"Ainsley we have to fix this look I'm gonna bleed out here on the floor" he knew he was stable but he also felt the pull of darkness now and then.
"You don't move until dads here, he will fix you I promise" she sounds deluded
"Ains he is not coming this is going to end badly you know it deep down you know it, everyone knows your not a monster, please I can see how this ends, please" he desperately pleaded
" Malcolm I love you , of course I love you but this is the only way I want dad here he can help he can save us both" her eyes wide as she approached Malcolm running a hand through his hair.
Malcolm had noticed the sweat gathering on his brow and had to reassure himself over and over, even tho his sister was unraveling in front of his eyes, all he could do is prey she snaps out of it and if not that help would arrive soon. He sighed hung his head and took another look at his wound. The skin around was angry looking and blood still slowly trickled out, Malcolm grabbed a towel that just so happened to be draped over the sofa he was bleeding onto. He couldn't help the low moan that escaped his mouth when he pressed down hard on the wound, the pain was bar able but the fact his sister barely shared a concerning look was more less so. Who is this person in front of him.
##########
The car journey was silent deadly silent, all three of them had not shared a single word until "god damn it " Gil violently smashed his hands on the steering wheel. Noticeably shocking dani who had been staring dead ahead the whole time.
"This is ainsley Gil she won't let him die". She said but it almost sounded like a question rather than a confident statement
"She has shot 2 men in 24 hours dani and Christ her own brother and now she is demanding we release a maniac to save him " Gil barked back
"What" jt asked he was find if malcolm he would never admit it but he saw his as an annoying younger brother. He knew the kid had issues and at first this made him distant but you literally can't not love the guy ! It's almost on the other hand gave them all the creeps, a real sadist but yet so normal if that's even possible I mean, who the hell hides bodies under the family home !
Gil was on the phone "I need emt on standby we have an officer injured, I don't want ainsley harmed"there's no way Martin is getting day release I mean one copper goes down no one cares that's the truth Gil thought
When they arrived outside malcolms flat you could feel the terror run through the car they all paused, briefly. Dani drew her gun and was first to move up the stairs.
The walk up the stairs left dani enough time to over think, why him why can't he catch a break, why do I care so much her mind rushing almost as fast as her legs, it was only now she realised she really never told him how much he meant to her, can she allow herself to admit she loves him? Is it more than colleagues more than friends? Not now! her internal voice screamed save him is all I need to focus on now plenty of time for feelings later.
This was it they all approached the door guns drawn, although they all knew it was ainsley in there sweet blonde innocent ainsley. Could they gun her down like any other suspect with a hostage ?
Gil spoke first
"Ainsley we are coming in" he said with a fatherly tone
They turn the corner first thing they notice is the blood, Malcolm had been shot by the door and managed to limp to the sofa.
It was enough to shock them but not enough to lose hope that he wouldnt survive this.
There she is gun pointing right at malcolms head, the clear smear of tears smudge her makeup but the tears are long gone.
"Put the guns on the floor or I will shoot I swear I will " she demanded
They spotted Malcolm propped up on the sofa, sweaty pale and the with the look of pure dread painting his face, a towel pressed firmly to his lower stomach. Dani notices his knuckles are white from pressing so hard, she catches his eye nods as if to say you good ? He seems to understand and gives a sluggish nod back.
"Ainsley sweetheart" Gil starts
"Shut up Gil your not here for me your here for him,your claim to heroism now lay yours guns on the floor and slide them over" power in her tone
Gil knew she was messed up, not as much as Malcolm but she must of been affected by such a troubling childhood, so he complied laying his gun down and sliding them to ainsley, followed almost instantly by jt and dani.
Ainsley picked up the guns keeping them close and tucking one in her pants.
"Good now sit...sit on the floor" she waved the gun to a spot just by the window. She had drawn the blinds, she wasn't stupid she knew backup weren't far and would not hesitate to take her down at any chance.
"Any progress on my fathers release?" Her eyes darting to Gil But it was dani who replied
"You really think they are gonna release a serial killer, so he can save his equally messed up children your honestly more deluded than even Malcolm" she meant none of her harsh words and thought maybe they would upset Malcolm, but she knew he was smart and would see she was just trying to break through ainsleys unrealistic reality.
"So he dies" she shrugs her shoulder in a childish manor ,not willing to budge on her demands
The awkward confused silence was broken when gils phone rang.
"Ainsley we have your father on the phone" nuts this is nuts he thought be he stared at Malcolm, he seemed calm or weak he couldn't decipher. "It's Claremont, look" he shows ainsley the screen clearly showing the caller ID .
"Good ok ." She aims the gun at Malcolm and walks over taking the phone from Gil.
