Rene and Khal rode to the hospital together in the ambulance, after which they were split up and sent into separate rooms to be treated. Rene’s blood pressure was spiking as the nurses fussed over him, getting an IV going for dehydration, cleaning up his wounds. After things had settled down a bit, it became clear that his main nurse was itching to ask him about what had happened with the serial killer, as she dropped hints about how crazy the situation was. 

Rene wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information. All of it was all too freshly painful and terrifying for him. 

Rene inquired about Emory and Ari. He very nearly brought up Misha, but remembered that his beloved husband was dead. The pain hit him all over again like a baseball bat to the gut, and he curled up in his bed as the nurse assured him they would reach out to Ari and Emory. 

Rene dozed on and off, his dreams a myriad of horrible images. He woke up at one point with a shout as he pictured the serial killer running toward him down a hall with bloodshot eyes and a large knife. This startled the nurse so badly that she ended up dropping the tray she had been carrying. It clattered to the floor with all its contents as she screamed in surprise.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Rene said, trying to get out of bed to help her. She placed a hand on his shoulder and assured him that it was fine, then proceeded to clean up the mess quickly as Rene covered his face with his hands as he struggled to calm himself. 

He was safe now, he reminded himself. There were nurses, doctors, CNAs, and security to protect him. Besides, the killer was dead. No one was going to be coming for him. Nevertheless, the horrible thoughts plagued his mind. The horrors of the last few days kept his adrenaline pumping, and it was hard to settle his thoughts. 

He wished that Khal was there with him. Knowing his friend had shared his experience brought him a sort of comfort. He wanted to talk to him, to process with him, to have Khal remind him that everything would be okay. 

“Hey, do you want me to request something to help you relax?” The nurse asked. 

Rene thought of the shot that man had given him at the library. He shook his head. He didn’t want to feel any more vulnerable than he already did, no matter how much it soothed him. 

“Alright.” His nurse said. “By the way, I’ve spoken to your family, they’ll be here any time.”

Rene looked at her, feeling a flood of gratitude. 

“Thank you.” He said. “Thank you so much.”

Minutes later, there was a little face peering around the doorway. Rene almost got off the bed to run to Emory, but he remembered the IV. He sat up straight. She dashed over to him and jumped into his arms, her face immediately buried in his chest as she let out a whimper. 

“I was so scared, daddy! I was so scared that you weren’t going to come back.” Emory sobbed into his shirt.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.” Rene held her so tight. He was afraid to let go. Afraid that this was another dream, and if he dared to move, everything would fade away and he’d still be trapped on that dirty mattress in that horrible basement, waiting for whatever horrors came next. 

He looked up to see Ari slowly enter the room. She’d been crying. Rene raised an arm, and she too rushed over to embrace him. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Ari breathed. “We were so shocked when they called us and told us you were here. Every day, we hoped that you would make it back to us.”

“I did make it back.” Rene forced a smile as Ari backed away from the hug, wiping her eyes. “I’m here now. I’m okay.”

Okay was such a relative term. He felt pretty far from okay. But he was there. He was holding his darling little girl, and the man who wished him harm was dead and gone. 

Emory squeezed him tighter, and Rene simply held her for the longest time. 

Emory and Ari stayed with him throughout the day. They chatted away about Emory’s school, and how many classes she had missed since everything had been so chaotic. Ari pointed out that Emory’s teacher was more than happy to help her catch up, and how she’d likely transition to the next grade just fine at the end of the year. 

They tiptoed around the topic of where exactly Rene had been. Ari was very happy to hear that Khal had made it out alive, and offered to go visit with him. Rene pointed out that Khal was a lot worse off than he was at the moment, and probably needed to rest. In all honesty, Rene wanted the chance to really talk to him first. He was anxious to speak to his friend, and wished he’d said more before they left the house. 

Emory brought up the burns on Rene’s throat, but he deflected by turning on the television so they could watch a movie. They settled on Twister on TBS, and Emory cuddled up with her father while they all watched it. Out of the corner of his eye, Rene could see Ari glancing at him, clearly wanting to ask more, to understand more. He was relieved that she didn’t say anything, especially with Emory around. 

