started screaming. Hoops gently grabbed Adam and carefully dragged Adam away.
"No. NO!" Adam screamed.
"Adam, it's ok. It's just us." Hoops said as he hugged Adam close. Adam looked at Hoops and Mike and started to relax. "You're safe, Adam."
"Hoops, we need to get an ambulance." Mike stated.
"No, we have to get him there ourselves. It'll take too long to wait and he's bleeding pretty bad."
They carefully picked Adam up and carried him to the truck. Adam cried out in pain as they lifted him into the back of the truck. Mike held Adam close while Hoops got in the truck and started driving. Hoops drove down the driveway and Adam whimpered every time they hit a bump.
"Michael, make him stop." Adam whimpered when they hit a large bump.
"We have to get you to the hospital, Adam." Mike answered. They hit another bump and Adam cried out in pain.
"Mike, something's... something's wrong."
"Where?"
"My... my gut. I'm so tired. I'm so..."
Adam trailed off and slipped out of consciousness.
"Adam, stay with me. You have to stay awake." Mike said as he gently shook Adam. Adam opened his eyes briefly before slipping unconscious again. "He's unconscious. We need to hurry."
"I'm going as fast as I can." Hoops answered.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital and rushed Adam inside. A gurney was brought over and Mike placed Adam on the gurney. Adam cried out in pain and looked around.
"He's been like this for several minutes. He said that something was wrong in his gut." Mike explained.
"We'll take care of him." The doctor answered. Adam was taken to the OR and Mike and Hoop looked at each other.
"We have to get Hannah."
"You go find her. I'll stay here and call Charlie and tell him to go to the house." Hoops stated. Mike went out to the truck and drove to town. When he arrived, he saw Brian and Sam nearby.
"Brian, where's Hannah?" Mike asked.
"She's at the refreshment area. Why?" Brian answered.
"Adam was attacked. He's at the hospital."
"How bad?"
"I don't know. He was in and out of consciousness most of the way there and he was in a lot of pain."
Brian and Mike ran to the refreshment area and saw Hannah.
"Hannah, it's Adam. He's at the hospital. He was attacked." Mike said.
"How is he?" Hannah wondered as she walked over.
"It's not good. He's lost a lot of blood. Hoops called Charlie. He should be at the house now."
"Why?"
"Adam... killed his attacker."
Hannah looked at Marie who nodded.
"Go be with Adam. I'll tell the others." Marie said.
"Sam will help." Brian answered. Hannah and Brian went to the hospital with Mike. When they arrived, they saw Hoops waiting.
"How is he?" Hannah asked.
"He's in surgery. He had internal bleeding. Dr. Wolf is gonna take care of him. Charlie's at the house. He'll take of everything there." Hoops explained.
"What happened?"
"All we know is that when we got there, Anne was barking outside and when we walked in, Adam had killed the man attacking him."
A little while later, Crane and Molly arrived with the kids. Hannah took Briana who was crying.
"The others went home. Marie and Sam told us what happened." Crane said.
"He's still in surgery." Hannah answered.
At the ranch, the others arrived and saw Charlie coming out of the barn. Daniel and Dakota saw the body of the dead man and they looked at each other.
"So, he is finally dead. Good." Dakota said.
"Charlie, this man attacked Dakota twice and attacked me once." Daniel explained.
"He's attacked a lot of people up in the woods. We don't have a name but... it was bloody in there." Charlie sighed. "Any news on Adam? I have to get his statement when he's up to it."
"Not yet. We'll let you know."
"Thanks. Tell Hannah and Adam that I'm praying for them. This isn't going to be easy for Adam."
A few hours later, Dr. Wolf walked out and walked over to Hannah.
"He's out of surgery and is resting. We gave him painkillers. Hopefully, they will help." Dr. Wolf said.
"How is he?" Hannah wondered.
"You can ask him yourself right now."
Dr. Wolf showed Hannah to Adam's room and she gasped when she saw how pale and wounded he was. She walked over and saw Adam's hands bandaged and she gently touched one of them. Adam weakly opened his eyes and looked around. Dr. Wolf examined Adam and sighed.
"His concussion isn't good." Dr. Wolf said. "Adam, can you move your fingers for me?"
Adam moved his fingers, but it was obvious that it caused him some pain.
"How bad are his injuries?" Hannah wondered.
"He has a hairline fracture and a severe concussion. Bruises and cuts all over his face and neck. His left shoulder was dislocated, and his right one is too swollen to tell. But judging on how he's moving that arm right now... I'd say he has a pinched nerve. He has several broken ribs, and his back is covered in bruises and whiplashes. A knife grazed him on his right side near his chest. It looked like it should have been a stab wound, but it wasn't. One of his ribs punctured his liver. His hips were dislocated, and his legs are broken in several places. His arms are covered in cuts and so are his legs. His hands were stabbed, and yet somehow, he managed to grab a weapon and kill his attacker." Dr. Wolf explained. Hannah caressed Adam's cheek and watched him go back to sleep.
Dr. Wolf left the room and a few minutes later, Brian and Crane walked in with the kids. Riley and Holly ran over to Hannah and she pulled them onto her lap.
"Will daddy be ok?" Holly wondered.
"We'll have to wait and see, honey." Hannah answered.
A few hours later, Brian walked out and saw Mike and Hoops waiting with Crane and Molly.
"You guys don't have to stay. Doc says he might not wake till morning." Brian said.
"Nah, we're good." Hoops answered. Brian walked in and saw Hannah holding a sleepy Briana. The girls sat at the foot of Adam's bed waiting for him to wake.
