Chapter Eleven

Zander strolled down to the docks and stared out at the water. Emily knew? Where did THAT come from? How long did she know? How did she find out? AJ would never tell her in a million years. Sonny wouldn't tell her, even if it meant sticking it to AJ. So what was the deal?

Zander stared out at Wyndemere. The waters surrounding it echoed Wyndemere's lonely cry. It was a cry Zander knew well. Silent, painful. It didn't want to tell anybody but at the same time wanted them to know, to understand. Zander had felt that way his entire life. Ever since his mom left him.

Zander shut out the memories of his childhood before they could take hold. He'd worked so hard to forget them, to leave them behind and he would not let them catch him now. Living in the past was not living at all.

Zander suddenly thought about Nikolas. How many things had Nikolas left unsaid, undone? Did he think he had the next fifty years to say them, do them? Zander almost wished he could trade places with Nikolas. Zander had very little going for him. Nikolas had had everything to live for. Zander felt as lonely as he had when he was growing up. Nikolas. the last thing Nikolas was was lonely.

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Nikolas was vaguely aware of his surroundings. He knew something was not right. He knew none of the people he loved were anywhere near. And he knew that he had to help himself or no one would.

But he could never find the energy to move, or even open his eyes more than half way. Every time he mustered up enough energy to move to the end of the huge bed he was in, suddenly blackness would overtake him. Blackness was almost his entire world these days. Light didn't come often and he never had any opportunity to think about what was happening to him.

Where was everyone? He found himself wondering, and he was surprised to realize that blackness had not come to interrupt his thoughts yet. Where was his uncle, who had sworn to protect him until every last shred of his own life was gone? Where was Laura, his mother, who had told him how much she loved him? Or Lucky, his ever-faithful younger brother who would take a bullet for anyone he loved without a second thought? Where was Gia, the love of his life; the woman who was to vow to love him to the end of her days? Had they all truly abandoned him?

Nikolas blinked at the light pouring into his eyes. After a moment, he was able to make out shapes and colors. He looked to his left and found a phone sitting on an end table. His head was spinning. It took all of his concentration and strength to stay focused on the phone. Very slowly, Nikolas slid across the bed, ignoring the dizziness and queasiness that moving gave him. Finally he reached the phone and, picking it up, began to dial.

TBC

~Note~ Thanks to all who have replied, PLEASE keep putting in reviews but I haven't been getting much response to this fic here so I'm wondering if anyone is even reading it! Reviews are always nice to get. :)