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"They Find Light"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl

The Story of Halo, Zenith, and Nadir

Part Two: The Crisis

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   The family spent the next couple of days in Starshine Town, but instead of trying to figure out what to do next, they spent most of their time lying around their hotel room.  They slept more than they ever had in their lives; they’d watch television, and for the most part would only leave their room to go get food.

   The continuous rainfall did nothing to encourage them to do differently.  A low pressure system was stuck hovering over Starshine Town and the surrounding areas, and thus the rain never ceased.  Flooding was predicted, and already lower lying areas of the town were submerged under massive puddles.

   “What a rotten time to come here,” Nadir said one afternoon.  Their stay in Starshine Town had stretched into its fifth day, and Nadir stared at the rain with disgust.  “It figures we’d get stuck in this wretched place,” he added, “Why can’t we leave Zenith?  The rain won’t hurt us!”

   Zenith, who was leaning against the headboard as he sat on his bed, looked to Nadir and said, “I’m sorry Nadir, but Halo’s been out of it lately.  I don’t want something to happen to her like what happened to me.”  Zenith had his arm around Halo.  Her head rested on his chest as she was in a light sleep.

   Nadir rolled his eyes, walking over to his bed to sit down.  “This sucks,” he said, “If we’re gonna be stuck in this stupid town, or any place for very long, why can’t we have our own apartment?”

   “Now how did you get from hating the rain to wanting an apartment Nadir?” Zenith asked, “We’ve been over this a million times.  We can’t get an apartment when all we do is steal from people to make a living.  It just won’t work.  Obviously, none of us are qualified to do anything else.”

   At this point, Halo began to wake up, but didn’t move as she listened to Zenith and Nadir speak.

   “Of course we’re not qualified to do anything else!” Nadir cried, “We never went to school, we never grew up wanting to be anything special.  We grew up trying to survive, and we’ve done that, so why don’t we try something else?”

   Zenith didn’t speak for a moment.  He let out a sigh and replied, “Nadir, since when did you get so dead set on going legit?”

   “Since I found out my mother was a prostitute and a streetwalker,” Nadir replied, going through his duffle bag.  Pulling out a cigarette and a lighter, he rose to his feet and continued, “I refuse to mingle among common filth like her anymore.  I’m better than her, I’m better than my father.  I’ll be dammed if I live the kind of life they did.  That’s why.”  Nadir sat back down on the bed, and lit up his cigarette.  Popping a piece of nicotine gum in his mouth, he took a puff of smoke and added, “I don’t care what I have to do, but I’m going to try.”

   Zenith let out a sigh.  He understood what drove Nadir, for the same feelings were shared by them all.  Still, he felt a headache coming on, and fueled by confusion, apathy, and fatigue, he answered, “Whatever Nadir…I don’t see what’s wrong with how we’re living.  As long as Halo doesn’t sell herself to people and you and I don’t resort to drug dealing and murder, I think it’s safe to say we’re more than a cut above our parents.”

   Nadir almost choked on his gum and smoke as he inhaled.  He coughed to get his breath back and asked, “Zenith, when are we supposed to grow up?”

   Halo, who had heard enough and wanted to prevent an argument, sat up slowly, whimpering a bit to make it seem like she had just woken up, and said, “Hey guys, what’s with all of the yelling?”

   Just as she had hoped, Zenith’s eyes, flashing with anger, melted into eyes filled with concern when he heard her voice.  Looking down at her, he nuzzled her gently and said, “It’s nothing Halo.  Nadir’s just being an ass again.”

   “Shut up,” Nadir said, taking a puff off his cigarette.

   Halo looked to Nadir and cried, “Please Nadir, if you want to poison yourself that’s fine with me, but please don’t smoke around me.”

   “What are you saving yourself for?” Nadir cried, throwing his hands into the air, “Besides, I only smoke once every week or so.  It’s not like any of us are exposed to it long enough to kill us.  The air outside is dirtier than this, and we breathe it constantly.”

   “Knock it off Nadir!” Zenith shouted, “If Halo doesn’t want to breathe in your smoke, then she shouldn’t have to.”

   “I refuse to go stand in the rain, just so you won’t be offended by the air I breathe,” Nadir said, crossing his arms and reclining.

   “You’d better go somewhere!” Zenith shouted.

   “Fuck you Zenith,” Nadir replied.

   “Shut up!” Halo cried.  Standing up, she continued, “Go smoke in the fucking bathroom!  Move it!”

   Nadir glared at Halo, but slowly rose to his feet.  He came within inches of her, holding his breath for a moment before letting all of the smoke left in him fly free, right into her face, “As you wish your highness.”

   Halo coughed and sputtered, trying to find clean air to breathe.  Nadir let out a laugh as he walked into the bathroom.  Zenith jumped to his feet and shouted, “Go to fucking hell Nadir!  Why are you being such an asshole today?”

   “Give me my own bedroom and maybe you wouldn’t have this problem!  Dammit Halo, since when did you care so much about the air you breathe?” Nadir shouted, slamming the bathroom door shut behind him.  “You two drive me insane!” could be heard following this.

   Zenith growled.  He walked up to Halo and put his arm around her.  “Are you alright Halo?” he asked.

   Halo calmed down, whimpering a bit as she held her head.  “The stupid jerk…I’ve told him that cigarette smoke gives me headaches.”

   “I’m sorry Halo,” Zenith said, hugging her tightly, “I guess, we’ve all got cabin fever.  We’ve been stuck here for four days now, and it’s getting to us all.  Nadir hasn’t had a moment alone, and well, neither have we.  Maybe we should head back to Amble Park soon.  It’s not like there’s anything else left for us here.”

   Halo looked up at Zenith and asked, “Then why haven’t we left already?”

   Zenith looked at her gently.  Walking her back over to the bed, he answered, “You’ve been out of it Halo.  I don’t want you to be out in the rain when your defenses are down.  You’ll end up as sick as I was a few years ago.  I’m not gonna let that happen.”

   As they returned to the same positions they were in before, Halo snuggled up against Zenith and replied, “I’m okay Zenith, really.  All of us have done nothing but lie around and sleep for the past few days.  We’re all lethargic.  We just need to get out there and live again.  Our energy will come back.  I say tomorrow we leave for Amble Park, rain or shine.  I promise, I’ll be alright.  Besides, unlike you six years ago, I don’t have a cold that’s gotten progressively worse, and if any of us catch anything while we’re out in the rain, we’ll be sure it’s taken care of before it can become pneumonia.”

   “I don’t know…,” Zenith started.

   “Come on Zenith,” Halo interrupted, “The only reason you got so sick was because you and Nadir slept in that alley of yours every night, and when you got sick you didn’t get rest and take care of yourself, so it got worse.  That’s never gonna happen again, okay?”

   Zenith’s eyes glistened with uncertainty.  His free hand rested on her chest, and he could feel her heart pounding underneath it, almost as if she was stricken with nerves, on the inside praying that he relented and agreed with her.  He recognized what Nadir did, finding Halo’s sudden disdain for cigarette smoke oddly strange.  Sure, they all knew it gave her headaches, but she never detested it before as much as she did now.

   This fueled his concern for her well-being.

   “Halo…I just…I want you to be alright,” Zenith said at last.

   She kissed Zenith when he spoke.  Pulling back she smiled and said, “I promise, I’ll be alright.  It’ll do us all good to get out of this place.  We’ll all be better then.”

   Zenith tried to smile.  Maybe she was right.  Perhaps they would all feel better getting out of Starshine Town.

   “Oh…alright,” Zenith answered, “We’ll leave tomorrow.”

   “Awesome!” Halo cried, hugging Zenith tightly.

   He returned the embrace, holding her close.  Something felt wrong.  His smile was half-hearted.  Though he was opposed to it only moments before, now, he wanted nothing more than to get out of Starshine Town.

