Chapter 3 Her crush

Nickolas

He gazed at the lifeless body of the guard as it fell slowly to the ground. How dare he try to stop him from entering Darrell's room!

His eyes burned with fury as he strode into the room, his finger firmly pressed against the trigger.

"Shit!"

He sighed, scanning the room. So, Darrell wasn't home, he could find a way to navigate through the darkness and embrace life once again.huh? He turned around, seething with anger.

How dare he not be at home!

He would have pulled the trigger without a moment's hesitation, giving Darrell the worst fate imaginable.

Darrell was a despicable creature who deserved the most gruesome death, and he was ready to bring it to him. His hatred for Darrell knew no bounds, and his passion to see him suffer had only grown deeper.

Darrell was nothing short of a devil, and only a fool would show any affection toward such a "thing."

He exhaled sharply and dragged the guard's lifeless body out of his way. The guard wouldn't have experienced this if only he had allowed him to enter peacefully.

But he tried to stop him. Filled with anger, he unleashed a barrage of shots upon him, making daylight vanish from his existence. He politely concealed the guard's body under the sofa and headed upstairs.

"Nickolas!" Ryan called out, looking perplexed.

"I'm sorry," he replied, walking into her room.

"What happened? I mean the gunshot," she inquired.

"I shot one of Darrell's guards who thought he could outsmart me," he replied silently.

"You shot an innocent guard?"

"Come on, he's not innocent. He tried to prevent me from entering Darrell's room. Can you believe that?"

"And did you find Darrell?" she asked.

"No, he's gone. He's escaped," he said, sitting on her bed.

"That's it. You just made everything worse. Darrell is going to seek revenge and kill us like chickens."

"It was already bad when our so-called parents decided to leave us under Darrell's rule."

"I don't care. What's the point of life when happiness is gone?" he added.

"Let's pretend I never heard you refer to Mom and Dad as 'so-called parents.' That's rude," Ryan sighed, joining him on the bed.

"I just hate my life, and Dad is the cause," he said, leaning against the wall serenely.

"Nickolas, don't say that. Life isn't always fair. Everyone has their share of sorrow," she said sadly.

"And mine is worse and worse. Can you imagine? My hopes have been shattered, my happiness consumed by sadness, and my life ripped away from me. I wish Dad loved us the way he claimed," he said sorrowfully.

"Mom and Dad do love us. Nick, they truly do," she protested.

"Then why did they leave us under Darrell's control? Is that what you call love?"

"You and I both know they never wanted to die. You know that, Nickolas."

"I know nothing. All I know is that they hated us and happily walked away without saying goodbye."

"Stop this madness!" she yelled.

"You owe Dad an apology for everything you just said," she added.

"Like I care..." he hissed.

If Mom and Dad truly loved them, he was certain they wouldn't have hesitated to bid them farewell. They wouldn't have vanished so suddenly, leaving them when they needed them the most. They happily departed, disappearing into thin air.

"What's that in your backpack?"

"Spiders," he sighed, sitting upright.

"You have to stop playing with those dangerous creatures. A spider bite can be lethal."

"Well, I've been waiting for them to bite me."

"I can't wait to become a spider-man," he smiled, and she stared at him with a bewildered expression.

"Come on Ryan, it would be cool to be Spider-Man. To have incredible powers to fight against Darrell's madness and protect you," he explained.

"Who told you that being bitten by a spider turns you into Spider-Man?" she asked.

"Ah, that's what happened to Peter Parker. He was bitten by a radioactive spider," he replied.

"Who's Peter Parker?"

"He's my role model, the first Spider-Man. He never liked school."

"Is that why you hate school too?"

"Maybe, yeah."

"Was he a fan of spiders before being bitten?"

"Enough with the questions!" he interjected.

"Okay, sorry. You have to be careful," she said, concern evident in her voice.

"Yeah, I will," he replied, sighing slowly.

"It's been a while since we visited Mom and Dad. Let's go and leave a flower for them."

"I'm done with them. Yeah, you heard me right," he replied, feeling a surge of bitterness.

"Come on, please. You can't be done with people who truly love you," she pleaded.

"Love, indeed," he scoffed.

"I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't come with you," he said, retracting his previous statement.

"Please, for my sake... Please," she implored.

"You promised to always make me happy, right?" She reminded him.

"Yeah, I did," he nodded.

"Then come with me... please."

"Okay, but not tonight, please. It's already late," he pleaded.

"I miss them, and I might not survive the night without seeing them."

"I'm already tired," he replied grudgingly.

"Please, Nickolas."

