Page 17 of Remnants

Kaitlin

FOURTEEN

“Where is she!” I scream as I shove Mac, though he doesn’t budge.

I walked out of the hospital moments ago from my check-up and what I think was an attempt to keep me in that room until James arrived.

I can’t be sure though. But when I came out, I had expected Nora to be standing here waiting—not Mac with Sam in the truck.

“Katie.”

“Don’t ‘Katie’ me!” I snap, shoving him again. “She went after him, didn’t she?” His eyes soften and he gives me a slight nod. My heart pounds harder as a ringing begins in my ears.

“Where will she meet us?” I whisper, fear coursing through my body. My blood runs cold when Mac stretches out his hand to me, offering her dog tags.

“No,” I breathe as I take them and stare at her name punched into the metal. I look at Mac whose eyes are red-rimmed.

“Mac.” My voice cracks. “I’m not letting her do this alone.”

He looks up at me, eyebrows raised. “Katie, if you go, you will be arrested. Nora, she knows you’ve spent your life in a prison, she loves you and wants you to be free.” My bottom lip quivers as I grip her dog tags tightly while glaring at him.

“I’m not leaving her,” I state forcefully. “Either you help me, or give me the keys.”

We pull up in front of my house and I feel a wave of nausea rush over me. The last time I was in this home James… No, I can’t think about that right now . I get out of the truck and walk to the front door. It’s locked and I don’t have a key. I turn to Mac and Sam who are at the bottom of the steps.

“James always forgets to lock the patio door,” I say while running past them and around my large home. I pass through the garden that I hated tending to, and through the gate when I’m stopped dead in my tracks.

“Nora!” I cry out as I see her unconscious body slumped over, halfway out on the patio.

I run to her and fall to my knees only to cover my mouth in horror at the figure laying over her legs.

James lays in a massive pool of blood over her.

If it weren't for the grey look of his usually tanned skin, I wouldn’t know the blood belonged to him.

My husband is dead.

I feel hollow inside. Not sad, not angry, not happy. Just… hollow.

“Holy fuck.” Mac’s gasp snaps me out of my trance and I look at him.

“Keep Sam back,” I say as I look over Nora. She and James are both covered in a layer of white powder of some kind. I touch her arm, giving her a squeeze.

“Wake up, baby,” I plead, my eyes beginning to sting. This is all my fault. I should’ve never walked over to her house with those damn cupcakes.

I hear the weakest groan as Nora begins to stir. She gasps and tries to jerk back, but I hold her shoulders.

“Nora,” I say forcefully so she will focus on me. “Look at me.” Her hazy eyes blink a few times before she turns her attention to me. Realization washes over her and she glares from me to her brother.

“We had a plan,” she snarls.

“I forced him. Leave Mac alone,” I state calmly, earning an eye roll. No one could force that giant to do anything.

“You need to get out of here,” Nora groans as she tries to sit up. “I need to call the police.”

Shaking my head, I pull a patio chair over so that we can help her sit down. Sam starts to walk over to us and Nora commands him to sit and stay.

“There is…” She grunts as she lifts herself into the chair. I notice her prosthetic is missing. “There’s powdered rat poison all over in there, and on me. Don’t let Sam near me or the door.”

I stare at Nora as the tears slip out of my eyes. “Let me help you,” I plead. “I’m really good at cleaning.” I try to joke, Nora gives me a small laugh before wincing and gripping her side.

“Sweet girl, there’s no cleaning this. And even if there was… you’re done cleaning up his mess, and you will not be cleaning up after me. Get out of here, Junebug.”

“Do you really think I’m that cold?” My voice snaps as I glare at her. “Oh, Nora, thanks for risking your life and freedom to protect me, peace out.” I watch as her gaze focuses on the wooden deck. “Do you really think so little of me? Of yourself?”

Her dark gaze finds mine and I watch a tear slide down her cheek. “I deserve—”

“To be happy, comfortable, and not alone,” I cry out through my clenched teeth. Nora’s tears continue to fall, her bottom lip quivers as she takes in a shaky breath.

“Katie…”

“You don’t deserve to be alone,” I interrupt again.

“I don’t care what happened overseas, I don’t care what guilt you carry, I will not allow you to be alone in this.

I am falling for you, Nora, and this isn’t how I wanted that confession to come out but there it is.

You protected me, I’m going to do the same.

Whether you want it or not. You asked if you could keep me, well this is me asking the same. ”

Nora looks from me to Mac and then to the house. “There is no chance of getting everything cleaned and making him disappear without getting caught, Junebug. Eventually people will ask. And when it comes out that he abused you, it won’t take a genius to put two-and-two together.”

A groan takes all of us by surprise and I look to see James’ leg twitching.

He’s… not dead? My eyes blink several times to remove the tears as I tentatively walk over to the door, despite Nora’s protest. I slide the door completely open and look around the wreckage that was once my home.

Funny how it now was the perfect symbol for our marriage.

High class and polished on the outside, a toxic disaster on the inside.

I notice the same powder that is on James and Nora, covers the counters and floor.

I walk over to the twitching man and look down at his unrecognizable face. He’s bloody and swollen, both his hands are bleeding, and he’s making a god awful wheezing noise.

“James.” My voice stills him. I watch as his hand reaches out as if he is expecting me to grab it.

I don't, he doesn’t deserve my comfort. He doesn’t deserve anything but a slow and painful death for what he has put me through.

I glance behind me, Nora is sitting in the chair, staring intently at me.

She doesn’t deserve that, though. And for that reason I turn back to my husband and stare down at him.

“I’m going to get you to the hospital,” I say softly as I look at Mac. “Mac, I’m going to need help getting him into his car.” I watch Nora’s face fall as she looks almost betrayed. Mac pats her shoulder as he steps into the house and grabs the man with ease.

“Don’t breathe this shit in Katie,” Mac says softly, referring to the powder. James lets out a gargled cry as Mac is anything but gentle while carrying him. “You on the other hand can inhale as deep as you’d like.” James gargles again.

“Shut up and be thankful we’re helping you,” I growl at him.

“It’s more consideration than you ever showed me.

” I grab the keys off the counter by the front door and help Mac slide James into the backseat of the car.

I go to get in the driver’s seat when Mac’s hand stops me.

He gives me a look as if to say “ What do I tell Nora?”

I smile softly and pat his hand. “I choose her, Mac. I will see her soon, I promise. Go take care of her.” Mac nods before walking off. I take a deep breath before climbing into the driver’s seat and pulling out of the drive.