[:::: Authors Note ::::]
Welcome to Part 3 of 'Through the Fire', if you have not yet read
Part 1
or
Part 2
, spend a little time and get acquainted with our characters.
In part 2, we found Brian and Betty falling in love. But in a cruel twist, Brian receives photos from his arch-nemesis, Brian DuMont, of DuMont and Betty in very compromising positions while she is in Paris. The question is, how will Brian respond.
[:::: Through the Fire - Part 3 ::::]
[:::: 11 ::::]
I don't know how long I looked at the images, it may have been seconds, it may have been hours. But at some point, I found myself sitting out the back of my place on my bench, watching the last of the sunset not understanding how I got from my house to out the back.
There were dark clouds in the sky and the air smelled of ozone, but as the sun finished setting and the stars came out, I watched the sky as I felt a breeze pick up against my skin. I casually placed my arms over the backs of the bench then let my head fall backwards to point at the sky as the first drops of rain fell to the ground.
That night a storm raged, lightning flashed, and the wind howled. But I hardly noticed it as I sat on the bench, lamenting my existence. Explosions of lightning came and went breaking the sky open with impressive regularity turning night into day. Even the large cracks of accompanying thunder did not disturb me as over and over in my head my life played in a depressing loop. The spotty images of saving Harper, my time in hospital, meeting rejection by Ava, the time spend with Tim and Sonia.
The humiliation heaped on me by Brian DuMont caught on repeat more often than most memories. In my mind he took everything and ruined each happy occurrence. His snarky appearance broke me over and over as I retreated further and further into the back of my mind and the storm continued to lash at me in time with my internal torment.
And of course, Betty Brown. The international super model that held the world in her hand as well as my heart. I honestly thought that she cared for me, that she loved me. But again, DuMont came along and took her.
Eyes closed and ignoring the environment around myself. The figure of Betty in my mind, tortured me. Firstly, she was the angel who gave me confidence, then she became my tormentor, dashing my hope that life could be more. Her body was beautiful, but the smile, her eyes that caught me and the memory of our kisses, I knew she would haunt me for the rest of my days.
I retreated even further into my mind as I could not chase the feeling of her kisses away despite the pain it now brought me. Betty may no longer be mine, but she would forever be with me, the touch she shared with me, the exquisite feel of her lips pressed against mine telling me of promise and what I wish could have been.
My tears mixed with the rain, and my body shivered with both emotion and the cold that was setting in.
I groaned, my voice lost against the storm, as I knew that Betty's lips were now his. Again, he had taken my happiness. Why? because I shared his name, and he got perverse pleasure in hurting me. But this time he wouldn't win.
I knew he wouldn't, because as the storm ended, the wind continued.
I guessed it was the early morning. So, as I sat there on the bench and the temperature continued to drop. With the wind against my body, I was rapidly losing the formidable strength I had always had, the night was taking its toll. I wasn't against staying, but in this moment, neither was I against nature taking me somewhere that people wouldn't be able to hurt me anymore.
As my body continued to tremble, now more a physical need then emotional outlet, I thought about Harper. What if I had not run into the fire? I would still be normal. But I would have lost my sister. No, if I had my time again, I wouldn't change it. I would still run into the fire to save her; there would never be a choice, my sister was worth it.
Harper would be sad if I left. Actually, I knew she would be royally pissed. I knew that she would miss me more than anyone. In this world there had been no greater advocate for me than my little sister. For a time, I had thought Betty would give her a run for her money, but I had now learnt that I was mistaken. Harper would likely chew Betty a new asshole when she found out what happened, but she would mainly be sad.
Mum, Dad and Trey would also be upset. Not as much as Harper, but they were my rock when I needed them. Geoff as well, I couldn't ask for a better boss, and the guys at work too. Perhaps there were a few people that might mourn me.
I felt a deep cold now, my body had stopped trembling, and I knew that was not a great sign. I momentarily wondered if I would end up with hyperthermia, but it wasn't likely in our climate. However, exposure to the earlier storm and the continued winds could still easily do me in.
I again thought of Betty, even though she had been seduced away from me, would she miss me? I replayed our time in Sydney, really believing we had a chance at a future together. But those pictures, and that final one left no doubt. She may have had some type of feeling for me, but no one would pose for an intimate picture like that unless it was for your lover. Which I could see I was not.
For a moment the image of her and DuMont together was replaced by just her eyes and that smile. Immediately, I felt my pulse quicken. I felt my blood flow through my veins, the hairs on my arms came to attention not being caused by the cold. From our first real meeting a few months ago in the Burns unit, I had dared to hope we could fall in love.
It was then I thought of Tim and Sonia, the twins would also be sad that I was gone. They were two kids facing the world together, burnt like me and would have to face the same ridicule I had. If I was going to live, it would be for them.
The thought roused me, and I realised I was being stupid. Sitting here and feeling so depressed didn't mean I could let myself go and not be there for Tim and Sonia as they grew up. They were going to face the same challenges, the same prejudices that I had, and they needed someone there to help them through it. I understood that without their parents that was me.
I tried to move but found my energy sapped, my arms were numb and wouldn't respond to my commands. I tried to move my legs and found the same, I think I could feel my toes move, but that could be my imagination.
In a panic I tried to twist myself, but even then, I couldn't move my arms, they were still braced over the bench. My muscles had locked into place diverting blood flow from my extremities to my core to try and keep me alive. By trying to twist, all I did was slide a few splinters into my arms and not move more than a couple of inches.
Trying to think my way out of this, I gave myself a mental uppercut for letting my depression get in the way of being there for Tim and Sonia. So I stopped and tried to listen to the world around me wondering if I could find a way to save myself.
Inside I could hear my phone ringing. I think it had been for the past hour, but I hadn't been aware of it consciously. I figured it was likely Betty calling to break up with me, but that was okay. I would have a hole in my heart I know would never again be filled. But I reasoned I didn't need her, while I know Tim and Sonia would need me, and that was all I required right now.
Focused, other sounds were coming to my ears. In the distance, I could hear a garbage truck moving, that meant it had to be close to dawn. Dawn meant warmth and if I could make it that far, then I could likely move and get help.
A sudden gust of frigid wind though, made me doubt myself. While I could feel it on my skin, I also felt numb, the sensation dampened from what it should be. Worse, I was suddenly weary and tired, and I knew that falling asleep was the last thing I should do.
Through mostly closed eyes that were blurry and out of focus I saw a light on the horizon. I heard a car stop and a knocking at someone's front door, most likely one of my neighbours. For a moment I wondered who was stupid enough to knock at what was likely four am in the morning.
But I also realised they were likely the only ones that might be able to call for help, and I tried to call out. But my voice was also affected by the cold and my lethargy. I managed a voice that was barely above a horse whisper, nowhere near enough to get the persons attention.
My energy sapped; I was struggling to stay conscious when I think I heard my back door open.
"What the fuck Brian," Harper said angrily as she must have noticed me. "Betty is in a panic; she tells me you haven't messaged her back and she..."
