by Andi J Feron
www.Loctorianchronicles.com
© 2017 Andi J. Feron
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:
[email protected]
Ebook ISBN: 978-0-578-58504-8
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-578-57162-1
Contents
Chapter One: Talon - January 12, 2000
Chapter Two: Seraphine - September 23, 2002
Chapter Three: Talon - September 6, 2004
Chapter Four: Talon - October 31, 2004
Chapter Five: Seraphine - April 24, 2005
Chapter Six: Seraphine - May 2, 2006
Chapter Seven: Talon - June 15, 2006
Chapter Eight: Seraphine - June 15, 2006
Chapter Nine: Talon - August 3, 2006
Chapter Ten: Seraphine - September 7, 2007
Chapter Eleven: Talon - November 12, 2008
Chapter Twelve: Seraphine - January 20, 2009
Chapter Thirteen: Talon - April 28, 2009
Chapter Fourteen: Talon - November 21, 2009
Chapter Fifteen: Seraphine - November 29, 2009
Chapter Sixteen: Talon - December 12, 2009
Chapter Seventeen: Seraphine - February 3, 2010
Chapter Eighteen: Seraphine - March 6, 2010
Chapter Nineteen: Seraphine - March 15, 2010
Chapter Twenty: Talon - September 9, 2010
Chapter Twenty-One: Seraphine - November 6, 2010
Chapter Twenty-Two: Talon - November 25, 2010
Chapter Twenty-Three: Talon - December 15, 2010
Chapter Twenty-Four: Seraphine - December 27, 2010
Chapter Twenty-Five: Talon - February 23, 2011
Chapter Twenty-Six: Seraphine - August 20, 2012
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Talon - October 24, 2012
Chapter One
Talon - January 12, 2000
I breathed in the sweet aroma of pancakes as my mother tossed batter on a griddle. I plopped onto the bar stool and read my Spiderman comic books. Steam rose from the plate of pancakes my mother set in front of me. The collision of syrup and butter produced the sense that I was safe. Hours before an icy road shattered everything.
My little sister Althea bolted down the stairs with squeals of laughter. My brother Malcom chased her with a game of tickle monster. I was excited for the trek to Grandma’s that we would be making later that morning. My grandpa was going to take Malcom and me ice fishing for the first time.
“Talon! Talon! Build a fort with me. Please Talon,” Allie pleaded, pulling on my leg.
I looked down, annoyed at the interruption by my little sister. She always wanted me to build forts, and the first few times, I complied. However, the entire activity was quickly getting old and, being nine years old, I was outgrowing the need for fake adventures. I went back to my comic book without a word to her.
“Please, Talon!”
I shook my leg gently, not wanting to hurt her. She was only five and quite small for her age.
“Go away Allie! I’m busy.”
She continued to pull at my leg and finally, out of mounting frustration, I gave her a slight kick that ended up jolting her to the ground. My only intention was to dislodge her from my leg, but when she hit the ground, tears spewed.
Malcom glared, “What are you doing Talon?”
He picked Allie up to comfort her. She clung to him, and I rolled my eyes at her overreaction.
“She’s little Talon. We have to take care of her. It’s our job as her big brothers. We can’t let the boogie monster get her, let alone hurt her ourselves.” Malcom always acted way too seriously for being eleven, and he coddled Allie.
I scowled. “She hasn’t been hurt at all. She’s fine.”
Malcom shook his head and carried Allie into the living room. I didn’t care. He could build the fort with her, and I wouldn’t give it another thought. I concentrated back on my comic. I felt my hair being tousled and looked up to see my dad.
He smiled. “You ready for some ice fishing buddy?”
I nodded. “Yep!”
He moved around the counter and grabbed my mother’s waist as she cooked. He turned her around, pushing her blonde hair back from her face. I didn’t know much about beauty at the time, but I remember her being beautiful in a way I only ever saw again in my sister. They shared the same purple eyes, and it would be years before I would realize how rare of a trait they were.
Mom gave a smile and slight protest, nodding toward the pancakes she was finishing. Dad planted a kiss on her, and I returned to my comic, trying to ignore the kisses my mom was returning my dad’s way. My parents were always kissing, holding hands, and snuggling on the couch. You would think that after being married for fifteen years they would be tired of each other already.
“Malcom! Althea! Breakfast,” my mother yelled. Malcom raced in without any prodding. Mom turned to Malcom, “Where’s your sister?”
“She’s in her fort. Said she wanted to stay there all day,” Malcom spoke between bites.
“I’ll get her.” Dad stepped out of the kitchen.
A minute later he carried Allie in. He lifted her in the air, pretending she was an airplane. She was giggling as he placed her on the bar stool next to mine. The three of us kids sat there gobbling down pancakes. My parents stood at the other side of the counter.
A typical Saturday for the Coopers aside from the pending fishing trip. Dad was halfway through his third lame joke when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and excused himself to the other room. When he returned his normally happy appearance looked serious, reminding me of Malcom.
“What is it?” my mother asked.
“It’s an old friend. He has an emergency, and I need to go help him out,” he said, and my mom frowned.
