Okay, I'm mean to poor Evan and I guess in a way to Hank. Maybe a bit too evil for Royal Pains, but the story went this way. It's not my fault; I swear. Didn't do nothing. Hank's wasting time, Emily is a snake and Eddie can't stay put at one place. The only one doing what I want him to do is poor sweet Evan. I'm suffering with him, but there ain't anything I could do to help him, as I said... not my fault...
Hank read through the diaries that Evan kept under his bed. He read a lot about his brother that he didn't know, but there wasn't any hint of his where-about so far. He had only two books left, but his body ached for food and water and it wouldn't help anyone, if he didn't take care of himself. He should have rested, too, but he didn't think he could rest as long as his younger brother was missing.
He took the last two books with him and prepared some food in the kitchen. He had some water and ate some sandwiches at the counter. His weary eyes scanned every page for the answer he was trying to find so desperately, but he wasn't successful.
All he had learned by reading the diaries made him sad. He was a lousy brother. He sucked big time! Even though Evan had never written this, he knew it himself. Evan felt lonely and isolated in the Hamptons. He had no real friends and spent most of his time alone, while Hank met people for dinner or went to bars with a few friends. Evan had never complained about it and Hank had never asked. He had just assumed that Evan had had plans with people as well. I'm gonna make up for it, kiddo! Just have to bring you back home.
He laid down on the couch to close his eyes for a few minutes. Trying not to think about anything. He hoped to find an answer as soon as his mind had some time to reset. It actually worked much better than he had expected, but there was a negative part to it. He fell asleep and lost more precious time.
His mother kept touching him, kissing him on his cheek. The nails of her bony fingers cut through his skin deep in his flesh. Blood from her mouth mixed with his. People that he didn't know kept pulling on him from all sides. There was pain everywhere, he couldn't feel his left arm anymore. It happened so fast, he didn't notice it right away. When he tried to move his arm, it didn't react and when he looked at his side, where his arm was supposed to be there was nothing, but a but flesh and blood from his shoulder. His arm was gone. He screamed. But the violent pulling on him didn't stop. It went on until his right leg was ripped from his body. He wished to pass out, but didn't. The horror went on for him.
A new wave of pain rocked his body, when his mothers fingernails cut down his torso, starting on his chest and ending at his navel. She then cut along his waist. Her nails were sharp like a scalpel. His body was a bloody mess now. He couldn't stop the screams that escaped his mouth in horror and pain. Then shock set in and he staired with motionless eyes at the ceiling. He did still hear the dead people, they still worked on him, he also felt the pain they were causing him, but his voice didn't work and his screams were soundless. Nobody was there to care about them anyway. Nobody was there to care about him. A lonely tear ran down his bloody face. But nobody was there to see the horror in his widened almost dead eyes. Nobody, but the skeletons that hurt him.
Hank woke up after several hours sleep. It was already dark outside and he cursed himself for falling asleep. Fucking idiot! Darn, nice job, Henry, let him down again!
He ate the rests of his lunch and drunk a lot of water. A few minutes later his elbows leaned on his upper thighs. His head rested in his hands. His eyes were closed. He tried hard to recall the last few minutes of the events in his fathers basement.
Emily had been pointing with a gun at them. The look in her eyes didn't leave any doubt to whether she would or wouldn't use it. Eddie and himself had been fighting for Evan's body. His brother had been in pain. There had been the shot. Not very long after his hands had left the last contact to his brothers hands. Eddie had said something and Evan had looked hurt and terrified after those words. He had said something to Hank. Something about the diaries.
"Great! There was nothing in your diaries, Ev."
If he could just remember the words from Eddie. He was sure it would help him to remember Evan's words as well. His head was aching and he reached out to massage his temples. He had forgotten about the small wound. But now that he touched it, it brought pain – and something else. An image, words... a memory.
Stop fighting, Evan, I'm gonna bring you to our old nice places, remember? You will meet many old friends.
My diaries, Henry! First three years!
"First three years!" And here he had spent most of the day looking in the wrong books. "Why can't I just listen to him once?!" Hank was frustrated with himself. He had to drive back to NYC and get Evan's old diaries from the storage. But how? He ran in Evan's room and tried to find out where the storage was and who he had to call. It didn't take long. He found a small address book and the name of the storage place. If you could be sure about one thing regarding his brother, it was that he kept track on everything that included business.
It was close to midnight. There was no sense in driving there tonight. He packed all kinds of medications in his bag and a lot of water, some chocolate bars and other stuff he or Evan might need. He put everything in the trunk. Ready to leave in the early morning. He'd find his little brother. He was sure, he had to. There were no other possible options in his mind.
