Life Changing Opportunity- Chapter 4: An Offer Sealed
#4 of Life Changing Opportunity
This chapter has been the most difficult to write to be honest. This series in general has been difficult to write. Although inspired by someone special, things have not turned out the way I had hoped or planned. Dealing with depression and trying to channel it by writing is somewhat difficult at times. My creative sense comes and goes almost too quickly. Anyway, I hope you have been following and enjoy this next chapter. My original plan was to end the series here, but again a creative brilliance hit and I decided I needed to do one more chapter.
Life Changing Opportunity
Chapter 4: An Offer Sealed
Written by Rogal Urson
Killara awoke several hours later and looked out the window. Night had fallen over the city and the buildings outside were all lit up. Moving ever so slightly, he managed to get out of the bed and stood up. He moved towards the window and looked down at the streets below. He looked around the skyline and found the apartment building that he built. He turned and looked in the bed where Nhir lay, the whooshing of the ventilator and the beep from the monitors the only noise in the room. Turning back towards the window, he pounded his fists and roared. The nurse came running.
"Mr. Killara, you must be quiet," the nurse scolded.
Killara spun around and glared at her. "Why should I? It's my goddamn hospital. It wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. This whole damn city wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me," Killara growled, almost spitting out the words.
"You think there isn't a single person in this hospital doesn't know about the contributions you made to this city Leo?" Vira walked into the room and snapped. "Everyone in this whole fucking city knows what you have done, the sacrifices you have made. Hell, even those four who died tonight know it. That's why they worked for you. Stop blaming yourself. That insane jealous otter of yours killed those people. He tried to kill the both of you. Hell, if it weren't for Nhir, you would be dead yourself. He saved you Killara."
Tears streamed down Killara's face. "BUT I CAN'T SAVE HIM," he roared before dropping into a heap on the floor, sobbing. "I would give it all up for him."
Vira knelt down to pick up Killara from the floor and placed him back into the bed. "So you have searched for him for over a decade. You have spent time, money, and ruined a young otter's life for one person. Why Leo? Why would you do that for one person? Simo gave himself to you. He paid with his life. Leo, for fuck's sake, you got him killed."
Killara winced hearing those words. He began sobbing again. Vira sat down on the bed. "Nhir is worth it because I was him at one point. I know everything about him. I wanted to know everything about him, because at his age, I was him."
Vira sighed. "So what is this, making up for things that didn't happen to you? You want to save them all Leo? Save yourself first" Vira snapped. "You can't save them all Leo. Hell, look what happened to Simo. If it's any comfort, the suspect the police had in custody for the robbery confessed, saying he'd been paid by Simo to rob and kill those people. If you ask me, Nhir did the city a favor."
Killara growled loudly, almost roaring. "How dare you say that? You weren't there! Simo didn't have to die."
Vira reached up and slapped the lion across the face. "Good gods Leo. Are you really that stupid? If Nhir hadn't done it, the both of you would be dead. If Nhir is worth it, fucking prove it. Not just to me, but to yourself. I don't think you even believe it yourself," Vira snapped.
Holding his face, Killara began crying again. Vira got up off the bed and walked out the door, slamming it. The force caused Killara to jump slightly. He looked over to Nhir's bed and sniffled. Turning back towards the window, he slipped down into the bed and cried himself to sleep.
Meanwhile in Nhir's mind,
Nhir's mind was a raging storm. He kept playing the incident over and over again. He saw himself so blinded by rage and what he did to the otter. It scared him, it upset him. When he had first showed up at the office, Simo had treated him with kindness and respect and then betrayed him. He roared in his mind. He felt a presence with him in his dream state. A bright light stood before him. Within the light, he could make out an outline. It looked like Killara.
"Killara, is that you,"Nhir nervously asked.
The figure nodded in agreement. "Yes it is," the lion responded. "Nhir, you have ended a life, and have sacrificed yourself for me. You came to me remember? I showed you what it is like to be loved unconditionally, without questioning your motives. I gave you a life, a home, and a place in my heart. But I will damned to eternity if I let you go through with giving up."
Killara stepped out of the light that was surrounding him and came over to Nhir. Looking into the bear's eyes, he leaned in and placed a kiss on the bear's nose, cheek, and forehead. He then took the bear into an embrace and leaned over to one of the bear's ears.
"Wake up!"
The machines hooked up to Nhir began beeping rapidly and eventually started emitting an alarm tone. The lion sat in bed, terrified and began screaming.
"Someone get the hell in here right now, " he roared. "Something's wrong with Nhir."
"Code Blue, Room 178. Dr.Senton Code Blue to Room 178," the nurse grabbed the intercom and stated. She then checked all the monitors. Vira came in within a minute or two.
