A Flare Of Hope (The Jaylior Series Book 1) Read online

  Alice was only a few months older than Shawna and was her best friend since kindergarten. Had Shawna been forced to watch the brutal murder of the young girl? Was the same fate awaiting her?

  Although I’d already come to the conclusion that Shawna’s life was in danger, Alice’s murder made the nightmare real at full force. How would her parents handle it? Could any parent handle the loss of a child, especially if taken from them in the worst way imaginable? Would I have to be the one to deliver the horrible message?

  As hard as it was at the moment, I had to worry about that later. I could still save Shawna if I found her in time!

  I took off as fast as possible dashing through the dark alleys snaking their paths behind apartments, restaurants, and night clubs. Bruises and cuts were already forming as a result of my miserable stunts. My muscles burned from pushing my feet to the limit, but the adrenaline rushing through me gave me enough energy to keep moving.

  A few spots in the alley were so sparsely lit that I could barely make out the contours of the obstacles blocking my way. However, I was grateful for the lack of light as the stench in the air and the scratching noises surely coming from rats scrambling on the ground were an indication of the poor neighborhoods behind the pretty city life.

  “No… please… please stop!” Shawna shouted in agony, and this time, I didn’t hear the voice through her phone—it came from the streets.

  The sound of my sister’s voice gave me the necessary energy to run like I’d never run before dodging dumpsters and other obstacles as swiftly as possible. After rounding another corner, I was suddenly confronted with a one-way street stopping me in my tracks.

  There was a chain-link fence probably fifteen feet high blocking the entrance to the main street, and its top was littered with spirals of barbed wire. An insurmountable barricade. My heart dropped as I took in my futile situation. Please, no!

  My eyes were drawn to movement on the other side of the road. I strained them to make out the outline of people in the alley on the other side of the main street.

  Shawna!

  Her long golden hair was unmistakable. She was pressed against a stone wall, her feet dangling inches above the ground while a woman whose features I couldn’t make out in the dark kept her in place with one hand around her throat. Shawna was already struggling for air. Choked sounds were escaping her as she frantically tried to loosen the iron grip formed by the hands of her attacker.

  They hadn’t noticed me yet, and I took a few seconds to analyze the situation.

  There were three people present—Shawna, the crazy female, and a tall man, presumably the one who had earlier confessed his fear of the police. He was looking a little bit out of place as it was apparent he wanted to finish what they’d started and vanish as quickly as possible.

  There were a few moving cars and people in the distance, but neither would be of any help because one, there was no time left, and two, I feared that as soon as the people attacking Shawna took notice of me, something bad would happen.

  I didn’t have any weapon with me for defense. Maybe I could use my front door keys to pierce their eyes? Probably not, as I figured Shawna’s attackers had a little more experience in fighting and weren’t intimidated by someone trying to stab them with something as unsuitable for defending as simple keys. I was positive Shawna had the pepper spray in her bag I’d given her a few months ago, which would have increased her chances of survival if the bag wasn’t currently lying on the ground next to her, its contents scattered around.

  And to finalize my analysis, the fence was blocking my way with no option to get over or around it. Either a miracle occurred, and I’d manage to conquer the fence without being disemboweled by the sharp ends of the barbed wire and got away unharmed after landing smoothly on the other side, or I would have to turn around and find another way to reach my sister, which would cost me time I didn’t have.

  It was a dead end.

  Another startled cry from Shawna snapped me back to the present. Swallowing hard, I fought the urge to shout her name, but I didn’t know what would happen if I gave myself away too early.

  “It will be over soon, darling, don’t fight it. This fate was chosen for you, and you can’t escape it,” the woman assured her.

  My heart skipped a beat cutting off my air supply, and then the world around me started to change.

  Time seemed to slow down, as if I were suddenly trapped in a movie where the action scene was shown in slow motion to add depth. Every noise around me was blocked out as a red mist tinged my vision highlighting all contours and improving my eyesight in the darkness.

