Part 10 - Breaking at the seams
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They burst out of the building. Max’s claws and Isaac’s baton both dripping with blood. They race for the car they left behind a skip that was thankfully still there.
Isaac drives as fast as he can to get home, making sure they weren’t being tailed. The journey was a long one, but they eventually make it home.
By the time the car stops, the medic is done with her stitching and helps Isaac take Arthur inside. Max, now returned to his normal form, goes ahead and knocks on the door by force of habit.
He makes an ‘oh’ sound as he realizes his mistake and Isaac fumbles through his pocket for keys. Then suddenly the door opens.
Isaac’s eyes are blown wide for a second and his fists clench, ready to fight the invader. But his heart skips a beat at the sight he sees instead.
“Zak?”
Zak looks up at them all, eyes red-rimmed with bags underneath. His focus switches to Arthur, laying limply in Isaac and Nasira’s grasp.
“What happened?” he gasps before suddenly remembering to let them inside. He helps guide Arthur onto the old red couch.
Arthur lets out a sound as he lands on the couch, Isaac takes that as a good sign.
His gaze lands on Zak whose mouth is opening and closing, unable to find the words he wants to say . He’s watching Layla continue her wound care, her hands as steady as ever, even though everything else about her has changed.
Max sits on the floor beside the couch, head in his arms, letting out small whimpers every so often.
And Arthur, his Arthur, laying unmoving, unresponsive. Isaac wants nothing more than for him to open his eyes and maybe then they can put all this behind.
But as he looks at his family, all he sees is the blood and tears. Layla’s taken Arthur’s shirt off, and his new brand was red and angry. He can’t even imagine how Arthur will take it when he wakes up.
Maybe he won’t. Maybe the wolf comes back and never leaves, so that Arthur can never be hurt by it again.
He wonders if Max would do the same, if his father was gone for good.
“Isaac?”
He turns to the timid voice of Zak and suddenly realises he’s crying. Tears were streaming down his face and he was sucking in breaths between sobs.
“Isaac- “
Zak stops when Isaac pulls him in. His arms wrap around him as he holds Zak tight to his chest.
“I’m sorry, Zak. I’m sorry I couldn’t look after them. I’m sorry but- “ Isaac’s breath hitches.
“I’m so glad you’re safe.” Isaac’s tears fall faster and Zak grips him. He looks down at the younger who let out a whine.
“D-Did something happen? Is th-this my fault?”
Isaac cursed quietly, he didn’t give enough credit to Zak’s ability to make connections like that.
“They wanted to know where you were and we didn’t tell them. But this would have happened anyway. Th-There’s no reason for any of this. Just a sick obsession that’s hurt them far too much.”
Zak hugs him tight again. Isaac sighs and looks back over to Max who was now holding his father’s hand. Layla had finished everything she could have done and leaned her head against the couch, her eyes going blank once again.
Isaac feels his eyes sting again. There’s no way back from this. He pulls Zak off him and sits on the floor. Zak moves to sit near Max. They stay in a silence that was heavy with despair.
They stay sat for a couple hours, sometimes adjusting positions, the rare but necessary words. But otherwise, the same, cold silence.
Until Arthur woke up.