Chapter Seven: Round and Round We Go
The generator took forever to finally kick in. The lights flickered dimly on. I stood slowly taking in the image before me. There were people running everywhere. There were men dressed in black, guns in hand. Dean stood, his hand resting on my arm. We exchanged glances before a small explosion erupted on stage. We moved toward the it as a man appeared and took the mic.
"Everyone calm down and shut up!" He yelled viciously. When the screaming and running continued he fired several shots into the air. Everyone dropped to the ground and the noise dulled. "This will all be over before you know it. Just stay calm and do as you're told." He stepped down as other men started to move through the crowd.
"We're being robbed." I stated.
"I can see that." Dean replied.
"We're actually being robbed." I said and smiled at him.
"Why are you smiling?" He asked.
"Because this is so out of the ordinary for us. We can have this situation under control in like five minutes." I told him.
"We could, but we can't kill them." Dean told me.
"No, but we can sure hurt them a lot." I said and winked.
"I'll confront the leader. Go get a weapon." He told me.
"Done." I said pulling my knife from my thigh.
"I didn't know you were packing." He grinned at me mischievously.
"I'm just full of surprises." I said and kissed him. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I won't." He said and slowly rose to a crouch.
I did the same and went to help the wounded. There didn't appear to be any casualties. But that could change in the blink of an eye. I was helping a middle-aged man when I was grabbed from behind.
"Hey!" I said forcing him to release his grip. My hand moved to the knife but then relaxed. That would be too rash. His eyes scanned my body before he grabbed my arm again, pulling me through the crowd. "What the hell do you want? I don't have anything of value." I told him.
"You're a pretty girl. That and I think we have your date." He said and threw me to the ground at the leaders feet.
I looked up at him and just to the left Dean was being held by the throat. "Let him go." I said getting to my feet.
"You see." He said with his gun to his temple. "This guy here thought he'd try and force me into submission. Not a good idea." He turned and shot Dean in the knee, watching him fall to the floor.
"Dean!" I screamed moving toward him. The man's arm caught my waist and threw me to the floor. "You son of a bitch!" I yelled lunging at him. I punched him hard across the jaw.
He laughed before backhanding me. "You have spunk." He smiled before grabbing my cheeks with his hand. "Do as I say or he dies."
I glared at him, clenching my jaw. "What do you want?"
"I want to be rich." He grinned.
"You are so demented." I told him.
He laughed and hit me again. "Go gather jewelry and money." He said and shoved me back toward everyone else.
As soon as they turned their backs to me the knife was out. The man who had grabbed me was first. I slashed the back of his knees before his arm as he reached for his gun. I moved to Dean and freed him before diving behind tables. I dragged Dean with me as commotion started to break out again. There was yelling and gun fire in our direction.
"What are you doing?" Dean asked me.
"They shot you. No one messes with you without getting hurt." I told him.
He gave me his crooked smile as he shook his head. "We're dead now, you know that right?"
"Yeah. I figured as much." I smiled and kissed him deeply.
We were safe at the moment. But I watched as a young woman was hit by a bullet. She fell hard and then the little boy we had seen appeared, screaming, next to her. She was dead. Panic started to course through me. I rushed from my hiding spot and grabbed him. Dean yelled my name and when I turned back to him, he was moving toward me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the leader with his gun raised, his mouth open in an angry yell, his face distorted maddeningly as he moved toward us. It was as if in slow motion, I held the boy against me, watching Dean as he moved to protect me, then the trigger was pulled.
"Dean!" I screamed but it was too late.
Dean was thrown to the side as the bullet hit him in the chest. I pushed Nathan under a table and rushed to Dean. He was already coughing up blood, struggling for breath.
"Baby, please." I said bending over him.
"Get out of here." He told me as he struggled to breathe.
"Not without you." I told him.
"I love you." He said before going limp in my arms.
