Survival Games by J.E. Taylor

Author:J.E. Taylor [Taylor, J.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction: Suspense/Thriller
Publisher: JET-Fueled Fiction
Published: 2014-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

Eric wandered into the kitchen and mumbled good morning to his father and climbing up on the island stool to dig into the cereal waiting for him. As always, his father had the news on instead of cartoons and Eric sighed, focusing on his meal.

Jess would be so devastated.

His father’s thought invaded his mind and Eric looked up at the television and froze with a spoonful of cereal part way to his mouth. Footage from the rescue scene rolled across the screen, including a reluctant interview with the on-site hero. Eric dropped his spoon and ran to the upstairs bathroom.

“Mom! Mom, where are you? Mom!” he screamed at the glass but only his reflection stared back. Eric’s vision clouded, blurring, but he couldn’t reach her, he couldn’t see her and more terrifying, he couldn’t feel her. “Mom!” his voice hoarse from the choking tears.

* * * *

The coffee cup slipped out of Daniel’s hand, smashing on the tile floor, but he paid no attention to it as he ran toward his son’s frantic screams. Sliding into the bathroom and falling to his knees, he grabbed Eric’s arms, turning the flailing boy toward him.

“I can’t see Mom anymore!” Tears streaked his face, his chin trembling and there was fear, fear deeper than Daniel had ever seen in anyone’s eyes.

The pain of Jessica’s death shot through him yet again, knocking the wind out of him and he wrapped his arms around Eric, pulling him against his chest, holding the child as he fought to break his grasp.

Eric wiggled, screaming ‘You don’t understand’ over and over and over.

“Don’t understand what?” Daniel asked once Eric stopped moving. His heart, pounding double time in his chest, nearly shattered at the look on his son’s face when he met his gaze.

“You don’t understand, he left. He didn’t stay and now I can’t see her!” Eric pointed toward the hall.

“Who left?”

“The man on the TV. He was supposed to protect Mom. Now the bad man has her and I can’t see her.”

“You mean Clark?” They had shown the actor’s face on the TV and both the kids knew the show was one of their mother’s favorite. It made sense that Eric’s fantasy included Superman.

“No, Dad, the one who saved Lois, he was supposed to protect Mom.”

Daniel was dumbfounded. He pulled Eric to his chest again. “It’s okay,” he said.

Eric pulled away. “No it’s not, Dad.” He yanked out of his father’s grip and disappeared downstairs to finish his breakfast, glaring at the television as the news cycled around again.

With the front door open and kids congregating on the corner for the school bus, Daniel handed Eric his coat. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Eric offered a half-hearted smile.

Daniel watched him get on the bus and closed the door heading straight to the phone. His hand shook as he punched the number he had gotten so used to calling when the grief overwhelmed him. This time, when LeAnn answered, his voice uncharacteristically trembled. The aguish clear in every word as he walked through the morning episode.

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