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HER by Amanda (c) 2002
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A swift hand darted in, snatching the bat before it came in contact with Brian. Kevin turned around, his face registering total disbelief as he stared hard at AJ. “Are you crazy?” he roared, throwing the wooden bat to the ground. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Not waiting for an answer, Kevin knelt before Brian. “Oh my God. . . look at you,” he whispered. He glanced over his shoulder, noticing that all three guys were in a similar state of shock. “Nick! Get over here! Give me a hand.”
“No! No way! I’m not touching him.” For good measure, Nick backed up a few steps, waving his hands in protest.
Kevin looked at Nick in amazement. “What the. . . ” he began, stopping when he heard a low moan coming from Brian. He rewarded Nick with a nasty glare, then turned to wrap his arms carefully around Brian’s waist. Lifting gently, Kevin helped his cousin over to the edge of the bed.
Kevin studied Brian, trying to assess how much damage was done, but there was too much blood to know. He turned his attention to the others. Nick was obviously a no-go and AJ looked incapable of doing anything right now. That left Howie.
“D! Hurry! Go get me some ice! And some hand towels. And whatever else you think might help. Now!” he barked sharply as Howie continued to gawk, not moving.
Kevin swung his attention back to Brian, who was sitting up, staring at his bloody hands. “Brian! What happened to you? What’s going on?”
Kevin felt AJ kneel beside him, trying to capture Brian’s attention. “Brian. Brian! I’m sorry, man. Jeez, I can’t believe I almost hit you! I thought it was her. God, I’m sorry!”
Kevin wasn’t sure he heard AJ correctly. “Her?” AJ ignored him.
Brian looked up, his voice heavy with distress. “AJ? Did I, did I. . . change. . . ”
AJ nodded. “Yeah. The handcuffs didn’t work, Bri. Somehow you managed to slip out of them. You went into Nick’s room.” AJ smiled reassuringly when he saw the alarm in his friend’s face. “It’s okay. Nick’s fine.”
“The hell I am,” Nick argued, daring to take a step closer. “Just look at my neck! Brian almost choked me to death before I was able to stop him.”
Kevin shook his head. “Whoa. Back up. I’m totally in the dark here. Why would Brian want to hurt Nick? Besides the obvious,” he muttered sarcastically.
Nick scowled at him. “Because, Kevin, Brian isn’t Brian, right?” He sneered the last word pointedly, waiting for AJ’s and Brian’s reaction.
Kevin didn’t like the strange looks AJ and Brian were giving Nick. “Wait just a sec! ‘Brian isn’t Brian’? What are you talking about?” Kevin frowned. “Nick, this isn’t about that girl, is it? Don’t tell me you saw her too!”
Not taking his eyes off of Brian, Nick nodded. “Yeah, I saw her. Kind hard not to when you’re looking right at Brian and see her in his eyes.”
Kevin stood up, running a tired hand through his hair. “Okay, let me get this straight. You said you saw her and she was inside of Brian?” He glanced at Howie who had re-entered the room with the supplies and was listening quietly. “How in the hell can she be inside of Brian?” Kevin narrowed his eyes, his suspicious nature getting the better of him. Shit. It would just be like Nick, Brian and AJ to try and pull a prank like this, to go to this extreme just to trick him.
“This is a joke, right? I am so gonna kill you guys.”
“Kevin! This is not a joke. I’m serious!” Nick’s face started turning red with anger. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if you believe me or not, but she is in Brian! I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but she is! And I’m not getting anywhere near him!” Nick pointed an accusing finger at Brian.
Dumbfounded, Kevin glanced at AJ who was nodding his head in agreement to what Nick had just said. Brian was still sitting, looking up at him with quiet resignation. Kevin looked at Howie. Howie frowned and shrugged his shoulders, not sure who or what to believe.
Kevin gave a huge sigh of frustration. “Perfect. Just perfect.” He eyed Brian. “So. . . she’s in you?”
Brian nodded.
“How?”
Brian gave a simple shake of his head. “I don’t know.” He touched a trembling hand to his face and winced. “I don’t know. . . really.”
Kevin pushed away the questions he still wanted to ask, signaling Howie to give him the supplies. He handed Brian a cup of ice chips. “You’ve got a pretty nasty cut on your lip. Here. Suck on this ice. It should take some of the swelling down. I’ll bet the inside of your mouth is all torn up too.” He wrapped some extra ice in a small towel and wet another towel with water. Giving the makeshift icepack to Brian to place on his jaw, he grabbed the wet cloth and began to carefully wash the blood away from Brian’s hands and face.