"Dean? Dean!" I cried and kissed him. "Please don't." I said holding his head in my hands. "I love you too." I whispered before turning back to the boy.
In the next moment the room started to spin. I closed my eyes waiting for it to stop. When I opened them the room was intact and music was playing. I was just standing there. I looked at myself only to see that I was once again in perfect form. Nothing torn nor blood shed. I looked around and saw Dean walking toward me.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." He said as he handed me a drink.
"I'm fine." I told him though I was completely in shock. What the hell just happened? I asked as I downed my drink.
The party had just started. People were finding their seats, slowly making it up to the buffet. Dean was excited about the food. It was déjà vu. He did everything exactly like he had before. I didn't know what was going on but this was going to be hell if it played out the same way. It was either a gift or a curse. We sat down and ate, though I did more pushing around than anything.
"That's guy's mo hock is awesome." Dean said pointing at the guy with the tall green one.
"And his girlfriend is every definition of the word Goth." I told him with a forced smile.
He laughed and shoveled more food into his mouth. I couldn't eat. I watched him. Memorizing every move he made. Dancing to a slow song, I smiled, putting my hand on his face. He smiled back, completely unaware of what happened the last time we went through this. Part of me wanted to tell him but I wasn't sure what was happening. I wouldn't say anything until I know one way or the other. All I did know is that I wasn't going to let him get hurt. Not again. Not ever if I could help it. Leaning in, kissing him, I rested my hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath it. Soon the karaoke started and before I was ready Dean was trying to get me on stage. I smiled and kissed him before going up. I tried to be as into it as I could. I wasn't stupid. I knew that I needed to play it out as much like the first time. I didn't know the name of the game but for now I was going with it. I sang the same songs. The night was playing out the same as before. When Dean stood up and smiled at me, I knew that it was soon to come. When he asked me to dance I took his hand, but couldn't go with him.
"Can we just sit this one out?" I asked him.
"Everything okay?" He asked me.
"I don't think so." I whispered to him.
He just looked at me. My eyes pleaded with his. He nodded and I started to lead him toward the door. We were nearly there when the lights went out and the screaming started. The door burst open and men filed in. Dean pulled me down and underneath a table.
"Shit." I said as I gripped onto Dean.
The generator came on and the shots were fired. The leader's voice was heard and the events started to replay.
"Come on. We have to do something." Dean said, moving to leave.
"No!" I said grabbing him.
"What is it? Why are you so freaked out?"
"Just stay with me. Please." I told him, my grip tightening.
"Okay." He said wrapping his arms around me.
It didn't take long for the rounds to be made. We were in a different part of the room. People were being herded into a group toward the front. I was pulled out first, followed by Dean. He started to fight back but I launched myself at him, begging him to stop. We were put with everyone else, scared eyes moving over the room. I pulled Dean to the floor with me. Since we hadn't antagonized them this time I hoped it would go smoother. I couldn't watch Dean die again.
"We can't just sit here." Dean told me.
"I'm not moving." I told him.
"What is wrong with you? This isn't like you. You'd be the first to help. This is a normal robbery. We can beat these guys with our eyes shut." He told me.
"No, we can't." I told him. "Please. Just do what they say. Don't do anything stupid."
He sighed and I could see the wheels turning. He was going to do something. He was going to try and be the hero. I wasn't going to be able to stop him. My only other option was doing something first.
"Baby?" I said looking at him.
"What?" He asked.
I punched him, hard. He fell to the side, unconscious. "I love you. But I'm going to keep you alive tonight." I told him as I pushed him further underneath the table.
I turned to where the men were. They were stationed at every exit. The leader and his closest men were on the stage. They had already been going through the crowd for jewelry and money. It was so simple yet so dangerous all at the same time. I had no plan. No way to know what to expect.
My arm was grabbed before I could make it ten feet to the men. "Hey!" I said as I was whipped around to face them.
"What do you think you're doing?" The man asked me.
"Whatever I can to make this go as smooth and as fast as I can." I told him.
