Part 10 Precious Days
"The process is complete, Mr. Lyle."
"How is she? "
"The process took longer then expected, but it was successful."
"Is she scrambled like an egg?"
"See for yourself."
Lyle pushed the double glass doors open, and gazed intently on the figure in the room. He motioned for the sweeper to take his leave.
Had only things not have to be this way.
Had she never been his sister.
Marianne's dark roots were growing out now, leaving with her with an unkempt appearance. She remained beautiful still, sitting on the edge of the bed, with perfect posture. Her blue eyes seemed so serene, so without guile, they betrayed nothing of the woman that she once was. Lyle smiled and approached his sister, finally settling himself next to her on the bed. He was fully satisfied with what he saw. No more chasing Jarod. No more seeking the truth. No more anger, no more pain. His sister was finally at peace.
"Marianne," Lyle began tenderly, running his fingers through her hair. Marianne shifted her eyes towards him, yet her stare remained blank.
"Do you know how much I love you, dearest sister? I'm going to take good care of you." Lyle whispered, gazing intently into his sister's eyes, searching for a glimmer of life.
"Yes." Marianne suddenly replied, as she grasped her brother's hand gently, she met his gaze, but her eyes remained out of focus.
"We're going to change the world, Marianne, you and me. We don't need Jarod anymore, do we?"
She smiled weakly as her fingers grasped her brother's hand even tighter.
"Jarod who?" ********************
He had offered her salvation a thousand times. And as pigheaded as Marianne was, she refused every single time. He hoped that she wouldn't this time.
Jarod had to save her. Yet, he never expected that his resolve would put him at odds with his very own family. His sister Emily had been furious. She had burst into his room, backing him into a corner.
The hurt in her beautiful brown eyes had been obvious. Her lips trembled as she spoke, as she admonished him. Jarod was caught between a rock and hard place, stuck between the will of woman that he loved, and another that he could not possibly deny. He sat in a chair overwhelmed more and more as his sister spoke.
"How could you?" She whispered fervently. Emily had her reasons. Emily thought of Marianne as nothing more then a centre parasite. Besides, Zoey had been her best friend.
"How can you go and risk everything for a woman who has done nothing but hurt you!?"
Just where had he heard this before?
"You don't know her like I do, Em." Jarod pleaded.
"Do I have to? Why do you do this to yourself Jarod? Just what makes her important enough to risk your very own family for?"
Something inside Jarod snapped. The past days had been wearisome at best and now this. He not only had to justify his actions to himself but to HER as well. His sister knew nothing of his tortured past.
"She IS family." Jarod countered as he rose from his chair.
"She knows me better then you do." He continued icily as he drew nearer to his sister.
He motioned a shaking finger behind towards the closed door as he spoke, his mind teetering towards desperation.
"There's a boy out there who happens to her brother. He has no one else but her. She risked her life to get him out. She is Ethan's sister. And I'll be damned if I leave her there to die."
Emily had heard enough. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as her will failed her. There was nothing she could do, nothing she could say. Nothing to convince him that just what he was contemplating; was suicide.
"It's good to know just where I stand with you Jarod." She whispered sadly.
She turned on her heel and left the room, slamming the door as hard as she could.
Out of frustration, Jarod slammed his fists into the wall. He was in disbelief of what he had just done. He had lashed out at his very own sister whom he had just spent precious days with. He closed his eyes as he sank back into the chair. He was on the verge of spinning out of control. He knew that his sister was right, that he was putting everything on the line, including her, for Marianne.
********************
Broots was shocked to learn of Marianne's apparent demise. He had hidden for days in their meeting place, waiting for Marianne to come. She never arrived. A week had passed before Ethan came for him and Debbie and escorted them both back to the house. Broots felt strange meeting Jarod's family, but he was sincerely happy for him and he was eager to see Sydney. Over the years as Broots had tracked Jarod's every move, he had come to respect him more and more. He was in awe of him really, because Jarod sincerely gave a shit. Jarod cared about people, and he helped them without asking for so much as a glass of water. But perhaps that wasn't the reason why Broots envied him the most.
Jarod could wear leather from head to toe and completely get away with it.
Broots had hoped that Marianne was with Jarod and his family. Learning that she wasn't only proved what he had suspected all along. He had ultimately failed her. He couldn't help her when she needed him the most. And he had to live with that fact for the rest of his life. She had terrorized him, threatened him and had been his truest friend. And just like Sydney and Jarod, he was miserable without her. Seemingly overnight, Broots mustered up the courage that he felt he needed in order to face his secret hero.
"Whatever it's worth Jarod, Marianne really did change for the better. She turned out to be a compassionate person, Jarod."
Broots' words cut like a knife in Jarod's heart.
"Don't talk about her like she's dead." Jarod replied sullenly, crossing his arms.
Broots drew a sharp intake of breath. It was now or never.
"Why haven't you gone back for her?" He demanded, inwardly surprised by the very steadiness of his voice.
