"You saw…Brently?" Xavier asked her confused with a confused tone. "Yeah." She said responded void of emotion. "Ok. When… When did you see him?" He asked scratching the back of his head. Getting a little scared of how this conversation can go in any which way. "Well, it was in a dream. It was more like a memory. His memory though not mine." She told him in a confused tone like she was trying to convince herself. Looking up to him. "Look I just heard it the way you probably heard it and I know it came out a little crazy. I swear I'm not." She rushed out. For him to slow her down.
"You are anything but crazy baby girl I promise you. You know sometimes we just see some unexplainable things. It makes us question everything. Maybe this is one of those moments. You want to talk about what it is you saw? Maybe it's your brain working in mysterious ways through the great Lord himself. You know I read somewhere that sometimes we think we are seeing things that can only be super natural however it's not. It's realistic things our brains and our hearts already knew but just changes how we got the information because we are having issues coping with the situation." Xavier told her coming back to sit on the bed with her again.
"So you're saying I'm having issues with the situation and this is how my brain is responding to having dreams about Brently to cope with it?" She asked in a confused and angered tone. "Well ya. Maybe you know… Sometimes when we come close to life and death situations or just awful situations like what you've suffered. Our minds can go through some incredible things and we could get some things crossed unexplainable things. Like some people come back with new abilities." He was stuttering out. "Are you trying to say I have super powers because I almost died?" She asked sarcastically.
"No. That's not what I meant. Look I just I understand what you're going through. Remember when we crashed I magically knew all those things about you without you ever telling me. I'm just saying everyone who goes through these things like we did the way we did. They go through something with their mind no one else can explain. I think we're going way off topic." Xavier said holding his nose breathing out with his hand on his hip. "Well thanks for the support… I guess. I mean I get what you're were trying to say before all that word vomit happened but thanks." She chuckled to him. Adjusting her seat on the bed.
He gave her a look before he sat down on the bed with her reaching out to hold her hand. "Anyway in the dream I had it was more like that scene from the Mummy sequel where she was going through a memory she had of her past life. Except the memory wasn't even mine and I was following him he couldn't see me or hear me and I couldn't grab anything it was like I was just existing to watch him in that moment. I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do and I just followed him around. He seemed like he was going through things." She took a deep breath.
"I watched him open the fire safe that Vincent brought in. I saw him put in the code to the door to the room you guys found. You know before it blew all to hell. It felt like muscle memory when I put the code in the safe it didn't even feel like I was the one doing it." She was silent for a second. "Hey, it's alright baby. This was a great thing. I mean it was a lot of the missing pieces we need to finally get the bad guy. You did it babe. I mean it may feel a little weird right now but I mean in the end it was good thing." "Um… yeah that wasn't the weirdest part." Looking to her with a lifted brow.
"Really?" "Ya. The weirdest part was he was mailing a box I watched him seal it and place the print out label and stuck it on the package." Taking a deep breath looking him in the eye. "He was sending it to you Xavier. You said you only met Brently one time camping. Did you stay in contact with him after that? Why would he be sending you something that big. I mean did you ever get a box from him?" She was rushing questions. "Hey wait! Hold on! You said he sent me a box? Me? You sure?" She gave him a flat face that he could literally silently read saying try me. "OK moving on. Sorry. OK do you think you can remember around maybe the date or time frame of when he might have sent me the mystery box?" "I don't really know that. There wasn't anything I could really remember to differentiate a time or day." She told him a little let down.
"Alright well ugh I don't know if I got it already or not. I can check later. Was it sent to the office or the house?" "The house." "I'll make check later and see if I can find anything Brently left us." "You." "What?" "What Brently left you. He sent it to you and never told me anything like this. So maybe it was something only meant for you otherwise wouldn't he have sent it to me. Whatever it was he sent he made sure to only want you to have it. I have no idea what's in there but I think he sent it to you because you were the only who could help him or know what to do with it. Look I know he has been trying to get Eric for a while." Leaning back on the bed.
"He has been trying so hard for so long doing everything he knew to do in his power to do it. I'm not stupid I know what kind of man you are." He quickly cut her off. "Wait what? What does that mean?" He asked a little offended. "You know what I mean you are a man with and in power. With resources. I mean hell Xavier look at your job and your position people kiss your ass daily for opportunities you can give them. People would give their left nut to be in your position. You have access to things and opportunities some could never dream of." She told him very calmly.
"Well. Yeah ok. I guess you got a point but what does that have to do." She cut him off. "I think Brently needed you to help him because maybe he felt you're the only one Eric couldn't touch." She said flatly. "That is a very blunt opinion. Ok so what if you were right. I mean looking at the bigger picture I could see how all that could click into place. How could he guarantee I would get the package though or that I would follow through? I mean I get stuff all the time world wide." He asked her trying to seem like he was putting up a valid rebuttal instead of trying to let her know just how right she was.
