Chapter 15: Releasing Fears and Taming Tears

Zac was scared now. He hadn't heard from anyone. Alanis always called him once a week she had missed three calls now. Zac impatiently sat by the telephone waiting for it to jump to life but it sat there silently. His mother had sounded a little more joyful this morning. Zac thought she was trying to cheer the family up. There had been nothing about Taylor for months.
Isaac walked up behind Zac.
"Wanna go for a car ride and go to the mall maybe it'll get you off Alanis for a few moments?" Isaac said with the keys dangling from his hand. Zac sighed and nodded slowly.

Alanis awoke from her sleep gasping for breath. She was covered in sweat. Her eyes darted around the room. She hoped she would be home but soon the whiteness of the hospital came to focus. She had to get out of the hospital and fast. Zac was in deep trouble and she knew it. Slowly she crept out of bed. She could hear Taylor move in the bed. He let out a low sigh when he saw her. Alanis walked back over to Taylor's hospital bed.
"I'll be right back" she said and kissed Taylor's forehead. Soon she was out the window again and on the streets.

Isaac laughed as he dodged a minivan. "SLOW DOWN! Isaac!" Zac shouted that as his brother dodged a truck that almost hit them.

Alanis ran to the payphone across the street. She began to dial Zac's cellphone number when she heard footsteps. She sped up her dialing. The footsteps grew closer. Her breath quickened. Desperately she dialed the last five numbers and put the phone to her ear.
BRRRING!
BRRRING!
BRRRING!

Zac could hear his phone that was in his pocket. Immediately he looked at the caller ID set into it
"Pay Phone, 555-6090, Cleveland OH" it said. Zac took the call.

The footsteps were closer now. Then Alanis heard Zac answer the phone.
"Za - " was all she could get out before she was grabbed from behind. A strong arm wrapped itself around her throat, crushing her breath.

"Alanis?" Zac shouted into the phone.
Alanis bit the hand that held her so tightly. She could hear a groan of pain as the captor let go. She grabbed the phone desperately.
"Zac!" she shouted.
"Alanis?"
"Yeah! Zac! Get out of the car! Now Zac! Isaac will die! And so will Taylor! Taylor is hanging on by a thread! Now get him to pull over!" Alanis shouted and again she was pulled away from the phone by the shadow.
Isaac glanced at his little brother with tears in his eyes. "She found Tay?" was all he could say.
"Yeah now get off the road before we die or something!"
Isaac obediently pulled off the road.

Alanis shouted and screamed as the shadows took her into the darkness. All of the sudden another shadow hit the first dark shape. The attacker fell to the ground. The other shadow picked up a beaten Alanis and carried her out into the streetlight. Alanis looked into the eyes of her savior, looking back were bright pools of nothingness and the soft and gentle eyes of Sam.
Sam carried Alanis to Taylor's room.

Taylor was sleeping now. Alanis looked at the slim outline he had against the sheets. Zac would be here soon, along with the rest of his family. Alanis kissed Taylor goodnight on his forehead then walked over to her chair where she had been sleeping for several nights now. The maroon leather was cold against her skin. She felt the burn of bruises and scratches for the first time in months. She knew that like the others they would heal. But somethings, some emotions would never be totally healed for if you break glass then put it back together you can still see the cracks from where it was shattered before. Alanis knew this all too well.