A Brand New Ending

Chapter 26

Braeden



I can't seem to hold my eyes open any more. Grabbing my phone next to me I turn it on to check the time. It's way past when I was planning on going to bed. A deep yawn leaves my throat as I slam the textbook shut, officially having met my knowledge quota for the day. Getting up from my chair I pull off my shirt and jeans, sliding into bed, the cool sheets refreshing. Reaching over I click my light off, the room falls into complete darkness. Even though my body and mind are tired, I can't seem to fall asleep quickly. I can't shut my brain off. School has been incredibly exhausting, so I had to cut my hours back at the hospital. It's probably for the better. I haven't seen much of Phoenix since the day outside. I'm sure she's been avoiding me and at this point I've learned that it's better if I just move on. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about her often.

~

Pulling open my bedroom door, I sleepily rub the palms of my hands on my eyes, trying to wake myself up. I grab onto the banister just like my mother has always told me. However, I become confused when I look down at my arm, it's covered in black hair. Rushing down the rest of the steps I find the mirror in the foyer and I am immediately shocked at what I see. I am in my parents' house but I am present day age, not the young version of me I am usually. The house is quiet and moonlight shines through the living room windows. I start to walk towards the backyard, my feet almost having a mind of their own. For some reason, I am conscious of what I am about to find, tears already streaming down my face. When I make it outside, I see a billow of smoke, the shed completely engulfed in flames, the crackling of timber reaching my ears. Running over I try to pull the door open, but it won't budge. Taking off my shirt I punch the window out, the glass only repairing itself with every hit. Tears are still running down my face and I let out an angry scream into the wind. Something inside me tells me not to give up. It only takes me a second to realize she is near.

"I can't get in," I say through cries.

"I have faith in you, baby. She needs you."

I take another deep breath as I collect all of my anger, letting all of the fear leave my body. Taking a few steps back so that my feet are practically on the edge of the pool, I start to run, leaning my shoulder out first. Within a fraction of a second my body collides with the building and it explodes. The walls and floor boards fly off in every direction and I fall back, the force too strong. When I have the ability to get back up, the sight before me makes me instantly heave and I vomit in the grass next to me. Most of the building is gone except the ceiling boards which are magically still afloat, the ends of the boards glowing from the embers. And from it hangs Phoenix. Her delicate body swaying back and forth in the wind.

~

I fly up out of bed, my clothes drenched in sweat. It takes me a few seconds to gather where I am, the details of the dream replaying over and over in my mind. And then I feel it. A sick feeling in my gut that something's not right. Jumping out of bed, I grab my clothes from the floor, putting them on in a flash. Grabbing my wallet off the counter I run out of my apartment.

"Taxi!" I scream out as soon as I get out of my apartment building.

Of course there is no response. Unfortunately this isn't the city that never sleeps. Breaking into a run I go for as long as I can until I spot a cab and run out in front of it, its breaks screech as the vehicle comes to a halt. Pulling open the door I see the pissed off look on the driver's face. I couldn't care less.

The rest of the ride my mind is lost inside itself. I don't even know if anything is wrong, but in my gut I feel like there is. When we pull up to the hospital I pull out some cash, not even knowing if it's enough. Sprinting up to the front entrance I continue down the hallway, my body screeching to a halt outside her bedroom door. I've gone insane. Leaning my head on it, I contemplate if I should just go home, but I know I won't be able to go back to my apartment without knowing. I need some kind of reassurance. Some kind of proof that I am truly now as insane as some of the patients we help here. I slowly open the door, the room is completely dark.

"Phoenix," I whisper.

No response. Reaching on the wall, I find the light switch, flicking it on. And my worst fear becomes a reality. Phoenix's bed is empty, the sheets and comforter are made up nicely. I go to leave the room again, until a figure comes out of the bathroom.

"Rain," I shout, running up to her. Her face is white, her eyes distant. "Rain," I repeat. "Where is she?"

She finally looks over at me. "She's gone…" she says.

My heart races even more. What kind of gone? I leave the room in a hurry, knowing immediately my next stop. Grabbing the door handle I fling the familiar office door open, and glare at the figure sitting behind the desk.

"Where is she?" I shout as I come around to face him.

A concerned look spreads across his face. "Braeden, what is going on?"

"Where. Is. She?" I repeat, not answering his previous question. He walks out from around his desk, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"She's gone, Braeden," he says.

"Will everyone please stop f*cking saying that. What the hell does that mean? She's f*cking dead isn't she?"

He looks at me puzzled again. "What? Why would you think that, Braeden?" he pauses. "No. She's been released."

I can't tell if that makes me relived or more irritated.

"I mean…who…when…" I start to mutter as a million things runs through my mind, pissed that I wasn't on shift today.

"She left with her mother," he starts to say as he looks down at his watch. "What would be yesterday morning…"

"You let her leave with them? How could you f*cking allow that? I swear sometimes you can be so goddamn stupid," I snap.

"Braeden, why don't you come over here and sit down. You're going to give yourself a panic attack."

"Honestly, how can you think her leaving with them would do any good for Phoenix?"

My father's body tenses, his face hardening. "Last time I checked I was Phoenix's doctor. You have no right to decide what is good for her or not. She is an adult, whether you want to believe it or not. She is of age, Braeden. I didn't force her to go, she chose to."

My mind starts running in a million different directions.

"But what about your suspicions? I mean you got him banned from here… you had to know…"

He shakes his head slightly. "That's just it, Braeden. They were just suspicions. Until Phoenix admits out loud that her stepfather abused her we can't do anything," he grumbled. "I won't lie to you. Part of me okayed the release because I thought maybe she'd say no to going home and would finally admit to Dr. Young what was happening. She was getting very far with her in their sessions. But she went…with little hesitation."

My blood boils through my veins. I didn't need confirmation from her lips. The way Phoenix acted around men was enough evidence for me. I have to make sure she is OK. If these doctors refuse to protect her, I will. But then is dawned on me. She left because she didn't want to see my anymore. She would rather go back there than be around me? My mind instantly shifts when I spot her chart on his desk.

"You know what, dad, I think I could use a glass of water, do you mind getting me one?"

"Sure, son," he nods, leaving the room.

As soon as I hear the door latch shut I reach over his desk, thumbing through it, heading to the last page. Emergency Contacts.

Grabbing a pen from his desk I write the address on my palm, my hand shaking so bad it's barely legible. Hauling the door open I break into a sprint down the hallway, my father's voice shouting my name behind me. I felt ashamed for deceiving my father but he will understand eventually. I thank my lucky f*cking stars when I see a cab parked out front, pulling the door open.

"Bryant Street," I say quickly.

The cab takes off without any conversation; him obviously noticing my desperate state. I keep my head down and choose to not look out the window. My stomach does flip flops, every scenario running through my mind. Or like I have been saying, you're insane. When the cab pulls up to the curb, my head snaps up and looks at the house. Grabbing another wad of cash I hand it to the driver.

"There is some extra in there for you, can you please wait for a few minutes?"

The driver takes the cash and nods, pulling out a magazine. I exit from the vehicle, shutting the car door behind me quietly. Making my way up the driveway I put my hands in my pockets, realizing how cold it is. To my left is a large white truck, the engine making tinkering noises, a sign it was running not too long ago. When I get halfway there I stop and wait. Listening for anything.