Love Struck Eternal
Chapter 7 - Aftermath.
Peek's POV, A few hours later.
I was spent and this was legit my first day back in the middle east. Raptor and Zeta weren't talking and thanks to some private time I had enough moves made to get Zeta to think rationally again. She was giving it legit thought now and she agreed with me about this being genetic. Right now however she was upstairs with Sam who was still sleeping it off.
I didn't want to take any chances so I was just sitting in the kitchen waiting for something to happen. With my eyes on my phone, I widened my eyes when I heard a knock on the front door. In confusion I stood up to go check who it was. Once I saw who it was I unlocked it and opened it up to get an equal look of confusion back.
"Zandro?" I said to the echidna as his blue fur stood out first to me as I saw he was wearing a standard M.E.A.F combat set. Standing at a clean six feet tall with dark brown eyes he replied.
"Peek? Well you're not who I expected to open this door. How are you? Where's Raptor?"
First things first, I let him inside before telling him back.
"Basement. And I'm good. Just here helping him out. How are you? It's been a few years since I last saw you in person."
Smiling he replied.
"Probably three years to be honest, but I'm doing well. Been very busy as of late, but I was told about the situation with Samantha. Raptor asked me to come as soon as I had the chance. Do you mind if I go speak with him?"
Nodding my head, I replied while walking him to the basement door.
"Nah, he's all yours. Is it cool if I join you though? After all, I'm supposed to be the one training her. I'd like to be a part of this."
"Be my guest." Zandro urged me with a small smile as we began to go downstairs.
Finding Raptor at his bar drinking a small glass of whiskey, I just kept quiet as Zandro announced himself.
"Didn't expect Peek to be staying with you."
Keeping his eyes on his glass, Raptor replied.
"He just flew in today."
The echidna made his way over to the bar to take a seat next to him. Once there he just waited for the ex-president to make his case. I took the other side of the bar and just leaned up and listened as Raptor's focus was still on his drink. In time however he told Zandro bluntly.
"I can't lose my daughter to this drug. Not after everything I've been through to get here."
Zandro nodded slowly as he went on to state.
"I can't let her leave the country to pursue that scholarship if this is something I need to consider when thinking about her safety. Only reason she isn't dead right now is because of him." His eyes gave me a soft glance as Zandro went on to ask.
"What can I do to help you?"
Taking the last of his drink down a second later, Raptor pushed the glass aside to wonder.
"Is there anything you can do to help her control it? Or even prevent it from taking her again? I know you've been hard at work experimenting with the idea. What can you do?"
Zandro adjusted himself before replying.
"I wish it was that easy. Controlling something like viper venom isn't as simple as controlling a common high. We all know that. To control; it takes years of practice."
"Which I told her." I admitted as Zandro went on to tell Raptor who just listened.
"There is nothing stopping someone like Peek from teaching her how to do it. It would just take a very long time and a lot of stress on both him and her body. No one can learn how to control it in a day or two. Taking that route is dangerous, but less so then the alternatives."
"Which are what?" Raptor wondered as Zandro calmly replied back.
"I have suppressants I can give her. They are brand new though. We just figured out how to make them a little over a month ago. Very new and very risky since we haven't tested them out on an imperfect user yet. The drug would numb her venom in place. Even if she got mad enough; her brain wouldn't tell her heart to unleash the beast. Instead it would just level out her hormones and force her heart to come to a rest. Again though Raptor this is a new thing. I can't promise anything. The side effect would be of course death from her heart not being able to handle it. Or at the very least, it could cause a massive wave of depression to take her and for someone so young that could be worse than death."
Raptor was so quiet and all I could do was listen as the echidna went on to say.
"Option three is another very risky thing. In theory we could extract the venom and she would never be at risk again."
"How?" I questioned as I was now curious about such a method.
Looking over to me, Zandro replied bluntly.
"Heart transplant. The venom is housed there. Only way to get rid of it would be to extract her heart for someone else who hasn't ever been exposed to venom."
Widening my eyes, I went on to state.
"Now that could easily kill her too, Zandro. Right?"
Nodding he replied.
"We have some of the best surgeons around so the odds are better than to be expected. However with that all said and done, she would only have roughly a forty percent chance of surviving the operation."
Our eyes went back to Raptor who was starting to shake his head.
"I can't chance her life on a table, Zandro."
"I'm not forcing you to. I'm just telling you the choices you have. Talk it over with Zeta and let me know what you decide. I'm not doing the operation without your consent. If you want my advice I'd go with the suppressants. Or let Peek or one of my people try and teach her. A mix of both would probably be best. And if you mind me asking…..is Sam on any birth control or any other medications?"