"Ugh," he groaned.

"Don't make me regret promising you in the first place."

"Oh, sorry. Help me this time... I promise it won't happen again."

"Noted."

"Yeah, well stamped," she smiled and pulled him off her bed.

"We'll go through the window then."

"Nickolas, I can't..."

"No arguments," he interrupted and connected the rope. He gave her a reassuring look, but she shook her head.

"Nickolas, this is risky," she protested.

"Cheer up. It's safe with me here," he said, trying to sound encouraging. Girls, always so easily scared over nothing.

"I'm going to lead the way," he declared, climbed over the windowsill with a mischievous grin, and slowly lowered himself down with the rope.

She took a deep breath and watched him gracefully slipping down. Serene, he reached the ground and waved at her. Can I do this?

"Come on, sis, you can do it," he said, as if he had read her mind. She scoffed softly and gathered the courage to face her fears. Climbing over the window, she held onto the securely connected rope and felt herself descending, feeling somewhat like a stealthy spy. She tightened her grip on the rope, slowing down her descent. And it worked.

God!

This is kind of exhilarating. Slowly, she made her way down and distanced herself from the rope.

"You see, that's how it feels to be Spider-Man," Nickolas smiled through the darkness.

"Yeah, that was quite thrilling," she sighed, and together they took a step forward.

"Uh, the flowers," Nickolas whispered.

"Oh, geez, I left them on the bed... Ouch."

"Relax, I'll go get them," he assured her.

"Really?" she asked, but he was already gone. In a flash, he swiftly climbed back up and in no time, he descended with the flowers in his hands. He handed her two and kept two for himself.

"Let's go, then," she said, and he nodded.

With a mix of emotions, they walked in silence into the cemetery.

"Wait!" Nick whispered, and they halted abruptly. He stared at a spot with a perplexed look and turned to face her.

"Do you see them?"

"See who?" she asked.

"Those couples sitting on Dad and Mom's graves?" he said, and she looked around carefully.

"You saw people-"

"Yeah."

"I saw them too. One sitting on Mom's grave while the other on Dad's."

"Maybe it's just your vivid imagination because I didn't see anyone," she said.

"Oh, I wish you had seen them," he sighed.

"Come on, let's go," she said, pulling him towards their parents' graves. They crossed over and knelt down.

"Dad, Mom," she began.

"I love both of you... I miss both of you... Your departure has caused us nothing but pain and regret. Our lives have been taken away from us literally because you are no longer here. We live each day in hopelessness and bitterness. We've been reduced to trash. Uncle Darrell delights in hurting us, playing with our lives, and treating us like a ball. We wish you were here to witness how your beautiful kids suffer intentionally. We truly miss both of you... I have nothing but this tiny flower. Please accept it. Remember, I love you all," she wiped away her tears and placed her flower on both graves.

"What is love without care? It's heartbreaking to believe that you all loved us-" he was saying, but she interrupted him with a gentle hit. "If you have nothing more to say, then let's move back," she half-yelled, and he sighed.

"Here, take this... Accept it," he said, throwing his flowers onto both graves and sat down on Dad's grave.

"What are you doing?" she asked, puzzled.

"Let's spend the night here," he said.

"What?!"

"Yeah, if they truly love us, then it's safe with them," he sighed.

"Come on, Nick, let's get out of here already," she said, urging him quickly.

"Okay, let's make a wish," he blurted out.

"At this late hour?" she asked.

"Yeah, the mood is right."

"I wish for things to turn around for our good, and I hope I end up with Derrick," she wished, gazing at the moon intently.

"My wish is grand and far-reaching... You'll have to sit down," he said, and her curiosity piqued.

"Dear moon, I am filled with a plethora of wishes. Please grant them... Firstly, I wish to be bitten by a radioactive spider. Secondly, I wish..."

She couldn't help but interrupt him, laughing softly. "Nick, wishing for superpowers and becoming Spider-Man? That's quite ambitious."

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Hey, you never know! Stranger things have happened."

As they sat there under the moonlit sky, sharing their hopes and dreams, a sense of warmth enveloped them. Despite the darkness that surrounded their lives, they found solace in each other's company.

"Ryan," Nickolas whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.

"Yes?"

"I may not always show it, but I'm grateful to have you by my side. We may have lost our parents, but we still have each other. And together, we can face whatever challenges come our way."

________________

SOMEWHERE IN DERRICK'S MANSION

He winced as a small headache crept into his head, prompting an irritated hiss to escape his lips. "Ouch! Stupid tequila!" he muttered to himself. "Only two glasses and I'm already feeling tipsy." Annoyed, he flung the glass away and took a long swig directly from the bottle, relishing the taste as it trickled down his throat.

