Downpour

  “Sir?” the soft voice asked with more volume this time. I turned to find a worried look on her face but I didn’t answer her. I only stared blankly. She motioned toward the room beside us. There Frank lay, pale and lifeless.

  “I need to know what he was doing before he fell unconscious. Sir?” she prodded. I ignored her question and looked past her. I was spinning from the madhouse before me. Like gravity, my stare fell back to Frank’s bed. My body began to tingle with fire and I felt my sanity slipping. Another few minutes and I would lose it for sure. Gently, the impatient nurse tugged at my arm. I continued to block her out and ran to the end of the hall.

  “Sam…” I said, dazed. I grabbed her and squeezed as tight as I could. She returned my embrace instantly with a thousand tears. The police officers gave us our privacy for the moment and walked away.

  “Max, I told them everything…which was nothing. I have no idea what happened tonight. What do I do? What do I say?” she rambled in quiet hysterics. I held her tighter as my guilt reached up and choked me. The lights flickered back and forth as the power struggled to stay on as the storm outside grew darker. Sam began to shake in my arms.

  “Max, why is this happening?”

  “I’ll make things better Sam. I promise.” I had no idea how or where to start.

  “But…”

  “Kai’s doing better already. Your mother is strong like you and she will be okay.” I was making things up. I didn’t even believe what I was saying.

  “Madison,” she gasped. I tucked her hair behind her ear and wiped away as many tears as I could.

  “I’ll find her,” I swore.

  “She’s gone,” she cried louder.

  “I won’t ever stop. I swear to you!” I cursed along with the building hurricane outside. Thunder pounded the walls harder. Sam said nothing as our embrace filled with my heat. Her eyes settled themselves with a deep breath. Finally she said one last thing.

  “I know you will Max. I know we’ll find her, but what about Frank?” she asked coldly. I swallowed back my fear and held her tighter. The sight of him not moving burned into the back of my thoughts. I just wanted to talk to him one more time. I wanted to laugh with him. I needed his wisdom. I needed his strength. I felt feverish with despair. It took all my strength to not break down.

  Monday - 12:13 a.m. - November 27th.

  “Just breathe,” I whispered. It had taken all night to calm Sam enough for her to finally fall asleep. She was gently tucked in next to her mother. Her breathing was stuttered and she kept moaning lightly as she slept. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. Not now. Not with this nightmare unfolding around me.

  Kai was now unconscious again but this time from his medications. He snored faintly in his bed next to Sam and her mother. I leaned down and placed my mp3 player next to him on the bed. Gently I rolled my thumb along its cool glass face.

  “You and I share the same spirit, the same soul my brother. Maybe this will help,” I whispered softly. I placed my earbuds along his ears and clicked on a soothing song of hope…with a great beat. Music was the best therapy I knew. Heck, it was the only kind I knew.

  “Hang in there,” I whispered. I wanted my friend whole again.

  The lights in the hospital hallway flickered with a crash of thunder outside. A gentle cough came from across the hall, in Frank’s room. I ran to his side quickly and quietly.

  “Max?” He coughed again, his eyes pulled open in a grimace. He looked so tired, so old. I found it hard to see him like that.

  “Uncle Frank…you’re awake.” I smiled as best I could. It took him a moment to wake from his groggy slumber, but when he did he knew something was beyond wrong.

  “I feel like road kill,” he coughed again. A smile made its way along his failing face.

  “You look like crap,” I teased, and tried to make myself laugh. His smile widened and his eyes focused hard on mine.

  “Thank you my boy.”

  “What happened back at the house Uncle? Who did this?”

  He let out a soft moan. “I don’t know.”

  “I’m sorry for asking right now…” I trailed off, feeling guilty for asking him anything while he was in such discomfort.

  “It’s fine.”

  “Uncle…” I started and my voice cracked.

  “What is it son?” he asked, and when he did he didn’t sound sick at all.

  “Why does this keep happening to me?” I began to falter. He tried his best to sit up.

  “What happened Max?”