Shaking his head Raptor replied.
"No. She just smokes from what I know."
"Weed?" Zandro wondered as Raptor nodded.
"Okay. Well my suggestion still stands. Talk with Zeta. We can do this any time you want. Just swing by the lab and I'll get things rolling. I promise you Raptor that I'll make sure she gets the very best to look after her through this tough time. You have my word."
"Thank you." Raptor replied as Zandro then wondered.
"Should I call later tonight and see where you are at?"
"I'll call you." Raptor informed him as I watched the echidna get back up to reply.
"Sounds like a plan then. I'll be ready to hear from you. Peek?"
I just nodded as he made his way back upstairs. Once left with Raptor, I told him.
"I can try and teach her, but it would be a good idea to give her something that can help suppress her emotions. I don't wanna see that girl crack her head open again over this."
"Yeah." Raptor exhaled as he sat up and urged me politely.
"You can take the guest room upstairs if you plan to stay here. I'm gonna go talk to Zeta."
"Okay." I replied as he stood up and made his way upstairs.
My eyes took one look around the room to take in his memories. He still had so much down here it made that mesum look small. Looking to his safe, I spotted his Tar-21 and Zeta's M4 tucked along the left side nearest the wall. His vest laid there as well and for a moment I wondered what would become of Sam. This wasn't going to be her choice to make. It would be her parents and knowing her I doubt that will sit well. All I could do was hope to keep her on the right track from this point on.
Sam's POV, A week later.
"Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap."
With a pen in my right hand, I had my head down on the desk I had in my room. It had my computer and a few other things for school on it, but right now I couldn't do anything in the way of thinking. I could barely think for myself thanks to these fucking pills I was taking to suppress the venom in my body and I hated every moment of it. I'd rather just be dead then sit here and feel like a fucking zombie. I couldn't even cry. It just made my brain go limp to the point where I could only be depressed.
Mocha sat under the desk for the last hour I sat here. She was asleep but always at the ready for me to breakdown and there was a lot of that to contend with. My father forbids me from leaving the country to pursue the scholarship I earned. Not until I was under control and the venom was no longer a threat. But with the way things were going I was ready to snap on him and my mother, who just did her best to keep me at bay. I earned that fucking scholarship. It shouldn't be his decision to make. If I want to go somewhere I should be the one making that happen. Not him!
"Bash!"
Slamming the pen down with all I had, I gave off a tight growl which got Mocha to wake up and look at me. My anger was more of a problem then ever and I have these pills to thank for that. They're supposed to calm me down? All they fucking do is make me more mad and it drives me even crazier that my body can't break past this point. I want to break something and when I go to school I have the urge to break nearly half the kids that give me creepy looks.
Teddy was the only one trying to keep me happy and I could barely show my gratitude back thanks to this. If it wasn't for him, I'd have broken much sooner.
My uncle was staying with us and for the past week he's tried to help me control my anger. He hasn't tried to help me control the venom one fucking bit. He says the first thing I need to do is learn how to control my temper but he doesn't fucking understand that there is something in these pills that amplify my emotions. Even if I wanted to be happy all I could focus on was the bad. I only thought negative things now and all I could do was keep quiet as best as I could. School would be over in a few days, but I doubt I'll last that long at this pace my mind was going at.
Letting the pen go, I reached across my desk to grab my vape pen. I took a full ten second hit to try and calm me back down, but even that wasn't helping. After exhaling, I looked down at Mocha to ask her in complete sadness for my life choices.
"What should I do?"
She just cocked her head at me in confusion as I looked back up at my computer screen. I wanted to punch it so badly, but I knew I had to keep calm as best as possible. So after a few moments I settled myself back down and looked at my phone to see the time was nearing ten o'clock at night. Then my eyes locked onto the pill bottle. Over twenty doses rested inside and without a doubt by the time I reached the end, I would be a different person from all this stress. I had to do something.
Going back to my phone I went right to one of my dad's friend's number. His name was Zandro and without a doubt the designer of this medication. Once I hit call I just waited. In time he answered saying.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me."
He knew my voice and quickly replied.
"Hey Sam. How's it going? How's the medication?"
"It's a fucking disaster. Is there anything I can do to calm myself down? Because right now the temptation to hurt someone or myself is extremely high. Don't you dare tell my parents about this ether. I already wanna fight my father for doing this to me. Just be honest and tell me what I can do."
