Dnaleri

Ch-10

“Rebecca!” Jacob cried. The spell continued to crush him, making even lifting his head nearly impossible. He yelled in fury, using a great amount of his strength, he broke through the spell and charged. It didn’t matter that he felt his physical form weaken to dangerous levels, Jacob thought only of saving the woman he loved. He grabbed Colin from behind, wrapping his arm around the other man’s neck. Jacob then reared back, pressed hard against his enemy’s windpipe. Colin gurgled, falling limp almost instantly yet Jacob didn’t yield his grip. Then just as his rage had come, it vanished with realization that he was killing Colin. Quickly letting go, Jacob checked Colin’s pulse, relieved that he hadn’t gone too far.

The next instant, he moved to Rebecca, crying out her name. She didn’t respond. Tilting her head back and opening her mouth, he listened carefully for her breathing. She was still alive, but needed medical attention right away. He grabbed his cell-phone and dialed 911. Quickly explaining the situation he told the dispatcher what had happened and in a few minutes, cop cars and an ambulance came. Police took Colin’s motionless body, handcuffed him and took him away while the ambulance attendants put Rebecca on a stretcher and lifted her into the ambulance. Jacob begged them to let him ride along, and surprisingly they let him.

Doctors worked tirelessly on her, relieving the pressure on her brain and bracing her leg. The wait was excruciating, seeming to go on forever. Jacob prayed harder than ever before that he hadn’t failed her. How could he go on if he lost her so quickly and after decades of searching? His thoughts were interrupted when Penny came yelling into the room, demanding to know what had happened. When she saw him, she flew into a rage and started attacking him, saying it was his fault. Jacob didn’t blame her, feeling what she said was true. Almost as soon as her rage had come, it disappeared and she burst into tears. The two waited together after that, desperate for any news.

When Rebecca was finally brought into recovery the news was grim. They were unsure if she would regain consciousness after the trauma her brain suffered. Her golden hair was matted and tangled, part of it shaved from the surgery. Her skin was a sickly grey color and dark bruises were appearing on her throat from Colin’s grip. Even though he couldn’t feel physical pain, Jacob felt as if he were stabbed all over again, only in the heart.

Jacob sat beside her, clutching her cold hand in both of his.

“I’m so sorry sweetheart.” He wept. “I should have protected you better.”

**********************

“No! Stop!” Rebecca woke to the loud scream and her heart turned to ice when it was followed by another blood curdling cry. Clutching her stuffed animal, she slipped out of her bedroom, her bare feet freezing on the wood floor. She looked into her parent’s bedroom, no one was there. Her sister wasn’t in hers either. Soft cries came from downstairs and Rebecca quietly descended to find a nightmare.

Her father was standing over two bodies, her mother and her sister, bloody knife in hand. Her mother held a trembling hand to her wound and saw her youngest child, fear in her eyes as the father turned towards her as well. His evil smile made Rebecca shiver. She wanted to run, but fear made her rooted to the spot.

Her father grabbed her arm and pulled her to the open space next to her mother and sister. “Your turn, my little mouse.” He chuckled, raising the knife. Rebecca struggled to get away but couldn’t get out of her father’s iron grip. The knife came down and she closed her eyes…