  An undiluted fury brewed inside me, a rage so overpowering it nearly made me sick. It was consuming me, taking hold of every cell in my body, kicking me into overdrive once more. My lungs constricted out of reflex, but the next breath I took went deeper than I’d ever inhaled before. It widened my lungs and gave me the amount of oxygen I needed, mobilizing every nerve ending in my limbs.

  Any rational thought was cut off as raw instinct and undiluted madness overtook my senses.

  And just like that, I knew exactly what to do.

  I closed the distance to the fence in quick strides before jumping as high as I could. The miracle I’d wished for occurred, and I conquered the height as if an invisible springboard had catapulted me in the air. My body shot nearly to the top of the fence. I didn’t have time to wonder what just happened as I was clearly having the craziest out-of-body experience of my life.

  Digging my fingers through the chain links just a few inches under the barbed wire, I used my arms to push me over the top. My body had never been in the condition to do pull-ups—my muscles always used to abandon me halfway, not trained for that kind of workout. But now my body flung easily over the top.

  When I was sure I’d overcome the highest point, I let go with my hands not taking notice of my underarm which got brutally cut open by the metal thorns of the barbed wire. They tore my skin, leaving edged gashes and ripped flesh, but there was no pain I felt as blood flowed down my arm.

  My newfound perception allowed me to analyze my landing in accurate detail. I was suddenly able to make out things I’d never noticed before. I could see it clearly playing out in front of me—the speed with which I was falling, the angle and position of my body parts necessary to slow down the impact and avoid getting injured, the distance I needed to conquer to get to my enemy. It was as if a highly technological math calculator layering my eyes had been activated showing me all possible outcomes.

  My body sailed through the air, and I landed with the weight of a feather using my momentum to do a neat roll and convey the force of the impact to the ground.

  I rose, and instantly my crazy state of mind vanished as everything came into regular focus again, the noises of the outside world returning.

  “No… Impossible,” the woman muttered in complete astonishment.

  I shook my head to come back to my senses and refocused on Shawna’s attackers. The woman and the man were staring at me open-mouthed. So much for trying to keep a low profile.

  My eyes landed on Shawna’s, and I could clearly see the relief in them as she realized her sister had come to save her. Well, it was now or never.

  Dashing across the street, I braced myself to fight the strangers. I wasn’t fooled into thinking I’d have a chance to get the upper hand, but maybe I could distract them long enough for Shawna to escape and get home safely.

  However, my hopes blew up as something happened to make my world stop spinning. The man must have been frightened by my sudden appearance and pulled out a short knife from behind his back. It happened so fast, my brain stopped functioning.

  Without hesitation, he turned to Shawna who was still held immobile against the wall. I noticed a sparkle as the blade reflected the light from a nearby street lamp, but I couldn’t act in time.

  With a forceful thrust, the man plunged the knife into Shawna’s stomach. Her eyes glazed over for a second, and shock re
placed her gaze.

  “Dammit!” the woman shouted, dropping her hand from Shawna’s throat.

  “It’s done, we have to get away from here… just go, go!” the man yelled hysterically at his female companion.

  A huff of air blew Shawna’s hair back, and suddenly we were left alone. It was as if the two strangers had vanished into nothing, but in that instant, I couldn’t care less when Shawna’s body crumbled like a sack to the ground.

  “Shawna!” I screamed in agony and fell to the ground beside her as soon as I finally made it there.

  Shawna was lying on the ground, blood pooling from her stab wound and mouth. Strangled sounds escaped her, but she couldn’t form a word as the air she exhaled came out in rasping huffs. The stab had probably punctured her lungs. Confusion filled her eyes as she tried to grasp reality.

  “No… no… this can’t be happening…”

  Tears streamed down my cheeks as I saw Shawna’s look of agony. My hands trembled as I tried to stop the bleeding of the wound, but the knife was still stuck deep in her flesh, just the handle protruding from her body. I knew I couldn’t yank it out, or Shawna would bleed to death.

