Another chapter around here! After having some ideas for this story, I planned a little storyline to make things interesting. This could be considered as the beginning but it will be clear in the next chapters.
Now I'll let you enjoy the chapter!
I sighed for fifth time as I watched bored a documentary on TV. After my foot got injured that night, Marc's father examined it the next day and confirmed I was suffering a sprain. It wasn't serious but had to avoid moving too much and that made I had to forget all the plans I had for those free days. In that time, I spent all the time at home and only went out for certain moments. I was so frustrated... I hate being at home all the time and I think the reason is obvious enough. I tried to focus on the documentary that was about animals but I was too bored to pay attention. I checked the watch and sighed for sixth time seeing that there were still hours until Marc would come from college. In those days he stayed with me all the time and had the idea that every day we'll taste new kind of exotic food that I had never tried. It was funny... Until those free days ended and Marc had to return to work. Damn it...
Maybe I could open a tear and explore a new era. I just had to open one and watch. But about what should be...? Then I had an idea. I always had curiosity about certain person and it was Ethan. Everyone almost always talks about him, everyone knew him and knew the pain that his death caused. The only one who didn't know anything about him was me and that really bothered me. I wanted to understand what Ethan meant to everyone, I wanted to understand the pain that Mac and his family suffered. But... it was a good idea? That would mean spying Marc's past in a rather difficult time. Even if he'd tell me that he didn't mind, those were really personal moments... But I needed to know.
I sighed and got up with some difficulty. I wasn't sure how Marc would react if he discovers this… I guess I shouldn't say anything to him for now. And I had nothing to do right now so it was a good time. I closed my eyes and focused. I had to find the right door, the door that would help me to start to understand everything. I took a deep breath and after opening my eyes, I saw the tear appearing in front of me.
'Well, Ethan. Let's know a little more about you.'
I opened the tear until it allowed me to pass. Carefully I went to the other side and found myself in front of an ice-rink. There was no one except two boys who on the ice. Carefully I went downstairs and approached to look better. They were struggling and saw as one tried to escape with all his might from the other.
'Geo off me!' - said as he fought and his voice was too familiar for me.
'You'll have to do much better if you want me to stop.' - said the other laughing. After a few seconds, finally the boy was able to escape and I realized it was Marc. Of course that version was younger and a little smaller. I admit it took a while to recognize him and I couldn't help but smile looking at him so young. Then I saw the other boy and looked curiously at him. He was bigger than Marc and looked stronger. Like him, he was blond and he didn't stop smiling. It was… Ethan.
'It's not fair you do that. You know I can't win.' - said Marc a little annoyed.
'That's why I do the dirty job while you focus scoring goals.' – laughed Ethan. Both began to skate around the rink to collect all the things they used for the training. - 'Hey, about the next game...'
'I know. Avoid getting into trouble.' - said Marc with a sigh.
'I know I've talked about this too many times but you know how this people work. Especially Luccard...'
'You know I'll never approach to him.'
'Yeah. The problem is if he goes after you.' - said with a worried look. - 'They don't call him "The Ice Monster" for fun. That guy is dangerous.'
'I know. But coach told me that he would control every shift so I'd avoid I meet him.'
'Sooner or later you'll have to meet him and not always can keep an eye on him. Just... watch your back well. Okay?'- asked almost pleadingly.
'Okaaaay.' - said as they both went into the locker room with the training stuff. While both were still arguing, I saw as a tear appeared near me. As I suspected, the tears will appear as all them are connected...
I opened it and went into another ice rink although this was slightly larger than the last. There were people in the stands cheering and players from two teams on the rink. I recognized Marc and his brother on the bench and watched as they were called to go to the ice while there was a break. While they went to face-off circle, I went down to approach and have a better view. There was a great atmosphere and apparently the game was being very entertaining. I watched as they began to play and moved across the ice at full speed. I watched as Marc moved with agility in the ice and didn't hesitate when attacked the rival's net. I put my hands on the transparent boards and looked excited as they played. I had read many books about hockey and knew how the game worked but never seen a game. And watch Marc playing even if it was a young version of him excited me more. I wish I could actually see him play... or at least watch videos from when he played.