Zandro took a moment to think. Once he had an answer he replied.
"First you just need to try and relax. Take some deep breaths and close your eyes. Your parents know all about the side effects. I know they understand if you come off a little angry or mad about now. So don't worry about that I'm not gonna say anything else to them. Just try to calm down."
"I am!" I shouted at him as he then asked me.
"Have you tried smoking?"
Nodding to myself I replied.
"I just took a hit and I can't feel anything changing. Why the fuck is this so hard? Why can't I just learn how to control the venom normally like my uncle or my fucking father?"
"Your father doesn't want you to have venom to begin with Sam. It's a combat drug and both him and your mother agree that they don't want you involved in any form of combat. They want you to live without it and just focus on your future."
"I can't focus on my future if I'm always gonna feel this shitty!"
I had tears exiting my eyes all the sudden. Zandro heard the emotion slipping through my lips and begged me.
"Relax. Take a deep breath Sam and try to calm down."
I did as I was told but still asked him anyway.
"Can't you just teach me how to live without the medication? I'd be better off without the pills and just learning the hard way."
"The hard way can kill you Sam."
"I don't care! These fucking pills are gonna kill me!" I informed him as he went silent.
"Why hasn't anyone figured out how to fix this problem if it affects every user?"
"Viper venom is an extremely complex drug Sam. It's not that easy to solve. I have some of the best scientists working day in and day out trying to solve that very same issue."
"Just let me work on it and I'll figure it out." I told him bluntly as he calmly replied.
"That's not an option Sam. Trust me if it was simple we'd have figured it out a long time ago."
"There has to be a way." I told him.
"One that we don't know about maybe Sam. Please just listen to me for a second. Keep smoking, try to relax, and go lay down. Sleep it off and call me in the morning. I want to know how you feel."
"I've told you before, I feel like dying. Do none of you listen to me? Am I some kind of joke to you?"
"No Sam." He replied as I then questioned.
"Do you think I'm stupid? Incapable? I can fix this myself. I just need the chance."
"No Sam. You just need to trust us. Once you're done the first month of doses, you'll start to feel better. Just push through the hardship right now and I swear to you things will get better."
"Fuck you!" I shouted as I hung up and tossed my phone at my bed. Mocha ran for it as I stood up and pulled at my own hair. At that moment, a knock came to my door and it turned out to be my mother who came in to see my state. I looked her right in the eyes to ask.
"What?"
"Are you okay?" She wondered as I was losing my shit.
"Do I look okay to you?"
For a moment my mom looked scared. She gulped and urged me as softly as she could.
"Everything is gonna be okay baby. Just trust your father and…?!"
"Fuck Dad!" I shouted out which instantly got her to widen her eyes and lower her ears. With my teeth exposed and my growls coming back up my throat, I shouted at her.
"You want me to trust him!? He's ruined my life! Between these fucking pills and him not letting me go to school, I could care less about what he thinks!"
"Sam?" My mom whimpered as I went on to state.
"What gives him the right to do this to me!? This should have been my choice to make! He shouldn't have a fucking say in what I want to do with my body! He shouldn't have the right to take away my future by sealing me away in this fucking room! And what does he hope will happen to me!? Does he think I'm just gonna learn how to control this shit one day and be all nice and better!? These fucking pills are killing me mom and your just letting it happen by letting him do what he wants!"
At that moment my dad slipped into the room behind my mother to reply back in an equal tone.
"Your mother isn't letting anything happen to you Sam! She's on my side and we both want you to learn how to control your temper! And until you show us you can do that, I'm gonna be the one to make those choices for you! Because you can't be trusted right now! Not with this drug in your veins and not with your anger problems lashing out!"
"I'm lashing out because of these fucking pills!" I informed him as my mother came forward to try and hug me. Instantly I pushed her aside with all I had to snap back at my dad who just watched with wide eyes as my mom went down on the bed from the force I applied.
"You have no fucking idea what I'm going through! You think you're protecting me!? You're fucking killing me you piece of shit!"
"Samantha!" My mom screamed as I growled into my dad's face with a sinister smile.
"You're killing another one of your kids! How does that feel?!"
My world got sent into another dimension when out of nowhere my dad dropped me with a heavy right hand to my face.
"Raptor!" I could hear my mom screaming out as I hit the ground. By the time I looked up my mom had tackled him back into the door. The whole time he yelled out at me.
"Don't you ever talk to me like that! You have no idea what you're getting into by even mentioning them!"
"Stop!" My mom ordered him as she pushed him out into the hallway. With blood leaving my mouth, I looked back up at him to smile and suggest.