“Damn, Nick! What did you hit him with?”
“Just my fist,” Nick boasted, looking at his raw knuckles. “Not bad, huh?”
“Not good,” Kevin commented sourly, noticing the damage done to Brian’s face as he cleansed away the blood. Besides the split lip, which may or may not need stitches, a bruise, raw and ugly, was beginning to form along the lower side of Brian’s cheek.
Kevin threw the bloodied cloth away and continued dabbing at his cousin’s face with a clean one. “Boy, Nick sure did a number on you. How’s the inside of your mouth?”
Brian ran a cursory finger inside his mouth, pulling out a bloody finger. “Teeth are okay,” he mumbled. “I bit the inside of my cheek pretty good when Nick hit me. Otherwise, everything seems okay, I guess.”
Kevin sighed in relief, thankful. It could have been worse. Much, much worse. Nick was no lightweight when it came to throwing punches. He shoved more ice chips at Brian.
“Now it’s three who’ve seen her.”
“Huh?” Kevin was so busy attending to Brian that he didn’t notice Howie standing next to him until he spoke.
“Now it’s three, Kevin. Three who’ve seen her. That leaves just you and me who haven’t.”
Howie’s voice held a note of warning, just a hint of anxiety as he spoke of his concern.
Kevin glanced in the direction to where Nick and AJ stood and then at Brian, who seemed to have spaced out, staring without seeing.
“Yeah. I know,” he admitted softly. “I have my doubts. It’s still too mind-blowing for me to believe, no matter what they say. But for now, let’s just play along, all right?”
“But what about what they said? Nick’s scared to even touch him and AJ doesn’t look too thrilled either. Is it safe to get near Brian?”
“Howie, look at him!” Kevin nodded his head at Brian, who remained silent. “Look at him! Does Brian look dangerous to you? I think Nick and AJ are overreacting a little, dontcha think?”
Howie shrugged, unsure. “I guess. I wish I knew exactly what’s going on.”
Kevin tossed away the second soiled cloth. “Me too. I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.” He searched the other supplies Howie had brought with him and discovered a few bandaids, along with a topical antiseptic. It would have to do, for now.
“Brian. Brian? Hey, your lip looks pretty bad. I’m gonna put some of this on you and then a bandage, okay? Okay?”
Brian didn’t answer and Kevin went to work, squirting a dab of the antiseptic onto his finger. Reaching out, he gently began to cover Brian’s cut.
“Kevin! No, don’t!”
AJ’s shout was too late.
The sharp sting snapped Brian out of his trance-like state and he shot up off the bed, knocking Kevin backwards with a vicious blow. Growling, Brian turned his attention towards his next victim and struck. Startled, Howie cried out in pain, falling to his knees. Snaking his hand through Howie’s long hair, Brian gave it a brutal yank and Howie’s head snapped back, exposing his neck. With one hand firmly entwined in his hair, the other hand encircling his friend’s throat, Brian began to squeeze.
Gagging, Howie thrashed about wildly, desperately trying to break free from the powerful grip and even more powerful stare of those fiery eyes. He found himself swaying with relief, the agonizing pressure suddenly released as Kevin tackled Brian, tearing him away. Howie watched as they rolled around on the ground, Kevin screaming for help. Gasping, unable to lend a hand, Howie saw Nick and AJ join the fray. Brian fought like a wild man, kicking, swearing, the profanities that erupted from his mouth enough to shock even the most seasoned truck driver. It took the strength from all three to pin Brian down and still Brian managed to wriggle a hand free, landing a stunning blow to AJ’s upper arm.
Grimacing in pain, AJ rolled away, cradling his arm. “Hit him! Hit him, Kevin!”
“What?!”
“Do it!” AJ screamed. “It’s the only way to stop him!”
Kevin shook his head. “I can’t. I can’t hit him!”
“Dammit, Kevin, if you don’t, I will!” yelled an infuriated Nick, holding his injured knee. With the loss of AJ’s weight, Nick had lost his grip on Brian’s thrashing legs and been rewarded with a sharp kick, directly to his kneecap.
“Son of a bitch!”
