Blood and Thunder: Part 3: Samuel's Blood

Warning: Content may be inappropriate for younger children.1

Blood and Thunder: Part 3: Samuel's Blood2

The man woke up to sobs and tears of pain, and depression. Beside him was a boy, small, no older than 8 or 9. What was he crying about? I feel sorry, maybe I can help. What if it’s bad? Can’t be... can it?3

“Hey...” he finally inquired and the boy looked up at him, puzzled. Like the child had seen him before. But he hadn’t seen the boy before. Who was he?4

“D-” Tom stumbled to say. “Dad?” he examined the man’s face, a cheerful expression swept over his face and he almost fell out of his bed. “It’s you!”5

“Dad?” I can’t be his father, he thought. But, I don’t remember anything before this. Could he be? I don’t remember. The man’s thoughts squirmed. His memories trying to be released, but the lock wouldn’t budge. “I can’t be your father, I don’t remember you.”6

Tom took a strange look at him. Like: ‘What are you talking about?! How can you not remember me?!’ “But, you have to be my dad.” he sniffled again, and laid down sobbing once more.7

The man looked over at him. Samuel wanted to remember, but the man just couldn’t find the memories. He lay down on the bed. His head rested against the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep. Thoughts entwined, he dreamed of his past.8

“Fran, get down!” Samuel whispered “Get the kids and get out as quickly as you can.” Francesca started talking but Samuel wasn’t listening. He was too busy pushing his children out the door. “Run, and don’t stop until you know you’re safer then you are here!” he screamed, when the murderous figure behind him lashed Samuel with a rough piece of electrical cord. The plug dug into his flesh and his knees gave out. Tim standing behind him, broad shoulders and strength of a champion, kicked Samuel’s back with his steal toe.9

“TIM!” Samuel cried. “It’s me, Sam, remember!?” Tim didn’t, his eyes glowed a eerie bright green. Samuel quickly rolled to his side and crawled backwards out into his yard. “Tim Christopher Alder!” Samuel kept inching backward desperately. “Tim, please, you can’t do this!” Tim didn’t say a word, didn’t even make a sound. He held a kitchen knife in his hand, already blood encrusted. Samuel looked around then he felt a cold metal surface under his palm. “If you won’t listen to reason...” Samuel grunted. “...then listen to this!” Samuel with what strength he had, wield a shovel. He stumbled a bit as he got up, Tim only a few feet away.10

Tim took one swipe at Samuel. The knife just barely scraping his hand. Samuel took a swing at Tim, hitting him head on with the razor shovel. Tim stumbled, this time muttering cusses under his breath. Samuel this time, running straight on adrenalin, took one last swing in hammering motion. Tim lay on the ground moaning.11

‘What now...’ Samuel ran into the house. The phone was busted as was the kitchen, living room, and hallway. He looked around for something to aid him. Nothing. All of a sudden his back went numb, possibly from the kick. He stumbled towards the washroom. Braking the drawers open looking for pain medication, he grabbed a bottle of Tylenol. When Samuel made it back into the kitchen, he saw Tim at the back door, holding his head.12

“Samuel...” Tim growled. “...die!” Tim ran at Samuel the tripped over his make-shift whip. His face hit the floor and he was knocked unconscious. Samuel ran out of the house, police cars and vans outside his house, but no cops. No one in sight.13

Wait, what was that over there! A person? Samuel ran to it, then halted. What did lay in front of him was a young woman. In a blood spattered mess, Samuel was sick for a moment. But he dry-heaved, nothing was in him after that harsh attack. The sun was coming up, the sky glowed bright red, he looked into it, and what did he see? Bodies, upon bodies. All dead, and dark red fluids flowing down the street. It was like hell had taken the earth.14

The man woke up gasping, choking on his own breath. The nurse came into the room, she screamed and called for a doctor. Samuel’s cuts were bleeding and his bruises were deep purple, he was in shock. Tom witnessed his... father, being held down and relaxed, until he could breath again.15

