“Are you certain?” I asked Vanessa after she nonchalantly gave me the news of her most recent vision. It was incredibly late and she approached me in the library wearing her pajamas. She had awoken from a dream laced with a vision. These were rare, even for her, so anytime she had a vision while dreaming she always knew to find me and tell me about it right away. 

“Of course I am, I’m never wrong. Her dad is going to see the syringe she’s carrying and he’s going to knock it out of her hand and inject her instead. It makes her look really shaky, like a seizure or something -”

“Pancuronium Bromide,” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose to attempt at easing the building pressure. This little nurse of mine was a chaotic ball of trouble. I was sure she would not even try to fight back. She loved him too much. And he was going to kill my girl.

“And are there any other details?” I demanded. 

“It will be early in the morning, not long after the sun rises,” she shrugged. I already knew that much.

“Thank you, Vanessa. Try to get some sleep and meet me at Collingham Lake tomorrow morning with your father and brothers. I have a bottle to initiate,” I declared, standing. 

“But tomorrow is Saturday -!”

“No arguments. I will see you in a few hours,” I said and I left her.

I went downstairs into the basement. It had been quite some time since I had been down there, and the anxiety of the familiarity encompassed me. Still, I had to find Raspin, and I knew that he would be there. I could handle a tad of PTSD to ensure Helen’s rescue.

He was startled when he watched me enter, as he was caring for the bodies he used to harvest his organs. 

“Sabastian,” he finally reacted solemnly as he continued on with his work. 

“I am in need of your assistance, Young Man,” I said softly while watching his hands work on the child lying on the table before us. This made my stomach turn.

“What can I do for you?” he asked and placed his tools down before drawing the thin sheet over the corpse, giving me his complete attention after.

“My contractor is scheduled to die tomorrow. I need to get to Collingham Lake quickly.”

“Which contractor?”

“Does it matter?” I shot back. I hated this room. It seemed to spin with the memories. 

“You know it does,” he answered. 

“Heron is going to murder Helen if I do not stop this,” I finally relinquished. He removed the gloves and apron, tossing them in a garbage can nearby.

“When do we leave?” 

“Now.”

~

We drove together during the early hours of the morning. I wished to stay silent, yet Raspin had different ideas.

“What is your plan?” he asked finally.

“Bottle Heron.” 

“Will Helen be alright?” 

“I ensured her safety as part of the order. If she is hurt, my end is broken. I never break a contract,” I declared.

“I mean, will realizing that you contracted him harm her?” he pressed.

“Helen is strong. She has endured much. She will get through this,” I decided.

“Old Man… should I stay?” he asked a bit timidly. I usually enjoyed hearing this nickname from him, but that day it came across as an annoyance.

“What will your presence offer?” I huffed, glancing his way. In the dark I noticed him grip the wheel just a bit tighter.

“You are small, and Heron is a portly man. I just worry for yours and Helen’s safety -”

“My size has nothing to do with this. If anything, my structure makes this task easier. Helen is in good hands, Young Man.” He nodded reluctantly.

“You are rather fond of her, aren’t you?” I said and turned forward again.

“Yes,” he answered me after a moment. 

“She is not the same, you know. She has grown up. She is not the sort of girl capable of love. At least, not the sort that you are looking for.”

“It doesn’t matter. I love her all the same,” he mumbled.

“I see. Well, it is your life. Just beware that Helen’s soul belongs to me, even if you do somehow defeat all odds and earn her heart,” I chuckled.

“Why did you do this to her? Of all the people in this God-forsaken world, why her?” he demanded. I watched the trees move along with the clouds overhead.

“It was Fate, Raspin. The lost always manages to come to me. And I am simply the only one who can bring any sort of peace to her soul. It isn’t up to you to question destiny.” 

“You’re talking to someone who’s beat destiny a million times. I breathed what was determined to be my final breath more than I can count before getting this heart in my chest. Destiny is not predetermined, it changes every single day. We write our own stories, Sabastian,” he stated confidently. 

“What a beautiful sentiment. Foolish and self-absorbed, yes, but ultimately a beautiful way to live.”

~