   At that moment, Nadir came out of the bathroom.  He walked out with his head hanging low.  He glanced at the two as they embraced each other, but didn’t say a word.  Sitting down on his bed, he crossed his arms and muttered, “Sorry Halo…”

   Halo and Zenith both looked at Nadir.  He glanced at them, waiting for a reply.  Halo smiled and said, “It’s okay Nadir.  Like Zenith said, we’ve all got cabin fever.  We’re feeling tired and lazy and just need to get out there and live again.  We found what we needed to find, and now it’s time to move on.”

   Nadir smiled weakly.  “Then you agree with me; we should move on from our old lives and try to find some stability.”

   Zenith groaned and said, “Come on Nadir, enough.  We aren’t qualified to do anything else.  If we can’t get jobs, we can’t get an apartment.  That’s all there is to it!”

   “Then why don’t we work on that?” Nadir asked, “We can’t live in hotels forever!  When is there gonna be a better time to try and change?”

   A growl escaped Zenith, but he was without words.

   Halo placed her hand on Zenith’s shoulder and said, “That’s enough guys.  Nadir, you’re right, but getting hostile about it isn’t going to help things.  This is going to a serious undertaking.  We’ll have to handle it a little bit at the time, okay?”

   Nadir nodded apprehensively.  “Okay, fine with me, as long as Zenith is willing to try,” he answered.

   “Okay, yes, I’m willing.  Alright?” Zenith moaned.

   A soft giggle escaped Halo.  “Look, it’s late; I say we stay here at least one more day.  The weather report said the rain should be gone by the day after tomorrow.  We’ll have a bright and early start, and there will be plenty of people outside for us to get some funds from,” she explained, grinning.

   The smile returned to Nadir’s face.  He chuckled and said, “Sounds great.  It’ll be fun to commit a few more robberies.  I don’t want to get a job because I feel bad about robbing people after all.”

   Zenith laughed in response.  Still, he sighed and replied, “Sounds good to me Halo.  We can get plenty of rest tonight and tomorrow, and then we’ll be on our way.  I’m sure things will start to look up the moment we get going.”

   Halo’s only reply was a smile.  Zenith’s own grin waivered a bit, and he put his arm around her, holding her close.  He remembered his feelings from earlier, and for the rest of the night, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Halo.  His sleep was uneasy, and so were his dreams.  He was terrified of the future.  Halo and Nadir looked up to him for guidance.

   With so much changing, he was afraid it would be too much.

   They needed him.

   The pressure began to weigh heavy on his heart.

   As he laid there in a restless sleep, Halo awoke quietly.  She sat up, gazing at him, feeling his pain.  She bent over and kissed him gently, rubbing the bangs clear from his eyes.  She stood up, finding her shoes under the bed and putting them on her feet.  She grabbed her purse, a room key, some cash out of Nadir’s duffle bag, and walked out silently.

   She needed to be alone.

   That next morning, it was still raining, but the downpour had lessened in intensity.  The clouds were no longer thick and dark, and were now lighter and broken as they dumped all the moisture they had left onto the world below.  The sun poked through on occasion, creating rainbows for the lucky few given the privilege to see them.

   For whatever reason, Nadir was in better spirits.  He sat on his bed, counting the cash they had left, listening to the news as he did so.  Zenith was a little less cheery, still consumed with concern for Halo, and bogged down by feeling responsible for both hers and Nadir’s welfare.  He was silent, watching as the news anchor detailed the afternoon headlines.

   Halo was quiet for the entire morning.  She now sat in a chair beside the window, thumbing through a magazine.  She seemed to be in better spirits, but like Zenith, appeared to have a heavy weight resting on her mind and heart.

   It was quite the switch.  Halo and Zenith were the ones consumed by silence and uncertainty, while Nadir…

   “Oh my God, this is hilarious!” Nadir cried, letting out a laugh, “Some idiot got his car stuck in a puddle!  What kind of an idiot drives through a washed out road?  Humans are so stupid!”

   Halo and Zenith glanced at each other, both at a loss.  “Yeah, what an idiot,” Halo said, trying to laugh.

   Nadir looked at them both, his own happy smile fading when he saw their weak ones.  “Come on guys, why are you both so depressed?” he asked.

   “I’m not depressed,” Zenith said.

   “Neither am I…,” Halo whispered.

   “Really?  You know you both are terribly convincing,” Nadir replied, shaking his head as he grinned, sarcasm flirting with his voice.

   A groan escaped Zenith as he sat up in bed.  “Alright Nadir, now cut it out.  I just have a lot on my mind, okay?”

   Laughing, Nadir replied, “Alright Zenith, fair enough.”  He looked to Halo and asked, “What about you Halo?  What’s got you so down in the dumps?”

   “Nothing!” she cried suddenly, as if startled.  Both Zenith and Nadir stared at her with wide eyes, confused by her behavior.  She smiled sheepishly and replied, “I’m sorry, you just startled me.  I have a lot on my mind too.  I guess we all do.”

   Nadir blinked, then shook his head and replied, “I’m fine.  I don’t have a worry in the world, ‘cause when we get back to Amble Park, I’m gonna go to that bar by the beach and get a job as a bouncer.  It’ll be perfect.  I’ve got the look, and I’ve got the muscle.  The only qualification I’ll need is to have the ability to take down a drunken bum without killing him, and that’s no problem for me.”

   “Wow Nadir,” Zenith said, “I can’t believe it.  You’ve actually got a chance to start earning a legitimate income.”

   “I say you sign up to be one too Zenith,” Nadir continued, “You’ve got the tough guy look, and you know how to fight.  Every time we’ve robbed somebody without knocking them out, we’ve used our brute strength to come out on top.  It’ll be easy!  We’ll have no problem paying for an apartment then!”

   Zenith looked unsure.  “Well, maybe,” he said at last, “But what about Halo?  She can’t be a bouncer, what’s she gonna do?”

   Grinning, Nadir answered, “Maybe she could be a waitress.  It’s not like it’s a topless bar or anything.”

   “Nadir,” Zenith growled, his eyes flashing.

   At that moment, Halo stood up and said, “Alright now, knock it off.”  Placing the magazine she was reading on the table, she continued, “I think it’s wonderful that you’ve figured out what you wanna do Nadir.  This is great!  …Excuse me for a moment.”

   She walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.  “Gee, I hope she’s okay,” Nadir said.  Looking back to Zenith he added, “I was just kidding Zenith.  Seriously though, if things work out for us, we should be able to support the three of us without Halo needing to find a job.”

   “And what is she supposed to do?  Sit home and knit?” Zenith asked.

   “I don’t know, gee whiz,” Nadir replied, “I was just saying, if she can’t find a job right away, we’ll be alright.”  He fell silent, and went back to counting his money.  Zenith sat back down, his thoughts returning to his responsibilities once more.  After a few moments, Nadir frowned and said, “Hey, something’s wrong.  I’m missing thirty bucks.”

   Zenith raised an eyebrow.  Confused, he looked to Nadir and asked, “Thirty bucks?  …Is that what you spent on breakfast this morning?”

   Nadir gave Zenith a look.  “Get real Zenith…thirty bucks for two doughnuts, a sausage biscuit, and three orange juices?”

   A groan escaped Zenith.  “Alright, good God,” he said, “You must have spent it on something.  Did you buy any cigarettes?”

   “No, I smoked my last one yesterday, but you know me, I can go without them for awhile,” Nadir explained, “I only need them when I’m stressed out.”

   Bewildered, Zenith sat up and held his chin in thought.  “Well, I know I haven’t taken any cash.  The only time I did was when I bought lunch yesterday,” he replied.

   “Maybe Halo took some,” Nadir answered.  Zenith looked at him, and Nadir continued, “Seriously Zenith.  I keep perfect record of our funds.  I didn’t spend any, you didn’t spend any, so obviously Halo had to have.”

   “But why?” Zenith asked, feeling flustered.

