Ghost - in the arms of Death

Chapter 6

My heart is racing as we speed through the city. I think he is enjoying the ride just as much as I do. Whenever traffic allows it I can feel him hit the gas.

I would too if I had a machine like this. I think Leo said that it could go 200 mph and he got an excited gleam into his eyes. I get it now.

We make it to the hospital in less than thirty minutes. I get off reluctantly and hand him my helmet. “Thank you,” I say, wondering what I’d see in his eyes right now. But his face is shielded by the visor of his black helmet.

“Liah!” I hear Lex call my name. I guess we managed to find the right hospital on the first try. And, thanks to Alessandro, Stranger now knows my name. Whether I wanted him to or not.

For some reason, I don’t want him to know. I wanted things to stay anonymous between us because I’m scared of the tingly rush he made me feel just now.

“Thanks,” I say again before I turn away and head toward my stepbrother. He’s still in a suit, probably because he’s been working late.

“How is he?” I ask.

“Fine,” he sighs, rolling his eyes and glancing over my shoulder at the sound of the loud roar of the motorcycle heading back into the night. “Who was that?” he asks suspiciously.

“A stranger,” I shrug.

It’s the truth after all. Lex just furrows his brows, not sure if I am joking. “How is mom holding up?” I ask him and he sighs heavily.

“She’s a mess,” he says, “they gave her something to calm down. Now she’s a little weird.”

“Mom on valium? Great,” I chuckle and follow Lex into the hospital. He quickly guides me through the hallways to Spencer's room. He’s awake, eating a banana, while mom lounges in a chair next to his bed with a serene smile on her lips.

She looks a bit disheveled. Her hair is usually perfectly styled and she’s always wearing something nice. In her panicked state, she managed neither of both. Her hair is a mess and she’s wearing jeans and a pink t-shirt, paired with a blazer. It’s a pretty normal outfit, but not for my mom. She prefers her dresses and costumes. She wants to look expensive and well-groomed.

“Liah,” she says slowly getting up to pull me into a tight hug, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“How are you?” I ask and glance at my stepdad.

“I’m fine,” he says, “it’s nothing serious.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Lex mutters, “the doctor said you need to eat better. And less stress!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Spencer rolls his eyes, “I’ve made it so far without dying. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll make sure you’ll eat healthier!” mom says, “I refuse to lose you to your stubborn brain!”

He smiles gently at her, but the look in his eyes tells me that the discussion isn’t over yet. Spencer is a proud man, he’s not one who let his wife dictate his diet.

“You gave us quite a scare, Spence,” I say, “are you really going to be okay?”

“Always,” he says, “you got here pretty fast,” he notices.

“A friend took me,” I shrug.

“I thought he was a stranger,” Lex adds, his voice low.

“He? Are you dating someone?” mom asks hopefully.

“No,” I groan, “I am not.”

“So, who was your friend?” she keeps interrogating me.

“I have no idea,” I say, “honestly. I don’t know him at all. We’ve been working out together. He was there when I got your call and he offered to take me. There’s nothing more to tell here. Can we drop it please?”

“You should find someone,” mom sighs dramatically, “you’re such a beautiful young woman. You can’t spend your entire life fighting boys.”

I laugh at that, “I’m not fighting anyone. I was just at the gym. That’s all. No fighting.”

“That’s not a sport for girls. I blame your father and your uncle that you got involved in this sport.”

“I don’t,” I shrug, “I like it, mom. It helps me cope,” I tell her and her eyes immediately fill with tears at the thought of her son. Whenever she sees me, she always starts crying. At least once. One of the reasons I avoid coming over to their place. She’s always too emotional. I’m not ready to deal with that. Ever.

“I should... go get some coffee. Anyone?”

“No,” Spencer says and pulls his wife to him. Alessandro leaves the room with me.

“Are you in trouble, Liah?” he asks me.

“What?” I am genuinely confused by his question, “why would you say that?”

“Because you’ve been asking questions about some illegal fight club and a little later you’re on the back of some stranger's bike.”

“And that tells you that I am in trouble how?” I ask with furrowed brows.

“I just want to make sure. Vincent was pretty concerned about you asking these questions.”

“Look, Lex, I get it, I know what I’m asking, but I need to know. You can either help me or I’ll find another way. I don’t plan to get into any trouble.”

“Okay, fine,” he sighs, “I’m not sure I’ll be able to help you anyway.”

