Howls in the park (Part Five)
#5 of Howls in the park
Luke burst out of the doors into the dark damp streets outside. The puddles on the pavement causing him to slip and graze his knees where his pants had already been torn. Panting, he stood up. He whistled for a cab but none would pull over on the busy roads at this time of night, especially not for someone who just stumbled out of a pub. Without thinking, Luke threw himself into the middle of the street. He ran into the path of the first oncoming cab. Blinded by the cab's headlights, Luke couldn't determine the yellow car's speed or distance. With the screeching of tires and a loud thump that echoed through the city's streets, Luke was thrown forward, crashing onto the tar in front of the cab. Confused, he stood. His head was aching from the impact when it connected with the road. As his mind started to clear, Luke began to feel something warm running slowly down from around his upper forehead and ear down his face. The rough and unforgiving surface of the road had cut Luke's heat open. Oblivious to the pain and gushing blood, Luke ran back over to the cab.
"What is your problem guy? I could have killed you!" The cab driver yelled out his window.
"Take me to the park down in Bayshore street!" Luke yelled. "PLEASE!"
"You run into my car and just expect me to accept your fare? What the hell man?"
"Just shut the fuck up and drive me bud. It's an emergency!"
The driver could see the look of fear in Luke's eyes and quickly got him in the car. Putting his foot on the gas before Luke could even close the back door. The cab swerved between other cars in traffic, taking any gap they could find and nearly causing a few accidents on the way. The driver dropped from forth gear to third, told Luke to hold on and ran straight through a red robot. Seeing the park in the distance, Luke through every note he had in his wallet onto the front seat of the cab. The money equaled nearly $300 where the cab fare was only $26. Luke opened the back door and bolted out before the cab even came to a stop. Running as fast as he could into the park, Luke yelled out, trying to find Oliver before his father did. Luke yelled and yelled until his throat stung and his voice started to become hoarse.
"OLIVER?!" "WHERE ARE YOU?!" Luke yelled but his desperate pleas were met with nothing but the chirping of crickets.
Becoming more and more panicked with every passing second, Luke began to frantically search every bush and every tree. Anywhere a small boy could hide in the shadows. Nearly half an hour passed with no luck finding any signs of life in the park. Luke finally made his way toward the main pathway through the park. The wide red brick path was lite with dim street lights down its entire length. On the sides were huge willow trees, towering over the path providing shade during the day. With his heart now beating out his chest, Luke thought it wise to phone 911. Shortly after answering the call, the operator was met with uncontrolled stuttered words.
"The park... I'm in the park. Oliver was taken" Luke tried to say, his voice trembling
"Sir, I need you to calm down. Tell me what is going on?"
"A kid... Oliver... His father kidnapped him. He is somewhere in the park... I need help... Send someone... anyone..." Luke replied
"Sir, I need to know your current location. Can you tell me where you are?" She asked.
"The park. The park near Bayshore. Tell the chief I found him..."
The woman was now listening to nothing but the engaged tone on the other end of the line. Immediately she phoned dispatch, ordering every single patrol car in the vicinity to head toward the park. Luke was now running as fast as his legs would carry him down the main path toward the other end of the park. Searching left and right, Luke was paying no attention to what was where he was running. He finally caved. He gasped for air as his body refused to take another step. Dropping to his knees, Luke had no idea what to do next or where to go. His ears twitched and pointed toward the back of his head. He could hear faint footsteps making their way through the grass to his left.
"OLIVER?!" he screamed For the first time that entire night, his plea was met with a response.
"LUKE!" The boy screamed. Tears running down his face as he forced his way through the dense grass.
"Luke you came for me!"
Before Luke could even respond, A shadowy figure snatched the boy up. Screams tore at the night sky as Oliver tried to escape his father's claws.
"Keep still you fucking cunt!" His father yelled. He appeared to be drunk. Which only worsened the situation for Oliver and Luke.
"Please, just let him go David!" Luke said. His eyes not parting from Oliver's.
"The boy is innocent, he has nothing to do with this. If you have a problem then take it out with me!"
"Shut the fuck up!" The man bellowed.
"Because of you and this fucking brat, I was locked in jail. I should have beaten the boy to death before he could even stand."
