Chapter 19

Arthur excused himself from Nadia, she was holding his hand. He politely put her hand away and came out of the house.

Outside, the neighborhood was almost quiet. The faint noise of television or some being played at a distance can be heard. Arthur read the text from Brian, it read call me now. Arthur calls Brian. Brian picks up immediately, but answers in a labored voice, "Hello! Arthur."

Arthur replies, "Hello! Brian are you all right. You don't sound good." Brian replies, "Pick me up from Town's high school. I'm waiting in the alley. Come fast" and he cut the call. Arthur wasn't sure what had just happened but he knew he needed to go and help Brian. Without Brian, Arthur could not have brought his life back on track.

Arthur quickly went in and told Nadia, "A friend needs my help, I might get late, go to sleep if you want to." Arthur took the car keys and left the house. Nadia didn't say anything. Arthur had been very nice to her and Daniel. They had just finished the meal cooked by Arthur and it was so good that Nadia who generally orders a pizza when Arthur cooks also liked his pasta and lasagna.

Thanks to Brian Arthur's car was as good as new now. The silent neighborhood lane buzzed with the roaring engine. But Arthur's car was out of the neighborhood before anybody could come out and see what was making this loud noise.

Within minutes Arthur was in the back alley of Town's high school. The road was dark, the kids had broken the lamp lights. Arthur spotted Brian's truck and drove towards it. He got down and opened the truck's door.

Arthur saw Brian had blood on his face. His hands were punctured too, they were badly bleeding. Brian was in pain. He had difficulty moving his hands. "I did not want to disturb you, but I couldn't drive it hurts very much." Arthur saw the steering it was sticky with Brian's Blood and the gear stick too. Brian had tried to drive away but his injury was too painful. He was stuck here.

"What happened, who did this to you?" Arthur asked. "I'll tell you everything but first let's get out of here," Brian said painfully. "Okay come in my car, I'll drop you home," said Arthur. "No! we can't leave my truck here, you tie my truck behind your car and we will tow it," said Brian. Arthur connected his car to Brian's Truck and pulled it towards the pharmacy.

Arthur thought Brian had done a good job on his car, the car which itself moved with great efforts was now pulling a truck. Arthur had asked Brian to come in his car but he remained in his truck. He did not want any blood marks in Arthur's car.

Along the way, Arthur kept looking in the rear-view mirror. Brian was barely being able to hold himself. Arthur had covered Brian's wound with his shirt. The blue shirt had long been turned into dark red that looked almost black. Arthur wondered what must have happened with Brian. His wound was not a result of a fistfight but it looked like he was attacked by something metallic.

They came inside the pharmacy and Arthur made Brian sit on a chair. He was in a bad shape. His hands were bleeding but his face had been attacked too. Blood trickled around Brian's grey eyes. Not many days ago it was Arthur who had injured his hands and Brian had bandaged him nicely. Arthur did not have the skills of a man who was running a pharmacy for many years. And then Brian's injury was more brutal, bloodier.

Brian advised and pointed to Arthur the stuff they needed to clean, stop the bleeding and heal Brian's hands and face.

Arthur started to clean Brian's wounds. His hands had puncture marks a sharp but thick metal weapon, Arthur guessed. The puncture wound was too deep. Arthur applied ointment and quickly bandaged Brian's hands. Then Arthur cleaned the blood on Brian's face, there were some wounds there too but they were not as deep as the hands.

"Would you tell me, what happened?" asked Arthur. Brian narrated, "I was on the hunt, I saw this lady coming out of the high school. She was lonely. She went inside the school washroom and came out positive. I thought of finishing her right there and then. But she had spikes in her bag. Was a football coach maybe. I don't know how but she overpowered me and I had no option but just defend my face with my hands. She kept hitting with her shoes and then ran away.

"And you let her go, we can go there tomorrow night, same time. Together we will get her," said Arthur. "No, If they escape, they are free. We don't chase. I have been defeated and I accept it," said Brian.

Arthur had difficulty understanding this logic of Brian but he stayed quiet. He gave Brian the medicines he asked for and then went out and removed the rope that connected Brian's truck with his car and went home.

Nadia was still watching television; she was almost asleep but she had been waiting for Arthur. Arthur picked her up and took her to the bedroom. Nadia kissed him while he climbed the stairs.

In the morning, Nadia asked Arthur to drop Daniel on his first day at the soccer coaching. Daniel was super excited for his first day, "Dad I'm going to score so many goals today!" Arthur ruffled his hair and smiled.

On the way, Daniel tells Arthur that his coaching is at the Town's high school. And her coach's name is Samantha. Arthur meets Coach Samantha, she had bandages on her hand too. Samantha notices Arthur and says, "I had an incident last night, but I'm good now."

Samantha takes Daniel with her and starts his practice. Arthur sits there and watches his happy son, practicing his favorite game with his favorite coach, "Maybe Brian was right If she escapes she deserves to live."