   “I dunno,” Nadir answered, tugging at the handkerchief tied around his neck, “Maybe she needed something last night and took the cash she needed to get it.  Something…feminine, you know, I guess.” Nadir shrugged, feeling confused.

   Zenith nodded gently in response.  It was the only explanation that made sense.  Still, he felt uneasy, his concern for Halo allowing him to forget his own troubles for the moment.

   Nadir let it roll off relatively quickly.  Stacking the cash and putting it back in his duffle bag, he said, “Ah well, that’s alright.  No need to bug her about it.  We’ve got plenty to last us back to Amble Park.  However, we’d be wise to steal a bit more to keep us stable until we’ve gotten those jobs.”

   Halo came out of the bathroom.  She looked distracted, unable to maintain focus as she walked back over to her chair.  Zenith looked even more upset.  “Halo, are you alright?” he asked.

   She sat down, taking the magazine in her hands and thumbing through it find where she had left off from earlier.  She was smiling, and this time, it wasn’t as half-hearted as it was before.  “I’m okay Zenith, really,” she answered.

   “It’s a full moon again isn’t it?” Nadir asked.

   “What do you mean?” Halo asked.

   “I mean, you obviously needed something that was worth taking thirty dollars of our funds last night without telling us,” Nadir said, “It’s alright, I just wish you had said something.”

   Halo blinked twice, staring at Nadir as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.  He now shared the same concern that Zenith did.  “Halo, are you sure you’re alright?  You seem…really distracted,” Nadir asked.

   “Oh shut up Nadir,” Halo snapped suddenly, “Yes, I needed something last night and took money to go buy it.  Whether it was something for my time of the month or not is none of your business.  That money belongs to all of us.  Yes, I forgot to tell you, and even so that doesn’t matter because now you know.  I’m alright, so stop bugging me!  Both of you!”

   With wide eyes, Nadir and Zenith exchanged glances.

   “It’s that time of the month,” they thought together.

   They didn’t question Halo further.  Obviously she was angry at them because her hormones were electric, and so they let go any further concern.

   Still, as they returned their attention to the television, Halo’s anger faded.  A smile curled her lips, but as she gazed at Zenith, her brown eyes were lit with a light of concern and fear.

   Later that night, Halo was taking a shower.  She was silent the rest of the day, but had a great deal on her mind.  As she let the hot water trickle down her body, soap suds hugging each and every curve along the way, she felt increasingly weary.

   She just didn’t know if Zenith could handle it.

   “What do I do?  I just…this is too much for him,” she whimpered.

   As if on cue, Halo heard the bathroom door open and a gentle knock against the wall.  “Hey Halo?  It’s just me,” he said.

   “It’s okay Zenith,” Halo said.

   The door closed.  “It’s okay?  What do you mean?” he asked.

   “For you to come in here,” she replied.

   Zenith paused.  He pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the bathroom counter.  Laughing a little, he replied, “I don’t care if it’s okay or not, and neither should you.  Don’t worry, you won’t once I’m through with you.”

   Not tonight.

   “Please Zenith, I’m just not up to it tonight,” she explained.

   With one foot in the shower, Zenith looked to her and said, “What do you mean?  This isn’t like you Halo.  I mean…sure, I know you’ve got that going on, but it usually isn’t enough to keep you from wanting to have a little fun.”

   Halo rinsed her face.  She turned to Zenith, blinking slowly to allow her eyes time to get used to the air.  Her heart was next to bursting from feelings of love for Zenith, but they weren’t the usual feelings of affection.  Normally getting intimate with him in this way wasn’t a problem, even at that time of the month, but tonight was different.

   Something was different.

   Still, she smiled.  She stepped forward and kissed Zenith, taking a step back and pulling him under the water with her.  Ecstasy rose, and all was right in the world.

   At least, that’s how it appeared.

   She pulled back, turning to the wall.  He stood there looking at her, his hair wet and clinging to his neck.  He was more confused than ever.  “That’s it?” he asked.

   “…Zenith,” she said at last, “Are you…serious about wanting to change, or are you just saying that to shut up Nadir?”

   He tilted his head to once side.  He took some shampoo and began to wash his hair as he replied, “Oh come on Halo, of course I was serious.  It’ll be hard, but we can do it.  It’s just a shame you know?  I enjoy this lifestyle.  Not having responsibilities, getting to live the way I want to.  Who wants to have to work and live life like that anyway?”

   Halo cringed.  As Zenith closed his eyes to wash his hair, Halo clasped her hands over her heart as it sank.  That wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

   “You…you enjoy living like this?  Footloose and fancy free?” she asked.

   Opening his eyes, Zenith looked to her and said, “Of course I do, don’t you?  Life is awesome.  It’s a pleasure to take advantage of other people to get by.  They owe us for putting us through such hell remember?  Besides, we can take care of ourselves just fine this way.  Why should we have to change?”

   “But Zenith,” Halo said as he began to clean his face, “What if things change?  What if something happened and we had more to think about besides ourselves?”

   Zenith let the water rinse off his face.  For whatever reason, he was become increasingly annoyed.  “Give me a break Halo,” he said, “What’s going to change?  I love life the way it is now.  I wouldn’t change it for a thing.  Infact, I’d discourage any sort of change if I could help it.  The only reason I think getting an apartment is a good idea is because it might cost a bit less over time.  I think Nadir is forgetting how great life can be.  I’m gonna try and get his mind off of it.”

   He was lying.

   “Then you don’t want to change,” Halo said, getting cold and dry as she leaned against the wall while Zenith stood under the shower, “You lied to me.”

   Zenith glared at her.  Stepping forward, eliminating any space between them, he said, “Look Halo!  Just cut it out!  I’m doing the best I can to take care of you and Nadir!  If you don’t like how I’m doing things, then you can feel free to take charge.  Hell, if you’re really unhappy, you can leave!  Nadir and I will be just fine without you.  You can find someone who has an important job and owns a big two-story house, and a big fancy car, and can buy you jewelry and flowers and chocolate, and have all the freakin’ stability you want!  If that’s what you want, then by all means, get the hell out of here and take it!”

   She didn’t want to make him angry.

   “Please Zenith,” she pleaded, “…that’s…that’s not what I meant.”  She felt a wave of fatigue steal her breath away.

   “Oh please, shut up, don’t try and cover yourself,” Zenith growled.  He stepped back, rinsing his hair out under the shower.  Halo wanted to say something to calm him down, but before she could find the strength or words he turned back to her and shouted, “Seriously Halo, if you don’t think I’m taking good enough care of you, get the hell away from me!”  The water made it difficult to tell, but Halo felt as though she saw tears in Zenith’s eyes.  “I know I don’t have everything you deserve, and I don’t have enough to make you happy, but dammit, I try my best.  If it’s not enough for you, then please…just go away.  I wish you the freakin’ best…”  His voice faded into nothing.

   He stepped out of the shower, closing the curtain behind him with a jerk of his arm.  Halo listened as he took a towel and his clothes and left the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

   Tears filled her eyes.  This wasn’t what she wanted to happen.  She just wanted to build up a conversation so she could talk to him about…

   The fatigue became too much.  She was suddenly so weak and tired she could barely stand.  Without warning, a sharp pain stung at her in her stomach.  It hurt so badly, she thought she was dying.

   “Please…Zenith…I—I love you.  Come…come back…”

   Outside, Zenith was getting dressed, and drying his hair at the same time, while Nadir consoled him.  “Aww gee Zenith, don’t think that,” Nadir said, “I’m sure she just…she wants the best for you, and all of us.  She doesn’t expect you to strike it rich and become an A-list celebrity.  She hates people like that remember?”

   Sighing, Zenith replied, “I know Nadir…I just…she does deserve better than this.”  He let the towel fall from his hands and land on the floor as he stood up.  Walking to the mirror, he took his comb and began to run it through his hair as he added, “I want to give her the world, but I know I can’t.  She’s a beautiful woman.  Maybe she has a chance for something better than this.  If she could find someone to love her and take care of her…I’ll…I’d wish her the best.  She…deserves a chance for happiness.  You and I…we can’t give her what she really needs…and wants.  She wants to be normal and fit in with everyone.  She has a better chance at it than we do.”

