Post by Cause and Effect on Aug 6, 2017 8:34:03 GMT
Late at night, I could hear the crying.
I hear it all, trying to fall asleep.
When all the love around you is dying..
How do you stay so strong?
How did you hide it all for so long?
How can I take the pain away?
How can I save a fallen angel?
I hear it all, trying to fall asleep.
When all the love around you is dying..
How do you stay so strong?
How did you hide it all for so long?
How can I take the pain away?
How can I save a fallen angel?
A stow away.
Night had long since fallen across Seattle, Washington. A sixteen year old Xavier Laroux laid, restless in his bed, bloodshot eyes staring up at the ceiling above him. Thoughts ran through his head at a mile a minute. A frustrated groan slipped free as he slowly rose up to a seated position, the thin white sheet falling down across his bared torso. Turning his head to look at the red numbers on the front of that alarm clock, he shook his head at the two-thirty a.m. time. Climbing out of that bed, he made his way out of his room, stepping out into the living room to see the television still on, his passed out mother laid out across the couch, an arm and leg draped off of the side of it.
All Xavier could do was shake his head at the sight before moving on. Walking into that hallway, he stopped in front of the open door on his left. Looking inside of the room, he saw his youngest sibling, his sister Alaina Laroux as she slept soundly, not a care in the world on her smiling face. A soft smile broke out across his face as he turned to make his way back through that living room and out onto the front porch. Grabbing up the pack of cigarettes and lighter on the small table next to his chair, Xavier took a long hit off of it, setting those items back down. Letting his head fall back, he exhaled the smoke upwards. Bringing his hands up, he rubbed his face roughly, sighing into his palms.
At about that time, an unassuming black sedan pulled up in front of that less than modest house. A hint of confusion showed on the features of Xavier as he watched his older brother, Gabriel Laroux climb out. Xavier rose up from his chair, a smirk growing across his face as he watched Gabe make his way up to the porch. The elder was dressed in a pair of black leather pants matched up with a mesh shirt and a black leather jacket over it. The brothers hugged one another tightly before Xavier took a step back, looking Gabe up and down and then to that car before looking back to him.
”Man, look at you. New ride, new digs, you got it made man.”
Little did they know, while the two of them caught up and smoked their cigarettes, Alaina stood in her window, looking out at the two of them. It felt so long since she saw Xavier that happy, on top of that, it was even longer since she saw her oldest brother Gabriel. She watched the two of them move out back and she saw her perfect moment. Climbing out of her bed, still adorned in her pajamas, she made her way outside before silently opening the passenger side door of Gabriel’s car, climbing into the backseat, trying to conceal herself to the best of her ability. While she was doing that, Gabriel and Xavier were in the middle of a conversation in the backyard.
”I need your help on a job. Your mom will never find out and the money will be good for you. I know school’s coming up soon and Atticus and Alaina are going to need things.”
The slightest hesitation from Xavier, knowing full well the truth of Gabriel’s words, the both of them needing new clothes, shoes, school supplies. This wasn’t something a sixteen year old was supposed to be concerned about but seeing as the grove in that couch was the only thing their mother was making anymore, it was something that fell on him. He turned his head to look at Gabriel with a tilt of the head, an inquisitive look upon his face.
”What kinda job?”
”Simple in and out job. The guy owes my boss a substantial amount of money and he wants me to collect. He’s out of town so it’s a minor B and E job at best.”
”If it’s so simple, why do you need my help?”
Gabriel couldn’t help but to laugh at the suspicion showed by Xavier. Unable to fault him for it, he walked over to stop next to his younger brother, bringing his arm up to rest it upon his shoulders.
”There’s a number of reasons: I’ve been keeping an..eye on things here and I know you need the help, I also know you won’t just take the money if I give it to you. The job will be quicker and easier with the two of us. And maybe I just wanted to spend some time with my little brother.”
”Bonding over criminal acts. I dig it.”
Another hearty laugh slipped from behind the lips of Gabriel as he turned his head to look down at his younger brother almost expectantly. Slowly, Xavier nodded his head, that arrogant smirk he would eventually become known for growing across his face. Gabriel’s smile grew larger as the two of them made their way back up towards the front. Making a b-line towards that car, Gabriel got in as Xavier ran back inside to pull on a black t-shirt and lock everything up. Making his way back out to that car, he climbed in as Gabriel started it up, driving off into the darkness, still unknowing of their passenger.
”You’ll be back before sunrise. They’ll never even know you left.”
It was about an hour drive and during which, they were able to catch up on a lot. Basically relaying the events up until now to one another. They parked a few houses down from that two story house. A brief discussion about just what the plan was and what to take was followed by the two of them getting out of the car. As they walked along that concrete sidewalk, little Alaina peeked her head up, looking out of her window to see where they were going. Once they disappeared going to the back of that house, Alaina silently followed. Xavier and Gabriel made their way to the backdoor only for Xavier to find it locked. He looked to Gabriel, slight worry showing in his features. Holding up a single finger, Gabriel kneeled down, looking at the arrangement of rocks in a flower bed beside the steps. Catching sight of a rock that didn’t look like the rest, he picked it up, smirking as he saw the key taped to the underside of it.
Tossing it up to Xavier, he unlocked the door as the two of them crept inside. They split up, knowing exactly what to look for. As they explored the house, they saw numerous things of value but sticking to the job, they were only looking for one thing in particular. A medium sized jewelry box, rather unassuming to anyone not knowing what to look for. Xavier was the one to find it, a bit surprised at the heaviness of the box, probably caused by the items within. Resisting the urge to look inside of it, he began to walk around, looking for Gabriel. His search was finished when he heard the voice of Gabriel from the area they entered the house in.
