Beyond A Sky So Blue -- Part XII

Author’s Note: If you are easily made queasy, you may want to skip the first section.

* * * * *

Disclaimer: Also, although I have some medical training, I am not offering any medical advice. If you have a fracture or another serious injury, seek proper medical attention.

* * * * *

“Oh,” Meryl moaned as she opened her eyes. The white light was glaring, making her pounding head hurt even worse. She kept blinking her eyes to try to clear her blurry vision. She was trying to figure out what was wrong with her as she tried to push herself off the floor.

As soon as she pushed against her left hand, she screamed. She collapsed to the floor, cradling the appendage against her chest. For a moment, she was lost to the pain.

Eventually it faded to a burning throb. She managed to push herself up with her good hand. Her vision was clear as she slowly pulled her left hand from her chest.

It was a mangled sea of angry reds and purples. Her fingers were contorted into odd angles from the swollen mess of her hand. She carefully turned it over and almost vomited at the sight of a broken end of bone jutting from her palm. Not able to look at it anymore, she cradled it back against her chest.

She knew the compound fracture was dangerous. The longer the bone was exposed, the more likely the wound would become infected. It could possibly be infected already.

Taking slow, deep breaths, she shifted forward. It was too hard to put her left elbow between her knees with her gravid belly. Instead, she turned and pressed her left arm against the wall behind her with the weight of her body.

“Okay, Meryl. One, two, three.”

On three, she grabbed her twisted fingers and jerked. Another scream was ripped from her as pain flared through her arm. With a shudder, she turned her side and threw up.

It seemed like it was hours before she dared to look to see if it worked. She forced herself to keep her eyes opened as she turned the injured hand over. She released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding when she saw that bone was no longer visible.

She leaned her head against the wall. Now that her hand was taken care of for now, she had to focus on her other problems. Like what Knives had in store for her.

* * * * *

Vash stopped as he felt pain. Although the link between him and the baby was weak, he had no trouble receiving the echo of intense pain. He tried to probe further but couldn’t sense anything that made sense.

Again, he tried to find Meryl. He knew it was a desperate ploy. He sighed when he sensed nothing of his wife’s mind.

He did catch a hint of Knives. While his brother was happy, it wasn’t the euphoria Vash imagined he would feel if he was torturing Meryl. That gave Vash some hope.

As he reached the top of the next dune, he saw a glint of metal in the distance. He resumed running, ignoring the pain in his legs. The object became to take shape as he got closer.

It was an old metal building. It was probably once a storage depot for one of the caravans. It had been abandoned long ago and was little more than a shack.

So, this is where Knives had been hiding. Vash made a wide loop around the building, looking for any possible entrances. He wasn’t surprised that the building only had one entrance.

He pushed his sunglasses higher on his nose. There was no hesitation as he unholstered the pistols. It was time to confront his brother for the last time.

* * * * *

Knives paused in his work as he felt his brother’s mind brush against his. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. With a smile, he returned to his work.

He couldn’t sense much in the brief contact. Yet, he knew his brother must be close. Probably intent on rescuing the woman.

What was it about these humans that fascinated Vash so much? How could he allow himself to mingle with such lower being? How could he have fathered a child with one?

‘No, that is not a child,’ Knives thought with disgust. Whatever the creature growing in that spider’s womb was, it was barely more than an animal. Vash had gone too far by mixing their superior blood with a human.

Remembering the woman, he left the room. He walked leisurely down the hallway and paused outside of the woman’s room. He smiled when he heard movement inside.

‘Good, the spider’s finally awake.’

He threw the door opened, letting it slam open against the wall. The woman whirled around at the noise. However, she faced him defiantly. Her only sign of fear was the trembling arm shielding her swollen abdomen.

“My brother is on his way,” he informed her as he strolled into the room.

She blinked tears, whispering his brother’s name. It seemed to give her hope. He would have none of that.

He jerked her to her feet. The force on her arm nearly dislocated it. He smirked as the rebellious look in her eyes was replaced with fear.

“As I said, my brother is coming for you,” Knives stated, his tone almost conversational as he mercilessly dragged Meryl out of the room. “I’m going to make sure you’re ready for his arrival.”

Meryl’s blood ran cold as Knives began to laugh.

* * * * *

Ben frowned as the town came into view. He had spent the last few years trying to forget it and the events that transpired here. But the past seemed to be unwilling to let go of him.

He drove the old truck down the main street. A few people recognized him as he drove by but he ignored them. This was not a social visit.

Soon he was through the main part of town and heading to the outskirts. He took a left and then parked the truck. As he got out, he realized that house looked exactly the same as when he left it.

A woman appeared on the porch. She wiped a hand on her apron before using it to shield her eyes. Her jaw dropped as she recognized the man before her.

“Ben?” she called. She slowly walked down the steps. “Ben, is that you?”

He walked forward to meet her. “Yes, Arlene, it’s me.”

“What are you doing here?” She glanced from him to the truck and then back. She gave him a hopeful smile. “Are you home for good?”

“No,” he said, keeping his voice even. “We need to talk. Let’s go inside.”

