Sacred (II)

I

Henry POV

I confidently walked through the crowd of cheering people, my wrist burned with sharp pain. But the pain was worth it. I just finished a fistfight leaving my opponent bloody and bruised on the mat. I glanced to my right and a pair of brown eyes caught my attention, I froze on the spot, a little startled. The moment passed as soon as I made eye contact with the women. I turned and continued my way to the locker room, a few people slapping my shoulder as a congratulation.

"Great job Miller! You earned me 5 thousand tonight. You know one day you're going to be a good boxer." My trainer exclaimed with pride, his crow's feet showing as he smiled brightly at me. His face flushed with excitement. I smiled tiredly.

"Thank you, Steven. How much are you giving me tonight?" I asked as I grabbed the towel out of my gym bag,

"3 thousand tonight," he replied with a grin. I nodded and wiped the sweat off my face. The lack of sleep was starting to catch up with me and I knew that it would make me lose a few fights and that wasn't happening. I joined the illegal fighting scene a few months after Rachel's funeral and during that time I killed Terry Lancer. I thought it would give me satisfaction but all it gave me was more grief, I'm so angry with myself. I drove her to Jason when I left her apartment, what if I stayed there? She would be here today, right? The feel of her heart rate slowing down and the last words she uttered haunted me every night,

'Tyler killed my sister.'

I put on my t-shirt, shouldering my bag and left the club through the back door. Steven was leaning on the driver's side of my car holding an envelope,

"Good job tonight. Here's your cash, you have practice at noon tomorrow. Meet me at the track, you have a match with The Beast in 2 days." He said handing me the money and walking to his car,

"Thank you. I'll be there tomorrow!" I yelled. He gave me a thumbs-up,

"Alright see ya!" He exclaimed before getting in his car. I got in my car and threw my duffle bag in the passenger seat. I rested my head against the steering wheel as the image of her dead brown eyes gazing at me flashing through my memory. Then I thought of the pair of eyes I saw tonight, I didn't see her face clearly but she looked just like Rachel. I'm going crazy,

"Fuck. I need some sleep." I mumbled. Starting my car.

When I made it home I got out of my car and closed the garage. I entered my home to find Johnathan sitting at the island in the middle of my kitchen with papers scattered on top of the counter. He looked stressed,

"Hey," I muttered stuffing my duffle bag in the coat closet. Johnathan gave me a glare,

"Hello, Zack. you had me worried, it's almost 2 in the morning." He scolded me, I shook my head.

"I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I earned 3 thousand dollars tonight." I muttered as I opened the refrigerator looking for a bottle of alcohol.

"No. it doesn't make me feel better." He expressed with a sigh.

"Well, it's the only thing helping me right now. If I wasn't doing this then I would be in a different headspace right now." I pointed out. I would probably be at the bottom of a river if it weren't for brutal fistfights. But I wasn't trying to start another disagreement,

"Doing what you're doing isn't going to bring her back." He stated. I halted my search for alcohol and turned around to look at him, he cleared his throat and began gathering the papers on the counter. I stood there in silence. He was right. She has been dead for over a year and nothing was going to bring her back.

"I know.... I just feel like you know-" I paused, my throat began closing. "That-that I would hurt less if I kept on fighting with strangers. It's the only rage I can put out instead of hurting myself, but I can't help but put the blame upon myself." I admitted. I was hurting so badly, the hole in my chest will never be filled again.

"It's not your fault Zack. I want you to know that. Now I looked at your mail and you're behind on 2 bills. Water and lights. Do you need me to pay for it?" Johnathan asked as he gathered his things. I shook my head and turned back to the refrigerator and grabbed the bottle of tequila.

"No John, I'm fine, I can pay for it. Thank you though. You'll never need to pay for my bill again. I don't want to burden you." I uttered feeling a little embarrassed. A month after she died I went into a deep depression, I was becoming an alcoholic. But Johnathan caught me before I went over the edge, which I'm glad for I don't want to be who I was a year ago. I want to face my pain instead of hiding it behind a bottle of alcohol,

"If you need anything just call me alright?" he asked before leaving.

"I will. goodnight." I said. He nodded with a smile,

"Goodnight Zack." He replied before leaving out the front door. I grabbed the bottle of ibuprofen that was on the counter and made my way to my room.

---

I carefully stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around my waist. I looked in my full-length mirror noting the deep gash on my side. I was killing one of my targets when they stabbed me in the side. I was a little caught off guard when he brought up Rachel, that's how I got stabbed. I left the bathroom and put on some boxers and basketball shorts, looking for the needle and thread. Once I found it I grabbed the bottle of tequila and set up shop on the bathroom floor.

I grabbed the bag of cotton balls and a cup, pouring some tequila in it. I dipped the cotton ball in the alcohol and applied it to my wound. I hissed as the burning sensation spread through my body, a wave of goosebumps flowed down my spine as a reaction to the alcohol. Once that one was full of blood I grabbed another cotton ball and did the process again.

"Shit," I grumbled as the burning sensation intensified. I began lightly blowing air on my wound which didn't help the pain. I grabbed the needle and thread and inserted the thread through the needle. 

I took a long sip of tequila waiting for the numb feeling to kick in, Snowy walked in with a small 'meow' she was looking cute with the blue spiky collar. She strolled up to me and sat in my lap, Snowy turned her head to look up at me. I could tell she missed a certain someone. I used the back of my hand to pet the top of her head,

"Me too Snowy. Me too. I wish she was here. I loved your mama, but I wasn't sure if she felt the same way for me." I muttered slowly. " I wish I could see her smile for one more time. You know?" I asked her. Not expecting a response from a cat. Snowy purred in response as she rested her head on my knee.

A half a bottle later and I was ready to begin closing my wound. Once I was finished with my crappy job of sewing a wound back up. I covered my wound with gauze, I threw away the dirty things in the small trash can and grabbed the bottle of tequila. I switched off the bathroom light.

I wobbled to my bed and pushed back the covers and snuggled in my sheets, I grabbed the painkillers on my nightstand and popped two in my mouth and washed it down with some tequila.

I resisted the urge to cry as I laid down on my side and squeezed my pillow. My heart ached with guilt and remorse, the empty feeling becoming more bearable but it still hurt.

***

The morning started with a bad aching headache, Snowy woke me up by licking my face. I swatted her away and sat up with a groan, I knew she was hungry. She jumped off my bed and walked downstairs, I grabbed my forehead as I stood up.

"Shit," I mumbled as I grabbed my phone and made my way downstairs. After I filled Jake and Snowys food bowl I made myself a pot of coffee.

I'm mixing the sugar in my coffee when my phone starts ringing. It came up as unknown but I answered it. It was probably a scam,

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey. I know it's been a while. I have a lot of explaining to do." I almost dropped my mug when I heard the familiar voice.

End of chapter 1...

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you like this first chapter. The saga continues with Rachel and Zack. let me know what you think is going to happen next!

Love ya,

Bri🌹