Brian had managed to land another hit, this time to Kevin’s jaw. Kevin quickly changed his mind and aimed a well-placed punch to Brian’s midsection, effectively putting an end to the fight. Brian moaned and curled up, clutching at his stomach. Wincing in pain, Kevin crawled over to Nick and AJ, who were both nursing their own injuries.
Howie staggered upright and wobbled over to Brian’s crumpled body. “Did you guys see it?” he whispered hoarsely. “Did you? Brian’s eyes? Oh my god.” Howie rubbed his throat gingerly. He didn’t wait for an answer, coming over to stoop next to Kevin.
“Kevin, I saw it. Her! Nick and AJ were right.”
“Well, no duh!” came Nick’s sour reply.
On his hands and knees, Kevin breathed in deeply, trying to regain some of his composure. He had seen her too. Like Nick said, it was kind of hard not to, especially when coming face to face with it. With her. With that. . . monster. Kevin felt a tremor of fear streak up his spine. He turned his head to look at Brian.
Oh, dear God.
He watched as Brian tried to sit up then slump back down, unable to rise. Kevin forced himself to stand up, walking unsteadily over to his cousin. He ignored his own aching jaw, hardly able to comprehend the agony Brian must be going through.
“Brian. . . Brian,” he said softly, bending down to touch his shoulder. Brian rolled onto his back, his face twisted from the pain. Kevin was nervous, not sure he wanted Brian to open his eyes, but he had to know. “Brian, come on, look at me.”
Brian opened his eyes, deep pools of blue filled with exhaustion.
Kevin sighed in relief and glanced over at AJ, who was helping Nick up. “AJ, it worked.”
AJ nodded. “Yeah. I finally figured it out. I’m not sure why, but pain seems to be a way in getting rid of her. That’s why I wanted you to hit him.”
Kevin looked down at Brian. “AJ, we can’t do that to him every time it happens! Look at him! He’s a mess.” Too weary to stand anymore, he flopped down next to Brian, burying his face in his hands. “This is insane!”
“Tell me about it,” AJ said dryly. “Uh, Kevin, if I were you, I wouldn’t get too close.” Kevin’s head snapped up. He began to scoot away, not needing any further warning.
Howie cautiously took a few steps closer to inspect Brian. “How is he?” he croaked, gently massaging his throat.
AJ glanced at Brian. “Not sure. Brian? Hey, how ya doing? You all right?”
There was a moment of silence before Brian groaned, his arms crisscrossed against his stomach. “AJ. I’m bleeding. My stomach hurts like hell. Does it look like I’m all right?”
A small smile curled at the corner of AJ’s mouth. Well, at least Brian’s humor was still intact.
Brian turned on his side, biting back the pain. “What happened? I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”
Kevin glanced nervously at AJ and Brian caught the gesture.
“Oh god, don’t tell me it happen again?”
AJ came over, crouching down next to his friend. “Yeah, it did. I was watching you; you looked like you were zoning out. When Kevin tried to put something on your lip, bam! You went ballistic! You attacked Kevin and then Howie.”
Brian’s eyes went wide with alarm.
“They’ll be okay, but Brian. . . ” AJ lower his voice, “it took everything we had just to subdue you.”
Brian caught the warning tone in AJ’s last words, felt the intense stares from the others.
“AJ, you think. . . you think I’m getting stronger? I mean, that she’s getting stronger, inside of me?”
AJ nodded solemnly and Brian shook his head. “Oh God, no. No! AJ! I can’t take this anymore. I can’t!” With effort Brian struggled to sit up, his face twisted in distress. “You gotta help me.” He edged towards AJ, his hand extended, his voice rising in panic. “Please!”
Leery, AJ skirted away from his outstretched hand. “Brian, man, you know I will! I promise! But you’ve got to remain calm! Calm! Understand?” AJ peered intently at him, trying to get his message across. “We can’t have you going postal on us again! You gotta settle down. Okay?”
Brian dropped his hand, dismayed by AJ’s obvious avoidance at being touched. He gave a troubled sigh. “All right. . . I’ll. . . I’ll try.”
AJ didn’t like the doubt he heard in Brian’s voice, the uncertainty. Shit. The last thing he needed right now was a repeat performance of Brian flipping out. It seemed that agitation also triggered a reappearance of her so he needed a way to somehow keep Brian relaxed, tranquil. Tranquil! AJ snapped his fingers. Of course! Why didn’t he think of that before? “Hold on. Stay here.” He pointed at the others. “Watch Bri for a second, will ya?” He raced out the door, amid startled protests.
