A Slayer's Story
Part 4Okay, I admit it... yes, I watch "Buffy" and Yes, this was inspired by the show, but it's all it's own... this story is not completed but is currently over 88 pages long. It started one night when I couldn't sleep. I'll post more segments when I have time. Feedback can be sent to stories@iwuvjoey.com. Thank you.
"What happened back at the house, Kyle?" his father asked once Taylor was out of earshot.
"Well, we went in to get some clothes and stuff. We got your's and mom's first. Taylor said she could handle her stuff by herself and for me to go pack, so I did. About a minute later, she screamed. I ran into her room and there we saw Johnny's body, quiet gruesome looking." Kyle explained.
"How'd it get there?" Mr. Clarke asked.
"No one knows dad?"
"Johnny's body was there? How? Why?" Jason asked.
"No one knows." Kyle said again.
"I'm not staying overnight, mom and that's final." Taylor said as they walked back out to the waiting room.
"Please, Taylor. Your stomach is raw, your feverish, and you need to rest."
"No. Johnny's funeral is tomorrow and I refuse to miss it." Taylor said.
"What if I said that you could go to the funeral?" Dr. Bannon said.
"Still no. I don't want to stay here alone." Taylor was firm.
"I'll stay with you." Peter said.
"I don't want to be in the hospital, period." Taylor stated.
"You are still considered a minor, Taylor. What your mother and I say still goes where you're concerned. You're staying overnight and Peter is going to stay with you. No arguments. Understood?" her father said sternly.
"Please, dad. Don't make me stay." she pleaded.
"I'll get you a room." Dr. Bannon said.
"Johnny wouldn't want you making yourself so sick over this, just do this tonight and let the doctors get nourishment in your body. Okay?" Jason asked.
"Dad, don't make her do it."
"It's the only way to get her stomach to keep the food down." her father said.
"Alright...alright...I'll stay. For tonight only." she finally agreed.
"We'll be right across the street." her mother said.
"Just leave me alone." Taylor said and wheeled herself back into the emergency room.
"There's something more to why she doesn't want to stay here, Kyle. What is it?" Mr. Clarke turned to look at his son.
"You wouldn't believe us, if we told you, dad. Peter will stay with her. She'll be fine." Kyle explained and made a quick exit to where Taylor had gone. Peter and Jason followed him.
"I want her to see a psychiatrist." Mrs. Clarke said to her husband.
"Okay. Let's just get her into a room and off to sleep. Then we'll go and get some sleep over at the Bakers'." Mr. Clarke agreed with his wife.
"I don't want to do this, Kyle. I don't want to be here. What if he comes here?" she asked.
"He won't show his face with one of us around. He had perfect opportunity earlier tonight, instead he pulled that cruel joke on you. Any minute that officer is going to show up and tell us that they lost the body again." Kyle assured his sister.
"What if he's really dead this time?" she asked.
"Then we can truly mourn." he answered.
"I wish this was all a dream." Taylor sighed.
"You and me both." Jason said.
"Dr. Bannon's got a room for you, Taylor. Mind if I take you up?" a nurse asked.
"Guess not." Taylor said as the nurse began pushing her toward the elevator.
"Tony, you have to go to her. Let her know I'm okay. That I'm not mad at her. That I need to talk to her, to warn her." Johnny explained to Tony.
"Warn her of what?" Tony asked. He and Johnny had been watching the late news recaps and Tony got to see the events that had happened.
"Warn her of what I've become, of the Order."
"You just heard the news reporter say that they found your body in her room and that she was rushed to the hospital by her family. This must be making her sick, Johnny." Tony argued.
"I know, that's why I want you to go to her for me. That body looks like me, but it's not me. I made it that way so that she would think things were back to normal." Johnny explained.
"Johnny, she won't believe me. I don't know if she'll even talk to me." Tony pointed out.
"You were there tonight at the high school. You saw how she was. She still loves me."
"But, Johnny. You're no longer human."
"I don't care about that anymore. She's my girl and I will always protect her. Always." Johnny slammed his fist down on the table.
"I'll see her tomorrow at your funeral. I'll try to talk to her then. But you gotta stop coming here like this, Johnny. You're suppose to be dead." Tony told him.
"Once I know that she feels safe again, I won't bother you here anymore. But, until then, you've gotta be the go between, alright?"
"I understand. Now, get outta here before you get me in trouble."
"Pete? You awake?" Taylor asked when she woke up at 3:00am.
"What's the matter?" Peter asked her.
"I can't sleep. I'm too scared." Taylor admitted to him.
"He won't show up here, if he is still alive." Peter said.