Just as the movie ended, there was a knock on the door. Rene looked up to see two officers coming in. His stomach lurched as his mind immediately jumped to the conclusion that they were here to arrest him for murder. 

“Hello, Mr. Bloom. I’m officer Luna, this is officer Bernal. I’m sorry we didn’t get here sooner, but we needed to ask you some questions about the events of the last few days. Is now a good time to talk?”

“Um,” Rene swallowed. “Yeah. Ari, could you-“

Before he could even ask, Ari was taking Emory’s hand. 

“C’mon, Sweetheart, let’s go check out the cafeteria while daddy talks to the officers.” Ari said. 

Rene felt sick watching Emory go, his mind screaming that he might not see her again, even though that was illogical. Once they were out of the room, officer Luna closed the door, and officer Bernal pulled out a writing pad.

“Thank you for talking to us. I know this has all been incredibly difficult. We just need a summary of the events from your point of view. Anything you can recall for now, and then we’ll be out of your hair.” Said officer Bernal. “Starting on the night you disappeared from the library. Ending with when you called 9-1-1 from the suspect’s house.”

“Okay.” Rene ran his fingers nervously through his hair, suddenly acutely aware of how much he needed to shower. He began to relay to the officers everything that had happened. The man drugging him and stalking him through the library. Finding Frank’s body. The torture. The ankh tattoo, which the officers took a picture of. And finally, how he’d managed to take the killer down. Officer Bernal scribbled rapidly in his writing pad while officer Luna continued to ask questions, intent on the details. 

“You’ve been through the ringer, it seems.” Said officer Luna. “And all of this just weeks after your spouse passed. I can only imagine.”

There was that pang of sorrow as he thought about Misha again. Rene said nothing as he looked at the officers. 

“You did an incredible thing, taking that man down. You certainly saved your friend’s life.” Said officer Bernal.

“Am I…will I be in trouble for killing him?” Rene asked. 

The officers looked at him in confusion.

“Why would you be in trouble for that?” Asked officer Luna. 

“I took a life.” Rene pointed out. “I murdered a man.”

“You defended yourself, and your friend.” Said officer Luna. “You’re not going to jail for this, you’re a freaking hero.”

Rene didn’t feel very heroic. He kept reliving the man’s body going limp in his arms. The feeling made him sick. 

“Is there anything else you can think of?” Asked officer Bernal.

Rene shook his head. He’d told them pretty much everything. 

“Do you have any questions?” Asked officer Bernal.

“My friend, Khal, have you spoken to him yet?” Rene asked. 

“Not yet. Why?” Asked officer Luna.

“I was just wondering how he’s doing.” Rene said. “I’m worried about him.”

“We’re going to see him next.” Said officer Luna. “We’ll send your regards.”

“Thank you.” Rene said. 

“Take care, Mr. Bloom.” Said officer Luna. “Get some rest. And watch out for the press. I saw some on the way in, and I suspect they’ll be poking around soon. Don’t share too much with them. We’re still trying to figure out how many victims there were, and we’re hoping not to have our work impeded.”

Rene nodded. 

The officers both shook his hand, then headed out of the room, leaving the door open. 

Rene wished he had his cellphone so that he could text Ari. He wanted nothing more than to have Emory back in his arms at that point. He wondered what had become of his phone. Would it be in evidence? Or sitting in the library’s lost and found? The adventures of Rene’s cellphone played out in his mind as a children’s book as he imagined it walking out the library and down the road. 

Talking to the officers must have calmed him down somewhat, as he was now sure he wasn’t going to jail for manslaughter. The silly thoughts played in his mind until he saw Emory come running into the room again with a small baggy.

“We brought you cookies, daddy!” Emory said, handing him two chocolate chip cookies wrapped in the small paper bag. Rene smiled and ate them. They were absolutely delicious. 

*****

Emory was asleep in Rene’s arms when the first journalist made his way into the room, having snuck past the nurse’s station. Ari was dozing in a chair, and Rene was drifting in and out of consciousness when he felt a slight tap on his shoulder. 

