This chapter is just about Wing
and Dive, you won't see much of the other ducks in it. In fact, you won't
see anything*coughs* Oh well. That's enough!
Help
by Kaeera
CHAPTER 7
Broken Glass
twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three....Wilwdwing
was counting the panels on the ceiling. He couldn't sleep.
He had sent the team to their rooms,
but he himself couldn't find the force to stand up and leave his
brother alone in the infirmary. Even if he was tired...that tired
that his eyelids dropped down every minute.
The only sound in the room was the
soft breathing of the younger duck. 'At least one good sign', Wing thought
sarcastically 'He's still alive'.
The word alive just didn't fit here.
The duck on the stretcher had absolutely no similarity with his brother.
First of all, he was not moving! Even in his sleep, Nosedive usually tossed
around, mumbling senseless sentences like 'One Taco with banana dressing,
please.' He _never_ lied still!
Then there was this look on his face
Wildwing didn't like. This serious, frightened expression. As far as he
remembered, Nosedive never had been really frightened. Okay, maybe he had
been frightened, but he usually fought his fear with some jokes – and with
action. In his opinion(and in Wing's, as well) the best way to fight against
the fear was to do something.
But this fear seemed to be different.
Nosedive looked like a small kid who needed help. And help wasn't there.
As powerful the mask was, it couldn't help the Wildwing to go into Dive's
dreams. He was alone.
"Wildwing?"
He opened his eyes and looked straight
into the face of Duke. "Oh.", he mumbled confused, "I must have fallen
asleep."
"You could use some rest as well!",
Duke stated firmly and took a side glance towards the bed. "But I can't
sleep either – not when he's like this!"
Wildwing rubbed his eyes. "The whole
situation reminds me of something which happened long, long time ago..."
He stared into the space. "When
I was 15 years old, and my brother nine, my parents decided to go out with
me. Nosedive stayed at home, alone. He was very proud – you should have
seen his face, he was grinning all over, telling Mom and Dad not to come
home too early...
Well, the evening was nice, but
when we went home the next morning, Dive was nowhere to be found! We shouted,
yelled, screamed and searched the whole house – nothing. My parents were
worried and I suggested to call the police.
Then we heard a soft noise. It came
from the cellar. We immediately rushed down, and really! Nosedive had locked
himself in the small dark room. I don't know what he wanted there. But
he was a wreck. Didn't say anything, didn't cry...this wasn't my lively
brother anymore!
After months, he finally came back
to normal. But nightmares were still haunting him for a long time...."
Wildwing stood up and walked to the
bed, stroking gently his brothers hair. "I don't want to loose him again
like that..."
Duke followed him. "He's a tough
kid, Wildwing. I am sure that he's strong enough to manage this!"
"Do you really believe that or are
you saying it to make me feel better?", Wildwing asked.
There was no answer, and after a
while he continued. "I know that Dive is strong. Very strong. But his only
real fear was the darkness. And now it was the second tome that something
that terrible happened to him. My God, he must have suffered with the pain,
and then the fear...things which can break every will, even Dive's."
"Maybe.", Duke said softly, "Maybe
you are right. Maybe he isn't strong enough – alone.
But he isn't alone! We are here.
We have to help him!"
Wildwing looked puzzled. "But how
are we supposed to help if we can't reach him?"
"Well...", Duke smiled and pointed
towards the bed, "How do you know that we can't reach him? There's the
chance that he will hear us, in his dreams. We have to try, Wing.
Just don't give up on your brother!
He would never gave up, so do the same. Talk to him, show him that it's
worth to come back and that there's nothing to be frightened of!"
The leader of the Mighty Ducks thought
a while, glancing at the bed. "You know what, Duke?", he said and a little
smile crossed his face. "I think that you're right."
"That's nothing new.", the other
duck chuckled and patted on Wing's shoulder. "But now the first thing is
to get some sleep!"
* * *
He didn't move. There was no reason
to. If he only could open the window, could flee this place...Questions
over questions were whirling around in his mind, but he couldn't find answers...
Why was he here?
It had to be a dream, and dreams
are produced by your brain.
Why didn't they like him anymore?
He must have done something wrong...
What did he do?
Maybe too many jokes? He always thought
that he cheered them up with it...especially his brother, who took everything
way too serious...
