Darkness Turns To Light by R.J Reagle (top 100 novels of all time .TXT) 📖

through my eyelids. I was still holding Talons hand, but my surroundings were still the same. I looked up. My father was frozen, a look of horror filled his face. Then he crumpled to the ground. Stone cold dead. Then I saw the shooter behind him. It was Larry. He had a look of hatred on his face. “Sorry Chris, but I hope you burn in hell. Annie are you ok?” he asked as he dropped his gun. “No!” I couldn’t help but to scream. “He shot Talon, he shot him and there is too much blood to figure out where.” I was in hysterics. Larry knelt down beside me and took out his cell phone to call 911. “Yes this is Larry Griffin. I need an ambulance here as quickly as humanly possible. A young boy was just shot and the owner of the residence is dead. … Yes he does seem to be breathing but they’re shallow uneven breaths and his pulse is slowing. I would say he had about fifteen to twenty minutes left if unattended. … Five minutes is the quickest that’s fine. … 202 Erie Parkway. … Thank you very much” and he hung up. He went to the kitchen and brought back one of the dish rags and applied pressure to the wound. Talon screamed out in pain. At least he was alive though. “Annie are you ok? Did Chris hurt you at all?” he asked me, his voice was calm but his eyes were worried. I shook my head. “What the hell happened here?” he asked. I took in a deep breath and explained how Talon saw the bruises and went crazy; then drove here to call my father out. How my father has been abusing me for two years and how he has drank every night ever since my mother died.
“I tried to stop him from coming here but he wouldn’t listen.” I said. Larry sighed. “Well at least you’re both safe now.” At that moment the paramedics came pulling up to the curb behind Talons car. They took him away on the stretcher but I refused to let go of his hand. They let me sit next to him on the ride to the emergency room. On the way there I kissed Talon on the cheek, caressing his face and all the while never letting go of his hand. He broke out in a sweat and then he tightened his grip on my hand. He knew I was there. We pulled up to the hospital and then he got worse.

Chapter 6


We were sitting in his room. He was on oxygen and sleeping peacefully, just getting out of surgery but still in very bad condition. Larry offered to get me some coffee while I wait with him. His parents were in Italy and had no way to be contacted. My eyes were swollen and red from the amount of crying. All I kept thinking was that I hoped he survived. He saved my life, I needed him. The doctor came into the room followed by two policemen. The taller of the two thanked the doctor and asked for some privacy.
“Annie Mallibar?” the short plump one asked. I nodded, I didn’t want to talk right now. I just wanted to rest with Talon. “I’m detective Maple and this is my partner detective Dunn. We would like to ask you a few questions. Is that ok?” asked Maple, the taller one. I really didn’t want to but I thought it would be better to get it done and over with now rather than later at the police station, away from Talon. “It’s fine I guess.” I whispered. Dunn pulled up a chair and Maple leaned against the wall holding open a miniature notebook and a pen.
“So what happened during the shootings?” asked Dunn. I sighed, and started to recount the terrible events. All the while I tightened my grip around Talons hand. “So your father, Chris Mallibar, did he ever threatened to kill you before this? Did he ever hurt you or anything or the sort?” asked Maple. I swallowed. “Yes, he beat me on many occasions. Left bruises and I have witnesses. My friends Emily Duncan and Brianna Oaks. He did threaten me once that if I told Larry or anyone else a single word about home that he would kill me with the most torturous instruments ever.” I shivered. His face, cold and lifeless with a look of sheer horror, flashed across my mind, and Talon lying there almost just as lifeless, but still breathing shallowly, holding on to my hand for dear life. Fresh tears appeared in my eyes and the door opened. Larry walked in holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a doughnut in the other.
“What’s going on here?” he asked. I held my breath. “Well we just needed to ask Annie a few questions. Are you Larry Griffin?” asked Dunn getting up from his chair. Larry nodded. “Well I’m glad you were around to save these two. If it wasn’t for you I’m sure none of us would be here.” Maple beamed at him. “Thank you detective, but I do apologize for I must ask you to leave. Annie needs all the rest she can get and I would like it if she was not disturbed.” The detectives nodded and headed out the door.
I slept horribly that night. I never moved off the chair. I held tight to Talons hand and every so often I would kiss him. When morning came I was sure I looked like a disaster, but I didn’t care. I watched Talon. All of a sudden his eyelids twitched. His hand moved under mine and squeezed tighter. His beautiful lavender eyes opened and the first thing he saw was my teary golden ones. He smiled and took off the oxygen mask. “Let me guess. I bumped into you so hard that I actually hurt myself. I’m such klutz sometimes.” he laughed softly and coughed. I couldn’t help but smile. “How do you feel Talon?” I asked tentatively. He shrugged and winced, “like someone shot me.” I rolled my eyes. “Are you ok Annie? What happened to your dad?” he asked. I looked at him. “I’m fine. But my dad died.” I said.
He was silent for a while but then looked at me, took me gently in his arms and hugged me. “I’m sorry Annie, I’m so sorry. I never wanted to put you in danger like that.” and tears flowed down his cheeks. I took his chin and made him look into my eyes. “Baby, don’t you ever apologize to me, ever. I love you. You saved my life. Without you I would be dead. I love you so very much.” and I kissed him. I rested my head on his chest, so glad to hear his heartbeat again. “I love you so much Annie. I will always love you. I will never ever leave you.” And we fell asleep, while I laid in his arms, I had the best dream ever. Of Talon and I spending each and every moment like this, whispering to each other while I lay in his arms. And with that peaceful thought, I drifted off to a lasting sleep. The best sleep ever because I knew I had my one true love. So tell me. Is life like a fairy tale, a lullaby? Did I get a happy ending and a prince? I think so. The world is full of the deepest sorrow but no ones as worse off as anyone else. Pray and your prince or princess will come too. Mine did. And I never used to believe in that stuff, but hey, anything is possible I guess.


The End


Imprint

Publication Date: 07-14-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
to my little sister sabrina. and my husband Shane. i love them both dearly