   Nadir stared at Zenith in disbelief.  “Zenith…no…”

   Clutching the wedding ring hanging around his neck, Zenith closed his eyes, trying to fight off tears as he whispered, “I love her Nadir…I love her enough to die for her, and so…I’m going to let her go.  She’ll be…better off without us once she finds someone who can really treat her…like the angel she is.”

   Tears were in Nadir’s eyes.  “You’re wrong Zenith,” he whimpered, “She needs us.  She…she needs you.”

   She really did.

   Before Zenith could speak, a loud thud could be heard, only muffled slightly by the closed bathroom door.  Both twins gazed at the door with horror flashing in their eyes.  They looked to each other only briefly before Zenith cried out, “Halo?  Halo!”

   They both ran for the bathroom door.  In his panic, Zenith struggled with the doorknob, finally managing to twist it open after several painful moments.  He flung the door open, and both he and Nadir raced inside.

   The room was full of steam.

   “Halo?!” Zenith cried again.  He ran for the side of the bathtub, terrified when she didn’t answer him.  He pulled the curtain open.

   His heart felt like it was being strangled when his eyes first beheld the scene.

   Halo was lying on the floor of the tub.  She was resting on one arm, while the other was lying bent beside her face.  It appeared as though she hadn’t even tried to brace herself as she fell.  She was half curled up in a ball.

   “Halo!” Zenith cried, the panic and desperation in his voice painfully clear.  Nadir ran up beside him, only have Zenith shout, “Cut the water off!”

   Nadir was equally as terrified, but moved to cut off the water while Zenith climbed in the shower.  Taking Halo in his arms, he gazed at her face as tears rolled down his own.  “Halo, oh Halo, I’m so sorry.  Please forgive me!  Please open your eyes!”

   Once the water was cut off, Nadir turned to look at him, not having much trouble staying focused on her face and not much else, at least at first.  His eyes were soon drawn to her legs, his thoughts wondering how she might have slipped, only for him to find a trickle of blood streaming away from them and towards the drain.

   “Oh no…Zenith, she’s bleeding,” Nadir said, his eyes wide with fear.

   A sniff escaped Zenith.  “Of course she is you pea brain, she’s having her period remember?”  Nadir shrugged, and Zenith felt her head, trying to find any gashes or bumps, and at the same time trying to control his fear.  “She…she doesn’t seem to have cracked her skull.  …Please, Halo, please wake up,” he whimpered.

   Silence prevailed.

   “What should we do?” Nadir asked.

   Echoing feelings from years ago, Zenith feared the worst, and wouldn’t let Halo suffer.  Though tears still fell from his eyes, he felt strength return to him in his time of panic.  “Get her clothes Nadir.  We’re taking her to the hospital,” he said.

   Zenith picked Halo up and laid her back down so he could get up and retrieve a towel to dry her off.  While all this was going on, Nadir said, “Wait a sec, Zenith, the only hospital in town is the one we broke out of remember?  The minute we walk in there we’ll be arrested.”

   “I don’t care dammit!” Zenith cried, glaring at Nadir.  Calming down, he said, “I will not let Halo die!  …If they want to arrest someone, it’ll be me.  I’ll tell them I was the one that ran away.  I won’t let them imprison you and Halo, so don’t worry about that.  We’ve got to hurry!”

   Zenith turned to dry Halo off.  Nadir was frightened, but listened to his twin and got Halo’s clothes.  Together, they got her dressed as best they could.  Without wasting any time, they gathered up everything that belonged to them, stuffed it in Nadir’s duffle bag, and left the room.

   It was still raining.  The events of six years ago were repeating themselves, only Halo was the one in need of rescue.  Zenith held her in his arms, and together he and Nadir ran down the streets towards the Starshine Town Memorial Hospital, the same hospital that saved Zenith’s life, and the same one that now might take him out of their lives forever.

   “I don’t care if I’m arrested Halo,” Zenith whispered as he held her, “I won’t let you die.  Even if I’m gone, maybe you and Nadir will have a chance to be happy.”

   It was a slow night for Starshine Town Memorial Hospital, always a welcome thing, as it meant there was less suffering in the world.  The entry way was nearly silent as a pair of nurses walked through it.  “Well Clara, I guess we should get back to work,” the red haired one said, coming down off a laugh.

   Clara, the same Clara that Halo grew so fond of years ago, smiled at her friend.  “We probably should.  I’ll meet up with you around midnight okay Nikki?” she replied.

   Before Nikki could answer, the doors opened, almost too slow for the pace of those entering them.  Both nurses stood frozen by shock at what they saw, Clara more than either of them.

   It was two very familiar faces, and a third that appeared to be in great need.

   Both Zenith and Nadir were soaking wet, and they shook from cold and fright.  Zenith held Halo tightly, and with tears falling from his eyes he pleaded, “Please, she collapsed in the shower and she won’t wake up.  Please, you’ve got to help her.”

   His voice sounded defeated, as if he was asking for a final request before being put to death.

   Clara felt her heart skip a beat.

   “Nikki, go get a stretcher and a team from the ER, quickly,” she said.

   Without a word, Nikki ran off towards the emergency room.  Clara watched as she disappeared, but soon returned her attention to the boys.  Nadir and Zenith were more than aware of who she was, but could barely look her in the eyes as she approached them.

   When she got to them, she knelt down to their level, gazing at them.  Zenith finally looked her in the eyes and whimpered, “Please, I know we did something wrong.  Let me explain myself.  Just…please don’t send Halo and Nadir to jail.  It’s my fault and…”

   He was interrupted by her embracing him.  “Oh sweetheart, don’t be so afraid child.  Yes, we do have a lot to talk about, but we’re going to look after Halo first.  Don’t worry, nobody is going to jail, I promise,” she whispered.

   Zenith was paralyzed by shock.  As Clara pulled back from the hug, the emergency room team arrived with the stretcher.  Zenith placed her on it gently, feeling his heart struggle to beat as he gazed at her.  “Please Halo, be alright…I’m sorry,” he whimpered.

   The doctors and nurses took her away.  All he could do was weep.  He just couldn’t save her.

   Clara embraced him again, and as Nadir stood next to him, she pulled him into the hug.  “I’ve been so worried about you three these past few years.  I’m just relieved you’re all alright,” she said.

   “You’re…you’ve worried about us?” Nadir asked.

   “Of course I have,” Clara replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything.  Come on.  I’m going to dry you two off and get you something to eat and drink.  Everything will be alright, I promise.”

   Zenith and Nadir gazed at her as she stood up.  They were confused, but this reprieve from someone they believed wanted to punish them and all of this added kindness was just what their weary spirits needed.  She returned their gaze, and though she knew they were adults, she felt she might as well have been looking at two innocent children, children who needed a hand to hold and guide them through the day.  They were children who needed love to set them free.

   She smiled.  This time she could help them, truly help them.  Extending her hand to Nadir she said, “Come along now.”

   He gazed at her hand, almost as if he was unsure of how to respond.  At last he took her hand.  She held it securely, and put her other hand on Zenith’s back to guide him along.  “Alright now.  They’ll take her to the third floor when they’re done with her, so let’s go on up there and wait for them, alright?”

   Zenith nodded, continuing to cry.  Nadir, his voice soft and vulnerable, replied, “O—Okay,” in a whisper.

   Clara continued to smile.  She led the twins off to the elevator.

   Zenith was so upset he couldn’t be mystified by her behavior.  All of his thoughts were on his precious Halo.

   “I never wanted to let you go Halo.  I just…want you to be happy.”

   Once again, everything that matter to them, was out of their hands.  It was a crisis they could only pray would be resolved.

   It was a crisis…that would change everything, forever.