"Maybe you're the one who needs to be on these fucking drugs! Maybe they would still be alive if you could have controlled your temper!"
My mom's eyes lit up in shock as my dad snapped and began to push back into the room to try and get to me. Just as my mom was about to lose her grip, Peek came from out of nowhere to help. Together they held him back, but with his tone vicious my dad screamed at me.
"You wanna see what happens when I can't control my temper!? You're lucky to even be where you are now! If it wasn't for your mother I'd have broken you a long time ago! How about you get up and say something else Sam!? Say something else and see what happens!"
More than eager to oblige, I got back on my feet. Peek saw me about to fire back at him and ordered me.
"Don't! Sam! Don't say another word!"
My mother broke herself away from my dad to tackle me back into my desk where she ordered me as well.
"Don't Sam! Stop! Please just stop!"
Reaching over her back with my right hand pointing at my father, I asked him with all my anger coming out.
"You gonna shoot me like you did Midnight?! You gonna kill me like you did Abbey!?"
"Sam!" My mom screamed as Peek begged my father who was a split second away from giving it all he had.
"Raptor, don't! Just stop brother! It's not worth it! You already made your point!"
With my mom trying to cover my mouth, I asked my father again from the safety of my desk.
"What's it gonna be!? Are you ready to lose another kid!? You're nothing but a fucking pussy! My life is my choice! You don't get a say in what I do with it! You never gave them a chance so what makes you think you get one here!? Huh!?"
My dad had enough. He broke out from Peek's arms and came charging my desk. My mom stood her ground as I readied myself. I got one more good smack to my face before my mom's eyes went pure red and she decided enough was enough and came at him herself. As she took him into an arm lock, I took my chance and swung, hitting him right in the nose with all I had. And I knew I had a lot because I felt the venom in my own body boiling over. It was enough that he lost his footing and came crashing down on the floor. Mocha was barking the entire time and without even thinking about it I went to try and get another in. But before I could my uncle intercepted me and picked me up with all he had; spinning me around and carrying me out into the hallway.
"Let me go!" I ordered the bird as I heard my father scream.
"You better fucking run because I'm gonna…?!"
I heard my mother do something to shut him up, but by then I was already downstairs and ushered outside by Peek who ordered me with two of his own red eyes.
"Enough Sam! Stop!"
He put me down and without even thinking about it I got in his face to ask him.
"What the fuck gives him the right to ruin my life!?"
There was so much going on my uncle couldn't even form words. All he could do was force me to the car where he ordered me with a hint of panic to his voice.
"Get in! Get in the car Sam!"
I listened and got in the backseat. By the time I slammed the door he had gotten the keys from inside the house and we were on the road. He waited till we were far enough from the house before stopping and asking me.
"What the fuck were you thinking!?"
I bit my own tongue as he yelled at me from the front seat.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing when you say shit like that to him?!"
"He fucking hit me first!"
My uncle was at a loss for what else to say or do now that we were away from the house. He took his time now to think to himself as I did my best to calm down. After a few minutes he asked me.
"Is there anywhere I can take you where you can stay for the night? You aren't going back to the house. Not till your mother and I talk this over."
With my eyes out the window I replied.
"Teddy's."
"You sure he'll be cool with having you over?" Peek questioned as I calmly replied back.
"His family actually loves me, so yeah I'm sure he'll be cool."
Peek took that comment on the chin and just ordered me after.
"Give me directions. I'll drop you off then I'll head back to the house and grab your things."
"Make sure you get Mocha. I don't want her in that house."
Peek just stared at me using the rear view mirror for a second before restarting the engine. From there he took me to Teddy's house. As I got out of the car the bird informed me.
"Just take a few minutes and relax before you knock on that door Sam. I'll be back in like twenty minutes."
"Okay.' I mumbled as I slammed the door shut to the car. With my uncle driving off, I walked up to Teddy's front door to knock a few times, ignoring his suggestion to calm down before doing so. After a few seconds I heard it begin to unlock and who else stood behind it other than Teddy's dad who was just as big as Teddy himself was. With wide eyes, he looked down at me to question.
"Sam? What are you doing here at this hour? Do you and Teddy have a project or something for school?"
Doing my best to keep calm, I looked up at the bear to reply.
"No sir. I got into a fight at home with my father and had to leave. You're the only people I know who could help."
"A fight?" He wondered with some concern as I just nodded my head. After a moment or so he reached out to put his hand on my shoulder.
