Element
Of Dark
Chapter Eight
Kevin walked over to where his cousin lay asleep on the floor. He smiled
to himself and shook his head.
"What a party animal, huh guys?" Howie laughed nervously.
"Well, let’s wake him up," AJ leaned over to grab his tired
friend but Kevin thrust out his arm as a barricade.
"Wait Bone. I’ve got a better idea."
"Yeah?" AJ’s voice had a sarcastic ring to it.
"Yeah." Kevin bent down and slowly scooped up Brian. He swayed
slightly from the weight but adjusted and began to walk towards the door. AJ
followed, disbelieving.
"You’re not serious, Kev?" He hesitated. "Are you?"
"Of course I am," Kevin replied calmly. He looked down at his
cousin’s peaceful face and noticed a foul smelling liquid dripping out of his
mouth. "Ugh! What is that?" Howie leaned over closer to inspect and
immediately pulled back from the odor.
"Quick just wipe it off. Maybe Dream will know but in the meantime
we’re almost where the fans are waiting. They can’t see him like this,"
Kevin said as he staggered forward. Without delay AJ removed a leather glove
from his pocket and cleaned off Brian’s face. They turned the last corner in
the hallway closely followed by security. They had offered to carry Brian
instead but Kevin had firmly refused. He knew Brian just wouldn’t feel
comfortable if it was anyone else. As they came to last door a large burly man
kicked it open and the deafening roar of the crowd filled their ears. Flashes of
light went off from every direction and Kevin did his best to get to the
limousine as fast as he could. AJ and Howie helped out as well by using their
bodies to shield Brian. When they were finally close enough to the car they
leapt in frantically and shut the door loudly. I felt my senses awake with a
start.
"W..where," I started to say but I felt my stomach roll and I
belched out a liquid that burned my throat and smelled of decay. I tried to
apologize but found myself to be sick the instant I opened my mouth. When I was
finished I leaned back against the seat and felt a sharp pain in my chest. I
could feel someone’s clawed bony fingers entwining themselves around my heart.
I desperately tried to pry them away but they just wouldn’t budge. I felt the
urge to throw up again and could faintly hear the others talking to me. Fear
filled their voices and I heard AJ yelling. My body tightened and I squeezed my
eyes shut praying not to be sick again. As the darkness filled my head I saw the
hand, the very hand that held my heart in it’s deathly grip. It raised
slightly as though prepping itself for something and then suddenly pierced my
heart with one final blow. I screamed as excruciating pain throbbed throughout
my soul.
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Nick’s body writhed in sheer agony. He clung to his sheets, stained
with the blood he had thrown up only minutes before. Inhuman shrieks escaped
from his lips as he attempted to fray the darkness that had begun to surround
him.
"Shhh," Dream’s voice was calm. She placed her palms on
Nick’s chest and a brilliant pale blue lit the room. Wind rushed wildly about,
blowing the darkness away from Nick’s eyes. His screams became less and less
until they finally died as the last dust of the wind swept away. His pulse
fluttered gently in his neck as his breathing fell shallow and rasped. A black
mark was imprinted above his left eye, hidden behind his damp, blond bangs.
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