Description
"They Find Light"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl

The Story of Halo, Zenith, and Nadir

Part Two: The Crisis

-----

   The family spent the next couple of days in Starshine Town, but instead of trying to figure out what to do next, they spent most of their time lying around their hotel room.  They slept more than they ever had in their lives; they’d watch television, and for the most part would only leave their room to go get food.

   The continuous rainfall did nothing to encourage them to do differently.  A low pressure system was stuck hovering over Starshine Town and the surrounding areas, and thus the rain never ceased.  Flooding was predicted, and already lower lying areas of the town were submerged under massive puddles.

   “What a rotten time to come here,” Nadir said one afternoon.  Their stay in Starshine Town had stretched into its fifth day, and Nadir stared at the rain with disgust.  “It figures we’d get stuck in this wretched place,” he added, “Why can’t we leave Zenith?  The rain won’t hurt us!”

   Zenith, who was leaning against the headboard as he sat on his bed, looked to Nadir and said, “I’m sorry Nadir, but Halo’s been out of it lately.  I don’t want something to happen to her like what happened to me.”  Zenith had his arm around Halo.  Her head rested on his chest as she was in a light sleep.

   Nadir rolled his eyes, walking over to his bed to sit down.  “This sucks,” he said, “If we’re gonna be stuck in this stupid town, or any place for very long, why can’t we have our own apartment?”

   “Now how did you get from hating the rain to wanting an apartment Nadir?” Zenith asked, “We’ve been over this a million times.  We can’t get an apartment when all we do is steal from people to make a living.  It just won’t work.  Obviously, none of us are qualified to do anything else.”

   At this point, Halo began to wake up, but didn’t move as she listened to Zenith and Nadir speak.

   “Of course we’re not qualified to do anything else!” Nadir cried, “We never went to school, we never grew up wanting to be anything special.  We grew up trying to survive, and we’ve done that, so why don’t we try something else?”

   Zenith didn’t speak for a moment.  He let out a sigh and replied, “Nadir, since when did you get so dead set on going legit?”

   “Since I found out my mother was a prostitute and a streetwalker,” Nadir replied, going through his duffle bag.  Pulling out a cigarette and a lighter, he rose to his feet and continued, “I refuse to mingle among common filth like her anymore.  I’m better than her, I’m better than my father.  I’ll be dammed if I live the kind of life they did.  That’s why.”  Nadir sat back down on the bed, and lit up his cigarette.  Popping a piece of nicotine gum in his mouth, he took a puff of smoke and added, “I don’t care what I have to do, but I’m going to try.”

   Zenith let out a sigh.  He understood what drove Nadir, for the same feelings were shared by them all.  Still, he felt a headache coming on, and fueled by confusion, apathy, and fatigue, he answered, “Whatever Nadir…I don’t see what’s wrong with how we’re living.  As long as Halo doesn’t sell herself to people and you and I don’t resort to drug dealing and murder, I think it’s safe to say we’re more than a cut above our parents.”

   Nadir almost choked on his gum and smoke as he inhaled.  He coughed to get his breath back and asked, “Zenith, when are we supposed to grow up?”

   Halo, who had heard enough and wanted to prevent an argument, sat up slowly, whimpering a bit to make it seem like she had just woken up, and said, “Hey guys, what’s with all of the yelling?”

   Just as she had hoped, Zenith’s eyes, flashing with anger, melted into eyes filled with concern when he heard her voice.  Looking down at her, he nuzzled her gently and said, “It’s nothing Halo.  Nadir’s just being an ass again.”

   “Shut up,” Nadir said, taking a puff off his cigarette.

   Halo looked to Nadir and cried, “Please Nadir, if you want to poison yourself that’s fine with me, but please don’t smoke around me.”

   “What are you saving yourself for?” Nadir cried, throwing his hands into the air, “Besides, I only smoke once every week or so.  It’s not like any of us are exposed to it long enough to kill us.  The air outside is dirtier than this, and we breathe it constantly.”

   “Knock it off Nadir!” Zenith shouted, “If Halo doesn’t want to breathe in your smoke, then she shouldn’t have to.”

   “I refuse to go stand in the rain, just so you won’t be offended by the air I breathe,” Nadir said, crossing his arms and reclining.

   “You’d better go somewhere!” Zenith shouted.

   “Fuck you Zenith,” Nadir replied.

   “Shut up!” Halo cried.  Standing up, she continued, “Go smoke in the fucking bathroom!  Move it!”

   Nadir glared at Halo, but slowly rose to his feet.  He came within inches of her, holding his breath for a moment before letting all of the smoke left in him fly free, right into her face, “As you wish your highness.”

   Halo coughed and sputtered, trying to find clean air to breathe.  Nadir let out a laugh as he walked into the bathroom.  Zenith jumped to his feet and shouted, “Go to fucking hell Nadir!  Why are you being such an asshole today?”

   “Give me my own bedroom and maybe you wouldn’t have this problem!  Dammit Halo, since when did you care so much about the air you breathe?” Nadir shouted, slamming the bathroom door shut behind him.  “You two drive me insane!” could be heard following this.

   Zenith growled.  He walked up to Halo and put his arm around her.  “Are you alright Halo?” he asked.

   Halo calmed down, whimpering a bit as she held her head.  “The stupid jerk…I’ve told him that cigarette smoke gives me headaches.”

   “I’m sorry Halo,” Zenith said, hugging her tightly, “I guess, we’ve all got cabin fever.  We’ve been stuck here for four days now, and it’s getting to us all.  Nadir hasn’t had a moment alone, and well, neither have we.  Maybe we should head back to Amble Park soon.  It’s not like there’s anything else left for us here.”

   Halo looked up at Zenith and asked, “Then why haven’t we left already?”

   Zenith looked at her gently.  Walking her back over to the bed, he answered, “You’ve been out of it Halo.  I don’t want you to be out in the rain when your defenses are down.  You’ll end up as sick as I was a few years ago.  I’m not gonna let that happen.”

   As they returned to the same positions they were in before, Halo snuggled up against Zenith and replied, “I’m okay Zenith, really.  All of us have done nothing but lie around and sleep for the past few days.  We’re all lethargic.  We just need to get out there and live again.  Our energy will come back.  I say tomorrow we leave for Amble Park, rain or shine.  I promise, I’ll be alright.  Besides, unlike you six years ago, I don’t have a cold that’s gotten progressively worse, and if any of us catch anything while we’re out in the rain, we’ll be sure it’s taken care of before it can become pneumonia.”

   “I don’t know…,” Zenith started.

   “Come on Zenith,” Halo interrupted, “The only reason you got so sick was because you and Nadir slept in that alley of yours every night, and when you got sick you didn’t get rest and take care of yourself, so it got worse.  That’s never gonna happen again, okay?”

   Zenith’s eyes glistened with uncertainty.  His free hand rested on her chest, and he could feel her heart pounding underneath it, almost as if she was stricken with nerves, on the inside praying that he relented and agreed with her.  He recognized what Nadir did, finding Halo’s sudden disdain for cigarette smoke oddly strange.  Sure, they all knew it gave her headaches, but she never detested it before as much as she did now.

   This fueled his concern for her well-being.

   “Halo…I just…I want you to be alright,” Zenith said at last.

   She kissed Zenith when he spoke.  Pulling back she smiled and said, “I promise, I’ll be alright.  It’ll do us all good to get out of this place.  We’ll all be better then.”

   Zenith tried to smile.  Maybe she was right.  Perhaps they would all feel better getting out of Starshine Town.

   “Oh…alright,” Zenith answered, “We’ll leave tomorrow.”

   “Awesome!” Halo cried, hugging Zenith tightly.

   He returned the embrace, holding her close.  Something felt wrong.  His smile was half-hearted.  Though he was opposed to it only moments before, now, he wanted nothing more than to get out of Starshine Town.