  “Shawna, listen to me, baby… Focus on me, please.”

  I knelt over the crumbled body of my little sister holding her head firmly in my bloodied hands. Shawna’s eyes went in and out of focus as she tried to keep eye contact with me. She wanted to say something, but again nothing came out except bubbles of blood trailing down her chin.

  “Shhh, don’t talk Shawna, it will be okay, I promise. Help! Can somebody help me, please! Please!” I screamed at the top of my lungs feeling my vocal chords vibrate in protest, hoping anyone out there on the streets would hear my pleas and come to my aid.

  For the first time, I took notice of Alice’s lifeless body a few feet away from me. Her mangled limbs were positioned at odd angles, and her dark hair lay in a pool of red. She still wore the red blouse I lent her only hours before. Purplish stains dotted her neck, which left no doubt that she’d been strangled. It was clear that any help for the girl came too late.

  I rummaged through Shawna’s jeans pockets to grab her phone as I’d lost mine on the way somewhere. With sticky hands, I tried to call emergency, but the device kept slipping from my trembling fingers.

  “Fuck!” I cursed, feeling my sanity slowly drifting away.

  Finally, I managed to push the emergency icon. Pressing the phone to my ear, I refocused on Shawna who was concentrating hard on staying conscious. The rate of her breathing was increasing—she was already near hyperventilating.

  “Shawna, shhh, focus on me. Shawna, come on… look at me!” But her eyes were rolling aimlessly to the sides.

  I heard the soft voice of a woman on the other end of the line. “Emergency services, how can I—”

  I stopped her short as I didn’t have time for the woman’s stupid introduction. I wouldn’t dial the emergency number if I didn’t need help immediately, would I?

  “Shut up and listen! My sister… she was stabbed… she’s bleeding and… and…”

  “Miss, calm down, I can’t understand you. Can you tell me your exact location?”

  “In a dark alley somewhere behind Claremont Street.”

  “Do you see a road sign anywhere to specify your position?”

  “Fuck no, I’m in an alley behind the main street, there are no road signs here! Could you just send the ambulance, for God’s sake?”

  I was so panicked that little stars were starting to cloud my vision, and nausea threatened to overcome me. While the woman on the other end was talking calmly, valuable seconds were ticking by deciding over the life and death of my sister!

  “The ambulance is already on the way. Just calm down and…”

  I dropped the phone. What was the point in talking to her when there was nothing left except waiting for help?

  Shawna’s hand gripped my wrist. She tried to use as much pressure as she could—I could see her efforts, her face strained in a frown. The nails of her trembling fingers dug into my skin.

  I entwined our hands to stop her feeble attempt. “Save your energy, you’ll need it. I’m here, Shawna, I’m here for you. I won’t leave you.”

  But Shawna shook her head slightly, and I saw something I’d never imagined to see in my life—the look of defeat. Shawna was a fighter. She’d never given up on anything in her life.

  “No, Shawna, don’t even think about it. You will survive this, do you hear me?” To make my point, I grabbed her hands harder. “You won’t give up, whatever it takes, you understand? You won’t leave me, you can’t leave me, you’ll stay with me!”

  Tears were running down her dirty cheeks, her beautiful hazel eyes catching the moon’s glow. The seconds were ticking by wearing on my patience. I couldn’t sit here, helpless!

  Shrugging out of my jacket, I coiled up the fabric pressing it onto Shawna’s wound, careful not to come into contact with the knife’s handle. Shawna hissed in pain.

  “Shit, I know, Shawna… I know it hurts, but I have to stop the bleeding.” My hands trembled so hard, I feared I was causing her more pain than easing it. “The ambulance is on the way. They will come soon, and then they’ll take you to the hospital, and everything will be fine, okay? You’ll be fine… you’ll be fine…”

  My voice lost its volume at the end. I didn’t know whose misery I was trying to soothe, Shawna’s or my own?