“Fine,” I mutter and stomp off to find a vending machine. I’m not a big fan of coffee, but I need to get away from my family for a moment to collect my thoughts.

So much for feeling free and easy. I want to get back on that bike and just drive. I don’t even care where. Just away from everything and start over.

I wish there was a reset button for life. I’d press it on a daily basis, but I would feel better, right? If only things were as easy as that. They never are.

I find a vacant plastic chair next to a broken vending machine. It’s a rather busy night at the hospital. Nurses rushing up and down the halls, occasionally I see someone in a white coat, but mostly scrubs. They all pass me without noticing I am there. It’s almost as if I am a ghost. Invisible to the human eye. Just lingering, longing to move on into the afterlife. But I am stuck here. Visible and very much alive.

“Do you need a ride home?” Alessandro asks as he appears out of nowhere. I bet he’s been looking for me all over this place. I’m kind of good at hiding when I don’t want to be found.

I sigh and look up at him, “I don’t know what I need anymore,” I say shaking my head in utter defeat.

“I know what you’re going to say, but I don’t know how to move on. I just don’t know, Lex. It’s hard. It’s so damn hard. I miss him. I miss him so much it hurts. Every day. And then I find this card in his locker and suddenly everything I thought I knew doesn’t make any sense anymore.”

“I get that,” he says softly, “I just worry about you.”

“Why?” I whisper and he tilts his head to the side as if he doesn’t even understand the question.

“Because you are my family. I know you and Leo were inseparable. I know you two grew up together and I joined your pack much later and I went off to study soon after our parents got married, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”

I know he does. He’s a good person. Sometimes I wonder how he manages to be a tough-as-nails lawyer. He’s too nice. I can’t imagine him in court making some poor guy feel bad about himself for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Leo and I gave him a hard time in the beginning, but we both realized that it wasn’t his fault our parents got divorced and we kind of liked him. He was a cool, big brother. Especially to Leo.

I remember being jealous because Leo liked spending time with him. To do boy’s stuff. Stuff I wasn’t invited to. In hindsight, I probably don’t want to know what those two did when they were on their own.

Mom always tried to set me up with some girly neighbors. But I have never been that type of girl. I loved my brother. He was my hero and my role model. I wanted to be exactly like him. I didn’t want to play with dolls or play dress-up. Nope. I wanted to fight. Just like him.

I’m glad uncle Vincent was only too happy to teach both of us. I think I would have been pissed if he denied me that.

“I’m sorry,” I say to my stepbrother. He always tried to be there for me, but I only ever wanted Leo. Still, when s**t hit the fan, Lex was there and I knew it. I know I can always talk to him if I need to.

It’s just so hard to put my thoughts and feelings into words. I guess that’s the part where a girlfriend would have come in handy. Now it’s too late. That pink, touchy-feely ship has sailed.

“You don’t have to apologize. I understand. I miss my mom too. Every day.”

His mother passed away when he was eight. Losing her wasn’t easy on him or his dad. I guess he does know how I feel. I just never acknowledged it. Too wrapped up in my own misery.

“Can… can I stay with you tonight?” I ask and a soft smile appears on his lips.

“Anytime,” he says offering me his hand to help me up.

We head back to my mom and his dad to say goodbye. Lex will be here tomorrow to check on them. I don’t make such promises, because who the hell knows where I’ll be tomorrow.

We head to his car and make our way over the East River to Williamsburg. He lives in a rather nice apartment. It’s an old brick-stone building. A townhouse remodeled into a three-story apartment building.

“Would you like a drink?” he asks me, taking off his suit jacket and loosening his tie.

“Did we ever get drunk together?” I ask and he chuckles with a shake of his head.

“I don’t think we have.”

“Are we going to?” I don’t think I have ever seen him drunk at all. I know he used to go out with his friends and I’m sure he got wasted a couple of times. But around his family, he has always been responsible and very collected. Almost as if he’s keeping watch so nobody gets hurt.

He hesitates, probably thinking about work. It’s the weekend, but he works on Saturdays and Sundays too. “What the hell,” he says and throws caution and responsibility overboard. “I don’t have anything good here, but there’s a bar a few blocks down. Drinks are on me!” he says.

“Well, look at you all generous and stuff,” I tease him.

This may be a stupid plan but spending some quality time with Alessandro is probably not the worst idea I had.

He’s been trying hard to be there for me and I almost always push him away. It’s time to make a mense.