Chapter 28

So far Saturday was turning out to be a beautiful sunny day as Kristine finished getting ready to go meet Zachary in the barn. She smiled to herself as she thought of the heavy make out session she’d had with him the day before. Who knew Zachary could be so talented with his fingers. She knew he’d been hesitant to do that, but when she assured him that they weren’t going all the way he had relaxed.

She was glad he had. Otherwise, she’d never gotten to experience her first orgasm ever. She knew that if it had been that good, he’d be wonderful when they finally made love. It was something she was now looking forward to with all her heart.

She slipped on her tennis shoes and made her way to the door, opening it just a crack to listen for sounds. She could hear her mother in the kitchen, cleaning up the breakfast remains. There was no sound from her father, but she assumed he was in his bedroom getting ready to go into town for the meeting with the lawyer.

Once she was certain everyone was busy, she walked out of her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She made her way to the front door, passing by the kitchen. Glancing in she saw her mother washing dishes with her back to the door.

Kristine quietly made her way out of the house and headed towards the barn, enjoying the bright sunshine. She knew she still had a few minutes until she was due to meet with Zachary. Stopping to pick a few wildflowers, she was unaware of her silent follower.

Felix had come out of his bedroom completely dressed when he’d spotted Kristine disappearing out of the front door. He’d noticed how quiet she was as she left and decided to follow her to the barn to make sure she was fine before he went to the meeting. He grinned when he saw her stop to pick some wildflowers, reminding him of how she and Nikki used to spend hours making flower wreaths to wear around their heads, wrists, and waists.

He was just about to call out to his daughter when a shadow detached itself from the side of the barn. His shout of warning came too late as the gang member reached Kristine before he could. Still, he didn’t hesitate to run after them, hoping to prevent anything from happening to Kristine.

Kristine gasped as she felt arms grab her from behind just before she reached for the barn doors. She was yanked around to come face to face with one of the gang members. A scream welled in her throat as he gave her a sadistic grin and pushed her against the wall.

“Well, well, look what we have here!” Billy sneered.

Kristine struggled against him, trying to bring her hands up to the necklace she wore, but he had her arms in a tight grip, refusing to let her raise them. As he leaned in she glanced over his shoulder and her eyes went wide. Her father was running straight at them with his hands raised.

This time Kristine did let out a scream which blended with the cry Billy gave when Felix brought his hands down hard on the man’s back. The blow was enough to get Billy to let go of Kristine and she stumbled against the wall, barely catching herself before she fell.

Billy turned towards Felix with a roar of rage as he righted himself. He was sort of hunched over because his back hurt from the blow, but he narrowed eyes of hatred on Felix. “You are so going to pay for that old man!”

“Come on, I’m ready,” replied Felix as he raised fists and went into a fighting stance.

Kristine didn’t waste anymore time, she grabbed the tooth in her hands and pressed down hard. Silently she began praying as she watched the two men begin to circle. Fear clawed at her insides as she watched her father preparing to fight this gang member.

Suddenly, Billy launched himself at Felix, arm swinging high. Felix ducked the blow, but Billy was prepared with a low blow. Kristine shouted as she saw her father wince when Billy’s fist connected with his stomach.

Doubling over, Felix struggled to get his wind back and willed himself to remain on his feet. Billy began to walk around him, in ever shrinking circles.

“Thought you were a match for me, huh old man? Should have known better than that.”

Kristine glanced towards the barn doors and realized they were just a few steps away. She wondered if she could sneak in and grab a pitchfork or something to fight him with. At least that would keep him away from her father. As she began to inch her way along the wall, she kept her eyes trained on the two men.

Billy was moving closer to Felix until he suddenly stopped moving and looked up at Kristine. He yelled, “Just where do you think you are going, bitch?”

Felix took that interruption to straighten up and swing at Billy, but all he succeeded in doing was catching him in the chin. Kristine went still as she watched Billy narrow his eyes a split second before he reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun.

She screamed just as her father shouted, “Run, Kristine!”

But she was rooted to the spot. She was aware of the gun being aimed at her father a split second before a loud bang sounded in the air followed by the smell of gunpowder. Helplessly, she watched as her father slowly crumpled to the ground, his arms around the wound in his chest.

A sob escaped her lips as Billy turned his attention towards her. With a frown he growled, “You are more trouble than you are worth, bitch!” Then he aimed the gun at her.

In the next instant, the gun went flying from his hand right before Kristine saw the blur brush past her and leap onto Billy. She collapsed to her knees, vaguely aware of the sound of a neck snapping before the ground rose up to meet her.

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“Hush! She’s coming to.”

Nikki’s voice suddenly registered in Kristine’s mind as her eyes opened and she found herself lying on her back looking up into three worried faces.