  “We’ll talk about it in the morning Uncle. You need your rest right now.” I tried to run but his hand caught my arm.

  “The last thing I remember is having a coughing fit until I blacked out. I know I’ve been leading on that I’ve been better than I am, but I know that look on your face. I’ve seen it before. There’s something more than concern for my health going on here,” he huffed.

  “In the morning,” I tried again.

  “Spill it,” he demanded, with another wet cough. “Whatever has happened, we can fix.”

  “Madison’s been kidnapped,” I broke. His eyes pulled together tightly. I couldn't look at his face.

  “She’s what?” he gasped.

  “They took her. To get to me! It’s all my fault.” I burned inside.

  “Who took her son?” he asked calmly. I felt the tears push at my tired eyelids but I held them back. My breath filled with heat.

  “I don’t know.” I felt so helpless. Frank’s face fell white under the weight of my ignorance. I was failing him again. My tears were just about to break free when the lights flickered again and a rush of cherry blossoms stunned me. I almost fell over.

  “I do,” Asia said from behind me. Her long silhouette painted itself through the hospital room. My eyes turned to hers in slow motion. She looked tired and cold. My fires came to life inside me like a starving dragon.

  “Asia,” I whispered. She extended a worried glance toward Frank. He smiled softly toward her with a wave.

  “Can I talk to you for a moment?” she asked with a flip of her hair to follow her into the hall. I turned to Frank and he nodded for me to follow. So I did.

  “What do you know?” I asked. She watched my sullen face and slid her hand along my cheek. She felt how hot I was and frowned.

  “First, are you okay?” She was direct. I was having a hard time focusing though. I didn’t realize just how much I missed her face. She looked so amazing.

  “I’m fine,” I lied. She knew it and pressed again.

  “Max…” she stepped closer to me and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to reach out for her. Our two auras reached for each other. The sound of rain on the buildings roof sang to us.

  “He’s fine,” Sam said from the doorway behind us. We were both caught off guard.

  “What do you know about our daughter?” Sam accused. Asia pulled from me a little and tried not to let her quick temper take over.

  “Sam…you should rest,” I said, as she ignored my words and walked up to me. Her body leaned into mine as her eyes searched Asia’s. Sam was marking her territory. Asia drew in a long breath.

  “Tell us,” Sam ordered. I pulled my stare from Asia’s hypnotizing eyes as quickly as I possibly could. Reluctantly Asia gave in. Her blue stare centered on Sam.

  “Devon,” Asia said cold. Sam stared in disbelief. He couldn’t still be alive. He couldn’t. His ghost seemed to be haunting me. It seemed that would never change.

  “But Devon’s dead,” I whispered nervously. My voice had already filled with my famous anger.

  “Yes, but not his spirit.” Asia looked through Sam as if accusing her. Sam withered as if she knew what Asia was talking about. I was lost. If only they had seen what I had chased at the Thanksgiving beach barbecue.

  “Spirit?” I almost choked on the word. Sam seemed to relax a little. Her heavy green eyes fell to the hospital floor.

  “Avery,” she whimpered.

  “What?” I asked, con
fused.

  “Devon’s older brother,” she added. My mouth fell dry. She slid her fingers through mine. Asia looked away when she did.

  “He has an older brother? What about his older brother?” I sounded impatient.

  “It seems that Devon’s family isn’t any better than he was. The Wahlberg’s are known outside of the islands as a very powerful business family. They do what they want, when they want, to whomever they want. They’re known for some of the most vicious business tactics you can think of. Out of a large family of spoiled thugs and criminals, his older brother Avery, is possibly the worst of the bunch. He used his family’s money in the most deviant ways, with the most evil kinds of people,” Asia said as fact. Her eyes accused and fell heavy on Sam again. She tried to shake off Asia’s finger pointing.

  “Avery never believed Devon just disappeared…” she said blankly, before looking up at Asia intensely. My temper came alive. Just hearing her say his name still upset me.

  “Avery had plenty of questions for the police after you left,” Sam continued.

