FicWad

(Kendall’s POV)



There was no light for the few seconds that it took my vision to adjust. Once adjusted all I could do was wish to forget what I was seeing, as I tried desperately not to comprehend the situation. I didn’t fully understand. I didn’t think I ever could. Frank was obviously insane. His babbling, mixed with the bodies that used to contain my parents… it was all so fucking wrong.

We were parked outside in what I assumed was Frank’s car. I was alone but I didn’t even really have long enough to think that over, or try to run- as my eyes remained glued on the burning house that held all of my childhood memories. I watched them melt away, engulfed by the flames. The driver’s side door opened and Frank got in. He glanced at me, and I looked away.

What did he want?

Surely this had to be a really, really bad dream; a nightmare beyond comprehension because things like this didn’t just happen. They didn’t. People weren’t that fucked up. Tragedies were always tragic, but never so… close to me. This just couldn’t happen. I couldn’t understand it happening. I almost refused to.

But then I did.

The warm wet tears gushed down my face, experiencing freedom as anything I had ever believed in crumbled to the ground- along with the home I’d cherished, and inside… the people who had taught me how to believe, and how to dream. This nightmare was taking that all away. The car started- my breath caught.

Frank didn’t say anything. He didn’t touch the radio, or even roll down the windows. The night had never looked so dark to me, as my eyes stayed glued to my old home until I could no longer see it. I heard the sirens, and knew the panic but I felt a lack of the hope that neighbors would feel. They hoped that maybe someone inside was okay, but I knew… I knew that all those left inside were already dead. The fire couldn’t kill what was already dead.

I quickly lost track of time, as the seconds blended in to what felt like minutes- and then it felt like hours, when it was still just seconds… and then I just blanked out. It was awful, inside and out. I felt a growing numb-ness spread throughout my body, touching my heart. The tears stopped, but so did something else very important.

I stopped.

It was like I just shut down.

And then there was nothing.





**



(Frank’s POV)



I was careful to say nothing during the drive. I knew that Kendall was in a very sensitive place, and any wrong wording could send her over the edge. I didn’t want to mess things up any further. She already saw what she wasn’t supposed to see. I never wanted her to have to see her parents dead like that. It complicated things, and emotions were high.

She was staring out the window, giving no indication that she was paying attention to anything. I fought the urge to play with the radio. I wasn’t entirely sure as to how to react in this situation- and I didn’t want to lose what could be my one chance to make this work. This had to work. Kendall was mine. I would take care of her, and someday she would understand. I would make her understand.

When she spoke it was so quietly that I almost missed it, and her words took a few extra seconds to process through my brain. “You’re clean.” Her tone was flat.

“I am.” I wasn’t sure what she meant.

“Where is the blood? It’s like you didn’t even kill them, but you did.” There wasn’t even an accusation in her tone. She kept it flat, void of emotion.

“I brought spare clothing.” I mumbled, cheeks blazing with shame. I didn’t want to discuss murdering her parents, but I didn’t want to lie to her. I was going to officially make her mine soon enough, starting off with lies wasn’t really a good idea. “I burned my clothing and showered very quickly before…”

“Before lighting my house on fire.” Kendall answered, as I trailed off- helplessly wondering how to smooth over the situation.

“Are you hungry?” I decided that avoiding the situation wasn’t a terrible idea. We had so much to worry about, why let it hit all at once? I was going to take care of her, as promised, and that meant feeding her.

“No.” Kendall continued staring at the window, and her tone of voice was starting to get under my skin. It was like all of the emotion inside of her had been burned out by the flames. Things will get better… I just needed to give her time.

“You need to eat.” I tried using the same stern tone my father had used with me when I’d been younger. I had to be tougher in order to make this work. It wasn’t going to be perfect at first, it was a work in progress.

Kendall didn’t reply.

“Choose a drive-thru.” I ordered, “We obviously can’t go inside anywhere. You look like a wreck.” My wording was lacking, and I regretted even speaking immediately.

“I’m not eating anything.” Kendall replied, stubbornly.

“Yes you are. Either you choose or I will.” She could be difficult, but I could be just as difficult and soon she would learn that.

Instead I learned just how difficult she could truly be. “I’ll scream.”

“Scream then.” I challenged.

“Not now.” She quietly replied, “When we get in to the drive thru, or wherever you’re planning on going. I’ll scream and I won’t eat a damn thing that you get me.” Her words sent shivers of anger through my body and I gripped on to the steering wheel as I gritted my teeth.