"Then I suggest you take a seat and wait it out." He told me, his grip tightening.
"No." I said pulling away from him. "I'm not going to stand by and wait for something to happen. Either you tell me what I can do or I'll do it on my own."
"Are you asking for a death wish?" The man frowned at me.
"Maybe I am." I said and started to walk toward his boss.
He grabbed me again but I put up a fight, making it necessary for his boss to turn toward us.
"What's going on?" His boss asked.
"Just a rowdy hostage." The man said grabbing my arm again.
"Let her go, Marcel." His boss told him.
I pulled away from him again and stepped up onto the stage. "So, you're the monkey running the show." I said crossing my arms.
"Jasper Hughes." He said introducing himself.
"And why the hell would you tell me your name?" I frowned at him. "What kind of robbers are you?"
"I'm not hiding anything. I can't get what I want unless the cops show up."
"This is all about money, right? I mean, why would you take a fundraiser hostage with any other motive?" I asked him.
A man came up from behind him. "We've got her." Jasper nodded and the man stepped back.
"So there is another motive." I stated. "Ex-wife? Old lover? Did she reject you repeatedly?"
Jasper smiled and gave a short laugh. "You're funny."
"And you're dead."
I froze and looked at Dean, his gun raised at Jasper, and then he pulled the trigger. Other guns went off before I could move and Dean fell back off of the stage. I screamed his name and jumped off the stage. He was dead before I reached him, his blood making a pool around his body. I started to shake uncontrollably and then the tears came. Before I could fully take it in everything started to spin. The room was once again intact when I opened my eyes. I was just standing there again. I saw Dean walking toward me and I tried not to show the depths of my despair. The whole night started to replay itself. The people, the food, the singing…everything. The same men filed in and we were once again in the same boat. All of me wondering why I didn't just drag him from the room the second the night rewound. But part of me knew that we wouldn't be able to leave. Something would keep us here. Something would prevent us leaving, making it impossible to save my fiancé from what would undoubtedly be the last night of his life.
"We're being robbed." I told him.
"I can see that." Dean stated. I was supposed to be saying my lines but I couldn't speak. "We've gotta do something." He said as he rose to a crouch.
"No!" I whispered as I pulled him back down to me.
"What is it?" He frowned at me.
"This doesn't feel right." I told him.
"This is a normal robbery. We can handle this." He replied.
"I know we can, but there is something wrong here." I said trying to convey the panic that was setting in.
"What is it?" He asked again.
"This is the third time tonight has happened." I told him.
"What?" He said with raised brows.
"Tonight has happened before. The same things happen over and over again. I tried changing what happened but I haven't been able to. I can't stand to watch what I've had to watch the past two times this night has happened. I am scared and I don't want to go through it again." I blurted out, not looking at him.
"So, like déjà vu." He stated.
I couldn't help but crack a smile as I shook my head at him. "No, not like déjà vu. Like groundhogs day." I told him.
"Okay." He said looking slightly confused yet.
I sighed and took his head in my hands. "Baby, tonight someone is going to die and we have to stop it."
"Who?" He asked.
"You." I told him.
"What? That's ridiculous. I'm dying. Not tonight anyway." He told me.
"You don't get it. I've watched you die twice now. It's going to happen again tonight. We need to lay low." I told him slowly to make sure he listened to every word.
He leaned toward me, taking my head in his hands. "Baby, I'm not going anywhere tonight. I'll be okay."
"Okay." I nodded, kissing him deeply.