Malcom crossed his arms. “You mean you’re not going on the trip?”
Dad patted Malcom on the back. “No, buddy, I can’t. I’ll tell you what, we’ll check out that hockey game next week. Just you and me.”
Dad was always good about time with us individually. I wanted to beg to go to the hockey game too, but I knew I would get some one-on-one time soon if I kept quiet. Hockey was more of Malcom’s thing anyway. I was more about the science center and natural history museum.
“I want to go with you Daddy,” Allie pleaded.
“Sorry bug, not this time. But you’ll have fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Why don’t you three go get your coats on?”
I was the first to have my winter gear on. I began to walk back to the kitchen to find out when we were leaving, but my parents’ voices halted me.
“Come on Bash. When we walked away, it was forever.” My mother sounded markedly irritated.
“We walked away from it, not from people. We owe him. You know we do. He helped us get out of there.”
“Family is first. The kids and your parents have been looking forward to this day.”
“I know Moira. I promise we’re not getting involved again. My top priority is making sure we never go there again.”
I peeked in and saw them kiss. When they stopped, Mom said, “Bastian Cooper, to this day you still take my breath away.”
“I think you have that in reverse.”
They stood there hugging much longer than I thought necessary. I didn’t know the appeal to hugging for an eternity, but I was glad my mom wasn’t mad anymore. Dad started to walk out of the room, and Mom grabbed his hand.
“Be safe Bash. We paid our dues. I need you home again.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” My dad smiled.
I was unawa
re it would be the last one I ever saw on his face. I hurried back to the kitchen, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping. While loading the car, Malcom and I started bickering.
“I want to sit in the middle this time, so my cord can reach from the front. You don’t have a video game to plug in,” Malcom said.
“I don’t want the window seat; it makes me car sick!” I yelled.
“Sorry Malcom, Talon has to have the middle,” Dad said.
“My video game will die halfway there!”
Dad shrugged. “You’re going to have to make it work.”
My dad gave us all hugs and kissed Mom.
Allie clung to him. “I love you Daddy!”
Dad kissed her head before pulling back. “I love you too bug. You boys, take care of our girls.”
He walked back to our house, and Mom pulled the car down our long gravel driveway.
Malcom grabbed at his video game. “Give my game back Talon!”
I jerked his game further from his reach. “Then turn it down like I told you a million times!”
Mom glared into her rearview mirror. “Knock it off, or I’ll pull this car over, and no one will have any video games or comic books. You’ll sit in silence with nothing to do until we reach Grandma’s in two hours.”
I relented the video game to Malcom. I didn’t want to risk not having my comics to read. I pushed Allie’s head the other direction as it had uncomfortably fallen on my shoulder as she slept. I was halfway through my second comic when I heard our tires scrape the ice. The vehicle slammed to a sudden stop before swerving violently. Allie’s head slammed against the side window hard enough it cracked, and I could see blood gush from her head.
“Allie!” I screamed her name repeatedly, but she seemed lifeless.
She was annoying, but I was terrified she had been killed. Mere seconds later, our car was violently thrown into a large boulder that met me with unconsciousness. I woke up to my mother holding my arm. There was blood all over her face, but I couldn’t see the source. Allie was awake now and crying. I was relieved to see her alive.
“It’s okay Allie. We’re okay,” I comforted her. I turned to look at Malcom. I was surprised by his silence because comforting Allie was usually his job. I let out a gasp.
I saw a movie once, late at night when my parents were in bed. A man had died in it, and when he died, he stared off with vacant eyes. That was how my nine-year-old brain knew my brother was dead. I was crying. I was trying very hard not to because I needed to do for Allie what Malcom couldn’t do anymore.
My mother managed to unbuckle me as I was in the middle and easiest for her to reach. “Take Allie out the window and run. Don’t stop until you get to the town. Run Talon!”
I thought her request was weird seeing as we should stay for an ambulance, but the desperation in her voice made me obey without question. Maybe her phone was smashed, but I didn’t know why she would send Allie with me. I grabbed our coats, and I knew our gloves and hats were in the pockets. I unbuckled Allie and climbed gently over her so I could help her out the window. Once I landed on the ground, I motioned for her.
“Come on Allie!” I was pleading with her, but she was screaming for our mother.
“I’m alright. Baby, everything is alright. I need you to take a walk with Talon. Malcom and I will be there soon. Things will be okay, but you have to go.”
“Okay Mommy.” Allie pushed herself out of her seat, and I pulled her the rest of the way out.
“I love you, my babies! Now run and don’t look back!”
I grabbed Allie’s hand, and we ran. I was glad we wore our snow boots as the snow would have been more difficult to tread through otherwise. I ran until I thought we were out of view from my mother. She told me not to stop, so I didn’t want her to think I didn’t listen. Finally feeling I could pause our journey, I put our snow gear on. I knew if we followed the road, we would find the town we had stopped for gas at about thirty minutes earlier.
I also knew it would take us hours to walk the same distance, and the air was frigid. I was unsure we would make enough progress before nightfall. We walked for what seemed like hours, but there was no way to know for sure. Not a single car had passed us before Allie began to cry. She had been walking without a single word, but the cold was increasing. I was pretty sure at five her tiny legs could not endure much more.