He looked up to see a young man with big round eyes and a leather jacket, holding out his cellphone with what looked like a recording app running on it. 

“Mr. Bloom, my name is Barry Price. I’m a journalist, and I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you about your ordeal.”

“Err,” Rene glanced down at Emory, then back at Barry. “As you can see, I’m kind of busy right now.”

“This will only take a few minutes of your time.” Barry said. Rene definitely wasn’t too thrilled about how pushy he was. Barry seemed to take his silence as consent, and pushed on. “So you went on television to plead with the public for any sign of your friend after his abduction. Am I right in assuming that this is what led the killer to come after you?”

“Listen, I’m here with my daughter. This isn’t the right time or place for this conversation.” Rene pointed out. 

“She seems to be sleeping just fine sir. What was it like at the killer’s house? Were there other victims? Besides your friend of course?”

Rene looked around until he spotted the nurse call button. When he reached over to push it, the man caught his hand and held it hovering just inches above the button. 

“Just a few questions, Mr. Bloom. Your daring escape, how did you do it? There’s a rumor that you killed the killer. Is that true?”

Rene had frozen for a moment in shock at the audacity of this man to grab his hand like that. He shook the man’s hand off of his and raised his voice.

“You need to leave. Now.” Rene stated. He spoke so loudly and firmly that Ari woke up, and Emory stirred in his arms. 

“I’m just trying to share with the world that you’re a hero, Mr. Bloom.” Barry said. 

Ari jumped out of her seat, not having this rude man’s behavior, “He said you need to leave, now get the hell out of here.”

“Excuse me.” Barry sneered at Ari for daring to speak up to him. “I was just having a conversation with Mr. Bloom here.”

“No. You were just leaving.” Rene said. “And don’t come back.”

By now, Emory was waking up and sitting up slowly in confusion. A nurse had heard all the commotion and stepped into the room. 

“Is everything okay in he- you! Get out!” The nurse snapped, walking straight up to Barry. “We told you repeatedly not to harass our patient. Leave right this second or I’m calling security!”

“I was just going.” Barry said with a planted smile. “No need to get your panties in a twist.” 

He pulled out a business card and set it on the food tray before turning and heading out of the room. Rene grabbed the card and crumpled it up, tossing it toward the nearest trashcan, and just managing to miss. Ari walked over and picked it up, dropping it in the trash for him. 

“The nerve of that guy!” Ari growled. 

“I doubt he’ll be the last.” The nurse said, checking that Rene was okay. “Just call for us if you have any trouble, okay?”

Rene nodded, thankful that she had his back. The nurse left and Ari shut the door, a frown on her face. 

“I can’t believe he went at you like that. Ugh! I could have punched him!” Ari said.

“I thought you said we never punch people.” Emory said quietly. 

Ari turned to her and sighed. 

“I did, sweetheart. And I never would. But my god! What an absolute asshole!” Ari said.

“Mommy said a bad word.” Emory pointed out. 

“Yes mommy did.” Rene said, smiling and pulling Emory closer to him. 

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” Ari said, pacing back and forth by the door in agitation. Rene could see the toll this week had taken on her spilling out in her words and actions now. She wanted to protect him, just as he had wanted to protect Khal. 

Rene wanted to tell her that it was okay. That it wasn’t her fault. He would wait until she was less upset though, until she was more willing to hear the words. To believe them.

“There will be more of them.” Rene pointed out. “I may as well just do a press statement or something, get it all out of the way at once.” 

“That’s a good idea.” Ari said, finally calming down enough to sit back in her chair. 

“Daddy, when are you going to see Khal?” Emory asked. 

Rene looked down at her thoughtfully. 

“Just as soon as they let me, I think.” He said. 

Emory nodded, but said nothing. 

Rene looked at her curiously, unable to read her expression. His poor baby had been through so much. He wished he knew what to tell her to make it all better. 

Chapter 18 https://storiesfrommontana.com/2023/05/21/writing-challenge-2023-chapter-18-going-home/