Chapter 9
Kevin
and AJ looked at Nick, who stood trembling in the doorway. His skin was a pale white and tears continued
to streak down his face. Kevin swallowed the lump of fear down before he was
able to speak.
"What
happened?" He rasped.
Nick
handed Kevin the white envolpe. He recognized it as the same hautned envolpe
he'd seen twice before. He slowly opened it to reveal the picture tucked away
inside. Howie's face was still erased by the large 'X' over his face and Kevin
could almost feel AJ tense at the sight.
But
Kevin realized with horror that Howie was not alone. Brian's face was also
demented by a deeply scratched 'X'. His goofy smile and bright blue eyes were
hiding mockingly behind it. Kevin felt rage replace the fear.
Brian.
They
had taken his baby cousin. He felt the tears of rage well up in his eyes. Worst
of all, he felt guilt. It was his fault. He had let Brian go get a soda.
And he had let him do it alone.
Kevin
looked up to see Nick crying. Just a few minutes ago he had been so happy and
now he stood there, a bawling, shivering wreck.
"Brian
was my best friend!" He sobbed. "Why'd they have to take him?!"
Kevin
pulled himself up out of his chair and walked over to Nick's trembling body.
Wrapping his arms around him, he pulled Nick into a comferting bear hug. He let
Nick's tears stain the front of his shirt, until he had none left to cry.
Kevin
looked over at AJ. His eyes were wide and filled with fear. Tears were
streaming down his own face. He licked his lips and forced the next few words
out.
"Who's
next?"
Kevin's
face paled at the thought of another of his friends being taken. His eyes
drifted down to the picture. He really didn't want to know who was next, but
the truth was they needed to know. Suddenly his heart stopped and whatever
color was left in his face drained away.
Looking
back at AJ he forced all the worry out of his eyes. "It doesn't say."
He rasped.
AJ
felt the fear boil in the pit of his stomach. If it didn't say, any of them
could be next.
"There's
another poem on the back." Nick sniffled.
Kevin
flipped the picture over. Like the first two times there was a poem neatly
written on the back. Taking a deep breath he read it out loud.
"Who
will go first, Howie or Bri? Who will be the first to die? Will we take another
of you guys? Or torture the ones we have alive?"
Nick
had begun sobbing again, and even AJ was trembling with his tears. Kevin
realized he had tears streaming down his own face. AJ forced a weak smile.
"At
least we know they're alive." he whispered. "That must be a positive
thing."
Kevin
managed a weak nod. He hugged Nick tightly. They only had one option, and his
mind was made up right then and there.
"We're
going to the police." He stated firmly. "If Brian and Howie are still
alive, we will save them. We can't for the next move. It may be deadly."
AJ
stiffened slightly at the word police. Kevin noticed his discomfort and raised
an eyebrow in worry.
"What's
wrong?" He asked. "Is there something wrong with my idea?"
AJ
relaxed a little and seemed some what embarssed by his reaction. he laughed
lightly and tried to hide his nervousness.
"I
don't want to tell my story to the police." He smiled weakly at Kevin.
"Remember what the drug was put in? I may be the one arrested if they find
out."
Kevin
nodded in agreement. The last thing he wanted was to put AJ at risk. But they
needed some help if they ever wanted to get Brian and Howie back.
"Tell
them they put the drugs in your soda." Kevin said. "I'm sorry Aje,
but we need the police involved. We can't lose them."
Nick
sniffled and wiped his damp cheeks. He looked at Kevin, eyes brimming with fresh
tears. Kevin felt his heart tear. He motioned for Nick to come and sit in the
chair next to him. Nick obiedently scrambled over. Resting his head on Kevin's
chest, he let out a tired sigh.
"I
want Brian back." He whispered. "And Howie."
Kevin
rested his chin on the top of Nick's head. He exhaled deeply.
"Me
too Nick." He sighed. "Me too."
***