“Are you all right?” asked Xavier as Nikki and Zachary helped her to sit up.

“Of course she’s not all right!” exclaimed Nikki. “She was just attacked!”

Kristine groaned and touched the side of her head where she was certain she’d landed when she blanked out. “How long have I been under?” she asked.

“A few minutes,” replied Nikki. “Xavier and I arrived just as you collapsed. Thankfully Xavier was able to reach you before you split your head open.”

“Yeah, but you still managed to get a bump on your head.”

Zachary growled, “At least it’s just a bump and not a split-open skull!”

Suddenly Kristine bolted up from the floor, “Oh my God! Dad!” As hands reached out to bring her back in, she looked at them all, “Why didn’t you see to him! Did he see you? Did you mind warp him?”

Nikki took Kristine’s hands in hers and whispered, “Kris, you should sit down.”

The look on her face said it all. As Kristine took in the look on all their faces, she began to shake her head in denial, “No! No, that can’t be right! He can’t be dead!”

“Kris, I’m sorry, sweetie, but we didn’t get here fast enough.”

“NO!” she twisted away from them and ran towards the barn door.

Zachary caught up with her easily and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him, “Kristine, he’s gone.”

She began to sob as she struggled against him. He buried his face in her hair and held her to him, “It’s okay, mo’ba. It’s okay to cry.”

She crumpled in his arms and he turned her around to engulf her fully in his embrace. He held her while she cried. After a few moments, Nikki got up and made her way to their side. She wrapped her arms around the both of them, adding her comfort to her best friend. Xavier came up behind her and wrapped his arms around Nikki, supporting her too.

They stayed that way until Kristine finally sniffled and looked up at Zachary with teary eyes. “Was he…?”

Zachary nodded, “He didn’t suffer much. It was a direct hit to the heart. He was gone before he hit the ground.”

She closed her eyes, “Where is he now?”

He sighed, “I haven’t touched him, except to see if he was alive.”

Nikki rubbed Kristine’s back as she said, “We were going to move him, but we realized your mother will have to know.”

Kristine nodded, “Right. I-I should go tell her.”

Zachary sighed, “I don’t think you should be alone right now, Kris.”

She looked up at him, “I won’t be, I’ll have mom.” She looked at the door, “Where’s the one who…”

“Where he was when he went down.”

“You killed him, didn’t you?” she asked Zachary.

He nodded, giving her an unremorseful look. “He was going to shoot you. I wasn’t going to let him kill you.”

She swallowed, “What am I going to tell my mother?”

Xavier spoke up, “Tell her exactly what happened.” As they all turned to look at him he continued, “Tell her your father followed you to the barn when you were attacked. He fought off the guy, but was shot. Before he died, he managed to kill the guy. But he knew you wouldn’t be able to get help until it was too late.”

“Xavier, I don’t think…”

“No, Nikki, he’s right.” interrupted Kristine. “That’s what happened. He followed me and was able to protect me, but not himself.” She wiped her eyes as she pulled away from Zachary. Looking at the others she said, “You should go. I’ll take care of things from here. I don’t think you should be here when the authorities come.”

Zachary frowned, “I’m not leaving you alone.”

She turned to him with a thin smile, “It’s okay. I’ll be okay, now. I have to go be with my mom and then there’ll be cops all over the place. We’ll be okay.”

The look on Zachary’s face told her he wasn’t convinced.

“Please, Zach. Just go. We can’t waste too much more time. Let me deal with this and take care of my mom.”

Zachary hesitated for a moment before he growled, “I will be back later tonight to check on you.”

Kristine nodded, “Okay, just please don’t let them find you.”

He nodded.

Nikki moved up to Kristine and hugged her, “I’m sorry Kris. I’m sorry we didn’t come sooner.”

Kristine hugged her best friend just as tightly, “Thanks, at least you got here for me.”

“We’ll be back tomorrow, okay?” Nikki whispered.

“Okay.” Kristine moved out of Nikki’s embrace and allowed Xavier to hug her too.

“If you need any of us sooner than tonight, you use the tooth, okay. I’ll keep Teether with me at all times and Zach too.”

She gave a soft laugh, “Right. I’ll do that. Thanks, X.”

As he and Nikki made their way to the portal, Zachary engulfed her in another hug, “Are you sure?”

“I have to do this Zach.” She hugged him tightly, “Thank you, for saving me.”

He pressed his lips against the top of her head. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.” She pulled away from him and smiled through her tears, “Go.”

He walked backwards to the portal, “I’ll be back tonight.”

She nodded, watching as he disappeared into the hole before she sniffed, squared her shoulders, and prepared to face the music.

