Hello:

Several things seem to be on a collision course. So many sub-plots sticking their heads into the supposed ideal life of our favorite trio.

At least one of them, begins to question the relationship.


Chapter 57

Time to explain

Twelve hours after Elaine and Hope's little talk

The trio's bedroom

Three entwined figures lounged under the damp white sheets. An intense session ending with a deluge of different forms of molten fluid spread along the mattress and the skin of at least two of the participants.

Waiting for the figure beside him to show signs of sleep, Ben keeps his eyes closed. His breath taken in small amounts of air fosters strength to replay an incident still haunting his waking hours.

Conversations with Ryn have been brief after that night. Her main concern is seeing Maddie pregnant.

In a state of being half asleep, the young biologist submits to the thoughts retelling the actions of a week ago.

Ben sees himself creeping into the bedroom. The feeling of accomplishment at stating his fears about Ryn to Maddie while remaining undiscovered by his now slumbering love.

He relies on the sliver of light from a streetlamp to journey to his side of the bed. He stops, noticing that Ryn's spot is empty.

Turning, he sees the taut expression of Ryn.

The scene becomes a blur as his vision is rattled. Knees buckle as a cold breath blankets his ears.

"Your love for me is greater than any love before. Tia thought her love was like mine, but she was wrong. You can love Maddie. But our love is supreme."

Ben's fight to enter the darken realm of sleep fails. He rises from the mattress causing Maddie's arms to slip to the side. Ryn remains undisturbed.

Quick stepping to the bathroom, he switches the light on as he falls to shaking knees. Attempts to vomit end with stuttering dry heaves.

Pushing himself from the hard white plastic seat, he drifts to the mirror.

A strong trembling hand touches the right cheek. Seeing clear skin gives him no comfort from the image burned in his mind.

An outline of Ryn's stretched fingers on his cheek.

As Ben questions is life and its future, a squirming figure turns toward the edge of the bed.

Maddie's breathing needs to be controlled or Ryn will be stirred.
The young woman places slender hands to damp cheeks. Perspiration still reveals itself but this time not from intense relations with her lover.

What is happening to me?

A mind with the appearance of a windstorm tries to grip a hold on reality.

During her lovemaking with Ben, the face of her past lover again gazed into her eyes. As Ben's mouth moved the voice of Torello slinked into her ears.

As Ben lay on her squirming form, she felt the crucifix once again slap her chin.

"No…" The whisper hangs about her. "It was different."
Maddie sits up taking a moment to look at Ryn.

The young puzzled woman closes dark eyes as she recalls the last time her tryst had been invaded by an illusion.

"He…he…" Eyes spring wide open as disbelief takes over her expression. Slight tremors float across the surface of her skin. Facial muscles strain as it appears impossible to close her mouth.

A rapid series of breaths cause the distressed woman to clutch her chest.

No! I see it now. I see it now.

Maddie's mind screams. The vision sharpens, as if finding the right setting of a pair of binoculars.

Grabbing her chin as if it had been struck, she realizes what has been hidden in her subconscious.

He wasn't wearing the cross. It flipped up when…

As with tonight's encounter, she had taken the cross in her fingers and tossed it upward in a fit of ecstasy.

The last thing Tia did was…was ask Ben to put the chain around her neck.

Seeing a light on in the bathroom, she slowly leaves the bed.

I don't remember Joe wearing the chain when he made love to me.

Sweat begins to streak down her forehead.

I was wearing the chain in the dream.

Sparse eyebrows stretch upward.

"I have to see Helen." She whispers. Walking toward the light.

"Ben needs to hear this." She touches the doorknob. "Time to explain."


A street in Bristol Cove

Walking aimlessly a struggling figure grabs onto the streetlight. Using both hands, the barefoot young woman pulls herself upward. The dark skin girl sways from side to side. A bloody palm presses against the wound above the slender waist of the stretch jeans. A baggy white t-shirt hangs down covering her hand.

A patrol car slows down as the police officer guides her vehicle to a parking spot a few yards ahead of the girl.

Heavy breathing continues as an anguished groan floods the sidewalk. Dropping to her knees, a head of soft black curls drops down whipping her face and shoulders.

"Ma'am," the soft voice repeats the word as the police officer approaches the now crumpled woman.

"Ma'am, are you alright? Do you need medical assistance?"

The female officer talks to the Mic, its position hangs from the uniform's epaulet

"Officer Brennan here. I got a black female, about eighteen to twenty." Removing her cap, tightly woven caramel colored braids rest in a circle atop her head. Squatting down next to the girl she continues.

"She's about one hundred or a little more pounds." Static pauses the report. "I have to guess, maybe five one or two?" The officer looks to the side. "You've been wounded. What happened?" A serious expression shows on the officer's face.
"What's your name, honey?" She asks.

Picking her head up, her free hand parts the chin length hair covering her face and struggles to speak.

"Cam…Cam…Mee."

"I'll need an ambulance." Brennan states.

A police officer filling out a report near the dispatcher raises his head.

The officer quickly takes the Mic from the man at the radio and talks to the responding officer.

"Annie…Annie, this is Xander."

The young man is in an excited state.

"I'm comin'. I'll be there in no time."
Her reply.

"Xander, this young lady needs medical attention, not another cop."

"Annie, please…" Xander speaks in a lower volume. The time is an hour or so before dawn, and other than the dispatcher, he is alone.

"What is it Xandy?" His partner at the Police Academy asks.

"Just wait for me, please?" The tone of his voice changes her expression.

With a slanted look at the Mic, she speaks.

"Fine, but you better have a good explanation."

"Annie, I'll tell you everything. Even about the incident with the baby being taken to the water."

Clear, light brown skin reddens at the mention of that occurrence and his inability to back up her statement.

"You better. Officer Brennan out."

Still watching over the young woman, Annie bites a lower lip.

"That's right Xandy, it's…time to explain."


Note to reader:

Apparently I have two friends in the UK. Thanks for the support.

My head is buzzing on a daily basis.

There is our Fav trio, and sneaky Elaine and naïve Hope. What is with this crucifix stuff from Maddie? Ga'anda! A possible revolt by Ryn's tribe and the return of Annie (A character I personally enjoyed.)

Not enough drama. Help me find more.

GJ