Chapter 23

(Chapter song ‘Never Too Late' by Three Days Grace)

EZRA ‘Ez….Ez, wake up!’

I open my eyes. I can’t focus. The bitch is covering my eyes.

‘Ez.’

I sit up and rub my eyes then look around my dark room.

‘Wake up…’

She walks circles around like a caged animal. ‘Kill them all.’ She growls.

I tilt my head to the window.

Sliding the covers off, I get out of bed and step slowly to the window.

The fear of Michael and the long dead wolf still makes my chest hurt. They’re outside. Waiting like the bitch. Wanting me. They want to hurt and I’m scared. She feels me scared and she laughs. My heart hurts.

This voice that makes my ears feel nice, this voice feels like a lost life.

I look out into the darkness. The shadows play and twist. He walks out with his hands in his pockets. His black hair hanging in his eyes. He’s wearing a blue shirt and jeans.

‘Come and play, Ez.’ He smiles.

“Frankie.” I breathe. I place my hand on the glass. A lost life. A face from the red that I saw in a fog. One that makes me cry and my throat pain. I scrape my nails on the windows as I see him.

He ticks his head behind him. ‘Let’s go. Mom and dad are waiting.’

“Mom…” My lips fall and a tear falls.

‘Yeah…I got the ball…You have to catch me.’ He says and I smile.

“I want catch.” I choke as more tears wet my eyes.

My eyes widen when Michael comes from the shadow behind him.

“FRANKIE! LOOK!!” I bounce on my toes and bang the glass.

‘Ez…Come play…’ He doesn’t move as Michael pulls out a needle full of Croak and holds it up. It’s tip gleams in the low lights.

“LOOK!! RUN!! FRANKIE!!” I cry as I slam the glass with my palms.

‘It’s fine, Ez…’ He smiles as Michael injects the Croak into his neck.

I suck in a deep, hitched breath. “FRANKIE!! RUN! PLEASE!!!”

‘Precious…You can’t run from me…’ Michael glares at me as Frankie falls to the ground.

“No…” I shake my head and walk backwards.

‘I’m coming for you. You think I can’t get you? I'm coming…’

“No…” Sobbing, I trip on my bed and fall on the floor.

“Help…Please help…Frankie.” I cry as I hold my hair. The voices. The real voices. They want me. They’re everywhere. “Help me!” I cry out.

He laughs and it fills my head.

I grab my hair. “STOP IT!!” I wail.

He laughs louder. ‘You’re mine, precious! Always mine!’

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” I yell through my flowing tears.

I gulp my fear and look around the room. He can’t get me. I won’t let him.

I rush to my feet and run to my bathroom. Practically falling into the toilet, I rip the lid off and throw it. It crashes in the distance as Michael’s laughter and threats surround the whole room.

“SHUUTTT UPPPP!!” I scream and rip out the Croak.

My cheeks are soaked and I clench my teeth as I dump the vials on the floor. “You won’t get me.” I hitch in anger. “Never again.”

I fill a syringe to the top and band my arm. “No. You can't take my brain. I won’t have my brain anymore. I wont have anything…ANYMORE!”

I put the juice in my veins and sniff. I wipe nose and listen.

I chuckle as I hear Michael fade away.

I grab the counter and the room spins. Pain. Big pain.

“ARGH!!!” I slam my head into the counter. “NO! YOU CAN’T!!”

‘I can.’ She growls.

The Croak fills my brain and everything explodes.

I scream but nothing comes out and hit the floor.

****

OLIVER “Ezra?”

I throw open her door and look around her room. I see the bedroom window smashed and her room tossed.

“Ezra!”

I see the bathroom door open and choking sounds are coming from it.

“Ezra?...” I run through the mess and hit the door. “EZ!”

She’s convulsing on the floor and red foam is pouring out her mouth. My heart stops and fear smashes my chest as I run to her and drop on the floor.

I slap her cheeks and try to bring her back. “EZRA!!”

I look around the floor and grab a vial. “What did you do?!” I throw the bottle and hold her head. “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!! EZRA?!” I scream at her.

She shakes violently and I try to turn her so she can stop choking. “You stupid bitch! Wake the fuck up!” I yell as a lump develops in my throat.

Ian hits the door. “WHAT HAPPENED?!”

I turn to my brother. “SHE’S OVERDOSING ON CROAK! GET THE FUCKING MED KIT NOW?!”

“We don’t have anything for Croak!” He says.

“JUST GET IT!”

He runs out of the room and I hold her close. “Why?! You dumb…” She jolts violently as the poison courses through her veins. I look around the room as I fight my fear. Rocking her. “It’s gonna be OK…Ez…it’s OK…IAN!!” I yell as a tear falls.

“Here! We have a belladonna neutralizer. It might help, but Ollie, she needs a hospital.”

I prepare the injection and shake my head. “No. She’s too dangerous. Call the doctor.”

“Ollie.”

“GOOO!” I yell with my eyes closed.

He gets up and I put the neutralizer in her body.

“Baby bird. This will make it better. Ez?...” She stops seizing and her head flops. The last bit of foam leaves her lips.

“Ez?” I choke quietly.

I lift her head in my arms and check for a pulse. “Ezra please.” I hold onto her head and rock her. “I’m sorry, Ez…so fucking sorry…I’m fixing it…fixing it…Not yet…I’m not done yet…Ezzy?” I push her hair out her face. I place my lips on hers. “Please wake up.” I whine.