"Hey, let's go get your daddy something from the gift shop." Brian suggested.
"Go with Brian, girls." Hannah agreed. The girls followed Brian to the gift shop and they looked around. The girls saw a box of craft items and looked at it.
"Can we make something for daddy?" Riley asked.
"Sure. Let's see what you girls can make for him." Brian answered. He looked at the box and sighed. "This is more for women. I think we have stuff at home that you can use for your dad."
"Ok."
Later that night, Brian took the girls home. The next morning, Brian helped them make something for Adam.
"What does daddy need?" Riley wondered.
"Let's make something he'll want." Brian answered.
"Ok. So what does he want?"
"Well, we can make..."
"Brian, what does daddy need to get better?" Holly asked.
"I'm not sure, honey. He'll need a lot of things."
"Can we make a box full of stuff?"
"I guess."
Brian put the pieces of wood together to form a box and he put it together. The girls took whatever supplies they had and made stuff to help Adam's hands. They made a stress ball, and a couple of games to help Adam move his fingers. Then with Dakota's help, they made ice packs/ heat packs using bean and socks. Then Dakota helped them make salves to help Adam's injuries heal without scars. With their grandma's help, the dried fruits and veggies for Adam to snack on. With Brian's help, the painted the box and colored pictures for Adam.
That afternoon, they went to the hospital with Brian and grandma. They walked in and saw Hannah sleeping with her head on the bed. Adam's hand was on her head. The girls climbed up onto the bed and watched Adam. Brian woke up Hannah who groaned.
"The babies are home waiting for your attention. Grandma will stay here with the girls and Adam." Brian said. Hannah did as she was told. brian set the gift box on the table and went home with Hannah. Grandma sat down in the chair and started working on a blanket.
"Who is that for?" Holly wondered as she watched.
"Your father. It's supposed to be for his birthday, but I think he could use it sooner than that." Jane answered.
"I wish I could do that. What is that?"
"It's called crocheting. And when you're a little older, I will teach you how to crochet."
"Ok."
The girls watched Adam all afternoon.
That night, Hannah came in and saw the girls sleeping. She smiled and then looked at Jane who was still working on the blanket. She walked up to Adam and kissed his forehead. Adam groaned and opened his eyes.
"Hi." Hannah whispered.
"Hi." Adam croaked. "Where am I?"
"You're in the hospital. You've been asleep for the past day. How do you feel?"
"Horrible. I ache all over."
"I'm sorry, honey. Do you remember what happened?"
"I was in the barn cleaning the workbench. I heard noises and I looked around and saw nothing. I went back to work and then I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and I saw this man. He hit me across the face with the shovel. We fought a little till he bashed my head into the bench. Then he..."
Adam saw the girls at his feet sleeping.
"Then he nailed my hands to the ground and he whipped me. Then he pulled on them till they were freed from the ground. He beat me and broken my legs. Then he watched me suffer in agony. I begged God to save me and he did. Anne ran into the barn barking. She attacked him and I tried to get away. I heard him push her aside and I grabbed the mallet and I hit him. I hit his knee and he fell to the ground. Then I hit him again and again till he was dead. Hannah..." Adam trailed off as he started crying. Hannah wiped his tears away and looked at Adam. "I couldn't stop. I don't know why."
"You were afraid. Your body went into survival mode. It told you to get rid of the problem and you did, but your brain said it wasn't good enough. That he was only unconscious. SO you struck to Hoops and Mike stopped you." Hannah answered.
"I'm so ashamed of myself. I killed a man."
"Adam, he hurt Dakota and Daniel and many other people in those woods. Possibly even that girl we found when Riley hurt her leg. You've saved who knows how many people from death. I know that what I'm saying isn't processing in your mind right now. I know that your mind is telling you that you shouldn't have killed him, but if you hadn't killed him, he would have killed you and then a lot of people would be suffering. Even if you had just wounded him. As soon as he got out of jail, he would come back to haunt you. I know that he'll still do that even though he's dead, but you don't have to do this alone, Adam. You're not alone. You have a boatload of people willing to help you through this. You helped me through a lot when we lost the babies and when I was dealing with my mom."
"You helped me grieve and overcome my past."
"Let me help you overcome this."
"Ok."
Hannah and Adam kissed and Hannah wiped Adam's tears away. Holly and Riley woke up and saw that Adam was awake. They gently crawled over to Adam and carefully gave Adam hugs and kisses. Then Hannah grabbed the care packet.
"We made this for you." Riley whispered.
"Thanks, girls." Adam answered. "What's in it?"
Holly opened it with Hannah's help and pulled out the stress ball and handmade ice/heat packs.
"To help your hands and all of your aches and pains." Holly said. She pulled out the three salves. "So you heal better."
She pulled out the pictures and handed then to Riley and Adam smiled at them. Then she pulled out a few games.
"You can play these with us." Holly stated.
"And some snacks." Riley said as Holly pulled out several bags of dried fruits and veggies.
"Thanks, girls. I really appreciate this. You girls have made daddy's day." Adam thanked. Adam kissed the girls' foreheads and smiled.
"What do you want to do, daddy?"
"I think right now I want to sleep. I've been through a lot and my body's very tired."
"Will you get better?" Holly wondered.
"In time, but it'll be a while." Adam answered.
"Ok."
The girls and Adam went to sleep and Hannah put away the stuff and the box.
"That blanket is almost finished." Hannah said as she looked at Jane.
"Just about. I'm thinking of covering him with it while he sleeps." Jane answered.
"I love crochet blankets. They're like weighted blankets. They just cacoon around you and you feel safe."
"Yes."
TBC
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