"I don't know but whatever it was that was running through his mind it was enough to take this leap of faith on reaching out to you. Xavier you must have either left a great impression or he just knew deep down you were the only option he had left." "Ok?" "Look I think I'm trying to say my best friend reached out to you when he had no where else to go and I want to thank you for helping him. Even though he isn't here to know or see this all ends. Even though you didn't even know you were helping him and all this just randomly happened to you. I'm sorry you got dragged into all this. But I am so thankful you helped and fulfilled his last fight. I don't think I could ever repay you for everything you did for us and him. You really are a great man Xavier and not just for all the influence you have but just because of who you are." She told him kissing his lips sweetly pulling him by pulling his shirt to her softly.
"Ari I was involved rather you realize it or not I think you forget just how much Eric has tried to screw my company over just as everyone else who's suffered around or under him. This isn't something that randomly happened Eric did these things on purpose and we just all ironically were connected. It was a twist of fate really. I don't care how it all happened the point is it will end soon. I am grateful for some of though because all of this lead me straight to you. You are one of the greatest things that ever happened to me Ari." He told her grabbing the back of her head and kissing her more deeply. It wasn't until a slight hiss came he remembered she was hurt withdrawing from her quickly.
"You know I don't think I ever asked you how it felt to be you?" She told him leaning into him a bit just enough to look into his eyes. "I'm not following you now baby." Looking back happily to her as he was taking in just how beautiful she was even when she was battered in front of him. "I am not sure how I would really handle having to be you. In your place or in your shoes. People always trying to get something out of or off of you. The deception from people you wouldn't ever think would come. Letting some people down because let's face it can't help everyone and there has to be times you are cleaning up other peoples messes. You have so many people and families depending on you day in and day out. It's so much and you just take it all head on like a champ. Like some damn soldier just doing his mission." She told him looking at him astonished.
"It must be hard. It must be lonely at times. Suffocating. I don't even know how I could ever help you. It's like I knew we come from different worlds but I just never saw it so clearly until right now." She told him as tear rolled down her face silently. Wiping it off. "Well you are right. It did get hard to breathe. It was hard. I was lonely for a bit at times even when I would be in crowded rooms. I do feel crushing weight of everything I have to carry for others. I guess it doesn't bother me because I know I am good at what I do and I know every day when I get up I am not doing this alone. I have help. I am surrounded by friends and family who love me and want to see me succeed and everything like that you know baby I got a very strong and sturdy support system." He said placing his hand on top of hers proudly.
"I know everything will be ok because I have very good foundation holding me up. I mean you never know who you are going to meet either. Look at you just being with you I even expanded m friend group and can now hang with some other cool people. I even get to be with the most sexy, amazing, smart woman I ever known. No for real though she agreed to be with me like get seen in public and everything." He told her as she tried to cover his mouth making them both laugh hard. "Ow." She said quickly still laughing holding her side. "Are you ok?" He asked as they calmed down. "She nodded to him.
"I don't think anyone has ever said that to me before." Looking down to her. "No one has ever wondered what it was like to be me. Not even me. Doesn't that show you how much you love me?" He asked her smiling to him. "You may think we from different worlds but you are on such a higher level than I ever knew I could be. You bring me to it closer and closer every day. I'm just lost in awe of you and how big your heart and mind is. I could never tell you just how lucky I am to have you in my life Arabella. Seriously I don't even want to remember or think what life was like before you anymore. I am forever a changed man and it's literally all because of you. Everything I have done is all because of you. I just need you to know that. So you never get it twisted that this is real." He kissed the back of her hand after jestering her hand between the two of them.
"Is there anything I can get you? Can you eat or drink anything?" "Actually I am fine. I don't have the stomach for any of that right now. I um. I don't want to sound mean but do you think you could head on home?" Looking at her lifting his eyebrow. "You- are you kicking me out right now? After everything that has happened to you?" "Calm down. I'm just asking if maybe I could have some you know alone time. I have been drowning in doctors, nurses, my family and I know you all care but I think I need some time to just let everything sink into mind please. It's easier to think if I'm on my own. I need peace of mind honey." That last word just sunk him.
"I'm leaving someone outside the door in the hall. I can't leave you alone in this place after all the guys Eric has had coming after you." "Xav- come on. I work here I know everyone." "NO. I am drawing a line here. Just for now humor me it can even be hospital staff but you forget who actually owns this place babe." He told her flatly leaning down tilting her jaw to him to kiss her lips. "Fine. Compromise." He nodded kissed her again he wasn't happy to be leaving but he understood she needed this for peace of soul. "I'll be checking in answer you phone or I'm coming right back up here." "Sure thing babe." She said waving him off.