The night ended with Dean getting shot in the back. He was shot in the head the following night. He was blown away with a shotgun the night after. He was killed over and over and over again. Not only him. Nathan and his mom appeared more than once. The poor boy's mother was killed numerous times. I would have to stand and listen to him screaming unable to help. I was helpless. I couldn't do anything to change what was going on. But after it happened too many times to count, things began to show. Jasper was looking for someone. Sometimes they found her sometimes they didn't. I didn't know who they were talking about. All I knew is that she meant something to Jasper and he was coming not only to rob but to find her and get her back. I caught a glimpse of who they were talking about but never enough to figure it out. It was the one thing that kept me from going completely insane. The music was driving me mad and the food was making me nauseous. Watching Dean enjoy the food and people watching was also getting old. I loved him to death. But his death was putting a damper on everything. Just being with him was enough for me. But the terror of watching him die over and over again was more draining then words could say. Between trying to keep Dean alive and finding out about the woman they were looking for, the night never seemed to last long. Meaning Dean seemed to die quicker and quicker every night. Despite the small variations each night always ended the same. Me crying over Dean's body. The night would rewind and I'd have to do it all over again. But it happened so many times that I was starting to get desensitized. Spending more time getting drunk then trying to figure out how to stop the loop. I didn't know how to stop it but I couldn't stand watching him die. He was always trying to protect me. He was only looking out for me. It made me think that, somehow, this was my fault. I was being punished, over and over again.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked me.
"Yup." I said flatly.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I'm just bored." I told him.
"We just got here." He retorted.
"I know. But if I remember correctly, and I'm not saying I do, I told you I didn't want to come to this thing." I replied.
"I know but it's supposed to be fun for us." He said softly.
He continued to try and cheer me up. I listened momentarily before seeing Nathan and his mom walk past a few feet away. "I'll be right back." I told him as I stood.
"Evy." He frowned as I walked away.
"Just wait here." I told him and walked toward them. "Excuse me." I said getting her attention.
"Hi." She smiled. "Are you and your husband having a good time?"
"We are." I smiled back at her. "This is going to be very unusual but I need to know something." I told her.
"Okay." She smiled curiously.
"Do you know a Jasper Hughes?" I asked. She frowned at me, taking a step back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"How do you know that name?" She asked.
"He's going to rob the fundraiser and come after you." I told her quickly.
"That's not funny." She said taking her sons hand.
"Please, just hear me out." I told her with my palms raised.
"I have to go." She told me and practically dragged Nathan away as she moved away from me.
"What was that about?" Dean said stepping next to me.
"Never mind." I told him as I turned away.
"What's going on?" He frowned as he followed me.
"Give me an hour and then you won't have to worry about it." I replied.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
The doors burst open and the men flowed in. I sighed and put my fingers to my forehead. Dean pulled me down next to him. I put my hands on his knee as he held me against him. I was quiet as we waited. The men would come around. Dean wanted to do something. Every time he mentioned interceding I squeezed his knee, frowning at him. He just nodded before gently rubbing my back. My plan was just to stay there and stay quiet but I saw Nathan nearby. He was crying.
"Stay here." I told Dean as I crawled over to the boy.
"Evy." Dean said grabbing my thigh.
"Dean. Stay here. Please, just wait." I told him.
He glared at me but stayed back. I went to Nathan, cradling him in my arms. He was crying uncontrollably. I looked for his mother but she was nowhere near her son. When I spotted her she was being led by the arm by the man known as Marcel. I pulled Nathan to Dean before rushing off toward her. She was fighting against the men, being pushed toward Jasper. Before I could reach her I was grabbed from behind. I spun coming face to face with one of Jasper's men. I sighed as I was led to the others.
"You." The woman said to me.
"Don't do this Jasper." I told him.
"Have we met?" He frowned at me.
"Several times." I replied.
"I think I'd remember meeting you."
"No, you wouldn't." I replied.
"What are you doing?" She whispered harshly to me.
"Trying to keep everyone alive." I shot back at her.
We were in the middle of our banter when Nathan yelled out for his mother. We turned to look at him. He was standing only a few yards away, unsupervised, looking as calm as could be. He just stood there, calling out for her. Then the gun shots started. Marcel and the man holding me fell to the ground. The woman was grabbed by Jasper, being dragged away. I turned to see Dean. Everything seemed to slow down now. Jasper started to fire at him. Dean dove behind a table. I dropped to the ground, crawling over to where Dean had landed.