Kevin, Nick, and Howie looked questioningly at Brian and Brian returned their look with a small shrug. Not knowing what else to do, Brian laid uncomfortably on the floor, deciding to stare at the tips of everyone’s shoes rather than see their anxious faces.
With an excited whoop, AJ came rushing back, waving a small container in his hand. “Why didn’t we think of this before?” he complained to no one in particular as he popped the plastic top off. He shook out one pill into the palm of his hand, thought the better of it, and shook out one more.
“Here,” he said, kneeling down, shoving them towards Brian. “Take it.”
“What are they?” asked Nick, taking the plastic bottle from AJ’s hand. “Tranquilizers?”
AJ smiled. “Yeah. One should calm Brian down, two should put him right under. . . hopefully along with you-know-who.”
With his last remaining strength, Brian pulled himself up off the ground, and sat on the edge of the bed. He glanced at the four who were standing warily out of reach. He appreciated AJ’s effort in trying to find a way to keep him calm; it was just the way AJ wanted to go about it that didn’t thrill him. Still, feeling four sets of eyes trained upon him, Brian knew better than to argue. He stared at the two white pills for a moment before popping them in mouth, swallowing them whole.
An awkward silence ensued, no one comfortable enough to make small talk as they waited. And waited some more.
“Sorry, guys, it’s not working. What now?” Brian asked wearily.
Howie, Kevin, and Nick turned to look at AJ.
AJ threw up his hands. “Hey! Why does everyone always look at me? Like I’m supposed to know?”
Nick shrugged. “Well, I don’t know what to do,” he admitted.
Brian gave a massive yawn, his body sagging.
“Me neither,” confessed Howie.
Brian crawled under the bedcovers.
“Don’t look at me,” said Kevin.
AJ rolled his eyes. “Well, I guess we. . . ” he stopped, cocking his head to one side. Brian appeared to be sound asleep.
He pointed. “I think Brian’s out.”
“You’re kidding.” Kevin peered. “Nope, you’re not. Wait! We’ve gotta wake him up. He still needs medical attention.”
“Kevin, no, leave him alone. He’ll be okay. Trust me, the rest will do him more good. Besides, we need this down time to figure out what to do.”
Nick flopped into a chair, glanced at the time, then ran a weary hand across his face. “AJ, I’m too tired to figure out anything right now.”
“Well, tough shit, Nick. Even though Brian’s asleep, I’m not positive the tranquilizers will keep him under. We’re gonna have to start taking turns watching him, so don’t go falling asleep on me.”
“Oh, great.”
AJ felt his anger rise. “Damnit, Nick, you saw what just happened! Do you have any idea what would happen if the public found out about this? We can’t afford to leave Brian alone, even for a second!”
Nick had the decency to flush with embarrassment. “I’m sorry.” He glanced over at Brian’s still form. “It’s just that I. . . I still can’t believe it, ya know? I mean, how could this sort of thing happen?”
Curious, Howie and Kevin turned to see what AJ would say.
“Nick. . . ” AJ gave a heavy sigh. “I have no idea how it happened. It just did. Brian seems to think. . . ” AJ paused, then pressed his lips together.
“What?”
AJ shook his head.
“AJ! What? Come on.”
Uncertain as to whether he should divulge what Brian had confided in him, AJ glanced over and noticed that Brian’s prone body was twitching, shuddering under the covers. He hurried over, a frown on his face as he worriedly stared down. Brian’s eyes were scrunched closed, his cheek and lips swollen, traces of dried blood smeared across his face. AJ could see Brian’s chest rising and falling with shallow, rapid breaths.
AJ found Kevin standing next to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Could be a reaction to the medicine.”
“Should we try and wake him up?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know.” He pointed at Brian’s heaving chest. “Kevin, look at the way Brian’s breathing! He’s panting! Look at his face! Brian’s asleep, yet. . . see? It looks like he’s struggling with a nightmare, or. . . ”
“It looks like he’s struggling with her,” Howie commented solemnly, having quietly slipped beside Kevin. Nick stood cautiously behind Howie, leaning over his shoulder to observe. He watched helplessly as his friend continued to gasp for air, watched in utter despair as Brian continued to battle his private, inner struggle while he slept, his curled-up body twitching, jerking to and fro from the small spasms. As bad as he felt for Brian and what he must be going through right now, Nick was not too wild about Kevin’s idea of waking him up.