"Maybe not here, but in my dreams, he will."
"Is that so bad?"
"Only when I dream that he's trying to make me into a vampire."
Peter got up and walked over to her bed.
"Sit up." he told her. She did as she was told. He sat on the edge of the bed. "Okay, you can lean back now."
"What, you're going to let me lay here like this all night?" Taylor asked him.
"Not like I haven't done it before. Remember when Sarah's parents were gone for the weekend and we were all over her house. You and Johnny had an argument. I tried calming you down and we both fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up you were in my arms." Peter said.
"Johnny and Sarah both thought that something was going on between us after that."
"They got over it though."
"What has happened to Sarah?" Taylor asked.
"She's living in LA with her parents while attending college. She called yesterday when she found out about Johnny."
"At least she doesn't have to deal with the crap that's been goin on around here." Taylor yawned.
"Sshhh, let's just try to get some sleep, okay?" Peter didn't want to talk about Sarah anymore.
"Okay. G'night." Taylor closed her eyes and drifted back off to sleep.
"Taylor? Taylor?" Peter whispered when he awoke the next morning. She didn't move. He carefully lifted her up and placed her down on the bed so he could get up and stretch. Dr. Bannon came into the room.
"Good morning, Peter. How did you sleep?"
"Like a rock. What time is it?"
"Seven. Did Taylor sleep through the night?"
"More or less. She only stayed because her parents forced her to and I promised to stay the night. She's scared. Send her home." Peter told the doctor.
"Scared of what? I don't understand."
"And if I told you the reason, you'd think I was mental."
"If she eats breakfast and it stays down, then I'll release her." Dr. Bannon said and looked at her chart.
"Fine. Thank you." Peter said and looked out the window. Taylor woke up about a half hour later.
"Peter?"
"It's okay, I'm here." he said, coming out of the bathroom.
"What time is it?"
"Almost eight."
"We gotta go. The funeral's at ten."
"You have to eat something first." Peter said pointing to her tray.
"I can do this." Taylor said while looking at the plate, "What's to guarantee that I won't toss it back up again?"
"The fluids they gave you last night. You should be out of the woods, Taylor." Dr. Carolyn Tyson, Taylor's aunt, came into the room.
"Auntie Carol! When did you get back from Grammie's?" Taylor was surprised to see her Aunt.
"Last night. Your mom finally called Grammie so Grammie and I flew back on the red eye. Grammie is with your mom now. How you feeling?"
"Hungry, but I don't think I can keep it down."
"Peter, can you run down to the cafeteria and get some more milk for Taylor? T...you're gonna want to pee so bad when you're done with breakfast it won't be funny, okay?" Dr. Tyson said.
"What's the trick?"
"To make sure everything that goes down is wet, not dry. From what I understand, you were throwing up blood last night. Well, your stomach wall should be well on it's way to being healed so milk won't hurt you. Just make sure you finish all the milk. I'll try to stop by after my rounds." Dr. Tyson kissed her on the forehead before leaving. When Peter got back, she ate everything on her tray and drank her orange juice and extra milk.
"How'd you do?" Peter asked when he and Kyle walked thru the door a few minutes later.
"All gone. I'm stuffed. Don't feel nauseous either." she replied.
"Good, then we can spring you out of here." Kyle told her.
"Where's Grammie?"
"She went with mom and dad back to the house."
"Did they find anything?"
"No...and we were right. The body is missing again."
"Great! This thing that Johnny has become is still lurking around. What are we going to do?" Taylor asked.
"Watch our backs. He won't try anything with Peter, Jason, and me around."
"Kyle, he was up in one of the trees last night when we were watching the police go thru the house. I saw him. I talked to him." Taylor told her brother.
"I know you did. I believe you, sis. I just wish you didn't have to go through this. Are you sure that you don't feel sick?"
"I'm fine. At least I hope I am. I want to get the funeral over with and try to get life back to normal."
Tony came into the room.
"Tony! How'd you know I was here?"
"The news. I met up with your dad in the lobby and he told me what room you were in. Um, I need to talk to you."
"It's okay to talk in front of Peter and Kyle. They know about everything that's happened." Taylor told him.
"The same time the body was discovered last night, Johnny was in my dorm room.” Tony explained.
“It doesn’t matter, Tony. Okay, it doesn’t matter. My family has been threatened and I want it to stop...NOW!” Taylor yelled.
“T...calm down.” Peter said. A nurse came running into the room.
“Taylor?”
“I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry, but sir, you’ll have to leave.” the nurse said to Tony.
