If Only..(Part 1 And Part 2 Included)(Under Edit)

Chapter 39- The Final Showdown(Part 2)

It was 17: 25 by my clock when her lashes slowly flickered. She opened her eyes half way but twitched her nose and closed it back. Her, right hand slowly travelled to the back of her neck as she let out a low groan. As, the sedatives was loosing it's effects, the pain was slowly creeping in. With that, the discomfort, as she slowly started to throw false kicks and gasp for breath, while her eyes still shut. I went up to her and cupped her cheek, when to started to murmur incohorent words.
Madeline: Let me go! Lemme go!

It was definitely the nightmare, she spoke about. I tried calling her out by name. Initially, in a considerably lower tone, then in a higher tone. She jolted out at my second call and looked up at me with eyes wide open. Eyes, that were filled with terror. She sat up at once, holding me with her ice cold palm.

Madeline(quivering): They're coming for me. They are coming for me

Jackson: No one is coming for you. You killed them, okay?

Madeline moved her head in denial, but stopped half way with a subtle inquiring crease on her eyebrows. She looked away from him and scanned through the perimeter of the room.

Jackson: You..were hit at the back of your head.

Her look soften, as realisation finally hit. The terror in her eyes slowly subsided, but the confusion still prevailed. I sat by her side as she looked up at me like a empty slate.

Jackson(forcing a smile): Yes, you did it. You killed Corvett. But, just before, you could turn, someone hit at the back of your head with an iron rod, and you fell unconscious. Everything happened in front of my eyes, but I couldn't stop.I am sor.....

Madeline(interrupting him): Where is Jake?

Jackson: Um...well see victory is on our side. The kids were released, and...and.. those men were taken down. It is finally over.

Madeline: Where is Jake?

Nothing, I said seemed to have an effect on her. She kept a dead stare on me, throughout, without any emotion surfacing and the only question she asked was about Jacob's whereabout.

Madeline: What's wrong? Why did you stop? I need to see him.

Jackson: See, *sigh* every good thing in this planet comes with a price.

Madeline(now in a stern voice): I want to see Jake.

Jackson: (trying to keep his composure) Corvett tried to shoot you. Jake came in just in time and the bullet went right through his skull.

Madeline: Which hospital?

Jackson: What? Madeline.. No, he...

Madeline: Forget it. Let me call Cleo, I need to know how he is. He can be really stupid, at times. I...

She started looking for her phone, scanning through the bed table, beneath the sheets, desperately.

Jackson: Madeline, (cupping her left cheek).... he is no more.

Madeline: Bullshit! It was just a gunshot, he survived many. He is a fighter. You are wrong.

She stayed calm all throughout this conversation. She denied all that I have said, like nothing ever happened. Not even a single wince showed on her face. I knew it wasn't her speaking. It was the shock that she got. She was nothing, but numb. This had to be broken.

Jackson: He did not survive the trauma.

Madeline: Where's my phone?

Jackson(confused): Inside the drawer.

She looked to her right, and pulled out the first drawer.

Madeline: Thank you. (courtesy smiling) I need to make a call real quick.

Jackson(frowning): Who are you calling?

Madeline: Jake

Jackson: Okay, this is it.

I did, what I had to do, at that moment. I snatched away the phone.

Madeline: HEY!!

Jackson: I am not going to let it continue. DO YOU HEAR ME???

Madeline: HE IS NOT DEAD!!!

She screamed at the top of her voice. This time, her eyes turned red as she started to shiver. She was finally lifting up the veil to let out the vulnerability. I pulled her closer and wrapped my arms across her, tight, as she kept shivering in my embrace.

Jackson(low consoling tone): You need to accept this. He is not defeated. He died. But, he did not fail. He died a hero.

Maybe, that was all she needed to hear at this moment. Her body stopped shivering, as I started to feel her heavy breaths against my chest and my sleeves started to dampen. Suddenly, she let out a loud cry that echoed through every corner of my house, and an emptiness followed with her wails. By, loosing her biggest strength, she failed to keep up her high walls. I never saw her this vulnerable. With, every wail, I could feel her cracking and breaking down into pieces. This big crater that was formed in her, there was nothing in this world I could do to fill that. In moments like this, the only thing we desperately need is a reverse button. As second chance to fix things that were broken. Alas! no wealth, no power, no gem, no tricks can bring back someone we lose. Nothing can change the fact, we are the slaves to our own lives. I held her more tightly in a vague attempt to prevent her broken pieces from falling apart. As, a silent assurance, that she is not alone in this. She will never be.