Chapter Seventeen

The house started rattling from the strong winds making its way toward the house. Judy had taken our only car, so Poa and I could not evacuate. Poa just kept wailing and scratching at my leg. I was just as scared as he was. As I got up, I heard my cellphone vibrating. Wifey flashed on my caller ID. 

"Judy-" I yelled answering the phone but was cut off by Judy yelling.

"Jack! Oh Jack!" Judy screamed, "Why couldn't you just continue to love me?" She began crying. Wind and rain could be heard in the background. "I always knew something was off, but I did not want to believe it. I am sorry I could not be your happiness." She whispered the last part, and then all I could hear was a scream. The phone cut out.

"Judy!! Hello?? Judy!" I yelled into the phone, tears broke free of their barrier, tipped over, and streamed down my cheeks. Poa whimpered by my side and licked at my face. 

I picked Poa up and walked slowly down to the basement, as the wind began to whip louder outside. I could hear the cries from structure of my house fighting to stay put. As I continued to walk down, the wooden stairs creaked with each step almost like screaming in pain like the way I felt inside. As I turned on the light, I came face to face with our finished basement. We had created the basement to be an entertainment area with a large flat screen television and a comfy sectional. Our black rug was plush and held my feet with care. I felt Poa shaking against me. I patted him, and we laid on our couch. At some point, I must have fell asleep because I woke up with Poa licking my dried tears off of my cheeks. I patted my head and was confused as to why I was downstairs, until everything came back to me. Judy!

I quickly shot up and ran upstairs leaving Poa to run after me. Entering the first floor, everything was gone. I gasped. I was standing in a clearing with debris everywhere. Where my kitchen once was, where Judy made our breathtaking breakfast, was replaced with splintered wood and cracked flooring. There was a remanence of where the sink used to be with piping sticking out. Our living room was also just splintered wood, ripped carpet and exposed wires here and there. Obviously the whole second floor was gone. I looked up and saw the clear sky. I stood there and did not know what to say.  Poa licked my leg. After a while, a police officer pulled up to the rubble of our home.

"Are you Mr. Quaker?" the officer asked. 

"Yes I am." I murmured softly. The officer just barely heard me. His eyes showed sadness, almost pity. "I have some news Mr. Quaker, but I would need you to come with me."

"You can tell me here." I stated slightly annoyed and worried at the same time. I felt like I knew what was coming, but I did not want to believe it. 

"It is about your wife, Mr. Quaker." the officer reluctantly said looking anywhere but at my eyes. "I'm sorry.."

"Where is she?" I asked quietly. The officer looked at me slowly. "The morgue, Mr. Quaker. We need you to come and identify the body."

I felt numb but nodded and began walking with the officer to the hospital morgue. Poa was allowed to come, but I had to hold him close. As I held him, a tingling began shooting through my shoulder. I rubbed it and it ached. I need to get some icy hot.

As we arrived, my palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy (Note: a little author humor. Hey there, Eminem), I was squeezing Poa so tight he yelped. "Oh! I'm so sorry Poa." I whispered and relaxed my hold a bit. As I entered into the room, the cold caressed my exposed neck. There lying on the metal bed was a body covered by a black tarped bag. The examiner nodded at the officer and began to unzip the bag. There is laid Judy. She had a gash on her head and cuts littering her now bluish pale face. 

"That is her..." I whispered, as tears began to caress my cheek before hitting Poa's head. Poa looked up at me, and I could almost see the pain in his eyes. "I'm so sorry buddy..."

The officer dropped me back to the rubble, after I explained that I needed to get some things in order before I go somewhere else, which I had to insist I did not need any help with. After the officer reluctantly left me to my thoughts. I went down in the basement to gather the things I had left, which was not a lot. A couple shirts and pants that I had left in the small closet downstairs for emergencies. 

As I went back up from the basement, getting ready to call a taxi, a red Ferrari came flying around the corner and skidded in front of where the house once stood. Poa was by my leg and began to growl. 

I looked more closely and watched as a man got out of the car. The man was in a blue suit walking toward me, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Poa got in front of me and continued to growl.

"Woah now." The man's voice was deep, "I come in peace." The man held his hands up.

"Who are you?" I asked emotionlessly. 

"My name is Gair." The man said and began to walk closer, "I was driving and saw you standing in this rubble." Gair was only a few feet from me, and I could see Poa crouch down, as if he were going to pounce. "I only came to give you a hand." He said calmly, "Do you need help?"

Bright green eyes pierced mine, and I had to catch my breath. The man had black hair that fell past his ears. It was a curly mess. He was as tall as me and that was saying something, since I was like 6'5"/6'6". His body type looked to be slender, but I could still see the muscles straining against his fitted suit. 

 With those words, I felt myself breakdown. "Woah, Woah, Woah." The man said panicking, "I was just in the neighborhood. I have been trying to find a Mr. Jack Quaker, Scientist of the Year. If you could point me in the right direction, I will be more than glad to help you out too."

"Why are you looking for him?" I asked, a little more forcefully than I should have. 

"Ah. Ah. Ah." Gair said, shaking his head, "It is confidential, but do not worry, I do not plan to hurt him in anyway, so you can clear your conscious."

Sighing, I replied, "I am Jack Quaker." 

Gair's face lit up, and he took a step forward. This ended up being too far for Poa, and Poa launched at him. Gair just barely dodged. "Stop Poa!" I yelled, just as Poa was going for a second attack. Poa instantly stopped and sat still not taking an eye off of Gair. 

"It would be better if we could talk in your car. The backseat is already created for a dog to sit in, so I can be safe. 

I was weary of this, but I agreed not feeling any type of ill-will coming off of the man. 

After getting Poa settled in the back, I hopped in the passenger side, while Gair hopped into the driver's side. 

"Do you happen to be looking for a job?" Gair said. My eyes widened a bit. I had not taken a job for a while, due to the stress of the wedding planning and everything.

"We need a scientist to test different things for us, and my master believes you can do it. What do you think?"

I thought about it and looked at the rubble of my once nice life. All gone in a moment. Why not take it? What do I have to lose?

"I'd like some more details on what I would be doing, but I do not see a reason not to accept the job." I said emotionless. 

Gair's face brightened even more if that is possible; a wide smile decorated his face. "Perfect.", he growled.