   At that moment, Nadir came out of the bathroom.  He walked out with his head hanging low.  He glanced at the two as they embraced each other, but didn’t say a word.  Sitting down on his bed, he crossed his arms and muttered, “Sorry Halo…”

   Halo and Zenith both looked at Nadir.  He glanced at them, waiting for a reply.  Halo smiled and said, “It’s okay Nadir.  Like Zenith said, we’ve all got cabin fever.  We’re feeling tired and lazy and just need to get out there and live again.  We found what we needed to find, and now it’s time to move on.”

   Nadir smiled weakly.  “Then you agree with me; we should move on from our old lives and try to find some stability.”

   Zenith groaned and said, “Come on Nadir, enough.  We aren’t qualified to do anything else.  If we can’t get jobs, we can’t get an apartment.  That’s all there is to it!”

   “Then why don’t we work on that?” Nadir asked, “We can’t live in hotels forever!  When is there gonna be a better time to try and change?”

   A growl escaped Zenith, but he was without words.

   Halo placed her hand on Zenith’s shoulder and said, “That’s enough guys.  Nadir, you’re right, but getting hostile about it isn’t going to help things.  This is going to a serious undertaking.  We’ll have to handle it a little bit at the time, okay?”

   Nadir nodded apprehensively.  “Okay, fine with me, as long as Zenith is willing to try,” he answered.

   “Okay, yes, I’m willing.  Alright?” Zenith moaned.

   A soft giggle escaped Halo.  “Look, it’s late; I say we stay here at least one more day.  The weather report said the rain should be gone by the day after tomorrow.  We’ll have a bright and early start, and there will be plenty of people outside for us to get some funds from,” she explained, grinning.

   The smile returned to Nadir’s face.  He chuckled and said, “Sounds great.  It’ll be fun to commit a few more robberies.  I don’t want to get a job because I feel bad about robbing people after all.”

   Zenith laughed in response.  Still, he sighed and replied, “Sounds good to me Halo.  We can get plenty of rest tonight and tomorrow, and then we’ll be on our way.  I’m sure things will start to look up the moment we get going.”

   Halo’s only reply was a smile.  Zenith’s own grin waivered a bit, and he put his arm around her, holding her close.  He remembered his feelings from earlier, and for the rest of the night, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Halo.  His sleep was uneasy, and so were his dreams.  He was terrified of the future.  Halo and Nadir looked up to him for guidance.

   With so much changing, he was afraid it would be too much.

   They needed him.

   The pressure began to weigh heavy on his heart.

   As he laid there in a restless sleep, Halo awoke quietly.  She sat up, gazing at him, feeling his pain.  She bent over and kissed him gently, rubbing the bangs clear from his eyes.  She stood up, finding her shoes under the bed and putting them on her feet.  She grabbed her purse, a room key, some cash out of Nadir’s duffle bag, and walked out silently.

   She needed to be alone.

   That next morning, it was still raining, but the downpour had lessened in intensity.  The clouds were no longer thick and dark, and were now lighter and broken as they dumped all the moisture they had left onto the world below.  The sun poked through on occasion, creating rainbows for the lucky few given the privilege to see them.

   For whatever reason, Nadir was in better spirits.  He sat on his bed, counting the cash they had left, listening to the news as he did so.  Zenith was a little less cheery, still consumed with concern for Halo, and bogged down by feeling responsible for both hers and Nadir’s welfare.  He was silent, watching as the news anchor detailed the afternoon headlines.

   Halo was quiet for the entire morning.  She now sat in a chair beside the window, thumbing through a magazine.  She seemed to be in better spirits, but like Zenith, appeared to have a heavy weight resting on her mind and heart.

   It was quite the switch.  Halo and Zenith were the ones consumed by silence and uncertainty, while Nadir…

   “Oh my God, this is hilarious!” Nadir cried, letting out a laugh, “Some idiot got his car stuck in a puddle!  What kind of an idiot drives through a washed out road?  Humans are so stupid!”

   Halo and Zenith glanced at each other, both at a loss.  “Yeah, what an idiot,” Halo said, trying to laugh.

   Nadir looked at them both, his own happy smile fading when he saw their weak ones.  “Come on guys, why are you both so depressed?” he asked.

   “I’m not depressed,” Zenith said.

   “Neither am I…,” Halo whispered.

   “Really?  You know you both are terribly convincing,” Nadir replied, shaking his head as he grinned, sarcasm flirting with his voice.

   A groan escaped Zenith as he sat up in bed.  “Alright Nadir, now cut it out.  I just have a lot on my mind, okay?”

   Laughing, Nadir replied, “Alright Zenith, fair enough.”  He looked to Halo and asked, “What about you Halo?  What’s got you so down in the dumps?”

   “Nothing!” she cried suddenly, as if startled.  Both Zenith and Nadir stared at her with wide eyes, confused by her behavior.  She smiled sheepishly and replied, “I’m sorry, you just startled me.  I have a lot on my mind too.  I guess we all do.”

   Nadir blinked, then shook his head and replied, “I’m fine.  I don’t have a worry in the world, ‘cause when we get back to Amble Park, I’m gonna go to that bar by the beach and get a job as a bouncer.  It’ll be perfect.  I’ve got the look, and I’ve got the muscle.  The only qualification I’ll need is to have the ability to take down a drunken bum without killing him, and that’s no problem for me.”

   “Wow Nadir,” Zenith said, “I can’t believe it.  You’ve actually got a chance to start earning a legitimate income.”

   “I say you sign up to be one too Zenith,” Nadir continued, “You’ve got the tough guy look, and you know how to fight.  Every time we’ve robbed somebody without knocking them out, we’ve used our brute strength to come out on top.  It’ll be easy!  We’ll have no problem paying for an apartment then!”

   Zenith looked unsure.  “Well, maybe,” he said at last, “But what about Halo?  She can’t be a bouncer, what’s she gonna do?”

   Grinning, Nadir answered, “Maybe she could be a waitress.  It’s not like it’s a topless bar or anything.”

   “Nadir,” Zenith growled, his eyes flashing.

   At that moment, Halo stood up and said, “Alright now, knock it off.”  Placing the magazine she was reading on the table, she continued, “I think it’s wonderful that you’ve figured out what you wanna do Nadir.  This is great!  …Excuse me for a moment.”

   She walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.  “Gee, I hope she’s okay,” Nadir said.  Looking back to Zenith he added, “I was just kidding Zenith.  Seriously though, if things work out for us, we should be able to support the three of us without Halo needing to find a job.”

   “And what is she supposed to do?  Sit home and knit?” Zenith asked.

   “I don’t know, gee whiz,” Nadir replied, “I was just saying, if she can’t find a job right away, we’ll be alright.”  He fell silent, and went back to counting his money.  Zenith sat back down, his thoughts returning to his responsibilities once more.  After a few moments, Nadir frowned and said, “Hey, something’s wrong.  I’m missing thirty bucks.”

   Zenith raised an eyebrow.  Confused, he looked to Nadir and asked, “Thirty bucks?  …Is that what you spent on breakfast this morning?”

   Nadir gave Zenith a look.  “Get real Zenith…thirty bucks for two doughnuts, a sausage biscuit, and three orange juices?”

   A groan escaped Zenith.  “Alright, good God,” he said, “You must have spent it on something.  Did you buy any cigarettes?”

   “No, I smoked my last one yesterday, but you know me, I can go without them for awhile,” Nadir explained, “I only need them when I’m stressed out.”

   Bewildered, Zenith sat up and held his chin in thought.  “Well, I know I haven’t taken any cash.  The only time I did was when I bought lunch yesterday,” he replied.

   “Maybe Halo took some,” Nadir answered.  Zenith looked at him, and Nadir continued, “Seriously Zenith.  I keep perfect record of our funds.  I didn’t spend any, you didn’t spend any, so obviously Halo had to have.”

   “But why?” Zenith asked, feeling flustered.