Xavier followed the sound of Gabriel’s voice only to find his older brother standing in the kitchen, staring eye to eye with an older male. His heart sank as he saw the unknown man holding Alaina, his arm wrapped around her throat as he held her still. Almost instantly, Xavier set that box down onto the top of the kitchen table, carefully moving to stand beside Gabriel.
“You two little punks think you can get one up on me? Tell your boss..”
He pointed towards Gabriel with his free hand.
“That he can go fuck himself. He’s not getting a fucking dime out of me.”
”Look, that’s between you two. Let my fuckin sister go.”
Before that man could respond, Gabriel lunged at the man. He reacted, throwing Alaina to the side as her head slammed against the edge of the table, her body falling to the floor in a heap. Clearly, the man didn’t intend for that, judging by the look of shock on his features. Taking advantage of this, Gabriel was quick to drive a balled fist into the side of the man’s face, dropping him to the floor as well. The eldest saw the last sight he ever wanted to see: Xavier was huddled over Alaina, having her propped up while trying to bring her back to consciousness. Turning his head, Gabriel spotted a solid wood cutting board on that counter, gripping the handle of it with the tightest of grips. He brought it above his head before driving it down onto that man’s unprotected face.
That first shot echoed with a thudding impact. The shots that followed lessened in that sound, drifting to a rather stomach turning wet squishing sound. Splatters of blood surrounded Gabriel, speckled across that floor, his hands and face stained by that crimson color. That cutting board fell freely from the hand of Gabriel, landing on the floor. An emotionless gaze covered the face of Gabriel as he sat upon his knees, unmoving. It was as if Gabriel was somewhere entirely different than the current point in time. That was until the voice of Xavier shook him from his trance.
”I think she’s gonna be o..”
His head raising as he spoke, he stopped dead sentence as he saw that man’s limp body sprawled out on the floor, the splatters of blood all around including adorning the face of Gabriel. Xavier’s lips parted, a look of horror on his features.
”...Gabe..”
”Take Alaina and get out of here.”
”B..But..”
”NOW!”
The feeling of those keys smacking against his chest jerked Xavier back to his senses. Snatching up those keys, he hoisted Alaina up before making his way towards that back door. Stopping as he reached it, he looked over to see Gabriel still in that kneeling position, his eyes fixated down onto his blood stained hands. Tightening his expression, Xavier pushed out of that door, carrying Alaina out with him.
______________________________________________________________________________
..she won.
Knowing all full well who it was against, “YOUR Favorite Drug” Xavier Laroux couldn’t help but to relish in the feeling of pride and happiness as he watched his sister throw Cass Baumer off of that stage. For once, everything was right with their family. Xavier turned to look at Gabriel with a genuinely happy smile..and then it happened. Alaina struck like a bolt of lightning, grabbing hold of Xavier and launching him off of that very same stage. As soon as his body made impact, everything went black for Laroux. Of course, the match ended with Alaina dragging Xavier over top Cass, demanding that Gabriel made the count. Although reluctant, he did as he was supposed to as Special Guest Referee. Alaina attempted to explain just what was happening, trying to make herself look innocent and it almost worked until Gabriel felt the cold steel of that chair cracking across his back. As the eldest Laroux crumbled, the youngest, Alaina, stepped up into the face of Lennox Daniels, the very woman who just leveled Gabriel. She snatched that chair and just when she seemed as if she was going to take out the woman causing her family so much grief, she turned around, raining down multiple chair shots across the back of the fallen Gabriel.
Satisfied with her work, Alaina threw the chair down before throwing her arms around Lennox, the two embracing before parting and raising their arms high into the air. As they made their exit, the medical team rushed to the scene, splitting up. Gabriel was helped to his feet, a look of physical pain dominating his features. Clearly not thinking about the whole situation, including the possible injuries he could have sustained, he shoved the medical personnel out of his way as he staggered towards where they were recovering Cass and Xavier from the rubble. Despite his own pain, Gabriel stood on guard while the team collected his younger brother.
Back at one of the medical rooms, Gabriel leaned against a wall, his arms almost hugging himself as his body was wrecked with pain. He watched as they examined Xavier before the younger Laroux began to come to. The pain on Xavier’s face was nothing compared to the expression that grew as he realized just what had happened. In all honesty, he didn’t want to believe it so he had to ask, he had to know if what he remembered was true. Forcing himself up to a seated position, his face twisting. His breath caught in his throat as he managed to speak.
”Wh..what..happened out there?”
Every fiber of Gabriel’s being told him to lie, told him to make up literally any story imaginable. Just not tell him the truth. Before he could come up with something, the look that broke out across his face completely sold him out as told by the look of utter betrayal laid out upon Xavier’s face. He began pushing back the people examining him, his features, as tight as they were, allowing his lower lip to quiver. Gabriel ushered everyone out of the room, letting the door close behind them.
Sitting on that examination table, Xavier stared blankly off in the distance. His own sister Alaina had just turned on him, she threw him off the stage. The attack on Atticus that left him with broken hands, the threats sent towards his daughter, everything had just boiled over once the feeling of betrayal set in. After everything..
”..fuck..”
Like a tsunami, everything came crashing down, tears began flowing freely from the eyes of the usual cheery individual. His hands coming up to cover his face, Xavier buried his face in those hands, his body shaking with the uncontrollable sobbing.
I was right beside you when you went to hell and back again.
I was right beside you when you went to hell and back again.
I couldn’t save..
A fallen angel.
[/i]I was right beside you when you went to hell and back again.
I couldn’t save..
A fallen angel.