But then something caught my attention and my eyes widened. From the rival's bench came… a giant! My God, that guy was huge. I didn't even know how he could move so easily being so tall. Then I saw his name on his back and saw it was Luccard and he skated straight to where Marc was. I saw Ethan called him several times as he struggled with another player but Marc was too focused playing the puck. Then, just as he looked behind him, Luccard hit him roughly against the boards. Marc hit them hardly and fell to the ice motionless. Everyone started to protest and saw shocked as that guy was mocking Marc while he was still lying on the ice. How that bastard dared to do that?! Maybe this was the past but... oh god, I hate that boy so much!
I watched as the players who were on the ice started a scrum while doctors rushed to help Marc. Then I saw Ethan skating at Luccard and knew he was furious. Although he was a head taller, he didn't seem to care and pushed him furiously. The other turned and laughed at his face as he pushed back several feet. The officers tried to stop them but Ethan yelled at him several times before throwing his gloves on the ice and jump again at him. Luccard laughed again tried to push him down but Ethan hold fiercely. Then he escaped from his grip and threw a punch to his face. There was a silence as the giant fell KO to the ice and then everyone, including local players cheered Ethan. He kept yelling furiously at him rival while the referees drove him away and doctors also rushed to help Luccard. I couldn't help but smile to see that he got what deserved... and then I remembered that Marc told me about his when we were in Columbia. Well, now I understand better. Still smiling, I opened the next tear.
I walked into what looked like a locker room and saw Marc and Ethan along with the rest of his team. By their tense expressions, I gathered that the game they were playing was going really bad or were in trouble.
'I don't know what the hell is wrong with you and I don't care. All the mistakes that you made in every goal we received are unforgivable!' – said the coach really angry. - 'One thing is that the rival team plays better than us and another different thing is to let them surpass us in every aspect.'
'But... I was covering the number nine... and he should have covered the other!' - said one of the players blaming another and then started to discuss. The coach tried to stop them but the discussion seemed to be worsening every second.
'ENOUGH!' – shouted suddenly Ethan and everyone went silent. I noticed he had the "C" pointing him as the captain and looked at all his teammates. - 'We all failed in every goal we got against. But we still have two more periods to change this situation. All you have to do is focus and start playing as we should.'
'But... – one was going to insist but a warning glance from Ethan was enough to silence him.
'It may seem impossible but we will try our best to change this.' - Then he went to his brother who was lost in his thoughts. - 'Marc, now we need you.'
'You are free to attack the rival's net by all means.' - said his coach. - 'And the rest, focus and play better in defense.'
The players and the coach left the room and Ethan and Marc stayed there.
'Are you okay?' - asked Ethan as he saw that his brother still didn't say a word.
'Yeah. It's just...' - said with a sigh. - 'Number 8. I have met him in every shift I played and I tried to avoid him over and over again but always managed to stop me.'
'No one has been lucky in the first period and they have managed to stop our game. But we're going to change the situation. I'll take care of number 8, you just focus on trying to create chances.' - Then he raised his arm with and smiled. - 'We can do it.'
'Yes...' – muttered Marc. Then he smiled and hit his arm against his. - 'Let's give them the beat of his live-'
'Well said.' – said Ethan with a big smile and both left the locker room laughing. In the last two tears, I noticed two things: Ethan was highly respected and knew how to motivate his mates. Another thing I noticed is he was very with his brother and always tried to cheer him. It was almost the ideal big brother. With a smile I opened another tear and crossed it. I was in the street of a town I didn't know and it was dark. Saw Marc and Ethan walking through the street and I followed them.
'I talked with John last day.' – said Ethan and Marc looked at him.
'And? More news about scouts or the draft?'