Jarod raised an eyebrow. He was surprised by the tech's boldness, but realized quickly that it stemmed from his fierce loyalty to Marianne. He let out an exasperated sigh.
"It's complicated."
"Complicated?" Broots mouthed, incredulous. Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow.
"You don't hate her, do you?" Broots asked, suddenly fearful.
It took a few moments for Jarod to respond, a crestfallen expression taking over his face.
"Quite the opposite, Broots." Jarod replied furtively, his voice cracked by his sudden smile.
"Quite the opposite."
***************************
Brigette sank low in the corner of the corridor. She had been waiting for hours for Lyle to leave the renewal wing. Brigette was alive and well, but dead on the inside. Only murderous revenge consumed her thoughts, the memory of her downfall all too fresh in her mind.
They had taken what they wanted from her, and then they disposed of her like a piece of trash.
She smiled as she watched Lyle finally exit the wing through the double glass doors. She had come to take the only thing that he had left.
His prize chicken.
Just what was the sick bastard doing to his flesh and blood?
It didn't matter now. She would make him pay, in more ways then one.
Brigette rose up slowly, and smoothed the wrinkles of her leather suit. In a deliberate gesture, she swung the doors wide open noisily, taking in the view. Miss Parker was on her bed serene, unrecognizable really, with that pretty hair of hers and her blank stare. Not even the creaking of the door had disturbed her. Haunting. This was way too easy. Brigette sat on the edge of the bed and placed her lips close to Miss Parker's ear.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Brigette whispered, giggling.
There was no response.
"Do you have any idea what they're doing to you, love?" Brigette continued. She lowered her voice even more.
"You're not so tough now, are you? Just goes to show what kind of a person you are."
Brigette narrowed her eyes as she began to straddle Marianne between her legs.
"When they've stripped you of all your defenses."
Again, there was no response.
Brigette smiled. Whatever they did to her, it had completely fried her mind. Miss Parker had left the building.
"How does it feel, Miss Parker.to feel helpless?" She hissed as she wrapped her hands around her Marianne's neck.
Brigette never saw Marianne's hand rise up. It had placed itself on the exact spot on Brigette's neck, cutting off her air supply. Brigette's eyes popped wide open, as she looked deep into Marianne's eyes in disbelief.
She hadn't lost the will to live.
She spoke clearly and deliberately as her gaze met Brigette's.
"Let go of me, you stupid bitch. Before I beat that ridiculous British accent of yours out of you one more time."
*********************************** tbc Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!
"The process is complete, Mr. Lyle."
"How is she? "
"The process took longer then expected, but it was successful."
"Is she scrambled like an egg?"
"See for yourself."
Lyle pushed the double glass doors open, and gazed intently on the figure in the room. He motioned for the sweeper to take his leave.
Had only things not have to be this way.
Had she never been his sister.
Marianne's dark roots were growing out now, leaving with her with an unkempt appearance. She remained beautiful still, sitting on the edge of the bed, with perfect posture. Her blue eyes seemed so serene, so without guile, they betrayed nothing of the woman that she once was. Lyle smiled and approached his sister, finally settling himself next to her on the bed. He was fully satisfied with what he saw. No more chasing Jarod. No more seeking the truth. No more anger, no more pain. His sister was finally at peace.
"Marianne," Lyle began tenderly, running his fingers through her hair. Marianne shifted her eyes towards him, yet her stare remained blank.
"Do you know how much I love you, dearest sister? I'm going to take good care of you." Lyle whispered, gazing intently into his sister's eyes, searching for a glimmer of life.
"Yes." Marianne suddenly replied, as she grasped her brother's hand gently, she met his gaze, but her eyes remained out of focus.
"We're going to change the world, Marianne, you and me. We don't need Jarod anymore, do we?"
She smiled weakly as her fingers grasped her brother's hand even tighter.
"Jarod who?" ********************
He had offered her salvation a thousand times. And as pigheaded as Marianne was, she refused every single time. He hoped that she wouldn't this time.
Jarod had to save her. Yet, he never expected that his resolve would put him at odds with his very own family. His sister Emily had been furious. She had burst into his room, backing him into a corner.
The hurt in her beautiful brown eyes had been obvious. Her lips trembled as she spoke, as she admonished him. Jarod was caught between a rock and hard place, stuck between the will of woman that he loved, and another that he could not possibly deny. He sat in a chair overwhelmed more and more as his sister spoke.
"How could you?" She whispered fervently. Emily had her reasons. Emily thought of Marianne as nothing more then a centre parasite. Besides, Zoey had been her best friend.
"How can you go and risk everything for a woman who has done nothing but hurt you!?"
Just where had he heard this before?
"You don't know her like I do, Em." Jarod pleaded.
"Do I have to? Why do you do this to yourself Jarod? Just what makes her important enough to risk your very own family for?"
Something inside Jarod snapped. The past days had been wearisome at best and now this. He not only had to justify his actions to himself but to HER as well. His sister knew nothing of his tortured past.