While she begins to talk to her father the others take the opportunity to comfort Malcolm.
"You good kid ?" Gil asks stupid question
" been better we need to get in her head this isn't her you know it isn't please tell no one to shoot I can't lose anyone else" his eyes so sad defeated and weak
#########
{ainsley my girl what have you got yourself into }
martins tone is always too cheerful for such a sinister man he truly believes his own god complex
{cut the shit dad this is your fault it's all your fault }
she has never hated her dad in fact she has always wanted to make him proud, was this the way she thought briefly.
{where have you shot him hmmm it's been what 2hours, he is not dying my dear and I'm sure as hell not tasting sweet freedom today, now go now help your brother theres a good girl, there's no way out of this trust me I know and to be caught first time tut tut my dear your dampening my reputation}
{I don't want any of this I don't wanna be you I don't know what happened} the first time since the ordeal started Malcolm noticed her confidence waver, he sat up a little sending fire through his body, "Ainsley he won't help when has he ever helped, his daughter kills his son ? That's just the publicity he craves"
{put it on speaker I. Want to hear my boy }
Ainsley complied always secretly showing fear of her father by abiding by his every word!
{MY BOY how is the bleeding under control I imagine, of course your the brains, your sister seems to want daddy why can't you be the same, but to go to such extremes I rather hoped we would start with an invitation to your wedding but anyway I'm waffling}
Ainsleys frustration was building, Martin was making it worse of course he was there's a serial killer on the phone trying to fix a hostage situation. Malcolm had realised ainsleys plan a few moments ago she wants to kill their father, take her pain away all their pain he thought but as much as he hated to admit it he still loved his dad in fact he knew he needed his dad for answers
{your right what was I thinking it was a rookie mistake daddy what good are demands without pressure, maybe know you will come}
########
Gil stared at Malcolm the whole time the kid looked ok he was confident it wash a nasty flesh wound at worst and the trauma of his family would take much longer to heal, the phone call was ridiculous to listen too what the hell was she thinking, he could see Malcolm thinking and thought he had cracked it, why would she want her father out what good would it do, death by cop ? He didn't know the whole situation was baffling him and his team just sat on there knees listening to Martin Whitley antagonise his own children, for all he knew the last words his children would hear and yet so full of Disappointment what a disgrace of a man he thought just as a bang rang out.
BANG
Hot lava filled his throat and oh my god oh my god escaped his mouth as he clutched both hands to his chest and felt blood warming his clammy palms his neck tucked tightly to his chest as he fumbled to find the hole "oh my god" he gargled blood filling his mouth and dripping down his chin.
It was so sudden dani and jt went to rush forward only stopped by ainsley waving the gun yet again this time aimed at them "don't fucking move" she shouted
They all watched a once calm and collected Malcom panic as he looked down grabbing his chest frantically almost like he is trying to catch the blood as it violently spilled from chest and mouth.
"Ples..please ugh" he coughed more blood hitting the back of his throat the groans loud and deep then it came, drowning how Am I drowning, he tried to take a deep breath it but it was tight and wet, although he knew this was bad he tried to seem strong after the initial panic but it failed sheer horror was all you could read on his face. He tried to focus on breathing even tho his lungs seemed to shrink with every breath slowly constricting, this was the end he knew it and judging by the tears and screams of his friends they knew it too.
"Malcolm Malcolm look at me cmon keep pressure on it your gonna be ok don't you dare shut your eyes" he knew Malcolm was probably not able to hear him but he couldn't just be silent this could be his last words to him "love you kid hold on"
#######
Malcolm had phased out of reality his eyes heavy and head foggy, he focused on his mums chandelier that he could swear was swinging slightly it helped block out the pain...he started to feel numb he had seen enough of death to know his body was failing. He didn't wanna die but he didn't have a choice every breath ignited pain and exhaling was much of the same. Slowly breathing was nearly impossible felt like a truck was sitting on his chest.
"Gil.l..l " he managed using an exhale to pronounce his words " mm..okay" he barely whispered
Gil watched as the life slowly but painfully flooded out of his adopted son, he heard his name the flood gates opened sobs and snot embarrassing on most days for such a seemingly tough man .." I'm here kid ainsley please just let me be with him please"
Claremont pinged on his screen again
Martin shouted at the guard pleading to ring them back he recognised the intent in ainsleys voice he knew whatever she had done was bad "my boy my boy " he repeated as he paced the 2 metres his shackled belt would allow.
When the guards put the call through the usually calm decisive sinister notorious Martin Whitley had reverted to his murderous inner self, his boy could not die, he loved his daughter too but there was always something about Malcolm