“Success, gentlemen! Success!” Kemuel shouted as he, Gabriel, and Michael came bursting through the front door.“Shh!” Emma hissed. “Come on! We’re so close to a full night’s sleep from the twins!”“Sorry, I forgot.” A wail suddenly arose from down the hall. She sprang into action, throwing a glare toward Kemuel and ran down the hall, hoping to avoid a double whammy.“Brother, you are in the doghouse tonight!” Michael ribbed.“Come on in, Kem. There’s plenty of room for the both of us,” Raphael muttered sourly.“I won’t be in for long. She likes me,” Kemuel boasted as he sat down next to Raphael. “So, we went, we saw, and we got out. We are ready to roll. Gabriel, give up the goods, my brother.”Gabriel described the lay of the land surrounding Dr. Chappo’s mansion in detail. “As predicted, there’s a full
Roberta had been gone for what seemed an interminable amount of time before Serena heard the sliding doors to her bedroom suite ease open. Her stomach twisted in impossible knots as she succumbed to nerves. She would finally meet the monster who had completely ruined her life. Pacing around the bedroom, the dressing area, the bathroom, and the sitting area did nothing to quell the sense of unease and foreboding within her. And every time she passed the blasted mirror she had wanted to throw something to smash it to smithereens. Oh, she was angry. Anxious and angry. Not a good combination at all.“Dr. Chappo will see you now,” Roberta informed her. “He wanted me to smooth over the introductions since his appearance tends to startle some people. So let me tell you a couple of things before I bring him in. Understand that he can no longer make facial expressions, so please listen to his words carefully so as not to misconstrue his meaning. He says what he means
“Steve, there’s been an unfortunate accident in the guest suite. Get Jim and Harry to come clean it up, please. I want you and Wheezer to come as well, quickly. I have another job for the both of you.” Not waiting for a reply, Dr. Chappo turned off his intercom. He wheeled around Serena’s still form on the floor. Not sure how much of the sedative Roberta had gotten into her, he knew he had to act quickly. If she were to wake up now, before he’d had a chance to hook her up to his blood transfusion machine, he’d have no choice but to kill her. He’d save that as a last resort, since the life-saving procedure he’d devised was meant to transfer living blood.Before too long, four men entered the room, and without any further direction, two of them began the cleanup of Nurse Roberta.“This is so unfortunate, Roberta. You’ve been with me for so long. But, ah, what is one to do? Can’t cry over spilt milk,”
As the gunman begged off, Steve wiped his cheek on his shoulder and left a red stain of blood. What she saw next could only be described as a man possessed by the devil. His eyelids lowered until she could barely see the color of his eyes. His right cheek rose and twitched slightly as his lips pressed firmly together in a wicked grin. He pulled her face so close to his that his hot breath scorched her ear. He whispered demonically, “Little sister, you’re gonna pay for what you’ve done to Wheezer and me. Dr. Chappo’s gonna have to wait his turn, ’cause you and I have a little score to settle.” Wheezer came limping down the hall and leaned against the wall, glaring at her. Steve turned his head toward Harlan and ordered, “Leave. Now.”He focused his attention back on her. Cold defiance set on her face as she stared back at him. He expects me to cower and tremble in fear of what is coming. I bet he likes it when victims tremble in
Searing hot pain shot like lightning throughout every inch of Serena’s body. Well, every inch she could feel, which left her very disturbed indeed, because she couldn’t feel anything past her waist. She could barely breathe without severe pain ripping through her chest and back. She knew what that meant—broken ribs. But what about her legs? Where were they? And why did her wrists feel shackled? Oh, dear God! What’s become of me? Her shallow breaths quickened. Her heart raced and fought for freedom behind her aching chest. Tears burst through her closed eyes and flowed untapped down the sides of her face.A voice sliced through the whooshing sound in her ears. A voice she knew all too well, and had come to despise with every molecule in her being.“Uh, Doc, I think she’s coming ’round. What do you want me to do?” Steve asked.“Hmm? Oh, nuffin. Nuffin, Seeve. Jus’ keep watchin’,” Dr. Chappo sl
Raphael noticed a knob on the box. It made sense to dial it to its lowest setting. He followed the tubing to its clamp on Serena’s side and decided to completely clamp it off. Now, no more blood could flow. But he still needed to get the needle out of her arm. He found gauze and tape on the tray stand and proceeded to extrude the catheter from her arm carefully so as not to injure her. He replaced it securely with the gauze and tape. His hands shook. I can’t fall apart like this right now! He quickly shrugged off the threat of paralyzing fear.“Hey, Raphael, this guy says his name is Steve. Isn’t that the name of one of guys who assaulted Serena?” Gabriel asked.“Yes, yes it is,” he said through gnashed teeth. Rage filled him and he clenched his fists, trying to gain some semblance of control. “Bind him, tightly. Make sure he can see Dr. Chappo. I’d like him to see what happens to assholes like him when they choose
Great! Just great! There’s a leak in my bedroom ceiling. Wait a minute, that’s not right. I’m not in my bedroom. I’m locked away in Dr. Chappo’s house. She remembered more. Being bound to a gurney, her body broken and dying. But I’m not lying on a gurney now, and I actually feel great. How could she be dying and still feel great? And what’s with the rain shower on my face? Slowly her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped.It was raining. Angel’s tears. Raphael’s tears, to be exact.She lay in his arms, and from the way he shuddered and sobbed, she thought maybe he didn’t know she lived. To be honest with herself, she’d only realized this fact just a few moments before. Iridescent wings were outstretched and trembling though no breeze made them flutter so.She gently raised her hand to caress his cheek and whispered softly. “Shh…there now, Raphael, shh. It’s all right. I’m ok
Raphael watched Serena leave the nursing home from behind one of the bushes in the front. She seems in good spirits, he thought. Only when he saw her disappear down the street did he dare to venture out of his hiding place. He walked into the nursing home and headed straight to the reception desk.“Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Sikes.” He smiled amiably at the receptionist.“Wow, two visitors in one day. Fred’s a lucky guy. Sign in right here, please. You’ll sign out before you leave. Take this badge so we know you belong here. Room 103 is down the hall, make a left, and he’s at the end on the left.”He looked at her name tag, and winked. “Thanks so much, Judy.”Walking down the hall, he found himself fidgeting with the badge in his hand. Am I actually nervous? Hell yeah! Raphael, the man, is about to meet the father of the woman he loves. Raphael, the man, is about to ask for this guy’s daugh