"She IS family." Jarod countered as he rose from his chair.
"She knows me better then you do." He continued icily as he drew nearer to his sister.
He motioned a shaking finger behind towards the closed door as he spoke, his mind teetering towards desperation.
"There's a boy out there who happens to her brother. He has no one else but her. She risked her life to get him out. She is Ethan's sister. And I'll be damned if I leave her there to die."
Emily had heard enough. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as her will failed her. There was nothing she could do, nothing she could say. Nothing to convince him that just what he was contemplating; was suicide.
"It's good to know just where I stand with you Jarod." She whispered sadly.
She turned on her heel and left the room, slamming the door as hard as she could.
Out of frustration, Jarod slammed his fists into the wall. He was in disbelief of what he had just done. He had lashed out at his very own sister whom he had just spent precious days with. He closed his eyes as he sank back into the chair. He was on the verge of spinning out of control. He knew that his sister was right, that he was putting everything on the line, including her, for Marianne.
********************
Broots was shocked to learn of Marianne's apparent demise. He had hidden for days in their meeting place, waiting for Marianne to come. She never arrived. A week had passed before Ethan came for him and Debbie and escorted them both back to the house. Broots felt strange meeting Jarod's family, but he was sincerely happy for him and he was eager to see Sydney. Over the years as Broots had tracked Jarod's every move, he had come to respect him more and more. He was in awe of him really, because Jarod sincerely gave a shit. Jarod cared about people, and he helped them without asking for so much as a glass of water. But perhaps that wasn't the reason why Broots envied him the most.
Jarod could wear leather from head to toe and completely get away with it.
Broots had hoped that Marianne was with Jarod and his family. Learning that she wasn't only proved what he had suspected all along. He had ultimately failed her. He couldn't help her when she needed him the most. And he had to live with that fact for the rest of his life. She had terrorized him, threatened him and had been his truest friend. And just like Sydney and Jarod, he was miserable without her. Seemingly overnight, Broots mustered up the courage that he felt he needed in order to face his secret hero.
"Whatever it's worth Jarod, Marianne really did change for the better. She turned out to be a compassionate person, Jarod."
Broots' words cut like a knife in Jarod's heart.
"Don't talk about her like she's dead." Jarod replied sullenly, crossing his arms.
Broots drew a sharp intake of breath. It was now or never.
"Why haven't you gone back for her?" He demanded, inwardly surprised by the very steadiness of his voice.
Jarod raised an eyebrow. He was surprised by the tech's boldness, but realized quickly that it stemmed from his fierce loyalty to Marianne. He let out an exasperated sigh.
"It's complicated."
"Complicated?" Broots mouthed, incredulous. Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow.
"You don't hate her, do you?" Broots asked, suddenly fearful.
It took a few moments for Jarod to respond, a crestfallen expression taking over his face.
"Quite the opposite, Broots." Jarod replied furtively, his voice cracked by his sudden smile.
"Quite the opposite."
***************************
Brigette sank low in the corner of the corridor. She had been waiting for hours for Lyle to leave the renewal wing. Brigette was alive and well, but dead on the inside. Only murderous revenge consumed her thoughts, the memory of her downfall all too fresh in her mind.
They had taken what they wanted from her, and then they disposed of her like a piece of trash.
She smiled as she watched Lyle finally exit the wing through the double glass doors. She had come to take the only thing that he had left.
His prize chicken.
Just what was the sick bastard doing to his flesh and blood?
It didn't matter now. She would make him pay, in more ways then one.
Brigette rose up slowly, and smoothed the wrinkles of her leather suit. In a deliberate gesture, she swung the doors wide open noisily, taking in the view. Miss Parker was on her bed serene, unrecognizable really, with that pretty hair of hers and her blank stare. Not even the creaking of the door had disturbed her. Haunting. This was way too easy. Brigette sat on the edge of the bed and placed her lips close to Miss Parker's ear.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Brigette whispered, giggling.
There was no response.
"Do you have any idea what they're doing to you, love?" Brigette continued. She lowered her voice even more.
"You're not so tough now, are you? Just goes to show what kind of a person you are."
Brigette narrowed her eyes as she began to straddle Marianne between her legs.
"When they've stripped you of all your defenses."
Again, there was no response.
Brigette smiled. Whatever they did to her, it had completely fried her mind. Miss Parker had left the building.
"How does it feel, Miss Parker.to feel helpless?" She hissed as she wrapped her hands around her Marianne's neck.
Brigette never saw Marianne's hand rise up. It had placed itself on the exact spot on Brigette's neck, cutting off her air supply. Brigette's eyes popped wide open, as she looked deep into Marianne's eyes in disbelief.
She hadn't lost the will to live.
She spoke clearly and deliberately as her gaze met Brigette's.
"Let go of me, you stupid bitch. Before I beat that ridiculous British accent of yours out of you one more time."
*********************************** tbc Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!