  “What?” I couldn’t believe my burning ears.

  “Plenty of questions for me,” Sam wilted. I was officially mad.

  “Why have I never been told about Avery?” I asked Sam in the calmest tone I could muster. Sadly, it still sounded like I was scolding her. She looked up at me, hurt.

  “Max…” she whimpered. My mind snapped.

  “What does he look like?” I asked already knowing the answer. Sam looked at me confused.

  “What? Why?” she asked. My phantom was not a ghost at all. Just an over protective brother. I tried to settle my anger as that thought washed over me. Sam did not answer me and reached out to pull me closer. Asia rolled her big blue eyes, annoyed and stepped in between us.

  “He hired a Japanese company. Oki Ryoyo Industries,” Asia cut in. Her words didn’t make sense to me.

  “O.R.I. Technologies?” I was so lost now. “What the hell does an Asian tech company have to do with this?”

  “They are best known for their pioneering research in weapons and computer spyware, but they have a lesser known interest in other things. Supernatural kinds of things,” Asia rumbled impatiently. Thunder rumbled in the background. I couldn’t fathom what I was hearing. I felt trapped in a real life comic book.

  “Great,” I shrugged. Sam reached for my warming hand.

  “Avery is also best friends and colleagues with one of the company’s founding members, Hitoshi Ryoyo. The Wahlberg’s paid for more than half of the company’s start up costs. Avery isn’t just a major share holder in the company…he’s Hitoshi’s go-to man.” Asia watched as my fires rose up inside of me.

  “So this is all about revenge?” I asked, with my fiery tone. I could still see Avery’s shadow watching me from the trees. If only I had caught him.

  “Not anymore,” Asia looked on coldly.

  “This doesn’t make sense. Avery never cared about his brother before. They never spent more than ten seconds in the same room with each other,” Sam defended him. It made me burn hotter. I had to tell her what happened on Thanksgiving.

  “Now it’s about money,” Asia added.

  “I don’t understand,” Sam winced. Her hand tightened around mine.

  “Max’s unique abilities have dollar signs swimming through their devious heads. Imagine the kind of weapons they could create from his powers,” Asia winced, as lightning flashed at the windows. Sam and I looked at each other with the same terrifying thought.

  “Oh no!” Sam rumbled.

  “They took Madison,” I grimaced at Asia. “They stole my baby girl!”

  “They must have known about her gift…” Sam trailed off and started to tear up again. Her pain was my fault and it was driving me crazy. I decided not to tell her about my Avery sighting. Asia sighed and pulled a piece of paper from her leather jacket and handed it to me. I was so scared that I almost didn’t look at it. It was a picture of her and I in China, at the cherry blossom orchard. Asia’s scared face found mine.

  “Max, they’ve been watching us for a long time.”

  Scars - 30

  ~Letting The Cables Sleep: Bush~

  3:33 a.m.

  It was late or very early in the morning, depending how you looked at it. I stood at the foot of my uncle’s bed while he slept. I wish I could have done the same but the fires in me wouldn’t let me. I was wide-awake. Sam had finally fallen asleep again in one of the waiting chairs in the room. She lay on her side with her knees pulled up into her chest. She looked cold even though it was a warm seventy-eight degrees in the room. Asia sat quietly on the other side of the room in one of her yoga poses. Her legs locked across each other and her back straight as a board. Headphones dangled from her ears with muffled music leaking from them. She sat completely still with her eyes closed. From outside, the storm pounded at the walls to get to her.

  “Hey there. Can’t sleep?” Frank’s raspy voice rumbled to life. His old eyes found the clock on the wall and then followed themselves over to me. I quickly walked up next to his side.

  “I’m sorry Uncle. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s fine son. How could I possibly sleep with all this drama?” He smiled lightly. I felt a lump slide down my throat.

  “Do you need anything? Water?”

  “Maybe later. I’m sorry I fell asleep. What’s the latest news with lil' Madi?” he asked hoarsely. I poured a glass of water and handed it to him. He noticed that the glass was instantly warm from my touch but said nothing of it.