'Something like. He told me about the interest they had on us. Looks like you winning a lot of attention from certain teams.' – said his big brother with a smile.
'Well, there's still a lot of time until the draft comes. Everything can happen.'
'Yeah, like being ranked for the first pick.' – said Ethan with a wink and Marc laughed.
'Don't think that happens.'
'Who knows? You're one of the best players of the league, you showed what you're capable of and how much you can do in the future.'
'I don't care in which position I'll get picked and what team. I'll just do my best.'
'That's the way to think.' – said giving a pat on his shoulder. – 'But admit it would be better not be picked by Boston or Toronto.'
'Well… I admit it will be pretty awkward if that happens. Grandpa would be probably upset.' – said Marc laughing. Then looked at Ethan. – 'What about you? Showed any interest?'
'Well, maybe you and I worked pretty good and I scored more points than everyone thought at first… but that doesn't change I'm an enforcer type. John told me I'll be lucky if I get picked in the second round but expectation is the later ones.'
'I see… but the most important is a team chooses you.'
'Hey, you imagine I get picked by Montreal?'
'Then I'll really envy you even if I get picked by the best team of the league.' – both laughed and kept walking.
'Marc?'
'Yes?'
'No matter what happens, never forget who you are. You're special and you're about to do great things.' – said Ethan looking into his eyes.
'I you say so…' – said like it wasn't nothing but could feel him smiling.
'You know I'm always right.' – both laughed and walked to their home. I stopped following them and smiled. Now I start to understand how close they are. They always supported and helped each other, especially from Ethan to Marc. Always looking the best for his brother and almost forgetting about himself.
I sighed and opened the next tear with a smile but then I had a vision. Marc and Ethan together as always, laughing, training… Everything looked fine. But then the training vision changed and saw Ethan collapsing. I saw the players and the doctors running to help him, his father treating him, Marc crying... The vision ended and blinked several times. Something was wrong. I crossed the tear and suddenly I felt the atmosphere had changed.
I was in a kind of office and saw Marc's father, Jean, sitting on the edge of the desk and Marc sat next to him on a chair. Both had very serious expressions and noticed Mac's hands shaking.
'I know this is hard and don't want you to suffer more but you need to remember what happened in case you forgot some specific detail.' – said Jean in a calm voice but felt his tension.
'I told you. He began to cough really hard and started bleeding. I-I don't know what was wrong.' – replied Marc very nervous and saw that he was close to start crying.
'Okay, okay.' - said Jean putting a hand on his son's shoulder and tried to calm him. - 'Maurice, I know you're suffering. But you should go back to Halifax and...'
'I'm not going back. I can't...'
'Maurice...'
'NO! I can't play again so easily while Ethan is suffering.'- responded furiously and got up from the chair.
'A month has passed since you played the last game with the team and your coach as same as your teammates have already called us several times asking about you. They're really worried. You have to try...'
'I won't go back! No... I can't...' - said Marc with broken voice and sat down. I hated to see him like that and felt a strong urge to comfort him... but I couldn't interfere in the past, much less in a circle I didn't belong. Jean sat in the other chair next to him and sighed.
'I'm doing everything I can to try to see what's wrong and I'm also suffering. But seeing you like is hurting me.' - said Jean removing his glasses and saw the pain in his eyes. - 'Please, you have to...'
'Dr. Clark?!' - suddenly the door opened and a nurse appeared.
'What's the matter?'
'Your son... has awakened from the coma!' - Marc and Jean got up and rushed to follow the nurse. Jean started talking with the nurse about what had happened while Marc followed them and I hastened to do the same. When they reached the room, they told Marc to stay outside and saw his anxiety to enter but he didn't. God, I wish I could do something for him... hug him or something… but I can't... The tear appeared behind me and sighed as I opened it.
I went into a hospital room and then I saw Ethan on a bed... but it didn't look like him. He was extremely thin and pale, and seemed smaller than before. He was wearing an oxygen mask and a machine showed its pulsations and the state of his body. I… I couldn't recognize him. The once strong and big boy wasn't there. Then the door opened and Marc entered. He sat next to his brother with a sad look and sighed.