“Fine, this isn’t over, Taylor. It’s just begun.” He said as he left. Taylor looked at Peter.
“Don’t listen to him, Taylor.” Peter said and grabbed her hand. Taylor felt nauseous again but didn’t tell anyone.
“I brought over a pant suit and a dress so you could decide which one to wear.” Kyle said and handed the bag to her.
“Thanks, Kyle. Would you guys mind?” Taylor asked, referring the guys to leave the room so she could change.
“We’ll be right outside.” Kyle said as he and Peter left the room.
“Taylor, the lab screwed up your blood work. I’d like to do another series.” Dr. Bannon said a few minutes later. “Taylor?”
“I’m in the bathroom. Could you give me a few minutes?” she replied weakly. Dr. Bannon opened the door. She was sitting on the floor next to the toilet. The toilet was full of blood.
“Are you okay, Taylor?”
“No, no, I’m not okay.” she admitted to both him and herself.
“I don’t think you should go to the funeral, young lady.”
“Please, I have to go, Dr. Bannon. I need to say goodbye.”
“I’ll see if I can get Dr. Tyson to go with you, but if she can’t. I think it would be best if you did not go anywhere until I figure out what’s wrong with you. Understand?”
“Either way, I have to be there, Dr. Bannon.” Taylor stated. Dr. Bannon helped her back to bed.
“Taylor, it’s me and Pete.” Kyle said as Taylor got back under the covers.
“What’s going on?” Peter asked.
“I don’t think she should go to the funeral. She’s just thrown up some more blood. Kyle, I need to talk to your parents.” Dr. Bannon explained. Taylor layed on her side with her back to everyone. Tears falling down her face.
“I’ll call them.” Kyle said. He and Dr. Bannon left the room.
“Peter, I can’t stay here. We have to get out of here. Please help me.” Taylor sobbed.
“Let’s just see what the doctor has to say?”
“He wants to do some more blood work, Peter. He says the lab screwed up the first samples. You and I know differently.” She stated.
“How do you think we can do this?”
“Show my parents the pictures you took. Tell them what’s been going on. Just get me out of here.” she pleaded.
“How are you feeling?”
“Nauseous.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“T...I just saw your parents talking with Dr. Bannon. What’s going on?” Carrie asked.
“Nothing, Carrie. Just go away. Please.” Taylor said. Carrie looked at Peter.
“It’s for the best Carrie if you leave.” he said.
“Why are all of you shutting me out?” Carrie wanted to know.
“Not now, Carrie. Please leave!” Peter said a little more demanding. Kyle came into the room.
“Carrie, let’s talk.” Kyle said and led her out of the room.
“Peter, I have my trust fund from my grandparents. It’s not alot, but it’s enough to get us far away from here and settled in somewhere else. Please, get me out of here.” Taylor begged.
“Taylor, I know you’re scared but we just can’t run off.”
“Yes, we can. Please...for my sanity.”
“I’ll go talk with Kyle and Jason. If we’re going to do anything, it’ll have to be today, during the funeral.” Peter said.
“So you agree with me.”
“I agree that we need to get you away from here. Enough said. I’ll be right back.” Peter said.
“Dr. Tyson will be able to go with you to the funeral Taylor.” Dr. Bannon came into the room followed by Taylor’s parents.
“What’s going on?”
“Taylor, I believe you have a bleeding ulcer and it seems to be pretty bad. Have you been peeing any blood lately?” he asked.
“No. Just throwing it up since yesterday morning. What do you mean by a bleeding ulcer?”
“Well, remember the CAT scan we did yesterday, it shows a mass on your stomach wall and your blood tests confirm that. Someone you’re age should not be experiencing ulcers.” Dr. Bannon explained.
“Honey, you’re going to have to have surgery.” Taylor’s father explained.
“No! No surgery.” Taylor stated flat out.
“Taylor, it has to be treated.”
“No, no surgery. You’re not going to open me up. No way, no how.” Taylor said as she stared at her father.
“Taylor, they need to take a closer look at this.”
“No daddy. I won’t be put under anesthesia.”
“Taylor, you are still a minor and what your mother and I agree to goes. My decision is final on this Taylor.” her father stated.
“Leave me alone. All of you.” Taylor said and turned her back to them.
“Taylor, we’re only doing this to make you better.” Her father said softly as he, her mother, and Dr. Banning left the room.
“Taylor? Taylor?” Peter came into the room 5 minutes later. She wasn’t in the bed so he looked in the bathroom and in the closet before running out into the hall. “Where’s Taylor?” he asked a nurse.
“What do you mean? The doctor and her parents just came out of there.”