The door creaked open slightly, and his housekeeper entered the room. Casting an odd look his way, the housekeeper shook his head disapprovingly. "Sir, I think you've had enough to drink," he ventured.

"I'm not complaining," he retorted, taking another gulp from the bottle. He was well aware of his alcohol addiction, but this particular brand was unfamiliar to him. He silently thanked whoever had added it to his collection.

"But-"

"Get out!" he yelled, cutting off the housekeeper. Angrily, the housekeeper turned and exited the room, closing the door behind him. He despised his life, loathed it with an unwavering passion. The pain he caused himself held no significance when happiness seemed like an unreachable dream. Sniffing and continuously taking swigs from the bottle, he drowned his sorrows further.

To his dismay, the door cracked open once again, and he hissed in anger. "Okay, what's wrong with him?" he barked.

"I said get-" he stopped mid-sentence, stunned by the sight of Jeremy, causing him to drop the bottle.

"Drinking your ass out?" Jeremy asked, lowering himself slowly onto the seat beside him.

"As usual," he replied, his voice filled with resignation.

"Hey! Derrick, you're not helping yourself. Stop wallowing in misery and move on," Jeremy advised.

"Wish moving on was as simple as you make it sound," he lamented.

"Of course, it can be. Firstly, you need to forgive yourself and let go," Jeremy advised earnestly.

"I've tried to pick up the pieces. I've tried so hard, but I can't seem to move past my fate," he admitted.

"That's the thing. Leave this behind you. It's been three years now, not three months," Jeremy reasoned.

"Three years isn't enough time to mourn my parents, especially when they meant everything to me," he argued.

"Yeah, but dwelling on the past isn't an option, nor is it helpful," Jeremy sighed.

"Because you have no idea what it's like to lose someone you love," he retorted, his tone filled with pain. Jeremy smirked strangely in response.

"Really?" Jeremy questioned.

"Yeah."

"Oh, sorry, but for your own sake, it's time to move on," Jeremy said, causing him to let out a weary sigh.

"Guess what!" Jeremy exclaimed, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm not in the mood for guessing games. If you have news, just spill it," he replied, attempting to reach for the bottle. However, Jeremy swiftly snatched it away and tucked it between his legs.

"Alright, all our rivals are down," Jeremy announced.

"Wow, that's the biggest lie I've ever heard from you," he replied, skepticism tainting his voice.

"Seriously, I'm not joking," Jeremy insisted, opening his briefcase and rummaging through it. Slowly, he withdrew some files and handed them over courteously.

"This is it, the perfect opportunity," Jeremy beamed. Carefully, he flipped through the files, examining them.

"Wow."

"This is incredible. When did you become a magician?" he marveled, handing the files back to Jeremy. A smile of genuine pride lit up Jeremy's face. "Well, it's been a few months," Jeremy replied, discreetly concealing the files.

"Congratulations. I truly appreciate your efforts," he said, a flicker of gratitude shining in his eyes. Jeremy blushed modestly in response.

"Thanks," Jeremy replied with a warm smile.

"You're the best, Heckman. I couldn't ask for a more loyal companion," he expressed, genuine appreciation evident in his words.

"Hey, don't go getting all sentimental on me now. I won't thank you for the compliments," Jeremy chuckled, causing him to force a grin. Jeremy's loyalty and kindness were always a comforting presence in his life.

"We're going out tonight, and I won't take no for an answer," Jeremy declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Unfortunately-"

"Shhh! Don't say a word, sir," Jeremy interjected, cutting him off, and he rolled his eyes playfully.

"Alright, like we have any pressing meetings?" he questioned, mildly intrigued.

"Whether we have a meeting or not, we're going out. Period," Jeremy asserted, a mischievous wink accompanying his words.

He couldn't help but laugh at Jeremy's persistent determination. Even in the darkest of times, Jeremy always knew how to lighten the mood. Perhaps going out tonight was exactly what he needed-a temporary escape from his troubles.

"Fine, fine, you win," he conceded, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But only because you're the most persistent pain in the neck I've ever known."

Jeremy grinned triumphantly. "That's the spirit, Derrick! Get ready to have some fun and forget about your troubles for a while."

Reluctantly, he rose from the couch, dusting off his pants. "Alright, let's do this. But no tequila this time, got it?"

Jeremy raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "No promises, my friend. But don't worry, I'll make sure you survive the night."