“What happened!” the doctor hastily questioned Samuel.16

“I- I don’t know, one moment I was dreaming and the next...” The man gasped once more, then took in a deep breath.17

“Carla, look after him, I don’t trust his state, if he does this again, we’ll have to look more into this. For now we can leave him.” the doctor ordered. “Excuse me Tom, press the red button if he starts up again.”18

‘Tom?’ the man looked over. His thoughts were broken open and untwisted. He became Samuel again. “Tom!” Samuel yelled. He got up and ran to his son’s bed. Hugging him, and brushing his hair with his fingers. “I haven’t seen you for so long!” he hesitated, he looked at Tom’s leg, it was in a cast. “Tommy?... Why are you in the hospital?”19

***20

“So, Bethany, what did you do while...” Fran paused, she thought of what she could say. “While you were there? You know what I’m talking about?”21

“They locked us in a cage. They only let us out when we needed the bathroom.” Bethany complained.22

“They didn’t, touch you... did they?” Fran asked.23

“No.” Bethany answered. “All they did was talk, and talk.” she wined. “They said something about Dad, and Tim.”24

Fran looked at Bethany with a look I can’t even describe.25

‘My Samuel, where is he!?’ “What did they say, hunny?” she almost desperately questioned. ‘Is he alright, or did the bastard kill him!? Oh god, please...’26

“Something about Dad running, and a shovel. Mommy, did Tim hurt Daddy?” Bethany looked up with a puppy face.27

‘What do I say???’ “I’m sure Daddy’s fine hunny.” Fran quickly answered “Go to bed it’s late. Here, I’ll read you a story.”28

“When are we visiting Tommy?”29

“Tomorrow hunny... tomorrow.”30

***31

Thunder cracked and the windows shook. Tom couldn’t fall asleep, but Samuel had already dozed off. Tom looked out the window, lightning lit the streets below. Thunder rumbled his ear drums. They were right below the storm. Fork lightning struck somewhere off in the distance, then Tom saw someone on the street. ‘How odd’ he thought. ‘Who walks the street in a thunder storm... at night?’ then he recognized the figure. “D...Da...” he stammered “Dad!”32

*33

“I must find Fran!” Samuel screamed into the sun rise. He was running down the road. He spotted his parents’ house. It was lime-ish yellow in colour. It scared him to possibly see his parents dead, but he went in anyways.34

“Anyone home!?” he yelled but then remembered he was being chased. He shut the door behind him, and walked into the kitchen. He tip-toed up to the sink. Then he heard something behind him.35

“How dare you come into my home...” she would have continued but instead she hit Samuel in the back of the head with his former childhood baseball bat. The impact knocked out a couple teeth and he broke a couple of fingers while trying to grab something to hold on to.36

“Darling, NO!” Samuel’s father came in, “that’s our son!”37

“Samuel was still awake, but just so tired. His mind was hazy. “Wh-Wha happened?”38

“How many fingers am I holding up? Who am I?” his mother asked.39

“3, mom, my head hurts. What happened, why am I here, shouldn’t I be somewhere...?” Clank, and the jail was locked. Memories trapped in a steal cage.40

“Oh, god, he might have some memory loss.” his father could tell, after working with people who suffered from memory loss, for most his life. “Ok, get a pillow, and when he wakes up, we’ll need to try to trigger his memory with something.” he panted. Then sighed. A long silence came on, then Samuel’s father finally spoke: “Tim’s probably after him, judging by the way he’s cut and bruised. We should keep a look out, hopefully he doesn’t pick this house.”41

The father got up, and looked out the window. “Tim was such a nice boy.”42

*43

“DAD!” screamed Tom, but Samuel was too deep in dream. Lightning lit the hallways, a shadow was on the wall. It portrayed a large, broad shouldered man. The shadow grew larger and larger. Finally a hand curved over the frame of the door. Tom screamed.