Counting Sheep

Chapter 33

 It was taking so long, why was it taking so long? 

The rain got louder in his ears until it was all he could hear a loud unending pounding that made his teeth clench.

He couldn't take it.

 Throwing open the car door, he barely heard the officer yell out as he stumbled back so that he wouldn't be hit. 

"Hey, watch it!"

 Julian was already running, swerving through the rows and rows of cars as rain battered down on his face, falling in between his lips and running in his eyes.

 He pushed his legs harder and faster, needing to get to them.

 The time that he ran seemed like forever-going on and on-unending. He ran until his clothes were soaked and his hair was drenched, stuck in tendrils to his cheeks when finally he was outside of Layla's house. 

His chest rose and fell as he peeked looked through heavy and wet eyelashes, bile burning the back of his throat as he found the front door wide open, barely hanging onto the hinges. 

Slowly and feeling as if the world was tilting as each boot hit the ground, he slowly walked forward. 

Thump.

 Thump. 

Thump. 

He stared into the house, staring down at the mess in the front foyer. Wet ice cream mixed with swirls of scarlet were covering the floor, shards of glass a dangerous ground ahead. 

Numbly, Julian stepped over the mess and walked further into the house.

 "Layla?" He called out softly. 

"Hazel?" Tears filled his eyes, unable to be helped as he found their destroyed fort they had made not too long ago. 

 It felt like it had been years, though. 

Then, he moved into the kitchen, finding one of the glass windows shattered and the back door leading to the enclosed patio wide open along with the door after that.

 His eyes strayed to the counter-top and vomit crept up his throat as his stomach turn. 

Blood, so much blood.

Visions of his mother flashed in his eyes. 

'NO! PLEASE! DON'T'

Julian's knees gave out as he slowly sagged down the wall, hands trembling harder than they ever had. 

Layla's beautiful smile flashed in his mind, a halo of white light showing through the red fire of her hair as she smiled at him.

 "Julian..." She whispered.

 "JULIAN!" Antonio shook his shoulders and finally Julian opened his eyes to find Antonio kneeling beside him. 

He could only stare at his friend. "T-They're gone."He said, voice flat. 

Antonio nodded, face pale as he looked at the shattered glass with rain and blood-slicked floors. 

"I know." Antonio replied, straightening. "That is why we are going to find them."

 "H-How will we know where they are?" He asked, but before Antonio could answer Caroline stepped in the doorway. 

"What are you doing here?" Antonio snapped. "Haven't you done enough damage?" 

Caroline's eyes filled with guilt and shame. She had changed into a see-through black turtleneck and tight leather pants and black boots. "I came to help," She said, voice stronger now as she tipped up her jaw. "I helped this monster and I helped him get away with it so I am going to make it right even if it is with my last breath." Said Caroline solemnly.