   “I dunno,” Nadir answered, tugging at the handkerchief tied around his neck, “Maybe she needed something last night and took the cash she needed to get it.  Something…feminine, you know, I guess.” Nadir shrugged, feeling confused.

   Zenith nodded gently in response.  It was the only explanation that made sense.  Still, he felt uneasy, his concern for Halo allowing him to forget his own troubles for the moment.

   Nadir let it roll off relatively quickly.  Stacking the cash and putting it back in his duffle bag, he said, “Ah well, that’s alright.  No need to bug her about it.  We’ve got plenty to last us back to Amble Park.  However, we’d be wise to steal a bit more to keep us stable until we’ve gotten those jobs.”

   Halo came out of the bathroom.  She looked distracted, unable to maintain focus as she walked back over to her chair.  Zenith looked even more upset.  “Halo, are you alright?” he asked.

   She sat down, taking the magazine in her hands and thumbing through it find where she had left off from earlier.  She was smiling, and this time, it wasn’t as half-hearted as it was before.  “I’m okay Zenith, really,” she answered.

   “It’s a full moon again isn’t it?” Nadir asked.

   “What do you mean?” Halo asked.

   “I mean, you obviously needed something that was worth taking thirty dollars of our funds last night without telling us,” Nadir said, “It’s alright, I just wish you had said something.”

   Halo blinked twice, staring at Nadir as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.  He now shared the same concern that Zenith did.  “Halo, are you sure you’re alright?  You seem…really distracted,” Nadir asked.

   “Oh shut up Nadir,” Halo snapped suddenly, “Yes, I needed something last night and took money to go buy it.  Whether it was something for my time of the month or not is none of your business.  That money belongs to all of us.  Yes, I forgot to tell you, and even so that doesn’t matter because now you know.  I’m alright, so stop bugging me!  Both of you!”

   With wide eyes, Nadir and Zenith exchanged glances.

   “It’s that time of the month,” they thought together.

   They didn’t question Halo further.  Obviously she was angry at them because her hormones were electric, and so they let go any further concern.

   Still, as they returned their attention to the television, Halo’s anger faded.  A smile curled her lips, but as she gazed at Zenith, her brown eyes were lit with a light of concern and fear.

   Later that night, Halo was taking a shower.  She was silent the rest of the day, but had a great deal on her mind.  As she let the hot water trickle down her body, soap suds hugging each and every curve along the way, she felt increasingly weary.

   She just didn’t know if Zenith could handle it.

   “What do I do?  I just…this is too much for him,” she whimpered.

   As if on cue, Halo heard the bathroom door open and a gentle knock against the wall.  “Hey Halo?  It’s just me,” he said.

   “It’s okay Zenith,” Halo said.

   The door closed.  “It’s okay?  What do you mean?” he asked.

   “For you to come in here,” she replied.

   Zenith paused.  He pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the bathroom counter.  Laughing a little, he replied, “I don’t care if it’s okay or not, and neither should you.  Don’t worry, you won’t once I’m through with you.”

   Not tonight.

   “Please Zenith, I’m just not up to it tonight,” she explained.

   With one foot in the shower, Zenith looked to her and said, “What do you mean?  This isn’t like you Halo.  I mean…sure, I know you’ve got that going on, but it usually isn’t enough to keep you from wanting to have a little fun.”

   Halo rinsed her face.  She turned to Zenith, blinking slowly to allow her eyes time to get used to the air.  Her heart was next to bursting from feelings of love for Zenith, but they weren’t the usual feelings of affection.  Normally getting intimate with him in this way wasn’t a problem, even at that time of the month, but tonight was different.

   Something was different.

   Still, she smiled.  She stepped forward and kissed Zenith, taking a step back and pulling him under the water with her.  Ecstasy rose, and all was right in the world.

   At least, that’s how it appeared.

   She pulled back, turning to the wall.  He stood there looking at her, his hair wet and clinging to his neck.  He was more confused than ever.  “That’s it?” he asked.

   “…Zenith,” she said at last, “Are you…serious about wanting to change, or are you just saying that to shut up Nadir?”

   He tilted his head to once side.  He took some shampoo and began to wash his hair as he replied, “Oh come on Halo, of course I was serious.  It’ll be hard, but we can do it.  It’s just a shame you know?  I enjoy this lifestyle.  Not having responsibilities, getting to live the way I want to.  Who wants to have to work and live life like that anyway?”

   Halo cringed.  As Zenith closed his eyes to wash his hair, Halo clasped her hands over her heart as it sank.  That wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

   “You…you enjoy living like this?  Footloose and fancy free?” she asked.

   Opening his eyes, Zenith looked to her and said, “Of course I do, don’t you?  Life is awesome.  It’s a pleasure to take advantage of other people to get by.  They owe us for putting us through such hell remember?  Besides, we can take care of ourselves just fine this way.  Why should we have to change?”

   “But Zenith,” Halo said as he began to clean his face, “What if things change?  What if something happened and we had more to think about besides ourselves?”

   Zenith let the water rinse off his face.  For whatever reason, he was become increasingly annoyed.  “Give me a break Halo,” he said, “What’s going to change?  I love life the way it is now.  I wouldn’t change it for a thing.  Infact, I’d discourage any sort of change if I could help it.  The only reason I think getting an apartment is a good idea is because it might cost a bit less over time.  I think Nadir is forgetting how great life can be.  I’m gonna try and get his mind off of it.”

   He was lying.

   “Then you don’t want to change,” Halo said, getting cold and dry as she leaned against the wall while Zenith stood under the shower, “You lied to me.”

   Zenith glared at her.  Stepping forward, eliminating any space between them, he said, “Look Halo!  Just cut it out!  I’m doing the best I can to take care of you and Nadir!  If you don’t like how I’m doing things, then you can feel free to take charge.  Hell, if you’re really unhappy, you can leave!  Nadir and I will be just fine without you.  You can find someone who has an important job and owns a big two-story house, and a big fancy car, and can buy you jewelry and flowers and chocolate, and have all the freakin’ stability you want!  If that’s what you want, then by all means, get the hell out of here and take it!”

   She didn’t want to make him angry.

   “Please Zenith,” she pleaded, “…that’s…that’s not what I meant.”  She felt a wave of fatigue steal her breath away.

   “Oh please, shut up, don’t try and cover yourself,” Zenith growled.  He stepped back, rinsing his hair out under the shower.  Halo wanted to say something to calm him down, but before she could find the strength or words he turned back to her and shouted, “Seriously Halo, if you don’t think I’m taking good enough care of you, get the hell away from me!”  The water made it difficult to tell, but Halo felt as though she saw tears in Zenith’s eyes.  “I know I don’t have everything you deserve, and I don’t have enough to make you happy, but dammit, I try my best.  If it’s not enough for you, then please…just go away.  I wish you the freakin’ best…”  His voice faded into nothing.

   He stepped out of the shower, closing the curtain behind him with a jerk of his arm.  Halo listened as he took a towel and his clothes and left the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

   Tears filled her eyes.  This wasn’t what she wanted to happen.  She just wanted to build up a conversation so she could talk to him about…

   The fatigue became too much.  She was suddenly so weak and tired she could barely stand.  Without warning, a sharp pain stung at her in her stomach.  It hurt so badly, she thought she was dying.

   “Please…Zenith…I—I love you.  Come…come back…”

   Outside, Zenith was getting dressed, and drying his hair at the same time, while Nadir consoled him.  “Aww gee Zenith, don’t think that,” Nadir said, “I’m sure she just…she wants the best for you, and all of us.  She doesn’t expect you to strike it rich and become an A-list celebrity.  She hates people like that remember?”

   Sighing, Zenith replied, “I know Nadir…I just…she does deserve better than this.”  He let the towel fall from his hands and land on the floor as he stood up.  Walking to the mirror, he took his comb and began to run it through his hair as he added, “I want to give her the world, but I know I can’t.  She’s a beautiful woman.  Maybe she has a chance for something better than this.  If she could find someone to love her and take care of her…I’ll…I’d wish her the best.  She…deserves a chance for happiness.  You and I…we can’t give her what she really needs…and wants.  She wants to be normal and fit in with everyone.  She has a better chance at it than we do.”

