Chapter 4- Way Out
"Get over Jay or die!" Doc's harsh words reverberated over and over in Elli's troubled consciousness.
She was a half awake, eye shut, listening to Doc's incessant grumbling. What gave that horrible man the right to do what he was doing? Elli thought grimly.
"Stupid Jay…Make him pay…got my knife…Elli here…Perfect!" Doc snapped his fingers and ran out of the office.
Elli sat up horrified. He was going after Jay! It was noon, and he would be at the beach eating his lunch. He was quite the chef, and Doug hired him as an assistant. Sometimes, Jay would bring a little extra for Elli.
Getting up slowly, Elli walked out of the Clinic, and ran to the beach, almost running into Doc. Gasping, she dove into the brush as Doc turned around, scratched his head, shrugged, and continued.
He turned to the beach. How did he know? Fear gripped Elli. What was going to happen next?
"Now Jay, either tell Elli you hate her or perish." Doc flipped out the pocketknife and Jay cringed, dropping his sushi.
It was all clear. Jay hadn't been so keen to promise her to come back. Doc must have threatened him!
Elli curled her hands into fists. What a jerk!
"No. Elli means more to me than you or your heartless threats do." Jay retorted.
"Fine." Doc raised his knife.
"That's enough!" Elli couldn't bear to watch any more. Both men had a look of surprise cross their faces. Jay looked relieved, and Doc looked terrified.
"Oh sweetie! I thought the horrible Jay had hurt you!" Doc ran over and kissed Elli's hand.
Eww! She slapped him. He recoiled, glaring.
"No Doc. You have hurt me more than Jay ever did." Elli said angrily.
"You aren't dead?" Jay asked. "Doc here said he killed you." Elli laughed.
"Yeah right. Here I am, perfectly fine." Elli said. Jay walked over to her, but Doc intervened.
"No. She's mine." Doc said angrily, spreading her arms out in front of Elli.
"Doctor. I can make my own decisions. And I choose Jay. I love him. I don't love you." Elli said strictly.
"Leave her alone." Jay echoed nervously.
"No." Doc flung himself at Elli, bringing her into a headlock, pressing the cold blade of his knife to her neck.
"Tell her you hate her, and leave town. I'll do it." Doc said, smiling manically, eye twitching.
"I-I…" Jay stammered, unsure of what to say.
"Don't leave Jay!" Elli cried, tears brimming in her brown eyes.
"I'll leave. I'm sorry Elli." Jay knelt on his knee, and the sand was dotted with tears, shed by both. "Now let her go!"
Doc dropped his hold on Elli. "I'll be back in an hour to see you leave."
Elli hugged Jay tightly. He had just made the ultimate sacrifice. "You shouldn't have done that." She whispered.
"I couldn't let you get hurt; you're my little angel." Elli simply cried more at Jay's kind remark. She couldn't respond since she was so flattered.
"I love you Jay." She choked out.
"I love you too, Elli. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'm so sorry."
"I'll come with you." Elli offered.
"And let Doc kill us both? It isn't worth it. I'd sacrifice anything for you." Jay said, rubbing her hair.
"I'm gonna miss you." Elli said sadly.
"I know." Jay said flatly, trying to hide his true emotion, the empty loneliness was coming back. From all those years in the city, he had had few friends. He had been so lonely, and he dreamed of going back to Mineral Town.
Jay sighed.
"I'm gonna miss you." He hugged Elli back.
They were locked in a sweet and sour embrace for the next ten minutes.
A/N: Awww…