Forbidden Chapter 10 - Tremor

Chapter 10 - Tremor

         A breath. A gasp for air is all I wished for at that moment. For his lungs to fill with oxygen and for his eyes to flutter open. Useless. My plea to the universe bounced off the surrounding walls as I held Jackson in my arms, motionless. My body as still as his and my heart beating slowly. My hand caressed his cheek as I stared down at his un-responsive expression, the dark blood still trickling slowly from his nose.

In that moment... there was no hatred or resentment. My mind ached with pulsating memories of a time before the betrayal. A time where the person I clung to treated me as an equal, a friend.

Like a movie projected onto a blank screen, a memory replayed itself in my vision.

My calls of excitement were lost in the cold wind as I watched the two of them sprinting down the football field. Max clung to the ball as though it were gold, his legs bounding him across the length of the field, maneuvering their way through the blank spaces in the opposition's defence. Jackson trailed closely behind with his arms outstretched, demanding the ball. A larger player from the enemy team stepped into Max's path, forcing him to pass the ball to Jackson's hands. With a daring sprint, his movements like perfected choreography, Jackson placed the leather-bound ball over the white line, scoring the final try before the referee's whistle sounded the end of the game.

Max and Jackson's bodies clashed together with excitement as I ran across the field to congratulate them. I passed them both a bottle of cold water and they each took a shirt sip before exchanging sly looks. They unscrewed the lids and dumped the contents of the bottle over me, freezing me to my core. The three of us laughed until our stomachs hurt and cheered with the rest of the team, excitement flooding through us in response to the success of the game.

Reality came crashing back when the door slammed open and I figure burst into the room. I saw the figure stop in the corner of my vision, but I dared not take my eyes off of Jackson.

"Dalton..." Max's voice came, breaking the eerie silence that had blanketed itself over the room, "Who is that?"

I let out a sharp exhale, hoping that the release of pressure in my chest would allow room for words.

"Dalton, who is it?" He said again, his voice full of concern.

The floorboards groaned underneath Max's feet as he moved closer, crouching down beside me to see who lay in my arms.

"Oh, fuck! He cursed, quickly stepping away, "Oh, God, Dalton. Is he...?"

Dead.

"Fuck! Dalton, we have to call the police!"

"No," I croaked, fresh tears streaming down my face and falling onto Jackson's blood-drenched shirt.

"What? What do you mean 'No'?" He pressed, running his hands across his pants, searching for his phone. "FUCK!" He yelled when he couldn't feel it.

"Dalton, where's your phone?" He moved beside me once more, "Phone, Dalton!" He shouted, but my words failed me.

Max reached his hand into my pants pocket and I winced at the touch. He slid it out and unlocked the screen. His fingers tapped the screen as he dialled the emergency number, my voice finally returning.

"No police!" I shouted, "Call Hunter"

"Hunter?" He questioned, looking unsure of what I just told him, "Why would we call Mr Dun-"