   Nadir stared at Zenith in disbelief.  “Zenith…no…”

   Clutching the wedding ring hanging around his neck, Zenith closed his eyes, trying to fight off tears as he whispered, “I love her Nadir…I love her enough to die for her, and so…I’m going to let her go.  She’ll be…better off without us once she finds someone who can really treat her…like the angel she is.”

   Tears were in Nadir’s eyes.  “You’re wrong Zenith,” he whimpered, “She needs us.  She…she needs you.”

   She really did.

   Before Zenith could speak, a loud thud could be heard, only muffled slightly by the closed bathroom door.  Both twins gazed at the door with horror flashing in their eyes.  They looked to each other only briefly before Zenith cried out, “Halo?  Halo!”

   They both ran for the bathroom door.  In his panic, Zenith struggled with the doorknob, finally managing to twist it open after several painful moments.  He flung the door open, and both he and Nadir raced inside.

   The room was full of steam.

   “Halo?!” Zenith cried again.  He ran for the side of the bathtub, terrified when she didn’t answer him.  He pulled the curtain open.

   His heart felt like it was being strangled when his eyes first beheld the scene.

   Halo was lying on the floor of the tub.  She was resting on one arm, while the other was lying bent beside her face.  It appeared as though she hadn’t even tried to brace herself as she fell.  She was half curled up in a ball.

   “Halo!” Zenith cried, the panic and desperation in his voice painfully clear.  Nadir ran up beside him, only have Zenith shout, “Cut the water off!”

   Nadir was equally as terrified, but moved to cut off the water while Zenith climbed in the shower.  Taking Halo in his arms, he gazed at her face as tears rolled down his own.  “Halo, oh Halo, I’m so sorry.  Please forgive me!  Please open your eyes!”

   Once the water was cut off, Nadir turned to look at him, not having much trouble staying focused on her face and not much else, at least at first.  His eyes were soon drawn to her legs, his thoughts wondering how she might have slipped, only for him to find a trickle of blood streaming away from them and towards the drain.

   “Oh no…Zenith, she’s bleeding,” Nadir said, his eyes wide with fear.

   A sniff escaped Zenith.  “Of course she is you pea brain, she’s having her period remember?”  Nadir shrugged, and Zenith felt her head, trying to find any gashes or bumps, and at the same time trying to control his fear.  “She…she doesn’t seem to have cracked her skull.  …Please, Halo, please wake up,” he whimpered.

   Silence prevailed.

   “What should we do?” Nadir asked.

   Echoing feelings from years ago, Zenith feared the worst, and wouldn’t let Halo suffer.  Though tears still fell from his eyes, he felt strength return to him in his time of panic.  “Get her clothes Nadir.  We’re taking her to the hospital,” he said.

   Zenith picked Halo up and laid her back down so he could get up and retrieve a towel to dry her off.  While all this was going on, Nadir said, “Wait a sec, Zenith, the only hospital in town is the one we broke out of remember?  The minute we walk in there we’ll be arrested.”

   “I don’t care dammit!” Zenith cried, glaring at Nadir.  Calming down, he said, “I will not let Halo die!  …If they want to arrest someone, it’ll be me.  I’ll tell them I was the one that ran away.  I won’t let them imprison you and Halo, so don’t worry about that.  We’ve got to hurry!”

   Zenith turned to dry Halo off.  Nadir was frightened, but listened to his twin and got Halo’s clothes.  Together, they got her dressed as best they could.  Without wasting any time, they gathered up everything that belonged to them, stuffed it in Nadir’s duffle bag, and left the room.

   It was still raining.  The events of six years ago were repeating themselves, only Halo was the one in need of rescue.  Zenith held her in his arms, and together he and Nadir ran down the streets towards the Starshine Town Memorial Hospital, the same hospital that saved Zenith’s life, and the same one that now might take him out of their lives forever.

   “I don’t care if I’m arrested Halo,” Zenith whispered as he held her, “I won’t let you die.  Even if I’m gone, maybe you and Nadir will have a chance to be happy.”

   It was a slow night for Starshine Town Memorial Hospital, always a welcome thing, as it meant there was less suffering in the world.  The entry way was nearly silent as a pair of nurses walked through it.  “Well Clara, I guess we should get back to work,” the red haired one said, coming down off a laugh.

   Clara, the same Clara that Halo grew so fond of years ago, smiled at her friend.  “We probably should.  I’ll meet up with you around midnight okay Nikki?” she replied.

   Before Nikki could answer, the doors opened, almost too slow for the pace of those entering them.  Both nurses stood frozen by shock at what they saw, Clara more than either of them.

   It was two very familiar faces, and a third that appeared to be in great need.

   Both Zenith and Nadir were soaking wet, and they shook from cold and fright.  Zenith held Halo tightly, and with tears falling from his eyes he pleaded, “Please, she collapsed in the shower and she won’t wake up.  Please, you’ve got to help her.”

   His voice sounded defeated, as if he was asking for a final request before being put to death.

   Clara felt her heart skip a beat.

   “Nikki, go get a stretcher and a team from the ER, quickly,” she said.

   Without a word, Nikki ran off towards the emergency room.  Clara watched as she disappeared, but soon returned her attention to the boys.  Nadir and Zenith were more than aware of who she was, but could barely look her in the eyes as she approached them.

   When she got to them, she knelt down to their level, gazing at them.  Zenith finally looked her in the eyes and whimpered, “Please, I know we did something wrong.  Let me explain myself.  Just…please don’t send Halo and Nadir to jail.  It’s my fault and…”

   He was interrupted by her embracing him.  “Oh sweetheart, don’t be so afraid child.  Yes, we do have a lot to talk about, but we’re going to look after Halo first.  Don’t worry, nobody is going to jail, I promise,” she whispered.

   Zenith was paralyzed by shock.  As Clara pulled back from the hug, the emergency room team arrived with the stretcher.  Zenith placed her on it gently, feeling his heart struggle to beat as he gazed at her.  “Please Halo, be alright…I’m sorry,” he whimpered.

   The doctors and nurses took her away.  All he could do was weep.  He just couldn’t save her.

   Clara embraced him again, and as Nadir stood next to him, she pulled him into the hug.  “I’ve been so worried about you three these past few years.  I’m just relieved you’re all alright,” she said.

   “You’re…you’ve worried about us?” Nadir asked.

   “Of course I have,” Clara replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything.  Come on.  I’m going to dry you two off and get you something to eat and drink.  Everything will be alright, I promise.”

   Zenith and Nadir gazed at her as she stood up.  They were confused, but this reprieve from someone they believed wanted to punish them and all of this added kindness was just what their weary spirits needed.  She returned their gaze, and though she knew they were adults, she felt she might as well have been looking at two innocent children, children who needed a hand to hold and guide them through the day.  They were children who needed love to set them free.

   She smiled.  This time she could help them, truly help them.  Extending her hand to Nadir she said, “Come along now.”

   He gazed at her hand, almost as if he was unsure of how to respond.  At last he took her hand.  She held it securely, and put her other hand on Zenith’s back to guide him along.  “Alright now.  They’ll take her to the third floor when they’re done with her, so let’s go on up there and wait for them, alright?”

   Zenith nodded, continuing to cry.  Nadir, his voice soft and vulnerable, replied, “O—Okay,” in a whisper.

   Clara continued to smile.  She led the twins off to the elevator.

   Zenith was so upset he couldn’t be mystified by her behavior.  All of his thoughts were on his precious Halo.

   “I never wanted to let you go Halo.  I just…want you to be happy.”

   Once again, everything that matter to them, was out of their hands.  It was a crisis they could only pray would be resolved.

   It was a crisis…that would change everything, forever.