The Love Story #25

Ann didn’t move neither did she try to protest. She was shocked by Steve’s boldness. Billy went up to her. He pulled her and Maria and guided them into the kitchen, then locked the door. Joe however, remained where he was, his body tense and ready to move.
This was beginning to scare Lee, she didn’t like where this was heading.
Steve was finding this amusing, with a wicked grin on his face, he crushed her arm in his hand. The pain shot through her whole hand like a current. Then he twisted her arm and pinned it on her back, making the pain and discomfort worse.
“Oww!” Lee yelled in pain grabbing at her shoulder.
In a flash, Ash was next to them, his fingers wrapped around Steve’s neck. Ash’s eyes had changed. They were no longer a deep brown. A deep silver color was creeping into his eyes completely submerging the brown.
Lee wasn’t sure what shocked her most, his eyes, or the fact that he was choking Steve.
Steve let go of her and she dropped to the floor, cradling her arm. Ash then lifted him up in the air by his neck, with one hand. His lips twitched on the side, he was more livid than before.
Joe and Billy appeared at his sides, trying to pull his arm and its captive down. Steve was kicking and scratching, gasping for air. He was trying to pry Ash’s fingers open but it was useless. It only made Ash tighten his grip.
“Ash! You’re turning!” Joe sounded urgent, but Ash didn’t draw back.
He then threw Steve across the room like a rag doll. Steve hit the wall with a thud. Lee could swear she heard something break. She didn’t dare move from where she was; she stayed on the floor too stunned to do anything. Steve was wiggling on the floor, crying out in pain and struggling to breathe.
Billy and Joe grabbed Ash’s shoulders, trying their best to restrain him. They were moving so fast that Lee thought she was hallucinating.
“Ash, stop! You are going to kill him!” Billy was the one shouting now. But Ash kept struggling to get free. He heaved forward, and then backward with so much force it sent Joe and Billy flying behind him. He crossed over Lee and had Steve up and pinned on the wall in a second.
Lee was getting lightheaded, everything around her was moving so fast. She raised her good hand and held her head up. Ash was talking, but she couldn’t hear him, her head was spinning.
“I’ll kill you!” Ash whispered in Steve’s ear before he threw him again, this time he landed on the table next to the door. It broke under his weight. Steve’s scream jolted Lee back. She knew he was hurt, bad.
Joe and Billy were on their feet. They rushed to Ash’s side. This time they were able to wrestle him to the ground. Every time Ash got out of Billy’s hold, Joe jumped on him. They were turning, rolling and jumping on each other on the ground. They moved so fast, it was like someone had pressed fast forward. Ash was like a raging bull, fixed on destroying his target.
Ash managed to throw them both off him. He looked around the tables searching for Steve, his silver eyes cold and angry. He spotted Steve and rose to his feet. Steve was out cold, his body limp and bleeding.
“Stop!” Lee scrambled to her feet and stood in Ash’s way. He didn’t take another step. He stood still and looked down at her. His teeth were bared and seemed sharp, his silver eyes were on her, and his breathing was heavy. His arms were wide at his sides with his curled fingers spread open.
Joe and Billy rose from the ground slowly. They stood behind Ash, ready to hold him if need be. With a single word, Lee had done what they had spent five minutes trying to do.
She backed up slowly. She stopped and crouched down next to Steve’s battered body. He was alive, but hurt. She looked up at Ash, shocked, scared; she didn’t know what to say. If he had another second, Steve would be dead.
Ash’s body sagged. He closed his eyes and bowed his head.
“Ann, Maria! I need you!” Lee yelled.
Ann unlocked the kitchen door from the inside and came out running, Maria was hot on her tail. They stopped when they saw Steve’s body.
“Oh my…” Maria’s hand covered her mouth in horror.
“What the hell!” Ann stood there expressionless. She turned and looked at Ash, then Billy.
Lee didn’t have time to explain. “Help me get him into the car, now!” Billy and Joe moved forward, “No, not you.” They stopped. Ash still had his head down.
Maria and Ann carefully helped Steve up. Lee rushed behind the counter and grabbed her car keys and the diner’s keys. She still had her arm cradled against her, it hurt but she was more concerned about Steve.
Ash was watching her as she moved around the diner. She stopped and looked at him, his eyes were brown again, but he looked sad. She couldn’t stand there and comfort him. Steve needed her more. She turned and walked to the door where Ann and Maria were supporting Steve.
“Here, let me.” She took Ann’s place, supporting Steve with her good shoulder. “Lock the door behind them. You’ll have to drive. We’ll wait in the car.” She handed Ann both sets of keys. She held the door open for them to carry Steve out.
After she locked the door, she hugged Billy goodbye. He said something to her before she came running to the car.
After the jeep disappeared over the curve, Lee felt lightheaded again. She opened the window but that didn’t help. All she could see was pitch black, and then she was out.