And when would this nightmare
end?
The most important question. Would
life ever come back to normal? It was a nightmare. And it was the most
realistic nightmare he had ever had.
But he had to do something, he realised.
The situation wouldn't change, that was clear.
He was alone, and he had to find
the way out – alone.
His brother didn't help him? Okay.
He didn't need help. He was strong enough to handle this! After all he
was 17. He wasn't a kid anymore – even when the others treated him like
this. Had treated him.
No they treated him like a piece
of gutter. Worthless!
Well. So he was worthless. Never
mind. If they didn't need him, he didn't need them either. That easy. It
was their fault after all. He would go away, and the Mighty Ducks would
be horribly lost without their best player!
Some part of his mind tried to tell
him that this was only his imagination – that this was a dream, like he
had realised it before, and that with that the actions of his team-mates
were just imagination, too, but he didn't listen.
Nosedive stood up, walking to the
window, pressing his face against the cool glass.
The scene hadn't changed. It was
still the colourful contrast to his grey prison.
He had to do this, his confused mind
decided, and he balled his fist. He swung back and hit the glass with all
the power he could find. Again and again. Blood was dripping down his fingers,
forming a dark pool on the floor, but he didn't care.
The blood was also all over the
window, giving the whole situation a very weird touch.
And the glass broke.
Shining little pieces flied around
in the air, glittering in the sudden light of the sun.
Each of them landed on the floor
with a strange singing noise.
Nosedive closed his eyes and breathed
the fresh air. He felt somehow relieved. As if he had reached a very important
point.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in his
fist, he put the last pieces of glass out of the frame and let them fall
on the floor, very satisfied when they shattered into more pieces.
Now he could hear the sounds from
outside. The yells, the wind which was blowing...
It had been really silent in this
room, he realised and smiled. But that was past. Finally he was free and
could go wherever he wanted to go.
Smiling even more, he put his foot
on the frame, ready to jump out and leave this uncomfortable place.
* * *
Why won't you come back?
Do you know how we miss you,
little brother? Have you any idea how much you mean to us – to me?
Now I am sitting here, again,
staring at your body. Somewhere deep inside this lifeless doll are you,
Nosedive. Probably frightened, scared, crying...
I talk to you. I want to. But
it's not that easy.
I am really bad in expressing
my feelings. Well, that lies in the family, I think. I mean, did you ever
express your real feelings? I never knew what to think of you.
We are so opposite.
I hope that you can hear me,
because that's the first time I open my heart on front of you.
It had been always very funny
with you. You take things that easy – so why can't you do that right now?
Why can't you just stand up and
say: "Boy, I am hungry!", as you did it before?
Why do you loose this attitude
when you need them the most?
I am not mad with you, baby bro',
even if it sounds like that. Just worried like hell!
Guess that's my job. Worrying.
Is it always like that between brothers and sisters?
Quarrelling all the time, fighting
over the stupidest things? And deep inside – a caring side which nobody
wants to show?
I don't know.
I am sitting here. Waiting. Talking
to you. Hoping that you can hear me. Pretending that everything will be
fine.
And inside crying. I can't break
down. I can't give up. I am the leader of this team, and I am responsible
for everyone. But if you'll die...then I don't know how I will manage this.
But maybe your death will be better
than the other possibility – the possibility of an apathetic Nosedive.
This image frightens me the most.
That you wake up, and everything
will change 8 years back, when you had worried us all.
It scared me so much to see you
like that. I was 15, and I was used to your noisy character. There was
no day which didn't end in a fight or a hot argument.
But then, from one day to another,
you were so silent and...well, small.
Emotionless.
Just the big lost eyes in the
tiny face, eyes way to serious for the kid.
You managed it once, and, like
Duke said, you are strong. You will manage it this time, too.
So why am I that worried?
To be continued...
By the way, I only have the time
to write on week-ends, and the next one I will be away with my orchestra.
So don't be too angry if the next
chapter takes longer than usual. Maybe I can try to write it during the
week, but I can't promise anything.
But the next chapter will have a
showdown, or something like that. I don't know how you Americans call that.
Maybe Turning point? Argh, forget it!
PappillonStar, it's your turn!*smile*
:) Kaeera