Clive Dove

This Is Excitement

Chapter 5

A/N;

Before I start this chapter, I'd just like to give a big 'thank-you' to GoldGriffin. I read every single one of the reviews on every chapter, and Gold has given so much information, and a lot of help. So, thanks for that :D I'm going to try to include the 'other side' of Clive in this chapter, so totally slap me if I do badly! (Just kidding...!)

The world blearily came into sight when Clive opened his eyes, squinting at the light. The first thing he noticed was the immense pain. It flooded over him, nearly making him cry out. He gave a few half-hearted attempts to sit up, but every time the pain would force him to lie again.

Let me just die here. What use is my life anyway?

Clive closed his eyes once more. The soot had gotten to his lungs, and he burst into a violent coughing fit.

"Glad to see you're awake, Clive,"

The voice was very familiar. Too familiar. Clive really wanted to believe he had heard it, but had he?

The teen finally found the strength to sit, and swivelled round. He broke into a grin when he saw the figure sitting behind him.

"Shipley!"

He couldn't help it. He was really glad that Shipley had made it. There was a certain bond among the two that had never been severed, not even when Clive had tried to destroy the city.

Shipley gave a small nod, bending over the fire he had made. He frowned when Clive gave an attempt to stand up.

"I wouldn't, if I were you?"

"What?" asked Clive, surprised, "Why?'

Surely I can still move?

Shipley stood up and walked over to Clive, bending down so he was kneeling beside him and took off the cloth that was lying on the teen's leg.

The sight of it almost made Clive cry. Or throw up. Either or.

The whole of his leg was burnt. The skin was blackened and peeling, and a mixture of blood, soot and dirt oozed slowly out of it.

"That's why. You got beaten up pretty bad, mate." Shipley shook his head sadly, pointing to various other burns. "There are multiple burns on your hands, other leg and… well… everywhere, really,"

Clive nodded, biting his lip to stop tears from streaming down his cheeks. He turned his head away, not wanting to see the wound anymore. Shipley replaced the cloth.

"You should live, though." He assured Clive, walking back over to the fire.

Clive raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, I guess."

"No problem," answered Shipley. "I haven't seen you since…."

Their eyes met. Uneasy silence settled between the two. Shipley brought some soup over to Clive and made him eat it, as much as the teen protested, claiming he wasn't hungry. The attack was evidently still fresh in their minds, and even Clive himself didn't know why he had done it. Sure, Bill killed his parents…. But why didn't he just target Bill?

Clive rubbed his head, deciding that the matter was too confusing to think about. "I broke out of jail,"

"I heard," Shipley replied, "That was very naughty of you,"

Clive smiled, but it was fake. He sighed. He knew Shipley was just trying to cheer him up, but there was a certain awkwardness that hung over the two. A sudden thought sprang to mind. "Hey…. Was that you earlier? The person that I called out to?"

"Yes," replied Shipley, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "I… was a little scared of you, to be honest,"

Clive frowned. He knew that there was a good reason behind Shipley being scared, but surely he wasn't that bad. The teen knew he had done something terrible, but he was trying to make up for it, right?

"Hey, Shipley?"

"Yes?" the postman replied, more focused on cleaning the leg wound Clive had received.

"What happened to the Dove Fortune?"

Shipley's face turned grave. "Im sorry to say you no longer own it. It was given to a young girl who claimed to know you,"

"Name?" inquired Clive, "And address?"

Shipley shook his head and grimaced. "Some lass from Australia. Arriann, I think,"

Clive froze. No. No. No. No. After all these years… no.

Just the thought of her return made Clive want to run. Shipley placed a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, mate?"

"I'm…" Clive paused, and swallowed before continuing. "Fine. I'm fine,"

"You don't look to fine. Oh, hang on, you hit your head. Let me get something for that,"

"You don't have to," he blurted out, covering his mouth after he'd said it.

Shipley turned around and gave him a funny look. Clive avoided eye contact and looked down, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting. Shipley noticed this and sat beside him.

"What you did was terrible," he started, voice low and whispering. Clive looked close to tears. "But I can see through that mask you have on. You're no killer, Dove. You're just lost. You'll try to put it right. I know you."

Clive was surprised at this sudden comfort. It wasn't like Shipley to talk like this to anyone, especially not his one-time employer. Clive found himself nodding slowly.

Shipley patted his shoulder and stood up again. "And I know I don't have to, I want to, Dove, so you'd better get used to it. I remember when you helped me and my family. You gave us money when we had none. It's my turn now. Let me take care of you for a change,"

"You've already done your part," Clive pointed out.

"Really?" Shipley joked, "News to me!"

Clive grinned. "You've put up with me all these years,"

"That's nothing! You are like a little, gentle mouse…."

"Yeah, sure," Clive muttered sarcastically, picking the scab on one of his hands. Shipley batted his hand away.

"Stop that," he scolded gently, "You'll open the cuts again,"

Clive sighed and lay back again, watching the clouds move slowly in the artificial sky.

Shipley busied himself finding the medicine for him. He came over and spooned out medicine, which he forced the teen to take.

"You done 'caring' for me now?" Clive asked, feeling rather weak to be getting 'cared' for.

"No, I won't stop 'caring' about you until you're back on your feet, Dove,"

Clive didn't really like people using his surname, but Shipley had always used it and probably would always use it.

"What happened to Layton?" Clive inquired, tapping the ground impatiently.

Shipley stood up, face scrunched up in concentration. "He went back to being a university professor. The boy, Luke, moved to America, and the girl, Flora, stayed with Layton, claiming she was 'waiting' for someone,"

Clive nodded, wincing when Shipley poured water on the wound.

Then Shipley paused. "I think she's waiting for you, Clive,"

The thought would have pleased Clive if he hadn't been incredibly woozy at the time. He saw the world begin to blur.

"Clive? Clive? Dove?!" Shipley anxiously asked, as he saw the teen slip out of consciousness. Clive was ominously still.

"No, no, no, no, no!" he yelled to himself, "He simply can't!"

He looked up into the sky, and sank onto his knees, defeated. Shipley set Clive on the ground.

"He can't die like this,"

Woot woot, done! There will be more to come, don't worry! I find the friendship between Clive and Shipley in this chapter very touching for some reason ;-; It shows us a side of Clive we don't often get to see.

Review for another chapter! Favourite quote from the story so far?