"Dean…" I said going to him. There was red on his shirt. "Oh God…"
"I'm okay. It's barely a graze." He said with a half-smile.
I kissed him quickly. Resting my forehead against his as I did my best not to cry. It was coming. I knew it was and I didn't know how to stop it. Only moments later shots echoed in the room. Only this time it was an automatic, firing round after round into the table. I felt pain, falling to the side. I looked at Dean. He too was on his side, red soaking through his white shirt. The pain was unbearable. I moved my hand over to his, gripping it tightly. He smiled at me before his eyes closed. I covered my face with my hand and started to cry. I rolled onto my back as the room began to spin.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked me.
"Yup." I said flatly, sitting at the table, my chin in my hand.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I'm just bored." I told him.
"We just got here." He retorted.
"I've been here for a long time now." I told him.
"What are you talking about?" He frowned.
"I'm stuck in groundhog's day." I said looking at him. "And every day you die."
"What?" He asked.
"This night is never ending. Tonight never ends and every night you die. I can't watch you die again and we can't leave. We're screwed. You're screwed. I'm screwed. And not in a good way." I said and looked at my hands.
"Baby, I'm going to be fine." He told me with a small smile, taking my hands in his.
"I love you. I love you so much." I said putting my hand on his cheek.
"I love you too." He said and kissed me deeply.
Dean was very much into the party. The same way he was every night. I sang karaoke and he ate a bunch of food. We danced and then the robbery started to take place. I simply moved from my seat to the floor, dragging Dean with me.
"Stay here, don't move, don't say a word, and don't do anything to antagonize them." I said gripping his shirt tightly.
"Evy, we have to do something." He told me.
"No." I said looking him, unblinkingly, in the eyes.
"Baby…" He frowned.
"I'm not going to watch you die again. Not…again." I told him.
He sighed and took my hand in his. I cradled his arm against my chest. We listened to the men order everyone around. Making their way around the room.
"Jewelry and money." A man said stepping up to us.
"We don't have any money or jewelry of value." I told him.
"The necklace." He told me.
"You're not getting my necklace." I told him.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. Dean went to stand but I stopped him. The man reached for my necklace but I kneed him in the groin. Dean went to stand but I pushed him down. I glared at him as I was dragged away from him. I was taken to Jasper.
"I know who you're looking for." I told him. Jasper grinned and looked at his men. "She's here with her son. Your son. Don't do this. She's going to die if you do this. Then what will you do? He will never forgive you."
"You don't know what you're talking about." He replied with his jaw clenched.
"Bethany Lyons. She's your ex-wife who left you for your unstable ways. It took me a long time to figure it out but I did. She's here with Nathan and you're here to get revenge and to force her to give you your son. This isn't the way to do it. This is so far from the way to do it." He just looked at me before hitting me hard. Our confrontation had yet to go as planned. He hit me which means Dean was only a few minutes away from death. "I know it sucks but you can't do this. People are going to die. Do you really want to be the cause of all that?"
"You don't understand." Jasper told me.
Just then Bethany and Nathan were pushed toward us. "Don't do this." I told Jasper.
"Jasper…" Bethany said breathlessly.
"Beth." He smiled at her.
"You son of a bitch." She frowned and spit in his face.
He went to hit her but I stepped in, blocking her. "Don't." I told him.
"You are so sick." Beth told her ex. "This is how you want your son to know you? How did you even know where I was?"
"I've been looking for you." He told her.
"And now you've found us. What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to take you home."
"She's not going anywhere with you. Neither is your son." I told him.
Jasper raised his gun, aiming it at my chest. I just stood there, ready to take the bullet that never seemed to find a home in me. I looked to the side to see Dean moving toward me. I just looked at him before taking a step forward. The gun went off and everything went black.