Looking around the room. The silence was so loud. Her mind going a mile a minute everything catching up to her she finally leaning back and let everything fall out. Tears. Chokes and sobs finally slipping through. The grieving she was too much now. 'Brently I need you so much right now. I don't know what to do. I don't understand or know what anything means. What do I do? Where am I supposed to go from here now with all of this. Is this even the right way. What am I supposed to do? I'm not strong like you are. I'm not smart enough to know which direction to turn to now. I need help. I need you I hurt so much now and you're not here. Why did this happen to us? What's so wrong or special about us or me that we are suffering this way. How can I help anyone else when I can't help myself? Look at me man I'm a mess. I'm so useless.'
Praying to him and whoever else would listen as her heart was bleeding out in pain and confusion. Feeling like a child who lost their way as most adults do when they are desperate and in need of guidance. Praying and talking until she fell asleep scared of what other dreams she may have she sent a text before blacking out asking Xavier and everyone not to come see her the next day wanting time to rest and get the rest of her tests and labs done. Hoping to find some peace and not have so many questions she knew she might just be on a losing battle on that thought as she let herself slip into darkness and fade from the madness she felt trapped by.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not happy about he agreed as he place his men all over the building dressed as random staff and workers. He went home Nix was already there head back looking into space on the couch. "What's wrong with you?" Xavier asked him putting his stuff down. "Chloe is mad at me. Apparently I should have told her more information than what I did because eher best friend is hurt and I'm all brusied up and she just worried and it's some how all my fault because maybe she thinks I could have prevented it all somehow. Although she doesn't know how. Anyway I know deep down she is just hurt, scared and mad for us and she can't channel these emotions to the right places right now. So I'm just letting her be mad at me because that's the only way I know how to help. I also can't go home tonight." Nix said sadly.
"Why what happened to your place?" Xaiver was confused. "Chloe moved in and she's still mad. Said I have ot sleep on the couch and if I even try to slip back into the room she hurt my junk man and she means it to bro. Anyway I know I'd probably sleep walk or get my ass back in the room if I tried to sleep on couch or whatever so I told her I'd sleep here to avoid temptation because I plan on having kids later. I don't need her jacking my shit up." He told him placing his hands together backwards on his eyes. "I'm sorry man really I am. I didn't mean to cause you trouble." Xavier told him feeling bad.
"You didn't cause anything man. It is what it is. I understand her because she was scared for all of us and I was scared for you two. You both were med-flighted in Xavier. You guys went through hell. You had to go through all of this again. I Ari she went through. Her heart quit man. You couldn't even be there." Nix said with tears silently falling down. "Are you ok man?" Xaviers heart finally relaxed. He loved his beast friend and he knew how much Nix cared for both him and his woman. "We're ok. I have to admit though bro I felt like my heart was in my throat. It's getting kind of old waking up in fear not knowing if she's ok or not after all the dreams I had that could have happened to her. I don't think my heart could take it." Xavier told him both hands gripping the counter behind him.
"What's worse is she kicked me out of the room and asked us all of us not to come see her tomorrow." He said with a choke. "Are you for real right now? Is she really ok?" Nix asked sitting up straighter now. Yeah she is fine. She just spooked to I guess. Wants time to digest all this without anyone feeling bad maybe you know how she just a bleeding heart and all." Xavier waved off. "AHH that's why Dylan got so much extra security around that hospital now on the down low. I respect that man. Don't blame you one bit. I didn't think I'd see you here tonight thought you would be shacked up over there I get it now though." Nix told him in a soft sorry smile.
"Guess we just low key fucked up in ways we can't even fix." Nix told him. "Guess so man. There is something I need to do come down to the basement with me real quick." "Why?" Nix asked him suspiciously. "Ari said she had dream Brently showed her. He was packing some things away and he sent me a box. I'm wondering if maybe it was the box where we found my phone that one time." Xavier told him scratching the back of his neck . "OH HELL NO!! I ain't going back next to that demon box. You got me confused with that dude from Ghost Adventures. Nope aint doing man. You have any idea how much just shoots up form the back of my neck and my arms when I even look at your basement door?" Phoenix told him standing up in a defensive position.
"Stop being a chicken shit and just come on." Xavier told him pushing him along the way. "Eh man stop playing." Nix told him trying to fight back. Walking down the steps to the basement Phoenix had a crow bar creeping his way slowly behind Xavier. "You look ridiculous right now." "Screw you man. We need some burning sage or some holy water in here right now. You need to get this place cleansed." "Whatever man just come here." The basement was huge and they both went up to the box and looked at it. Opening it up there was a click-pop sound inside that was loud that made both grown men flinch and ducked down to the ground and slowly crepped back up. "Whose chicken shit now?" Nix told him quickly to get Xavier to snap back to him. "Shut up!"