"Come in. I'll call Teddy down."
"Thank you." I replied as I walked with the older bear. Their house was very well kept and reminded me much of my own. Upon looking upstairs, Teddy's dad shouted up.
"Teddy! Sam is here!"
Almost instantly we both heard him reply.
"What?!"
"Sam is here! Come down!"
By this point Teddy's mom came out from the kitchen to see my face. With her eyes widening she asked me as she came in close.
"Are you okay Sam? What happened?"
Not more then a second later, I felt my head pulse from the inside and what followed was a small cough and some blood to leave my lips. In shock, Teddy's mom and dad panicked shouting out in equal concern for the situation.
"Oh my god! What happened Sam!?"
"Did your father do this?!"
They both got me into the kitchen at that point and with a nod of my head I replied to Teddy's dad who got me down into one of their many chairs.
"Yeah."
"He hit you?" Teddy's mom questioned as her husband looked about ready to run over to that house to confront my dad personally.
"Twice. I hit him once too. My mom restrained him while my uncle got me out of the house. I didn't know where else to go."
With Teddy's mom coming down with a rag, she picked up my chin and began to gently wipe my mouth. By then Teddy himself came into the kitchen with wide eyes to ask.
"What's going on?"
He saw the blood and instantly his father replied.
"Her and her father got into a fight at home. She had to leave the house."
"Jesus Sam, are you okay?" Teddy asked me as his mother got done wiping me off. Looking up at the bear I replied.
"Not really."
Without even thinking about it the mother said to me right after.
"You can stay here with us. We have a spare room upstairs you can use. Right hun?"
My eyes went to the dad who replied.
"Of course she can. I have half a mind to go pay your dad a visit."
"Stop hun. We aren't going to cause any more trouble for Sam here. Teddy? Take her upstairs and show her to the bathroom. Get washed up and after I'll show you to your room."
"Thank you." I replied with a smile as she smiled back and helped me up. From there her and Teddy escorted me upstairs. By the time we reached the bathroom, Teddy's mom went back down to talk to her husband who I knew was hot about this whole situation. Teddy's parents never believed in hitting their kids. That's not how anyone should parent.
Stepping into the bathroom very slowly, Teddy stayed behind me as I got my bearings. After a minute or so, I began to cry over the sink. I couldn't stop myself and all my friend could do was watch. In time he came to my side and put his hand on my back to beg me.
"It's okay Sam. You're safe now. Please don't cry."
I couldn't stop myself and with the noise I was making Teddy's mom came back upstairs to comfort me. She sat me down on the toilet and did her best to talk me down. It took that whole twenty minutes my uncle needed for me to stop and once it was said and done he was at the front door talking to Teddy's dad with a bag in one hand and Mocha at his side. I couldn't hear much of what was said, but I know Mocha found her way up to me as Teddy went down to join his father and my uncle. So now left with the mom, I fixed my hair as she informed me very cheerfully.
"Don't worry about your father. No parent should beat their kid. You're safe so long as you're with us. Don't worry about rent or anything. We're more than happy to take you in. Philip is gonna talk to your uncle and we're gonna figure out what we can do to help you. Was your mother okay?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"I don't know."
She took my answer for what it was and then urged me.
"Well leave everything to us. You just get cleaned up and to bed. You'll need sleep. If you want something to eat, I have dinner downstairs from earlier so I can reheat that for you."
"Is it okay if Mocha stays with me? She's my best friend."
Looking down at Mocha the mother replied.
"Of course she can. But she is your responsibility."
Nodding my head, I told her back confidently.
"I'll make sure she's on her best behavior. You won't have to worry about her."
"Good." She replied as she stood up. Leaning in to kiss me on the forehead, Teddy's mom again urged me before leaving.
"Get washed up. I'll make sure your things get to your room."
"Thank you again." I replied as she smiled and shut the door.
Now left to myself and Mocha, I went back to crying to myself. I didn't know what to do now that I was in the shit. Thank god Teddy and I were friends, because I had no idea what I would be doing if it wasn't this way.
In the back of my head I was worried about my mother, but I knew she could handle herself. If anything really mattered to me right now it was still the venom in my veins. If Peek packed those pills in my bag I'm going to throw them out. I refuse to take them after this. I know I'm stronger than most people think. I can live without them. I'll make this work. I'll beat this fucking venom and when I'm ready I'll prove everyone wrong. I'll prove Zandro wrong. I'll find a way to fix this. I'll figure out how to control my anger and with it I'll figure out how to alter viper venom as a whole.
mT Shadow.