Hank went to his room and tried to sleep, but the thoughts of his brother kept him awake. The silence in the house was overwhelming. His fear was growing. His eyes were closed, but he never drifted to sleep. The first time since he had come home to find Evan gone, he finally broke down. He started crying loud, convulsive sobs. He sat up, feet on the floor, pressed his hands against his eyes and fell down on his knees, praying for his brothers life.
He was crying so hard that his vision was blurred, when he walked to Evan's room. He almost ran into the closed door. His hands were shaking, when he opened the door and entered the room.
Henry laid down on his brothers bed. Caressed the sheet, blanket and pillow. He felt and smelt his brother everywhere, well, or his mind made him believe so. He'd never known how much he could miss Evan. The thought of losing him was unbearable and that it should be this evil way made things just worse. He embraced the pillow and held it tight, like he would be hugging the younger Lawson. He cried even harder now and screamed out as loud as his lungs would allow: "Evan!"
He repeated his brothers name over and over again, though breathing wasn't easy through all this desperate crying. He fell asleep after an hour crying. He not once let go of the pillow. He kept it close to his heart until he woke up again a few hours later. It gave him comfort, it was like his baby brother was with him.
While Eddie was discussing with the first six of his new clients, Emily waited at the window for Evan to become more coherent again. When she thought that the drug was wearing off some, she entered the room.
"Look at me!"
The drugged man, didn't hear her. He didn't want to hear her. She was evil. His eyes would be burnt, if he tried looking at her.
She pushed one hand in his curled hair and pulled his head back. He was forced to look at her, but his eyes were closed. He didn't dare to open them. All he could do was whimper. He didn't want her to hurt him again.
"Look at me now, or I'll make you!" Nothing happened and the little patience she had was gone. She couldn't kill him, but she could hurt him. She slipped brass knuckles over both hands and blew several hits at his ribcage. "Look at me now!"
His whimpering was louder now, but he still didn't look at her. He was too scared. She blew more hits at his chest, his lower buddy and some more at his face. She stopped soon enough to keep him from passing out. "Look at me!"
He didn't want to, but the pain was so intense. The hits to his chest left him breathing hard. He couldn't bear it anymore. His eyes opened, the lids were heavy and it wasn't easy to keep them open.
"You know, loser, you could make this so much easier for me, if you'd stop playing hero. It would also be less painful for you." With the last word one of her hands crashed between his legs. The groan and agony made her smile.
He just wanted to pass out, close his eyes and escape the monsters around him, the strange woman-snake-monster that talked to him in Emily's voice. But fate didn't mean well with the youngest Lawson. He looked at her, saw her legs, torso and arms – they all were surrounded and almost covered by several very large snakes. Oh yes, he very much wanted to pass out. This thing scared him.
"I want every fucking number of every single bank account that your brother has. If you're nice, you can keep yours." Not that you'll ever need it again.
He shook his head. His lids became heavier with every passing moment. He was still out of it, but aware enough to know he will never again lose his brothers money.
"I was afraid you'd be stubborn. But don't worry, it won't be long and you'll tell me everything, just so I let you go."
He could feel her breath on his face. Her eyes were locked with his. He could see now, that it weren't several snakes around her whole body. It was one with many heads and where her hairs were supposed to be there were her babies. "Mannnyy sssnakessss...told ya, H'nk, Em issa ssssnaaaake." He giggled, it was an unhealthy crazy giggle, but it made her mad.
She cut the little fabrics that were left on his body in pieces, every time the knife touched fabric, it cut deep in his skin as well. She held a syringe up, made sure he saw it. "Your last chance, tell me about your brothers accounts."
He couldn't speak anymore, he shook his head. Every muscle in his body stiffened. But as the syringe touched the skin of his arm, he tried to yank away from her. With the panic the voice came back. "No! Please...no!"
She madly grinned at him. "Did you change your mind? I'm listening."
"No," it was merely a whisper. He didn't want anymore of those horrible drug, but he wouldn't fail his brother again. The last disappointment had always caused the end of their relationship. The risk was too high.
He closed his eyes and soon felt the horrible liquid running through his veins. It wouldn't be long and the snake-lady wouldn't be the only monster haunting him. He knew it, he cried.
"If you think you had a bad trip by now, wait for this one. Made it extra special," she said in a mad whisper, before she yelled: "'cause you piss me off!"
Several minutes later the drug began its work. There was an earthquake and he desperately tried to crawl away from it, but it was impossible. There was no way to escape. The earthquake followed him. In his last aware moments, he realized that it wasn't the earth shaking, but his body convulsing. "Help, Eny... soon."
He was left alone in the room, but there were eyes watching him from outside the room. Twelve eyes were surrounding one laptop a few steps above him. The six men turned around to Eddie.
He smiled at them, the two people behind him smiled to the six fascinated men as well. "You know him, guys. So I don't have to tell you much. The facts are also in the mails you received from me. We will move on to another place soon. It's time to start this. Let's talk about the price, Gentlemen."