“Um, I vote that we don’t wake Brian up.”
“I second that,” said Howie softly.
“Kevin?” AJ looked at him expectantly.
Kevin chewed on his thumbnail, weighing the odds as he studied his cousin. It was difficult seeing Brian in distress, not knowing what was happening as he slept. On the other hand, he was fairly positive he knew what would happen if they woke Brian up.
“I think it’s best if we let Brian sleep for now. The worst that might happen is that he’d fall off the bed. But awake. . .” Kevin shook his head, not finishing the sentence. He didn’t have to. Nick, Howie, and AJ understood.
“Okay, well I guess that settles that,” said AJ. “We let Brian sleep.” He gave a warning glance at Nick. “But if something really weird begins to happen to him, I’m gonna wake him up, no matter what or who we might see.”
Nick nodded his agreement. Having had first hand experience, he knew going one on one with Brian would be risky, at best. However, with the added strength of the others, he was pretty confident they could keep Brian in check in case they had to wake him. He just prayed that they didn’t have to. He had no desire to see that sinister stare, that eerie glow shining in Brian’s eyes. No desire to ever come face to face with her again. Her. He shivered at the simple name that described a not so simple being. He thought back to what AJ was going to announce a few minutes ago.
“Hey, AJ, you started to say that Brian knew what had happened to him. What was it?”
AJ hesitated.
“Yeah, come on,” Kevin prodded, seeing AJ’s reluctance. “What did Brian say?”
“Well. . . ”
“Well, what?” asked Nick impatiently.
AJ sighed, giving in. “Guys. . . Brian thinks he’s been possessed by an angel. . . ”
“What? An angel?!”
AJ scowled. “Jeez, let me finish, will ya, Nick? Not that kind of an angel. An angel from Hell. A demon.”
Simultaneously, Kevin, Howie, and Nick took a large step back, gawking at Brian’s trembling body.
“Holy shit,” breathed Nick.
“There’s nothing holy about it, Nick,” said AJ sourly.
“I know that!” Nick spat out, irritated. “It’s just a figure of speech, asshole!” He turned to look at Brian’s sleeping form then to back to AJ, his voice filled with awe. “So how do you plan to get rid of her?”
AJ waved a hand in front of Nick’s face. “Hello, do you see a sign on my forehead saying, ‘Ask me, I know everything’?”
Nick glared at him. “Wouldn’t surprise me. I bet you’ve got it tattooed on your ass, too.”
“Guys,” warned Howie, seeing where this was going. “Just cool it. This bickering isn’t going to help us or Brian.”
“D’s right,” said Kevin, his green eyes still locked on his cousin. “We’re all under enough stress as it is. We don’t need to have you at each other’s throats, too.”
Trying to break up the scowls Nick and AJ were exchanging, Howie tapped AJ on the shoulder and pointed at Brian. “I’m confused. When did you find out that Brian was. . . uh, possessed?”
“Huh?” AJ tore his glare away from Nick. “Oh. After the concert. After you guys left. Brian attacked me and I found myself lying flat on my back, looking up at him. Only it wasn’t him, it was her. I kicked Brian, uh. . . her. . . pretty good. That’s what seems to break the hold and bring Brian back.”
“God, you mean we gotta beat the shit out of Brian to free him from her?”
AJ tried to rein in his temper at Nick’s comment. “Nooo, I think we’ve done enough of that already.” AJ swept a hand at Brian’s bruised and battered face. “I don’t think it worked, do you?”
Before Nick could reply, a low, feral-sounding growl emitted from Brian’s throat. Nick jumped, along with the others.
“Uh. . . no. . . I don’t think it did,” admitted Nick uneasily.
They stared anxiously as a tremor shuddered down the length of Brian’s body then turned to stare at each other.
“So. . . if there is a demon inside of Brian,” Nick reasoned slowly, “shouldn’t a priest be able to like, you know, exorcise it?” He faced Kevin eagerly. “Hey, you and Brian were raised in church! You should know all about it!”