'Hey Ethan.' - called him softly. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Marc. He removed took off the mask and gave a weak smile to his brother.
'Finally I see you. But with that face, you don't seem happy to see me.'
'Still joking even being so sick.' - Both laughed but then Ethan grimaced and coughed. Marc's smile disappeared and his sad expression returned. When Ethan calmed down, gave a long sigh.
'They told me... you haven't played with the team since I fall sick...' - said in a low voice and Marc looked down. - 'Marc, you must return to play.'
'Ethan, not you now…'
'Don't be stupid. Hockey is your greatest passion and you're leaving it because of me!'
'Do you think it's that easy? Do you know what I've been through?'- replied sharply. After a few seconds of silence, Ethan sighed.
'Nothing hurts me more than seeing that whatever is affecting me is affecting you as well. I know it's hard but nothing would make me happier than see you playing hockey.'
'Ethan...'
'At least one game, please. Only one... '- he pleaded. A minute passed in which Marc had said nothing and was looking down. Then sighed and looked at Ethan.
'I'll do it. For you.' - said with a small smile and his brother also smiled.
'Thank you.'
'And I'll score a hat-trick.' - After hearing that, Ethan's smile went wider and removed his hair.
'That's my brother.'
'I should leave then. The next game is in two days and I have to arrive at Halifax at soon as possible.' - said Marc getting up but his brother stopped him.
'Marc.' – when he turned, Ethan raised his arm with his clenched fist. - 'Show them you're not finished.'
'Of course.' - said doing their usual greeting. This looked familiar... Marc also told me about this. As his younger version left the room, Ethan coughed again and after giving a long sing and looking the door for last time, put the oxygen mask and closed his eyes.
Another tear appeared and when I was going to open it, I had another vision. Marc playing hockey, celebrating the victory of his team, returning to the hospital, talking with his family... he crying and calling Ethan... and a body covered in a cloth on a bed... The visions were short and fast but were enough to make heart cringe. I knew what was next. I went to open the tear but feel my hand trembling. Should I open it? That will be probably Marc's most difficult moment of his life… and I'm not sure if I'm ready to see him like that. After several seconds, I sighed and opened it. I went inside of a room and recognized Marc's bedroom. Everything was dark and the bedside lamp was the only light on there. I saw Mary kneeling in front of the bed and Marc lying on there.
'Maurice... Please... I know you're suffering but you have to talk.' - said her mother and noticed that she was close to start crying. Seeing that his son didn't respond, she gave a shaky breath. - 'Everybody asked about you. Even Jeane has tried to contact you and she's very worried. We are all saddened by his... his... Marc, I need you to talk to me. Just… say something...'
Jeane… Who's that? Mary kept asking his son to talk but Marc remained motionless without saying a word. From where I was, I couldn't see his face but seeing him in that way was worrying me... After several minutes, Mary sighed and kissed Marc's forehead before leaving the room. I slowly approached to Marc's bed and after seeing his face... I paled. Marc's face had no expression and his eyes… were empty. It was the same expression he had... when he died in my arms in Rapture. The only difference is that this Marc is alive...
'Marc...' - I called him softly. I felt pain seeing him like that… I hated it. Slowly I reached my hand to touch him but of course he didn't notice my presence. Then, just when I was about to touch his cheek, I noticed something on my cheek and touched mine. Tears... I was crying. I noticed as the pain and anxiety invaded me as my memories of Marc's death returned to my mind. I began to shake and walked away. - 'I... I have to get out of here.'
Quickly I opened my arm and a tear appeared. I moved quickly inside but just then my feet hurt and stumbled. I fell down hitting the floor and looked around. I saw that I had returned to the apartment and the tear had disappeared. My foot hurt me but I didn't care. I couldn't forget Marc's expression... when he was lying in the bed, when he died... I hated to see him like that... I can't...