“Talon, I’m cold. I want Mommy. Can we go back to Mommy?” She sobbed and shivered as she spoke. I was worried she was getting too cold.
“Hop on my back. We’re almost there, and then we can have hot cocoa.”
I didn’t know if we were close to anywhere, but I wanted her to believe my words were true. If we were going to freeze, I would rather her be full of hope than fear. I dropped to my knees in the snow, and she climbed on my back.
When Allie was born, she spent about a month in the hospital after arriving eight weeks early. I remembered my parents letting me visit her, and it scared me seeing her hooked up to wires all over her tiny body. I had never seen a person that minuscule and fragile.
I was only four when she was born, but the picture was still painted clearly in my mind. I was tall for my age, and Allie was still very little. Even with those two factors, I was unsure how far I could adequately carry her. I had to get her somewhere safe, that was my job now.
The air was bitter, and the wind picked up. My legs were tired, and I had already pushed them farther than I thought possible. I wanted to lay on the side of the road and sleep, but then I knew Allie would as well and we would freeze. I was about to give up when I saw headlights through the darkening sky. I placed Allie on the ground and began waving my arms frantically at the car. I saw the car pull to the side, and I collapsed unconscious again.
I awoke no longer cold. A large heated blanket was placed over me. I was never more grateful for heat than at that moment. I basked in the welcoming warmth until my heart slammed in my chest as I remembered Allie. I jumped up and saw my grandma leap out of her chair and to my side.
“Allie, Grandma! Where’s Allie?” I looked around but found myself in a private room.
Grandma patted my hand. “She’s fine Talon. She’s a couple of rooms down. You two walked five miles, and no one knows how you did it in such cold.”
“What about Mom and Malcom?”
Even as I spoke, I knew what her answer for Malcom would be, but it was what she said about my mother that would demolish my childhood.
“Talon, sweetie. We are so happy you and Althea are safe. But Mom and Malcom couldn’t stay here anymore. They were needed in heaven.” Her voice cracked, and I saw a tear roll down her cheek.
I heard her words, but I felt like I hadn’t. “I want to see Allie,” I ignored what she said and turned my mind back to my sister.
“Let’s let the doctor check you out first.” She got up and left the room.
The doctor walked into the room. “That’s our brave boy.” He put the stethoscope up to my chest and listened intently. He continued talking, “Lungs are clear. Let’s see those fingers and toes. Skin is healing nicely, and I don’t think there will be permanent damage. I’m glad the children were bundled well, or it would have been a different story.”
“I want to see my sister,” I demanded this or I would bolt from my bed and scour the hospital until I found her.
“We’ll have a nurse bring in a wheelchair and then you can see her. She’s only a couple rooms down.”
The nurse brought the wheelchair in shortly after the doctor left, and my grandma helped me into the chair. The nurse wrapped warm blankets around me and wheeled me out of the room. We passed three rooms when she finally wheeled me into the fourth one. The bed was so big, and Allie was so tiny.
She was covered with the same type of large heated blanket, and she was still. The familiar fear of seeing her in the hospital returned as the memory of her as a newborn resurfaced. I knew then I could never let anything scary happen to her again. She heard me come in, and she jumped u
p.
My grandpa, who was sitting next to Allie, stood up. “Slow down, princess.”
“Talon!” Allie reached her arms for me, practically leaping off the bed.
I pushed the blankets off of me and wrapped her in a hug. We ignored the adults chiding us to be cautious. I demanded they let me stay with her, so they moved us to a double room where we stayed for the next couple of days.
On the third day, they were getting ready to release us when Dad ran into our room. He pulled us both into a hug and sobbed. I had never seen my dad cry. My grandparents told us Dad was out of reach until a few hours ago, so he only found out what happened on his way back from his trip. I saw a doctor appear in the doorway of our room.
Dad gave Allie a kiss on the head and gave me one last pat on the back before jumping up. “My wife? And my other son? Moira and Malcom Cooper. I haven’t been told about them. Was told there was a car accident and when I arrived, they said I could see my younger two, and you would talk to me. When can I see the rest of my family?”
“Let’s step down the hall.” The doctor looked grim as he and my dad disappeared out the door.
A few minutes later, I heard a shaken cry. It was distant, but I could tell it was my dad discovering his wife and oldest son were gone forever. That was the moment my dad also left us, but in an entirely different way.
My grandparents drove us to the funeral, as my dad did not come out of his room. Allie held my hand tightly as they lowered our mom and brother into the ground. As I watched my brother descend out of view, guilt flooded my body. I kept thinking I should have let him have the middle.
I wasn’t sure how much Allie understood. She would often cry for our mother for quite some time after that day. My grandma would bring Dad food and water and a couple of hours later she would remove the tray nearly untouched. Our grandparents stayed with us for a month and left after our neighbor Mrs. Baker, promised she would make sure we were okay.
Barb Trammel would also check in on us frequently, and she would bring her son John, who was Allie’s age. Allie and John had been friends since they were small, mainly because Mrs. Trammel was my mom’s best friend.
