CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHARLIE

 

I slowly crawled out of the limousine with a heavy heart. I looked up at the large white church with the huge gold cross sitting on top of it. Instead of it bringing me peace and serenity, I was overcome with fear. There was absolutely nobody standing in the front. Where was everyone?

Belize walked behind me, grabbing at the train of my wedding dress as I quickly made my way up the steps.

When I arrived at the top I pulled open the double cherry wood doors. Inside I saw a house full of people sitting in their seats but they appeared slumped over as if they were asleep.

“What’s going on, Belize?” I asked, my words accompanied by heavy breaths. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know, baby,” she said in a whisper. “But this is not good at all.”

When I looked toward the front of the chapel I saw several men lying down. I picked up the train of my wedding dress and rushed toward the front, past all of the pews and people slumped over. When I looked back to see the front of their bodies as I made my way to the alter, I noticed everyone was covered in blood. Some people had bullet holes in their foreheads and others had them in their chests.

I heard Belize scream as I continued to the front and figured she was finally seeing the horror too. Everyone was murdered. I realized I wasn’t breathing regularly and had to take quick breaths to prevent myself from passing out.

When I made it to the alter I scanned over the men who were supposed to be groomsmen. I even stepped over a few bodies trying to find my baby. I didn’t want to be heartless but I was only interested in one man, my fiancé. So where was he?

When I finally found him I dropped to my knees and lifted up his head. His eyes were closed and the rest of my breath felt as if it had been suctioned out of my body.

“Oh my, God,” I cried as I sat down and placed his head in my lap. I looked at a statue of Jesus hanging on a cross over my head. “Why would you do this to me, God? Why didn’t you let me have him? Why?”

“Baby,” I heard him whisper.

I wiped my tears and looked down at Luke‘s face. Was he actually talking? His eyes were open and he was staring up at me. Remembering his tuxedo, I tore at his jacket and shirt until I found what I was looking for…the bulletproof vest that was apart of the tuxedo I made him wear.

“You wore it,” I sobbed while wiping my eyes. One of my lashes fell off and landed on his forehead. “You wore it. You wore the vest.”

He smiled lightly considering the situation. “Yes, baby. I did. But the bullet still pierced my chest a little and I need help.”

“Call the police,” I yelled at Belize. “Luke is alive!”

I focused back on Luke. I was overwhelmed with relief even though I also felt guilty. As I looked around the church, there was nothing but death and carnage. And yet the man I loved more than anything had survived it all because he kept his promise.

“I’m getting you some help, baby. But who did this?”

“You know,” he said as he winced a little in pain.

I shook my head no. “I don’t. Who?”

“Dixie.”

My body swayed a little. In the midst of everything that was happening I didn’t stop to think that just a month or so earlier someone had vowed to take everything away from me. And had Luke not worn the bulletproof vest, he would’ve been successful.

When I heard the sirens in the background I figured Belize must have called the police and my fear was slightly diminished.

“I’m so sorry I got you into this, Luke. I—,”

“You didn’t do anything but try and be happy. And even though I didn’t get a chance to make you my wife today, I won’t stop until that day comes.”

 

****

 

I was in the hospital’s lobby in a bloody wedding dress with Belize, Kenya and Goldie. We lost a lot of friends today, a lot of people we loved and cared about who came to see my wedding and it was all for nothing. Despite the events, all three of them had taken the time to be with me to make sure Luke was okay.

I was sitting on a blue plastic seat, waiting on the doctor to tell me something. Belize sat next to me and put a soft hand on my knee. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now, Charlie. So I’m not going to make a statement that would insult you. I just want you to know that I’m here.”

“I can’t believe this,” I said looking out ahead of me at others waiting on news about their loved ones. “I can’t believe Dixie went so far.” I looked over at Belize. “How could she?”

“Dixie is not well, Charlie. You knew that more than anybody and I should’ve listened to you. A person capable of this kind of evil is not human and you shouldn’t put this on your heart.”

“It’s so hard. This was my wedding and a lot of people died because of me.”

“And that’s why you need to be strong. I don’t want you feeling sorry for yourself anymore. I want you to be tough and do what you have to do to bring this nigga to justice. You spoke to the police today?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t really tell them anything.”

“Well maybe you should. They aren’t going anywhere.”

“Are you Charlie?” a doctor with piercing blue eyes asked stepping up to me.

I stood up and rubbed my arms. It was cold in the hospital and I didn’t have anything on my shoulders. “I am.”

“Luke is well and he’s asking for you. Can you follow me?”

I quickly walked behind the doctor. He led me to an open doorway. “There he is. You have five minutes before we have to come back and run some more tests.”

When he left I rushed over to the bed. The IV in his arm did not stop me from gripping him and pulling him into me. When I was done I sat on a chair next to the bed and held his hand.

“How do you feel?”

“I’m fine, baby,” he chuckled. “I told you that. Stop worrying.”

I kissed his hand. “This is so bad, Luke. Twenty-eight people were murdered today. I feel like it’s all my fault.”

“Why would you say something like that? I told you at the church that it wasn’t your fault. It was that faggy nigga Dixie who did this and when I get out of this hospital I’m going to find him and show him how I feel about him.”

I stared into his eyes. I saw the rage and I felt the anger in the way he gripped my hand. He’d lost a lot of friends today and yet he wanted to avenge my name. I couldn’t let him do this because Belize was right. I needed to man up and take care of business myself. After all, I made my bed and I had to lie in it.

I kissed the top of his hand and released my hold. “I can’t let you do that, Luke.”

“Fuck you mean you can’t let me do that?”

“Just what I said. This is my fault and I have to see to it that he doesn’t hurt anybody again.” I stood up and gripped the bottom of my dress. “I’m sorry, Luke, but it’s over.”

He tried to sit up in bed but the machines stuck to his body prevented him. “Fuck you mean it’s over?”

“I’m letting you go.”

“No, what you mean is you’re leaving me,” he yelled. “After everything I’ve been through, after everything I’ve lost already. Is that what you’re telling me? As I lay in the hospital for a bullet I took for you, you’re going to walk out on me?”

“I’m saying that I’m leaving you so that you won’t have to suffer again.” I walked backwards toward the door. “I really am sorry, Luke.”

I ran away.