“Taylor’s not in her room is what I mean. Damn it!” Peter slammed his fist down and ran to the waiting room.
“Peter, what’s wrong?” Kyle asked immediately.
“Taylor’s gone. She’s not in her room.” Kyle bolted for Taylor’s room. Peter and Jason followed.
“Where is she?” Kyle asked, he didn’t wait for an answer. “I know where she’s going, c’mon.”
“Wait, let’s go nice and calmly so that we don’t panic the staff.” Jason said. The guys quietly left the hospital and headed for the pond.
“Jason, you should get to the funeral home. We’ll keep looking for her.” Kyle said as they all stopped to take a breath.
“Call me and let me know what’s up, alright.” Jason asked.
“We will.” Peter promised.
“You know your parents will be looking for her.” Jason said to Kyle.
“That’s why we have to find her first. Just tell them we’re looking for her too.” Kyle said.
“Alright.”
“She’s not here, Pete. We’ve checked every inch.” Kyle explained as he climbed down from the weeping willow tree.
“Where else could she be?” Peter asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s check the football field before we go to my house, thou, ok?” Kyle asked.
“Okay.” Peter said. They went back to Pete’s car and drove to the football field. Peter found her sitting under one of the touchdown posts.
“Kyle, give us a few minutes, alright?” Peter asked as Kyle got ready to sprint to his sister.
“Make it quick. Now is a perfect opportunity to get her out of here. Everyone’s probably scoping out my house or the pond by now.” Kyle said.
“Whatever. Just keep an eye out alright.” Peter asked.
“Okay, here take my jacket. She looks cold.” Kyle handed Peter her jacket.
“Hi Taylor.” Peter said as he sat down next to her.
“I didn’t know where else to go, Peter. The last time I went to the pond, he was there and almost made me hurt myself. I was going to go home, but that didn’t seem too good of an idea.” she said, not looking at him.
“It’s alright now. Kyle and I found you and that’s all that matters.” Peter said, slipping Kyle’s jacket around her shoulders.
“I’m not going back to the hospital. Please don’t take me back there.”
“We have no intention of taking you back there. What happened in the hospital after I left?” he asked.
“Dr. Bannon thinks I have a bleeding ulcer. They want to perform surgery. After you left so I could change, he found me in the bathroom, throwing up some more blood.” she told him
“Well, we’re going to take care of you. C’mon, we’re going to my grandfather’s cabin until we are sure what’s going on and grammie will help get you well.” Peter said.
“I don’t think I can walk on my own, Pete.” she admitted to him.
“That’s alright. I’ll carry you.” Peter said. She smiled.
“Let’s go.” Peter picked her up and carried her as if she were a pillow because she was so light.
“Who’s car are we taking?”
“Your brother’s. It has a CB so we can monitor what’s going on. And, he’s already got some bags packed. Your brother’s been a very busy boy this morning.” Kyle came running over to them.
“I just heard that you’ve been a very busy boy this morning. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Actually, for once, I’m guilty. How you doin?” he asked.
“I’m okay, let’s just get out of here.” she said.
“Kevin, we have to find your daughter. If this goes untreated she could die.” Dr. Bannon explained to the Clarkes.
“Something is going on that is beyond all control for all of us. If Taylor truly believed that the surgery would fix the problem, she’s still be in the hospital. The police are looking for her. Jason said Kyle and Peter are looking for her and he’s going back out to look for her after this is over with. I’m going to take my wife home and then go look for her so don’t you dare tell me how serious this is. I know this is serious. My little girl is so very emotional right now that she won’t let her own family in. Her boyfriend was brutally murdered and she was put into the hospital. the past three days have been very emotional for her. I will find my daughter doctor. I will get to the truth.” Mr. Clarke said as he stood in the back of the church to speak with the doctor. Taylor was discovered missing when her Aunt went in with an orderly to take her to the funeral an hour after the guys had gone in to investigate.
“Dad’s going to be really pissed off.” Taylor said as they drove out of town and headed for the mountains.
“Here, call the house and leave a message.” Kyle said and handed her the cell phone.
“Make it brief.” Peter stated.
“Daddy, it’s me. I’m okay. Please, don’t try to find me. When I get to where I’m going, I’ll call again and explain everything. I love you and mom very much. Please don’t try to find me. I need some time.” Taylor said and hung up as quickly as possible. “How was that?”
“That was good.”
“Where are we going again?” Kyle asked Peter.
“My dad’s parents cabin in the woods. I’ve already called them so they know we’re coming. Don’t worry about anything. My dad doesn’t speak to them. Thinks they’re too eccentric. We’ll be safe there.” Peter explained. “Taylor, how are you doing back there?”