  “The police said all we can do is wait. Let them handle this, and for us to sit tight,” I grumbled. Frank watched my anger take hold of me. He looked around the room at the girls. His eyes spun with concentration. Slowly a smile crawled along his lips before he spoke.

  “Max, go home.”

  “What? I’m not leaving you. Not now!” I was offended.

  “You need to get some rest and it won’t be possible here,” he scolded.

  “But…”

  “Take the girls back to the house. Get away from all this heartache. We will find Madison…together. I promise,” his voice filled with his usual hope and it actually settled me for a moment.

  “I can’t.”

  “You’re no use to any of us if you don’t get some sleep. You know I’m right. Even a couple hours will do you wonders. All of you,” he said, as his eyes met Asia’s. She stood up slowly and offered him a gentle smile. She slid her earbuds into her jacket pocket.

  “I agree,” she whispered. The storm outside had faded to a light drizzle against the window. Her haunting blue eyes fell on me and it calmed me even more. My body was on its last reserves. I needed to sleep.

  “So do I,” Sam added from her chair. Her hands wiped at the corner of her eyes.

  “But what about your mom?” I asked.

  “The doctor said she could leave in the morning. Same with Kai. Frank is right, we need to get away from here,” she said sadly. It was finally setting in that our daughter was gone and she looked so defeated because of it, but she held onto her unwavering confidence as always.

  “I need to get away from here,” she exhaled.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “No, but it can’t be any worse at Frank’s. At least it will feel like home,” she finished and walked up to me. Asia shuffled nervously at her words. Her truck keys jingled from her pocket.

  “See. Go home Max. I’ll hold down the fort for you until the morning,” Frank teased, but I was in no mood for it. The last thing I wanted to do was leave his side but he was probably right. I would need all my strength to find Madi. He was always right.

  “Alright,” I caved in. I leaned over and kissed him on the forehead before turning to the girls.

  “Lets go.”

  We walked out of his room and down the hall. As we headed out the doors of the hospital toward Asia’s truck, my phone rang. I stared at the blocked number on it, completely paralyzed. The ringing continu
ed as I stood motionless. After the tenth ring I finally found the strength to answer it.

  “Hello?” I asked. The girls watched with curious eyes.

  “Mr. Valentine…”

  “Where’s my daughter?” I cursed.

  “Downtown Hana…6 p.m. Come alone.”

  “Where’s Madison? Is she okay?” I yelled. I had already started to steam all over in the sprinkling rain. Asia stepped closer sensing what was coming. Her body prepared itself, knowing I was about to lose it.

  “Don’t be late!” the voice laughed. Click. The line fell silent. My hands burst into flames as I threw my cell phone into the concrete of the parking lot. It shattered into a thousand flaming, tiny pieces.

  “They have her!”

  “What did they say Max? Where’s Madi?” Sam begged. Her feet pushed her small body forward. I felt dizzy.

  “They have her!” I yelled again. I felt my sanity slipping away. I knew I could not control my anger much longer. My arms blazed over in red and orange flames. Sam stepped back from me.

  “Max! Calm down!” Asia scolded, as she pushed her body into me. My breath was hot and shaky. My fires slithered along me, hot with hate.

  “Max!” Sam screamed at me, but I could only hear the twisting of my flames in my ears.

  “They will all pay!” I cursed.

  “Uh oh,” Asia called out as her hands found my chest. She knew I was only moments away from a supernova. Mad Max was alive and well.

  “Max!” Sam screamed.

  “Run Samantha! This is going to be bad!” Asia warned Sam without looking at her. Instead her cold blue eyes stared into mine. I tried to pull my stare from Asia’s but I couldn’t. Sam hesitated instead with fresh tears. Her cheeks were raw with all the crying she had done already.

  “No!” I screamed and tried to pull from Asia’s grip. Her cooling electricity had already started pulsing through me and her grip felt like iron. She was so strong now. Scary strong. The flames inside of me only found that more appealing and reached out for her. They belonged to her.