I grab her limp hand and grit back my terror that this may be it.

“How could you fucking do this?!! You can’t do this to me!! You can’t!!” I growl loud.

I shake my head. “No. Not happening.”

I pick her up off the floor and carry her out of the room.

Ian’s coming up the stairs. “Ollie? Where are you…”

“I’m ending this.” I grind.

I rush down the stairs with Ezra in my arms and out to the truck.

I put her into the passenger seat and get in.

Holding her hand as I drive, I try not to think that I won’t have her anymore. I try not to let the terror of never seeing her gorgeous smile again fill me. I try not to fucking snap.

My tires squeal into the parking lot of the prison.

I lean over and kiss her lips. “I will be right back. Baby bird…I love you.”

I lock my truck up and run into the prison.

“Alpha?”

I don’t even acknowledge him. I swipe my card and throw the door open.

In the prison, I run around the intake desk.

“Alpha Fredericks…”

“Move!” I shove him out of the way and look for Michael’s cell in the roster. Once I have it, I run to the cell block entrance.

“OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR!” I yell as I run.

She opens the door and I bolt through. I head to cell block B and find Michael.

He’s sitting on his cot when I hit the glass door.

He immediately gets his back up and I give him the look of death. I put my hand on the scanner and the door opens.

“GET THE FUCK…”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” I rush him grab his collar and land three solid punches to his face, pick him up and throw him across the room.

He rolls on the floor. I wipe my face and try to catch my breath.

“How do you cure it?”

He picks himself up and supports himself on the wall. “Cure what?”

“The Croak! The Rogue Sickness! How?!!” I bark.

He smirks. “Why would I tell you that?”

“You fucking…” I rush him again and slam him into the floor. I haul off and land a boot in his ribs. He yells and groans at his pain. “TELL ME!!”

He coughs as he tries to get up. “You can’t.” He grits.

I jut my chin out and shake my head. I ball my fists and kick him right in the head.

“BULLSHIT!!” I scream.

He laughs as his nose gushes blood and teeth turn red. “Unless you can find him…you won’t find the cure and your little rogue is dead.”

He rolls onto his back and laughs more. His yellow/green eye looks at me with sick amusement.

I straddle him, grab his collar and lift him to me. “Him who?”

“Helos.”

“Who’s that?” I pull a fist back, ready to strike as he heaves breaths and winces, holding his ribs.

“Shaman…He won’t give it up, Ollie. Everything is locked up tight in his vault and who knows where that is right now.” He grins.

I tilt my head to him. “The library.”

“I don’t know.” He chuckles. “I just know he developed the Croak with Cornell.”

“Cornell…” I eye him.

“Some rogue guy that showed up. Said he could build us an army of rogues. He had a way and Lee gave him access to Helos.” He looks around me and talks to the walls.

“Lee?” I ask.

“Lefu. The Death Bringer. He makes lycans. He made…” He trails off and his face changes. Like a form of guilt.

“Where are they, Mike?” I lower my voice and try to find his eye.

He swallows. “I want Emily.” I can see the pain in his face.

I suck in my top lip at this plea and nod. “Where are they?”

“Axelridge.” He says.

I pick him up and place him on the cot. I head to the door and stop. “Thank you. I’ll try to get you in to see her.”

“Is she OK?” he asks.

I lower my head. “She’s dying.” I mumble and leave.

As I walk by his glass wall, I see him pull his knees up and sink his head into his arms. For the first time ever, I can relate.

I rush out of the prison to my truck and open Ezra’s door. She’s still out, but alive. Her pulse is weaker now.

“Shit.” I pull out my phone and dial.

I hold her cheek as I wait for an answer. “River…I need your help…Now.”

****

I stand outside the room as they hook her up. I wrap an arm around my waist and rub my chin.

River comes out and scrubs a hand down his face. “I…um…I slowed the Croak. We can transfuse it out, but the healthy blood might kill her. The cure we do have could initiate her healing better, but again the cure will kill her. She’s just too far gone.”

I nod and lower my head. “Keep her alive. If she wakes up, call me. Keep a minimum six guards on this door 24/7.”

I turn and walk away.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to check out a library.” I clench.

****

I’m exhausted by the time I jump off the helicopter outside of Upton.

Deacon is standing at the helipad. He walks to me with his hand out.

“Hey, Ollie. I won’t lie and say your call didn’t shock me, but the last time we met, I kind of had a feeling. How is she?” He says as I take his hand.

“Alive. I need answers.” I run my hands through my hair and stuff my hands in my pockets.

I don’t know exactly what I’m feeling right now, but I know I love Ezra so much, I’m willing to walk into hell and get up in Satan’s fucking face right now. But I want to go in with my Lady bird at my side.

“Listen. I talked with Jenny and the problem is Azriel and the other High Sorcerers are still trying to contain the library and make it stable. They aren’t allowing anyone in.” He says as we walk to town.

“That’s bullshit, Dea! The answers to the rogues are in there.” I throw out a hand to him.

He stops me. “I know and we’ll get them. It’s just going to take time.”

“Ezra doesn’t have time. The sickness is killing her.” I grit.

“I get that. Man, I really do. I want to help. So while I get straightened out, the council is convening and the Shamans may be able to provide some insight.” He says.

“Alright. But I’m not leaving here without a cure.” I point in his face.

He gives me a smirk. “I know you won’t. Come on.”