“I’m tired.”
“Then go ahead and fall asleep. We have a two hour drive ahead of us.” Peter suggested.
“What did you guys say to Carrie?” Taylor wanted to know.
“We told her to give you some time.” Kyle turned on the CB. Jason was on channel 15 trying to get a hold of them.
“Where are you?”
“On our way.”
“Everything okay? House is clear for now.”
“Just peachy. Stand by for landline.” Kyle replied. He dialed Jason’s house.
“Kyle. How’s Taylor?”
“She’s tired and weak. We’re on our way. When Peter comes back for supplies, he’ll pick you up. Alright?”
“You bet. Listen. There’s a prof from New York who is interested in speaking to Taylor. I received an email from him.”
“Print it out and erase the note.”
“Your parents are really worried. Reporters are going on the air asking for Taylor to come home. That’s she’s very sick.”
“Jason, if we take her back to the hospital, they’ll wisk her away and none of us will ever see her again. Dr. Bannon wanted to perform surgery on her. You know as well as I do that they won’t be able to transfuse her blood. Look, I can’t continue talking about this. We’ll talk later.” Kyle said and hung up the phone, he looked back at his sister. She was sound asleep.
“Any word from the boys?” Mrs. Clarke asked her husband when they got in the car to go to Jason’s parents house.
“No and I don’t like it. Not a bit.” Kevin replied.
“You don’t think Kyle and Peter ran off with her, do you? Why would they do that?” she asked her husband.
“Something’s up. I don’t know what. But something hasn’t been right since Johnny’s roommate Tony showed up the other night. Taylor hasn’t been herself and Kyle, Jason, and Peter have been overly protective of her.” Kevin told his wife.
“Don’t wake her, I’ll get her.” Kyle said as they pulled up to his grandparents’ home.
“I’ll get the bags.” Peter said and popped the hood.
“Johnny?” Taylor stirred when Kyle lifted her out of the car.
“Ssshhh, little one. I’ve got you. You’re safe.” Kyle said as he followed Peter up the steps to the front porch.
“We were wondering when all of you would get here.” Peter’s grandfather said as he opened the door to greet them.
“Hi grampa. This is Kyle and Taylor. We really don’t want to wake her just yet.”
“Follow me, I’ll show you your rooms.” A young lady said from the hallway.
“And you are?” Peter asked.
“Jenny. I’m your cousin, Peter.” she replied.
“It’s alright, Peter, she’s here to help.” his grandfather assured him.
“Let’s get Taylor into bed, okay? Then I’ll tell you and Kyle everything you want to know about me.” Jenny explained.
“Lead the way.” Kyle said.
“Good, gramm’s finishing the rooms as we speak. Let me start explaining who I am by stating that Kyle, Peter never knew about me or his other cousins for that matter. See my mother and his father haven’t spoken since they were teenagers. Peter’s dad ran away from home because he thinks that gramm and grampa are too eccentric.”
“Dad always said he was an only child. Never really talks about Gramm and Grampa very much. He lets mom send them pictures of us but that’s about it.”
“Remember that business trip he took for three weeks last summer? He was up here helping Gramm with the house. Grampa had a heartattack and was recuperating.” Jenny showed them into a room. “This room is for Taylor.” Kyle laid Taylor down on the bed and covered her with the afghan.
“Jenny, just how ecclectic are Gramm and Grampa?” Peter asked.
“They’re witches.” Jenny said without hesitation.
“Let’s go Peter.” Kyle said immediately and went back over to the bed to get Taylor.
“They are not going to hurt any of us.” Jenny stopped Kyle.
“The last thing my sister is going to understand is that your grandparents are practicing witchcraft. She’s already come face to face with a vampire. This is going to drive her to go mental!” he said just loud enough for Taylor to stir.
“Look! Taylor needs her rest. Let’s take this out into the hallway.” Peter said. Kyle took one last look at his sister before going out into the hallway with Jenny behind him and Peter holding the door.
“Kyle if I truly believed that my grandparents would hurt any of us, you wouldn’t be here.” Jenny told him.
“Can they really help my sister? Can they get the ex-boyfriend’s vampire being to leave her alone?” Kyle was desperate to know.
“Yes. They can. Now, let’s leave your sister be and go grab something to eat.” Jenny suggested.
“You two go on. I don’t want her to wake up and not know where she is.”
“We’ll bring up a tray, okay?” Jenn suggested.
"Thank you. Kyle, you're going to love my grandmother." Peter smiled.
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