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Kristine wearily made her way down the hallway towards her room. It was now nearly midnight and her mother had finally succumbed to the sleep inducing drugs the doctor had prescribed for her.

After Kristine had returned to the house, in a semi-stupor, to tell her mother what had happened, things had gotten highly emotional. Amy hadn’t believed her until Kristine had sat in the chair in the kitchen for a few moments with tears rolling down her cheeks. Then she’d taken off at a run out the door.

Kristine hadn’t moved as her mother’s screams rent the air, even reaching her inside the kitchen. It was nearly an hour later when the authorities began arriving on the scene. For the next several hours, they investigated the bodies and took Kristine’s and her mother’s statements. Kristine couldn’t count the number of times she’d answered the same questions again and again until they were all satisfied that she wasn’t changing her story.

She’d told them that she had been on her way to her favorite place to relax when she’d stopped to pick some flowers. That was when she’d been attacked by the guy and her father had come to her rescue. She’d watched them fight until the guy pulled out a gun and shot her father.

Her father had managed to kill the guy before his wound had gotten the better of him. He’d already died before she could go for help. She had even told them she’d blanked out for a moment from hitting her head when the guy had shoved her away to fight with her father.

In the end they had believed her. Especially when they’d taken her to the hospital to get her head checked out and the doctor confirmed she’d had a good blow to her forehead. He said it was enough to knock her out momentarily, but not enough to cause any serious damage. Still, they kept her in the hospital until the tests came back clean.

They’d also kept Amy in the hospital because she’d gone into shock once the authorities had arrived. When she’d come out of shock, she’d been hysterical and they’d had to sedate her.

After all the questioning, examinations, and drama was over with, Kristine was thoroughly drained. She’d convinced the doctor that she was well enough to go home and he’d allowed it after giving her medication for any headaches she might have as a precaution. Her mother had returned home with her, having her own prescription of medication to help keep her calm and sleep better.

As soon as they’d gotten home, Amy had begun hysterically sobbing again and Kristine had instantly reached for the pills, not knowing what else to do for her heartbroken mother. She’d sat next to her mother on the bed until she’d finally fallen asleep before making her way to her own bedroom.

As she closed the door behind her, she heard the soft rapping against her window. Hesitantly and silently, she made her way towards the window. As she neared it, she heard his voice, “It’s me Kris. It’s Zach.”

With a relieved sigh she pushed aside the curtain to gaze at him through the glass. He smiled up at her as she opened the window and stepped back to allow him entrance. He was as silent as a cat as he leaped into the room with ease. She closed the window and replaced the curtain before falling into his arms with a soft sob.

Zachary held her close allowing her to cry against him. He guided her over to her bed and sat down, rubbing soothing circles over her back and whispering comforting words in her hair. It was a while later when her crying had subsided, but she still clung to him for comfort. He continued to give her what she needed.

With a sigh, she finally pulled away slightly and looked up at him through red, puffy eyes. “Thanks. I really needed that.”

He smiled, “My pleasure.” He reached up to caress her cheek, “How are you holding up?”

“Better, now that most of it is over.” She sighed, “Now I just have to get through the funeral and it’s preparations.”

“Need help?”

She shook her head, “No. Besides, we know you can’t be seen.” She sighed, “I’ll be okay. It’s mom I’m worried about.”

He frowned at that, “She didn’t take it well, did she?”

“No. She was rather shaken up by it.” She closed her eyes and began to recount the entire day to Zachary.

Halfway through the story, they had made themselves comfortable on the bed. Zachary was lying on his back with Kristine’s head leaning against his chest and his arms around her. By the time she had finished telling him about her day, he could hear the tired note in her voice. When she’d remained quiet for a few minutes and her breathing had begun to even out, he’d tried to slip away.

Kristine jerked her head up and blinked sleepily at him, “What is it?”

He gave her a gentle smile and caressed her cheek. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I wasn’t asleep. Just resting.”

He nodded, “Okay, but you need to get some sleep soon. You’ve had a really long day.”

She looked at him for a moment before she whispered, “Don’t go.”

Zachary couldn’t breathe with the look she was giving him. Her eyes were pleading with him to stay.

“Please? Stay with me tonight? I-I don’t want to be alone. I just need you to hold me tonight, Zach.”

He nodded slowly, “Okay, mo’ba. Okay. I’ll stay with you.”

He let go of her long enough to let her go into the bathroom to change. While she was in there, he removed his shoes, socks, and shirt before slipping under the covers. When she came out, she was wearing a black wife beater and red pajama bottoms. He held the covers up for her as she slid in and curled against his side. Together they got comfortable and he held her until she was really asleep this time. Only then did he allow himself to fall asleep too.