As they went through it nothing looked different. Closing it up feeling a little let down they turned around. "Hey man you knock down that frame?" Phoenix asked him. "No." Walking over to pick it up he noticed it was a picture from the camping trip and as he looked up a little he saw a huge box looking deeper he saw the label. "This is it." Pulling it closer and opening it up they both looked at each other as the power surged through room. "Oh HELL No!" Nix started for Xavier to cut him off. "Nix! Calm down. Just help me look through this and we can go back upstairs." "Shit I do for you man." Phoenix mumbled loudly.
Their faces dropped the further they started digging around with pictures and files. "How the hell did Brently get all this? Do you think Tilman knows about this? If Eric still thinks Arabella has all this how far do you think he's willing to go?" Nix asked him as he slowly looked up holding some papers in his hand. "This is probably what got him killed to begin with. No way he thinks Arabella has any knowledge of this or he wouldn't have gone so far. I bet he doesn't' even know what all is in here or even half the information in here. How the hell are we going to go about this without getting too much attention? There's no real safe way to go about this now once this gets out there." Xavier said with a heavy sigh he continued. "This is going to be a hell of a fight. I'm a kill him." Running a hand down his face. "Bigger question how are you going to tell Ari?"
"How you feeling?" She asked her as she walked in the room before she continued. "Are you even ready to be discharged? Do your parents or Holden know?" Looking at her as she put the last of her things away. "Parents yes. Xavier no. I'll text him later." Turning around to walk out the room. "Did you tell anyone else?" Softly bumping her. "Nope just you Chloe I figured Lex is on some date with her sugar daddy. Leah probably either at work or she with Dylan. I'd just get lectured by Liam or Preston. Besides you know I would call you first." Ari told her with a smile. "Give me that you dork. You shouldn't be lifting anything let alone moving as a health care professional you should know better." Chloe said with judgement and a wink.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks. I'll be happy to just get home and clean up the best I can. Still can't showers just yet with sutures." "I still think you should stay here for a bit." Chloe said as they walked out of the elevator. "Nope I can't take the feeling of being watched anymore. I feel like everything I do is getting snitched to my boyfriend. Besides I kinda feel like I need a break for a minute." Ari said in a exhausted voice getting into the car. "Everything ok between you too?" Chloe asked her turning on the car and pulling out of the parking lot.
"No everything is fine it's just thinking about everything between us since we met and everything we endured in such a short amount of time. Everything he's done for me and for Brently just everyone. It feels like so much. I think I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and guilty. I feel like ever since he met me it's like I caused him one burden after another. I swear maybe now that I think about it I feel more like a jynx." Running her hand their her hair as she grabbed her things and unlocking her front door. "That's not true Ari. You just had a little bit of bad luck here and there. It really hasn't been that bad look at all the positive things that have happened. You walked away from a horrific plane crash that killed four people with some scrapes." Chloe said in a positive way.
"That Xavier got me same day I ruined my favorite top and I spread my best friends ashes." Ari said sadly back as they sat on the couch with a soda. "OK well you got Whithers in jail and out of the hospital finally." Chloe said proudly. "Xavier got him behind bars after I tried for months and got nowhere." She responded back with a hand under her jaw. "You survived a landslide on a mountain." "I had to be battered and spent the whole time getting closure with an ex while thinking of another man. I was down for a bit. In fact it was my current boyfriend who had to dig me out." "OK. Well you finally go the evidence to get Eric out of the picture right?" Chloe asked while scratching the back of her neck.
"Oh yeah that turned out great I shattered the house of the family of my best friend to the ground and look at all the good that came from it. Look at everything I put Xavier through every step of the way? How can this man still want to be with me. How is he not running for the hills yet?" Ari asked her. "Ohh please I'm sure he realizes just how luck he is just to be able to in your amazing presence. Did you ever think maybe you are the good luck charm instead?" Chloe asked her looking up with a look of amusement to her. "How did you get to that theory?" "Well most of these things were going to happen whether you were there or not anyway. Think about that plane was always going to crash. That mountain slide would have still taken Vincent down you being there helped him what if he would have fell off the mountain?" Chloe asked her before she continued on.
"Xavier would have been dragged into the hospital with Whithers at some point or another being so involved in the hospital. Also the whole thing with Tilman he was taped into Xaviers company with a lot of things that would have ended horribly whether you were there or not. Maybe since you were involved things turned out for the better." "You know Chlo sometimes I just really love you. You always steady me back on my feet when I stumble over." Chloe raised her drink to her with a wink. "Anything for you doll."
"So what are you going to do now while you're healing up?" "Theres some things I want to look into. There are somethings that feel off and I think I know where I want to start?" "Oh really? This sounds fun where are we going?" Chloe asked knowing she was going with her. "First things first. We're going to the county jail." "Why the hell are we starting there?" "Well someone is waiting for me and I would hate to keep them waiting." Smirking to herself taking a drink thinking to herself. 'This should be good.'