Chapter 38
"NICK
WATCH OUT!!!" Katarina screamed as Kris aimed
for Nick's stomach. She raced toward them and kicked his hand, knocking
the knife out of his hand and toward the other side of the room. The
action gave the opposite reaction to what Katarina
expected though and the next thing she knew, Kris had her once again and his
arms wound tightly around her neck, nearly choking her. Oh God what
did I do!
Nick stood and
Katarina could see the fury and worry in his
eyes. "LET HER GO!"
"I don't
think so," Kris bit back and inched toward her bedroom.
"Nick!"
she struggled to find a way back to him but the more she tried, the more
tightly, Kris held on and breathing was becoming much too hard to do.
"Rina!" Nick moved to save her but Kris grabbed the
table next to them and knocked it over, blocking his path.
Instantly the
carpet burst into flames and Katarina realized in
horror that Kris had knocked down her candles. Nick cowered away from the
flames and she realized that Kris had found his weak spot.
Fire.
Before she
could utter another word, Kris shoved her into her room and closed the door.
***
It was his
worst nightmare come to life all over again.
Nick watched
the flames spread quickly over the carpet, the walls, the
furniture. He was surrounded. He gulped and felt his breath catch
in his throat.
He had to get
out of here!
No NO! Not without Rina.
I won't leave without her!
But the
flames...
The horrid,
blinding flames...
"So what
are you going to do now Carter? Run like the baby you are?"
Nick whipped
his head up and felt his blood begin to boil again as Kris approached him, the
fire licking his feet.
He didn't seem
to care.
"I'm not
leaving without Rina."
"Good.
Neither am I."
The smoke
began to block Nick's vision and invade his lungs. Just like before...
"You've
fucked me over for the last time Carter. I'm going to make sure you stay
dead this time."
"Bring it
on asshole," Nick growled before Kris made his move.
***
Katarina searched and searched for a weapon that would be of use to her.
Ignoring the smoke that began to filter into her room she settled on the vase
of flowers that Howie gave her as a gesture of friendship. She hated to
ruin it, but Nick's life was on the line and she loved him too much to let him
fight Kris alone.
Even if that
meant losing her life in the process.
Grabbing a
blanket to cover her nose and mouth she opened the door and was greeted with
black billowy smoke coming from all directions. With watery eyes, she
crept out of the room toward the sound of fists pounding against flesh.
Though her sight was impaired, she could make out Kris's frame easily and moved
behind him. Nick was underneath him, struggling to keep him from punching
his lights out. Without hesitation, Katarina
brought the vase down on Kris's head, knocking him out instantly and his body
crumpled over Nick's. Katarina let go of the
blanket that helped her breathe and reached out to pull Kris off him.
Nick coughed relentlessly and yelped as a flame nipped his arm. Katarina pulled him up and Nick wrapped his arms around her
tightly. She closed her eyes and returned his embrace. Nick...
Yo...you
have...to get...out of here..." he managed to say before coughing again.
Katarina shook her head before bursting into a fit of coughs as well.
"N..nno...I...won't leave...you..."
Nick lifted
her into his arms and quickly moved toward the exit, he set her down
outside. "Go!"
"No
Nick!" she held him tightly as the fire alarm wailed and tenants
everywhere began to vacate the building.
"Rina..." he pulled back and cupped her face.
She gazed into
his amazing blue eyes, feeling his love enter her, surround her... Her
eyes filled with tears. "Nick..."
He leaned
forward and gently pressed his lips against her forehead.
"Nick!
Rina!"
They turned to
see Howie racing toward them, pushing through the crowd of people that
desperately wanted to get out.
"Are you
guys all right?!"
"Fine,"
Nick responded, "now get her out of here."
Howie glared
at him. "You're coming too!"
'"No I'm
not," Nick replied stubbornly, "I have unfinished business."
"Nick--"
"JUST
GO!"
Howie looked
at him in uncertainty but grasped Katarina's
hand. Before he could utter another word, Nick rushed back into the fiery
pit that was her apartment.