They now stood a short distance apart. Close enough for Luke to see Oliver's panic but too far to run and grab him Luke knew that if he made any rash movements, Oliver would be in serious trouble. Luke's best plan was to distract the man. To just keep his mind off Oliver long enough for the police to arrive and arrest him.
"Let's just talk this out okay?" Luke said. His hands outstretched submissively so that Oliver's father could see where they were at all times.
"I have nothing to say to you boy!"
Oliver's father's head shot to the side as the streets now lit up with flashing blue and red lights. Sirens followed shortly after as the army of police forces rushed toward the park. The man seemed petrified. He forgot where he was as he stared toward the lights. Oliver saw this as an opportunity and dug his small fangs into his father's forearm. The man yelped as Oliver dropped to the floor. Oliver ran as fast as he could toward Luke. The smile on his face growing wider with every step he took.
The night became ice could as Oliver's father drew out a gun from the back of his pants.
"NO!" Luke screamed as he ran toward Oliver.
The shot exploded out of the gun's barrel, lighting up the small area around it.
Silence fell as Oliver stopped in his tracks. His eyes turned white and the smile faded from his face as he clenched his stomach. The boy's small shirt seemed to nearly instantly turn deep red as the blood was soaked into the fabric. Luke dropped beside Oliver, Lifting the small child into his arms. The small clang was heard as Oliver's father dropped the gun, realizing too late what he had done. Police arrived a few seconds later and tackled the man to the floor. The sound of the gun shot had drawing out the residents of the nearby buildings. Their curiosity out weighing the thoughts about their own safety. Luke hugged Oliver as the boy gasped and his small body convulsed.
"It's okay Luke... Don't cry. It doesn't hurt." Oliver whispered in his ear.
Luke couldn't bring himself to say anything to the small boy. He just silently wept.
"LUKE... OLIVER... OH GOD IS THAT YOU?" a female's voice could be heard ahead. Lyra came running out of her father's building. She had obviously heard the gun shot and Luke's cries. She stopped a few feet away from Luke and Oliver. Her body frozen.
Oliver slowly turned to look at Lyra. He then looked back at Luke and smiled.
"See... I told you I would make sure you guys saw each other again..." Oliver whispered. His voice becoming weaker with every word.
"Oliver... Stay with me kid. It's all going to be alright... I've got you. Just... Just stay with me." Luke cried.
The light faded from Oliver's eyes as they slowly began to shut. Lyra dropped to the floor, crying uncontrollably. The Police officers standing by all removed their hats and lowered them to cover their hearts. Tears flowing as they all watched Luke. The chief of Police broke through the crowd. He quietly walked over to Luke. Without saying a word, the chief opened an umbrella and held it over Luke's head as he held on to Oliver. Luke gagged as he held the boys lifeless body, his chest and arms covered in blood. There he sat, rocking Oliver back and forth for nearly an hour although to him it seemed like an eternity. Refusing to accept that Oliver was gone, Luke cried out to him repeatedly. Saying how sorry he was that he couldn't protect him this time.
"Come on kid..." the Chief said to Luke, Grabbing his arm to try and pull him up. Luke tugged his arm away, holding on to Oliver tighter than ever. The Chief sighed. Slowly he turned and walked over to Lyra.
"You need to talk to him miss. He will listen to you."
Lyra simply nodded. Wiping her own tears from her face, she sat next to Luke and Oliver. "You did everything you could Luke. You need to let him go." Lyra said while stroking Oliver's head
"No! I can't" Luke cried. "I couldn't save him... I failed... It should have been me."
Lyra grabbed Luke. "It wasn't your fault Luke. There was nothing you could do to avoid it. Oliver will always be here, with you."
Luke broke down as a paramedic took Oliver from his arms. Lyra hugged Luke, Refusing to let him go. The two sat crying together in the rain.
"Come on Luke. Let's get you upstairs into my place." She helped Luke up and wrapped his arm over his shoulder as she guided him toward the large building Oliver stared at in amazement only yesterday.
Luke thought he heard a voice echo from behind him,
"Thanks Luke... You were the best brother I could ask for."
Turning quickly Luke thought he saw Oliver standing right behind them, his smile still stretching from one side of his face right to the other. Bit in a split second the image disappeared and Luke was left with nothing but the dark pathway. The heavy rain tilting as it was carried by the wind.
THE END