Looking at the monitors and down at Nhir in the bed, Vira sighed and looked at Killara briefly. He then drew the curtain around Nhir's bed.
Killara began crying. "Vira, please save him. He is all I have now. Please don't let him go."
The nurse came out from behind the curtain and held Killara's hand. Vira came out a few minutes later. The monitors were silent. He hung his head down. "Nurse, please sedate Mr. Leo right now. He cannot deal with this," Vira sadly stated.
Killara tried to get out of bed, but the nurse stopped him. "Deal with what? What can't I deal with Vira. Tell me now," he growled.
"He's gone Leo. I'm so sorry," Vira replied, tears in his eyes.
The nurse placed a small syringe into the iv port on Killara and pressed the plunger down. Within a few minutes, the lion was asleep.
It was several hours before Killara awoke again. Vira was standing at the foot of his bed. Killara's face distorted into an angry snarl. "Let me see him, " he snarled. "You OWE me that."
Vira sighed and began to growl. "You want closure, Killara? You want absolution for your actions? I was being nice earlier because we are friends and because you were in serious condition. I'm not holding back anymore old friend."
Vira went and closed the door and locked it. He then walked over the window and drew the blinds. "Ok. We are alone now, so I'm going to say it. If it hadn't been for your obsession to find him you stupid lion, Simo and those people at your restaurant would still be alive today. Life would still go on, and your "precious" bear would still be alive and maybe have a life of his own. But now because of you, he won't get that chance. It's is all your fault you spoiled, narcisstic asshole!"
Vira walked over to the side of the lion's bed and slapped him hard across the face. 'You deserve everything that happens from now on. I am done with you. I'm releasing you from care." The panther turned and went to the door and unlocked it. "Enjoy your life. Hope it was worth it," saying as he walked out the door, leaving the lion alone in the room.
The following day:
A car awaited the arrival of Killara as he was wheeled out of the hospital. A burly figure stepped out of the car and opened the rear door. The nurse helped the lion into the car and closed the door. The burly figure stepped back towards the front of the car and got in the driver's seat. Starting the car up, the figure raised the privacy screen and locked the doors as he began to drive.
The course they traveled seemed familiar. It was the route to the office. Killara began to get worried and began banging on the privacy screen. His cries and shouts went unnoticed as the privacy screen was soundproof. When they arrived at the office building, the burly figure emerged from the driver's seat and came around to the right rear side of the vehicle and opened the door.
"You are requested inside sir. That is all I am permitted to say," the burly figure growled.
Killara could not make out the figure's face but decided to comply anyway. He stepped into the reception area and went towards the reception desk. On the desk there was a sealed envelope, and a handwritten note next to a remote. Killara picked up the note and began to read.
After opening the door, make your way to the lounge. Make yourself a drink, press 347 on the remote and sit down on the couch. Open the envelope and read the contents out loud. Once finished, you will keep your eyes closed until you are told to open them.
Killara made his way to the lounge and followed the instructions. He found his favorite scotch and poured himself a glass and added an ice cube or two. Hitting 347 on the remote, a song somewhat familiar to him began playing. It was "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths. It had been a while since he had listened to it.
I need to be loved, just like everyone else does, he sung to himself as he sat down on the couch and opened the envelope. Inside it were two pieces of paper. Removing the first, he unfolded it. He gasped. It was a letter from Simo.
Master,
For a long time now, I had realized that the feelings you once had for me had waned. I was just another employee. Once you had found Nhir, I knew my time was done. I feared and knew that eventually, you would leave me and I would be alone again. I tried so hard to make you understand I never stopped loving you. I always loved you and I always will.
I regret my actions towards your friends, I mean our family. I was consumed by my anger and I have paid the ultimate price for it with my life. I realize that if you are reading this, I am probably dead either at your hands or by Nhir's. There is nothing I can say or do to give me absolution for my actions, but I still want to apologize for them. I am heartily sorry master and I hope at some point you can forgive me.
Simo
"So the truth comes out now doesn't it," a voice came from the stairs. A figure walked into the lounge. It was Vira. "Leo, he did love you. He always did, but you were so blind to it. Look what your blindness to it has done. Five deaths are all on you."
Killara dropped the letter to the floor. "You're right Vira. And now I have to make it right," Killara growled. Pulling a phone out of his pocket, he dialed. After a brief conversation, he hung up and put the phone away. He then hit a couple of buttons on the remote. Thus music stopped, lights came up and all the doors opened. Within a few minutes, sirens could be heard and a couple of officers came through.
Vira was stunned. "Leo, what are you doing?"
Killara looked at Vira, his eyes sparkled as tears began to run down his face. "I'm making it right," he replied as the officers handcuffed him and took him away.
Vira walked over and sat down on the couch. He called one of the officers back and after a brief conversation, they left together.