The Open Road

Chapter 22

Sue

Fear is a strange thing.

At times it leaves us feeling hopeless and desperate so we curl up in our beds and cry until our faces are numb. Other times it forces us to be brave; isn’t that why some people join the army? Because they are afraid they will not be able to fit in society? Had I not seen teenagers being arrested on TV the other day because of a bank robbery they executed? Had one of them not confessed that he had been scared he would wind up like his father? Poor and dead on the streets?

Had fear not forced me into the arms of the crudest man in the world?

I slammed my forehead against the cool of the wall. I could still hear him long after the conversation was over. I could still hear the tremble in his voice. Bob was scared and he had every right to be. You see sometimes when a man is afraid, he kills his conscience. Aren’t the most dangerous people in the world the ones who felt no remorse for their actions?

Darren was among this population, this massively evil population and he was on his way to the hospital. My stomach churned at the thought. Surely he would not hurt me in such a public place, could he? What if he caused a scene that would aggravate the doctors and nurses? What if we were denied the chance to see Kim again? I felt a lone tear trickle down my right cheek. My right eye had recently developed that habit. Each time I felt fear crawl into my stomach. Each time I felt panic climb up my throat, my right eye would release a single tear that would make its way down my face. I scarcely wondered if scientists had already conducted studies around this phenomenon. On a normal day, I would probably have researched the matter.

On a normal day, I would be drinking coffee at my work table while partially listening to Bob complain about ties.

I physically jumped when I spotted Darren across the lobby. I brought my hand to my chest and placed it where my heart ought to be. I made circular motions with my palm and breathed through my mouth. Darren remained still, his eyes intent on watching me. I wondered how long he had been standing there. I wondered if he had been watching me the entire time. Slowly, he averted his gaze and swept his eyes over our surroundings. I gulped and did the same. The lobby was almost empty. I watched as he began to approach me.

“Where is he Suzzie?”

He addressed me using his favorite pet name for me. Not a bad sign. I ran a hand through my hair before lifting my head to face him.

“What are you talking about?”

He let out a breathy sigh.

“Do you think I am stupid Susan?”

I nervously darted my eyes around the lobby. There was only one person present. He was softly snoring, a brown, curved walking stick tightly clamped in his hands. I spotted a phone case suspended by a string on his neck.

I was alone.

“Start speaking or I swear to God that I will leave this hospital without paying a single dime…”

I returned my gaze to Darren. His eyes had a deeper hue of red than usual, his jaw was clenched and his nostrils were flaring. His breath was laced with something, a stench that had become all too familiar.

“Darren maybe you should sit down and I will get you a glass of water to-"

I couldn’t breathe. Darren had slammed my back against the wall and wrapped his enormous hands around my neck. I could feel scorching tears well in my eyes. A lone tear had already meandered down my cheek and had now nestled at the corner of my mouth. I opened my mouth to scream but all that came out was a strained groan.

“I already told you darling…my drinking is none of your concern. Now are you going to tell me where my goddamn brother is or should I fulfill my promise?”

I weakly bobbed my head and felt his grip around my neck loosen. Once he had completely retrieved his arms, I slid down to the ground and took in deep gasps of air. I felt a presence before me and angled my head upwards to find a crouching Darren. I was not sure how much he knew about this whole situation. Did he know that I had physically met with Bob? Did he know that I had asked Marie to help him? More importantly, how had he found out about any of it?

I needed to think.

“There are cameras in the hospital, Darren…Do you really want to deal with the police right now?”

A low chuckle emanated from Darren. I stole a glance at the old man in the lobby. He was still sound asleep, the snores had grown louder.

“Do you know how rich I am? Do you know how many politicians, judges, and officers I have in my pocket? You think a bunch of doctors and nurses are immune to bribery? How many times do I have to tell you that money is the only thing that everyone in this country has in common?”

I sighed, he was right.

""I want to see my daughter."

Darren scoffed at this statement before dramatically lowering his voice.

"We both know that that little brat is not a product of your womb Susan. Now drop the mother of the year act and tell me where my brother is.”

 I felt tears burn in my eyes. I furiously blinked. Had that really been necessary? Slowly, I rose to my feet, my eyes trained on Darren. There was a ghost of a smile on his lips. He mirrored my action and took a step back from me.

“You know, I always thought that the brat was the most important thing in your life but clearly, Robbie is. After everything I have done for you and that girl you still choose him? Where has he been all these years Suzzie? Where was he when you needed him?”

I opened and closed my mouth successively. We both knew the answer to that question. I still had nightmares about the day Bob had gotten arrested.

“I took care of you…I gave you a home…food…clothes. I gave you…Suzzie, don’t you see how much I love you? Don’t you see how crazy you make me? Please just tell me, tell me where Robbie is…I can help him, he is my brother after all Suzzie.”

I felt my heart leap. Could he? Did he not own the police? Judges? If he could find a way…There was an eerie sound coming from Darren. It was shrill and alien, evil. Wait, was he laughing?

“You delusional b***h. Do you actually believe that I would help Bob? After everything, he did to me?”

“But he never-"

“Give me your phone Susan.”

He was back to calling me by my full name. A scream escaped my mouth as he aggressively grabbed me and began searching my pockets. I tried to wiggle out of his hold but he was too strong. I helplessly remained still as he completed his search.

"Well, that was not so hard was it?”

My heartbeat accelerated when he suddenly stopped scrolling through my phone and looked up.

"You deleted his number didn't you? Messages too? You think you are so smart huh? I'll track him down and when I find him, I will show him no mercy."

Something about his tone startled me.

"You wouldn't kill your own brother, would you?"

My question was met with silence. The only sound in the lobby was the snores emanating from the old man. Darren handed me my phone and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he paused and shifted his body weight to address me.

"Suzzie I know that Marie is helping Robbie. This little fact has made my hunt a little bit easier.”

 He then turned but did not move. Curious, I followed his gaze. A scream immediately formed in my throat.

"No no no no! Darren, please! I beg of you, don't do it!"

I dashed towards him and knelt before him. When this did not work, I wrapped my arms around his legs. Darren looked down and c****d his head.

"You should have just told me where he is. Now look, I have to go make a deal with the devil.”

Long after Darren was gone, I was still seated on the cold floor. I felt something poke my back after a while. When I finally turned, the old man was peering down at me with milky squinted eyes.

“Are you okay hon?”

I wondered if fear had made him pretend to sleep.