"Nick!"
Katarina screamed, "No!!"
***
Kris smirked
as Nick came into view again. This was it.
The perfect
time to strike.
And this time
he would win.
***
Coughing
unremittingly, Nick approached the lifeless form of Kris, knife in hand, his
mind made up.
God didn't
seem to want to punish Kris for hurting Katarina...so
it was time to take justice into his own hands.
Ignoring the
overbearing flames, he stood over the bastard that caused his angel so much
pain. He aimed the knife over Kris's heart. This is for you Rina...
"I
don't...think so."
Nick's eyes
widened as his gaze moved upward to Kris's face. He was wide awake with a
grin that Satan would appreciate and before Nick could move out of the way,
Kris threw a burning cloth directly at his face.
"OWWWW!"
Nick cried out as the fabric attached to his face. The familiar stench of
flesh burning invaded his nostrils. Nooooooo!
He yanked the cloth off him and clutched his injured face.
Kris slowly
stood and let out a weak but victorious laugh.
"Once...again...Nick...Carter's...a freak..." His face twisted into a
scowl. "Rina...will never...love
you...now..."
Nick felt the
anguish returning. When the doctor fixed his face, he felt ready to face
the world again, be the Nick Carter that everyone so desperately missed...
And he could
show Rina that he wasn't a monster...
Now he was
left with nothing again.
Nothing but
his broken heart and empty dreams.
"I
win...you lose..." Kris continued, laughing harshly despite the heavy
smoke.
Nick sank to
the floor, his face throbbing...
His heart
dying.
And then the
memories began to return...
"I
don't want someone else. I want you Nick."
"You
say that now, but you don't know."
"Don't
know what? Why can't you just tell me what's going on?"
"Because
once you see me Rina. You'll run. I know
it!"
"See
you? I don't... Are you talking about your face? Nick, you don't
have to be afraid."
"You
don't understand."
"Then
make me understand Nick! All I want is to understand! Nick
please..."
"...I've
never...in my whole life felt the way I feel when I'm with you Rina...and I couldn't take it if you looked at me like
a...freak."
"Ni--"
"'Cause
that's what I am. A freak."
"No
Nick, you're not a freak. You could never be a freak to me. I don't
care about your limbs, your hair, your face...I just care about you Nick.
Who you are in here. Nothing is ever going to change that."
"Promise?"
"I
promise."
He closed his
eyes, not wanting Kris to see his tears. Katarina had promised him that she
would love him despite his beastly appearance. And then she'd broken her
promise to never leave him. What made him think she could keep this
one? He didn't trust her enough to take the risk. I can't do it
Caroline...I can't let my anger go...
"That's
right...Carter...you're a...loser...and always will...be." Kris taunted,
"and...after...I kill...you...Katarina...will be
all...mine."
"Just
hold me Nick...and don't ever let me go...ever..."
"I
won't. I'll protect you with my life Rina...I
promise."
Nick hands
balled into fists. He loved her so much...and deep down inside him, he
knew that she loved him with an intensity that matched his feelings for
her. All he had to do was let go of his anger...let go of the darkness...
Let Nick
Carter back into the light and bury the faceless stranger that he had become.
"Anger
makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you
were."
Slowly, he
rose to his feet, his head foggy and yet clear at the same time.
"Ri...na will never...be...yours...you...asshole...and you
know...why...?" He met Kris's vile gaze. "Because...even
if you...take her body...you will never...have...her mind...her heart...her
soul...because they...belong...to me. ONLY...TO...ME!!"
"DIE YOU
SON OF A BITCH! JUST DIE!!" Kris snarled and lunged toward him.
But Nick was
too fast and he sidestepped him and grabbed his collar "No...it's you who
has...to die..." Not a second of hesitation stopped him as he hurled
Kris toward the window behind him and watched as his body flew into the glass and
disappeared into the night.
With a mixture
of satisfaction and trepidation he listened until Kris's terrified scream came
to a sudden halt and he knew without a doubt in his mind.
Katarina's nightmare was over.
***