“Eventually you’ll get hungry.” I pointed out, “And you’ll have to eat.”

“Or starve.” Kendall blankly stated.

I kept myself from saying something stupid by keeping quiet and staring straight ahead. In time she would understand. Soon things would be fine. Things had to be fine because this was how life had to be, and Kendall would understand just how wonderful our life together could be- the way it was always meant to be.

The rest of the ride was relatively quiet. The quiet hum of the engine kept me awake, and I realized just how exhausting murder was.

Kendall’s blank stare remained directed outside the passenger’s side window, but as a small home came to view she blinked multiple times, as if she were trying to make it disappear. She was visibly upset once again, shaken from whatever mood she’d been in.

“You’re going through an awful lot of trouble to kill me.” She finally whispered. Her words were laced with fear and for a moment I was stunned.

“You think I’m going to kill you?”

“Well, it’s a bit bloody and dramatic for a date.” Kendall answered dryly. “And in terms of romance… you’re coming up pretty damn short.”

I chuckled, though it was inappropriate to do so. “I don’t intend to kill you.”

Kendall finally looked over at me, as I pulled the car to a complete stop and parked. “In a way you already have.”

Her eyes were sparkling and I realized that tears were clinging for dear life, attempting to stay in place. My throat tightened as I thought over how she must be feeling. “This will all be better in time.” I tried to keep my voice soft, while still sounding in control.

“You’re wrong.” Kendall was blunt. That was something I’d admired about her before, and it was no different now. I still admired who she was, and how she was.

“You might think that right now but I promise things will change.” I hoped.

“You’re stupid if you think that you could ever fix what you’ve done.” Kendall’s words were dripping with venom, and the poison soaked through to my bones.

“We’re home.” I wasn’t going to sit in the car and argue when she was so obviously upset. Now was not the time. Eventually she would understand. Eventually things would be better. They had to be.

“I don’t know what you want with me.” Kendall muttered softly, “But whatever it is you’re not going to get it. I can promise you that much.” Her voice cracked and the tears she’d been holding back fell free. “You can’t just take things you want. That applies to people too. I’m not a possession, and my parents weren’t expendable.”

“You’re putting words in my mouth Kendall.” I warned her, as I leaned over. She tensed but all I did was unfasten her seatbelt. “I don’t like that, and I’m not ready to talk about it. We can both talk after we get a good night’s rest, and after you have a nice big breakfast since by then I’m sure you’ll be hungry. Now come on, out.” I gave her a warning look before adding, “Or I will carry you in. It’s your choice.”

Kendall didn’t say anything as she opened the car door. I was thankful for the distance between this house and the neighboring houses, which was of course completely planned out. I had a feeling Kendall would be a handful. I’d have to be careful with her, but that’s exactly why I wanted her in the first place.

She was a bright shining light in all of the world’s misery.

I made Kendall walk in front of me and she walked slowly. As we entered the house I locked the door behind me, pocketing the key. My father and I had worked on it immediately, making sure the door locked from the inside so that Kendall couldn’t just run out. Even so I’d have to have extra security tonight. I could see the anger behind her eyes and knew if given the chance she’d probably stab me.

She stopped in place and I brushed against her, feeling her automatically shiver. I could only hope that she would eventually grow accustomed to my touch. “That door leads to our bedroom.”

“Our?” Kendall squeaked out before spinning around. We were just inches apart. Her widened eyes caught me, and again in her presence I found myself breathless. She was quite a beauty.

“Yeah.” I answered.

“Listen buddy.” Kendall fought to keep her voice strong and she was almost intimidating. “If you think I’m going to be some kind of freaky kink sex slave for you then you’re wrong. If given the chance I’d bite your dick off, so keep it the fuck away from me.”

“Impressive.” I commented. “Now in you go.” And before she could respond I had grabbed on to her wrist and was leading her in to the bedroom. Surprisingly she didn’t put up much of a fight. “Do you need to use the restroom or anything?”

She shook her head.

It wasn’t until I’d grabbed on to her wrist again and she heard the click of metal that I caught her attention. “Is it too tight?” She gazed at her wrist, which was now cuffed to the bed-post. I knew it would be slightly awkward for her to sleep like that but I didn’t have much of a choice. I needed to sleep and letting her wander around unsupervised was too much of a risk at the moment.

I saw the fire dim in her eyes and her mouth fell shut without a word escaping. It was like she was shutting off, something I’d witnessed not long ago in the car.

I didn’t bother trying to snap her out of it.

We had the rest of our lives to figure out the details.