Chapter 12: Fleeting Life

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The sound of a cell phone down stairs in Darron's room tore Charlie from a dream. He listened to the conversation from both ends.


"Darron, get down to the hospital, we have a problem with Dakota."


"I'm on my way."


Charlie listened to him stand, throw on the clothes from the floor, and run out the door towards the hospital across the street.


"What happened?" Darron asked as he ran. His voice bounced a little with every step.


"His heart stopped. Your brother's here and is helping him for the moment but we need you to help to."


"Why, isn't David strong enough?"


"It's coming from somewhere else, he not dying from anything natural."


"You mean Paul, or Karma or someone like that?"


"Someone like that, we're not sure."


"OK, I'm almost there, so I'll hang up now. Bye."


Charlie listened to his feet beat the ground and the sliding door open. He could almost see Darron running to the elevator. He tapped his hand against his pant leg and mumbled about elevators being to slow. His arm banged against the elevator door as he pushed through before it had fully opened. Darron ran into Dakota's room.


"What's goin' on Dave?"


"It's Paul, he's trying to kill him, I've got his heart beating but if I let go it'll stop again. I need you to cut the connection between him and Paul." David explained.


One of the chairs mumbled as Darron eased into it. He shut his eyes. A light filled the room, and Charlie could hear a yell from very far away.

"Done." Darron said simply. "For now of course."


David slumped into the other chair and sighed. "We can't keep this up."

"You look tired. Why don't you go home?" Darron suggested.


David shook his head. "I'm too scared too leave him now." He laughed.


"Why can't or won't Dakota fight for himself?" Alex asked. Charlie could make out the pat of Alex's Vans across the tile floor.


"He hasn't the strength," David explained.


"But I thought you said he defeated Xander once in his mind. That time you found him at uh...Sharla and Scott's house right?"


David rubbed his neck. "I think Xander severely weakened his mind too, he got smart when he tried to kill him this time. Plus, Paul is very strong, even after our fight."


Alex kicked Dakota's bed.

Charlie heard the bed squeak and knew that Dakota sat up. He heard him breathing heavily. He stared unseeing at the wall, his mouth hung open.


"Dakota!" All three yelled. But his eyes rolled under his eyelids and he slumped back onto the bed, unconscious again.