Her face went blank at that statement. Wordlessly, she turned and went back inside. With a sigh, he followed her back into his own house.


Finding Author’s Note: If you are easily made queasy, you may want to skip the first section. * * * * * Disclaimer: Also, although I have some medical training, I am not offering any medical advice. If you have a fracture or another serious injury, seek proper medical attention. * * * * * “Oh,” Meryl moaned as she opened her eyes. The white light was glaring, making her pounding head hurt even worse. She kept blinking her eyes to try to clear her blurry vision. She was trying to figure out what was wrong with her as she tried to push herself off the floor. As soon as she pushed against her left hand, she screamed. She collapsed to the floor, cradling the appendage against her chest. For a moment, she was lost to the pain. Eventually it faded to a burning throb. She managed to push herself up with her good hand. Her vision was clear as she slowly pulled her left hand from her chest. It was a mangled sea of angry reds and purples. Her fingers were contorted into odd angles from the swollen mess of her hand. She carefully turned it over and almost vomited at the sight of a broken end of bone jutting from her palm. Not able to look at it anymore, she cradled it back against her chest. She knew the compound fracture was dangerous. The longer the bone was exposed, the more likely the wound would become infected. It could possibly be infected already. Taking slow, deep breaths, she shifted forward. It was too hard to put her left elbow between her knees with her gravid belly. Instead, she turned and pressed her left arm against the wall behind her with the weight of her body. “Okay, Meryl. One, two, three.” On three, she grabbed her twisted fingers and jerked. Another scream was ripped from her as pain flared through her arm. With a shudder, she turned her side and threw up. It seemed like it was hours before she dared to look to see if it worked. She forced herself to keep her eyes opened as she turned the injured hand over. She released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding when she saw that bone was no longer visible. She leaned her head against the wall. Now that her hand was taken care of for now, she had to focus on her other problems. Like what Knives had in store for her. * * * * * Vash stopped as he felt pain. Although the link between him and the baby was weak, he had no trouble receiving the echo of intense pain. He tried to probe further but couldn’t sense anything that made sense. Again, he tried to find Meryl. He knew it was a desperate ploy. He sighed when he sensed nothing of his wife’s mind. He did catch a hint of Knives. While his brother was happy, it wasn’t the euphoria Vash imagined he would feel if he was torturing Meryl. That gave Vash some hope. As he reached the top of the next dune, he saw a glint of metal in the distance. He resumed running, ignoring the pain in his legs. The object became to take shape as he got closer. It was an old metal building. It was probably once a storage depot for one of the caravans. It had been abandoned long ago and was little more than a shack. So, this is where Knives had been hiding. Vash made a wide loop around the building, looking for any possible entrances. He wasn’t surprised that the building only had one entrance. He pushed his sunglasses higher on his nose. There was no hesitation as he unholstered the pistols. It was time to confront his brother for the last time. * * * * * Knives paused in his work as he felt his brother’s mind brush against his. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. With a smile, he returned to his work. He couldn’t sense much in the brief contact. Yet, he knew his brother must be close. Probably intent on rescuing the woman. What was it about these humans that fascinated Vash so much? How could he allow himself to mingle with such lower being? How could he have fathered a child with one? ‘No, that is not a child,’ Knives thought with disgust. Whatever the creature growing in that spider’s womb was, it was barely more than an animal. Vash had gone too far by mixing their superior blood with a human. Remembering the woman, he left the room. He walked leisurely down the hallway and paused outside of the woman’s room. He smiled when he heard movement inside. ‘Good, the spider’s finally awake.’ He threw the door opened, letting it slam open against the wall. The woman whirled around at the noise. However, she faced him defiantly. Her only sign of fear was the trembling arm shielding her swollen abdomen. “My brother is on his way,” he informed her as he strolled into the room. She blinked tears, whispering his brother’s name. It seemed to give her hope. He would have none of that. He jerked her to her feet. The force on her arm nearly dislocated it. He smirked as the rebellious look in her eyes was replaced with fear. “As I said, my brother is coming for you,” Knives stated, his tone almost conversational as he mercilessly dragged Meryl out of the room. “I’m going to make sure you’re ready for his arrival.” Meryl’s blood ran cold as Knives began to laugh. * * * * * Ben frowned as the town came into view. He had spent the last few years trying to forget it and the events that transpired here. But the past seemed to be unwilling to let go of him. He drove the old truck down the main street. A few people recognized him as he drove by but he ignored them. This was not a social visit. Soon he was through the main part of town and heading to the outskirts. He took a left and then parked the truck. As he got out, he realized that house looked exactly the same as when he left it. A woman appeared on the porch. She wiped a hand on her apron before using it to shield her eyes. Her jaw dropped as she recognized the man before her. “Ben?” she called. She slowly walked down the steps. “Ben, is that you?” He walked forward to meet her. “Yes, Arlene, it’s me.” “What are you doing here?” She glanced from him to the truck and then back. She gave him a hopeful smile. “Are you home for good?” “No,” he said, keeping his voice even. “We need to talk. Let’s go inside.” Her face went blank at that statement. Wordlessly, she turned and went back inside. With a sigh, he followed her back into his own house.


Part XIII: Confrontations Back