'I'm here.' - The main door opened and Marc went inside. Then he saw me on the floor and hurried to help me. - Elizabeth! Are you okay?'
'I...' – couldn't answer. With just one move he helped me to get up and looked worried at me.
'Are you okay? Did you get hurt?'
'I'm fine.' – finally I said... but it wasn't true. Marc put a hand on my cheek and looked at me more worried.
'Then... why are you crying?'- I tried to answer but couldn't. Instead I hugged him tightly and buried my face in his chest. - 'Elizabeth?'
'Just… hug me.' - said without looking at me. He did and gently rubbed my back as tried to calm myself. Feel him so close after what I watched relieved me. After several minutes, I managed to calm down and I turned away from him. He looked into my eyes and stroked again my cheek.
'Better?' - I nodded and he sighed. - 'Are you going to tell me what's wrong?'
'I... I was watching a documentary about animals and... I've become sad when they showed a little lion cub that was abandoned.' - It was the best lie I could think right now. I didn't want Marc to get angry at me now...
'Oh, well. It had to be really sad to make you cry like that.' – said surprised.
'I've spent my childhood alone. You know that kind of things make me sad.' - I said pouting. Marc smiled and kissed my head as he returned to hug me.
'I know, I know. And why you were on the floor?'
'I was going to the bathroom and stumbled.' - I lied again.
'You should be more careful. Your foot is still recovering from that spring.' – warned me. I nodded and gave a long sigh. I'm so glad to be with Marc... My Marc. Alive, calm... happy. I sighed and finally smiled.
'So... how was your day?' - I asked him and became cheerful again. Because of him.
Everything was dark. I didn't know for how long I walked or where I was. All I could see was darkness and that it was very cold. Where was Marc? I wanted to be with him, have him close to me... Then I heard a noise behind me and turned around.
'H-hello?' - I asked while trying to see who was there but it was too dark to see anything. Then I heard a deep growl... and it was very familiar. I paled when I recognized that sound. - 'No... no... the Big Daddy…'
Suddenly the growl became a roar and heard heavy footsteps going towards me. I started running with all my strength but my foot ached and my injury caused me to move slower. I felt the panic came over me as I heard the Big Daddy was getting closer to me and also that I wasn't able to see where I was going. I didn't want to die, not now…
Then I saw a weak light in the background and hurried to go there. Suddenly I stumbled against something and fell. I winced as I felt my foot hurting... and then I realized that I didn't hit the ground. I fell on something. As I looked down, I felt the urge to scream. It was on Marc... and his eyes were empty.
'No... No no no! Marc!' - shook him desperately trying to make him react but he didn't move. I touched his cheek and felt it cold. - 'Don't do this to me. Don't leave me now...'
I felt the Big Daddy was really close to us but I didn't care. I hugged Marc and I started to cry. I don't care anymore. I heard as the Big Daddy was behind us and also how he prepared his drill to attack.
'Marc... I...'
Suddenly I opened my eyes and stood up. I looked around feeling very confused while trying to calm my breathing and put my hand over my heart. It was just a nightmare... Touched my cheek and felt my tears. Damn it... Then I looked next to me and saw Marc sleeping. I gave a sigh of relief as I laid down again. That nightmare was really bad. Maybe it was caused because of watching Marc's past? I still wasn't able to forget his expression in the last memory and appeared in my nightmare...
I shook my head and took a deep breath. I had to forget about it and try to go back to sleep. I approached to Marc and curled next to him. Everything was fine. It was only a nightmare... but it wasn't the only one I suffered that night. And each one was worse than the last.
After some of you shared your desire to know more abut Ethan, I hope this chapter was quite useful for that. But Elizabeth looks like she's going to suffer a bit for spying Marc's past... and he doesn't know about it. Will he discover what happened? and will get upset for that? Also, will Elizabeth recover from that and stop suffering nightmares? You'll have to wait to see that...
Please, share you thoughts and remember to post reviews if you have something to say!