  In the end, she managed to get a few words out. Blood continued to slither down the corner of her lips, but that didn’t stop her. “I… I love… you… Thank you for… for… best… sister in… the world…”

  I nearly fell apart upon hearing this. “Oh, no, don’t you dare say those words to me. This is not goodbye, do you understand? Do you understand?” Shouting at her wasn’t helping the situation, but Shawna didn’t react to it anyway. Her eyes didn’t even flicker at my outburst.

  And then I could hear the sirens in the distance making me breathe again.

  “The ambulance! Do you hear that, Shawna? They’re on their way, you’ll get through this. We will get through this!” I pressed Shawna’s delicate hands on my chest as relief flooded me.

  But then Shawna’s eyelids began to flutter, and her eyes started to roll back into her head bursting my bubble of hope in one horrible moment.

  “No, Shawna! Stay with me!” I gave her cheeks a slap.

  This was the last time I would see Shawna’s eyes glowing with life. After a few seconds, her eyelids fluttered shut, and her head rolled limply into my hands destroying my world in the blink of an eye.

  “No… this can’t be real…”

  Nausea threatened to overtake me again, but I fought through it and tried to revive the corpse in front of me. I pumped my sister’s chest with my hands and pushed air through her lips in between, not caring if I gave her first aid in the right order.

  “Don’t you dare leave me, come back! Come back now!” I was slowly but surely losing my mind. Insanity set in overpowering me until I was close to losing consciousness.

  I barely took notice of the flashing blue lights arriving at the alley’s entrance.

  Shouts.

  People in red overalls.

  Shawna.

  Blood.

  Stretchers with squealing wheels.

  Shawna, not opening her eyes.

  A man was talking to me, another took hold of my arms as a third opened his first-aid box. As they realized I was in no shape to respond to anything, they turned their full attention to Shawna’s body on the ground. One of them put two fingers against her artery but threw his companion a knowing look confirming her heart had stopped beating. The medical attendants turned to me and tried to push my hands away, but I wasn’t moving an inch. When they attempted to grab my wrists, I lost it completely.

  I fought as hard as I could—punching, kicking, cursing, and screaming at everyone who came near me and wanted to take me away from the only person who ever mattered to me. Hyperventilation set in maki
ng me pant hysterically. My world was crumbling around me, everything lost its color, my mind shutting off completely. I felt like I existed in the shadows of my surroundings. Nothing made sense anymore, nothing was important anymore.

  My gaze fell on Shawna one last time. Her golden hair was soaked with blood leaving it in crusty strands, her face streaked with dirt. I could still smell her unmistakable scent in the air.

  Time stood completely still, and then everything went black, finally releasing me from the all-consuming, endless pain.

  Present

  The dream jolted me awake with the force of a lightning strike. Sweat was pouring down my face soaking my hair and making wet strands stick to my cheeks. My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest I couldn’t hear anything else, and I needed to take a few calming breaths to bring my heart rate back to normal. I let myself plop back into the cushions focusing solely on my breathing.

  I was used to the horrific dreams. Ever since Shawna’s death, brutal nightmares haunted me on a regular basis filled with pictures of bloody slaughter, mangled bodies, and alien creatures only existing in the dream world. However, they consisted mostly of shadows and blurry images of fictional events never replicating that close to what happened that night.

  The trauma had been so severe, I wasn’t able to recreate the last twenty-four hours before in the beginning—my only proof was what the doctors told me. For example, I couldn’t remember how the cuts and bruises had occurred, and I hadn’t been able to find the answer until now.

  The dream had shown me.

  A simple dream had shown me what I’d buried in the farthest corner of my mind. This dream had dug so deeply into my fucking brain, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information flooding my mind. The chain-link fence, the impossible jump, the faces of the attackers, Alice’s lifeless body—all of it was hidden in the darkest corner of my unconsciousness.

  Until now.

  Feeling sick, I tossed the sweat-soaked blankets away to let the air cool my heated skin. The sun was already setting throwing its last rays on the buildings and trees. There was still time before I needed to leave for work, but I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep again.