“Jeez Nick, guess I must have missed that particular lesson in Sunday school. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, a priest is Catholic. Ask Howie or AJ,” he said dryly.
AJ gave him a look. “Kevin. When was the last time you saw me step foot in a church?”
“Good point. Howie?”
“Me? Are you kidding? All I know about is confession.” Howie ignored AJ’s sharp hoot of laughter.
“Great,” said Nick. “Well, I guess it’s lucky we have the next few days off. We’re going to need it to help Brian.”
Howie nodded, trying to stifle a yawn. “Yeah, real lucky,” he said unenthusiastically. Grabbing the nearest chair, he dragged it over to the end of the bed and slumped into it. “Okay, I’m gonna take the first shift, if no one objects.”
AJ tugged another chair and placed it next to Howie’s. “I’m too hyped to sleep. I’ll join you.”
Nick and Kevin exchanged glances. “There’s a bed in the other room, if you want,” offered Nick. He glanced at AJ and Howie who were trying to get comfortable. “I think I’ll stay up too, you know, just in case.”
“Just in case what?”
“Just in case,” Nick mumbled, too embarrassed to admit he was afraid to sleep. Kevin nodded, accepting Nick’s vague answer.
“Okay, well, seems like everyone here is staying up. I’m going to bed. Wake me up in a couple of hours, all right?”
“Sure,” yawned Howie.
AJ nudged his friend. “D, you’re tired, go on, go to bed. Nick and I can take care of things here.” He shook his head in slight amusement as he watched Howie get up without so much as a word of protest and head towards the extra room.
“Jeez, how can they both just fall asleep?”
Nick shook his head, taking Howie’s vacant seat. “Got me. All I know is that I’m not going to be able to for the next 48 hours.”
“Me either, I’m not. . . ”
A slight creak of the bed, a rustle of sheets stopped AJ in mid-sentence. They both turned their attention to Brian and discovered the covers were kicked off, Brian’s face bathed in a fine sheen of sweat as he panted lightly.
“AJ?”
“Hmm?” AJ gave a sideways glance at Nick, who was studying Brian intently.
“I can hardly believe this is happening to Brian. . . can you?”
AJ thought for a moment before answering. “No. . . but I’d be a fool not to.”
“I mean, why him?”
AJ shrugged his shoulders. “Wish I could tell you, but I haven’t a clue, Nick.”
Brian continued to sleep, his breathing erratic, his body still plagued by small shudders. Neither spoke for several minutes as they watched Brian wage a war they were unable to help in. Finally, Brian’s panting slowed, his shallow breaths becoming less ragged. Nick hoped it meant Brian was doing better but frowned with concern when he noticed Brian’s hands. They were clenched tightly, as if trying to hold on to something. It brought back the vivid memory of those same hands wrapped firmly around his neck. He touched his throat, wincing when he came in contact with the tender bruises. “How’s it look?” he questioned, turning his head for AJ to inspect.
“Well, I don’t think it’s gonna pass for hickeys, if that’s what you mean,” grinned AJ.
“Funny.” Nick traced the bruises lightly. “I sure hope I can sing okay. My throat hurts like a mother.”
“You big baby, I’ll be lucky if I last a full concert. You should see the bruises on my butt.”
Nick smirked. “Eww, no thanks. Besides, my singing is more important than your ass, any day.”
“Jeez, and here I thought they did the same thing - produce crap.”
Nick was trying to think up a suitable wisecrack when they both heard a strange, gurgling noise. They watched as Brian heaved a huge sigh, his chest rising up and then falling, the air rushing out of his mouth in one long whoosh. His body relaxed, sagging into the mattress.
Nick turned to look at AJ. “What was that?!”
AJ shook his head, his brow furrowed in concern as he got to his feet. “I dunno.” He stood by the side of the bed, observing Brian’s now still form.
Nick was right behind AJ, hand resting on the smaller man’s shoulder. He felt AJ tense up. “What? What?” he whispered.
“Shit!” AJ exploded, his voice filled with alarm. He crawled quickly onto the bed and reached out, his hand fluttering over Brian’s face.
“Oh, God, oh God!” He turned to look at Nick. “Quick! Go get Kevin and Howie!”
“AJ!” Nick screamed, “tell me what’s going on!”
AJ was tugging at Brian’s limp body, trying to get his friend into a better position.
“Nick! Hurry! Go get help! Brian stopped breathing!
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