Saving Dallas

by Jones, Kim

  “You bitch!” he yelled letting go of my arm to check his wound. I could taste the blood and saltiness of his skin on my tongue. When he let me go I was so shocked that I actually hurt him that I froze. He grabbed my arm once again and back handed me with so much force I fell sideways causing the guy on my left to catch me before I hit the ground. I felt blood trickling down my nose and into my mouth. I could already feel the swelling of my right cheek. My eyes watered as the realization of what was happening set in. They were going to kill me.

  I put up as much of a fight as I could manage as they dragged me to the barn and flipped on the bright fluorescent light that hung from the ceiling.

  “Tie her up,” the guy with the scar ordered, throwing a length of rope at them. I struggled harder this time. I screamed for them to stop, but my words fell on deaf ears. I screamed for Luke and my only answering response was, “He can’t help you now.” Another harsh blow landed on the right side of my face again and everything went dark.

  Cold water stunned me back into consciousness. I was gasping from the shock of it, and when I came to I noticed I was hanging by my arms from the rafters in the barn.

  “Wake up sleeping beauty. I have a story to tell you. I don’t like to be interrupted so Crazy here is going to shut you up with a little something called duct tape.” He threw his head back and laughed at his humorless joke.

  This man was the one who needed the name Crazy. Crazy stepped in front of me and pulled a piece of tape from the roll and placed it over my mouth. I thought he would tear it off, but instead he wrapped it all the way around my head-twice. I screamed through the tape. I kept saying Luke’s name over and over. No one could make out what I was saying, but I couldn’t stop screaming for him. My right eye was now swollen shut and the one good nostril I had limited my breathing making my chest ache from the lack of oxygen.

  “Shut up!” The man with the scar yelled at me. I immediately silenced my incoherent screams at his demand. “There, that’s better,” he said sweetly. “By the way my name is Frankie the Cutter. I know you think I got it from this scar, but the truth is I get enjoyment out of cutting people,” he said laughing once again.

  He must have been on drugs of some sort, because only people in an insane asylum acted like this.

  “You sure are pretty Dallas. I bet you have a smoking hot body. It’s hot in here. How about we relieve you of some of your clothes.” He stepped closer and my screams began again. “Hey, hey, hey. No need to get upset. It’s not like you are bashful are you? I promise you, the more you scream the harder you are going to make it on yourself.”

  His voice was so sickenly sweet I would have vomited had my mouth not been taped shut. My throat burned from screaming, but I couldn’t stop. I was scared and panicked and my natural reaction was to scream. It was the only defense I had left. Frankie placed his hands over his ears and began stomping his feet on the ground. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

  Crazy walked up to me and pulled a knife out of his pocket and stuck it to my throat. I stopped screaming, scared to move an inch in fear that he would cut me. “The man said shut up, so I suggest you keep that shit down,” he whispered to me as if he didn’t want Frankie to hear. He slid the knife away from my throat, but before he could put it away Frankie walked up behind him.

  “Cut her clothes off for me please,” he whispered loudly enough for me to hear in Crazy’s ear. He was back to being calm and sweet, but his eyes were still full of hate. My screams went silent, but I couldn’t help but whimper as he shred my clothes from me, leaving me hanging naked in front of them. Tears fell down my cheeks as I looked into the eyes of my intruders. They were sick-all of them. If they wanted to kill me, why not just get it over with.

  “That’s better. Thank you ,Crazy. Now, back to my story.” He said walking in wide circles in front of me with his hands behind his back. “You are a hard woman to catch. Luke did a very good job of protecting you. Did you know that Luke had been hired to protect you?” he asked stopping to look at me for an answer. I stared blankly back at him. Protect me? What did he mean?

  He sighed loudly and walked behind me. I jumped at the feel of his rough hands running down my back. I tried to squirm away from him, but I had nowhere to go. My wrists were already chaffed from the rope and my legs hung in the air giving me no leverage. His hand ran down to my ass, and I screamed when he placed it between my legs. I heard the snap of a knife opening and looked over to see Crazy holding it up and shaking his head. I stopped screaming, but couldn’t suppress the whimper as he shoved two fingers inside me roughly.

  “When I ask you for an answer, I expect one. Do you understand bitch?” I nodded my head vigorously and he pulled his fingers from inside me. He walked back in front of me sucking his fingers and I had to swallow back the bile that rose in my throat. “Did you know Luke was hired to protect you?” I shook my head letting him know I was not informed of that. “Well, he was. He just knew I was going to get to you. I tried everything, but you are a hard bitch to catch,” he said waving his finger at me. “I tried seducing you with a good looking man, of course he had a little too much to drink and fucked it up, but hey I tried. You know that’s why Luke took you home with him. He found out that I had hired him and knew if he didn’t take you with him that I would eventually get my hands on you that night.”

  My head was spinning. I didn’t want to hear this, but I did. “Then, I said you know what? Fuck it. I’ll just go get that bitch from her job, but no. You already had plans with Luke that night. I figured I would tag along and see if I could start a scene and lure you away from the crowd, but you surprised me Dallas! You fought for those stupid cunts that you didn’t even know!” He stopped talking and walked up to me. I could feel his hot breath on my chest. He looked up at me with a menacing stare.

  “I tried to poison you. Hell, I even paid someone to trash your place hoping you would come up to Tupelo. But, you know what really pissed me off Dallas? What really got under my skin?” He looked at me as if expecting an answer. Not wanting his hands on me again I shook my head. “You accused my brother of touching you.” My eyes widened at his words. How did he know I had accused anybody of that? “Dennis!” he snapped causing me to jump.

  Dennis appeared in front of me. He seemed to be coming down off of whatever it was Frankie was on. His face look like it had recently been pummeled. The bruising had turned to yellow and purple and his nose was crooked from what I suspected was a break. “See, I sent ole Dennis here to get some information from Luke’s house. I knew where it was, but I couldn’t risk going myself. Dennis found the hidden room and retrieved the information I requested,” he said smiling at Dennis like a proud papa. “But you,” he said turning his evil face to me once again, “fucked that up for us when you started talking in your sleep. ‘I love you Luke,’” he said mimicking me. “Fucking idiot. So, what did Dennis do? Well I’ll tell you what he did! He freaked the fuck out!” he said laughing. “You scared the shit out of him, so he tossed the box in the closet and left, but not before breaking a window in the clubhouse to throw Luke off what we were actually looking for.”

  That was why Luke thought I had found the box. He didn’t know why they were there. He thought they were after him.

  “Oh, you figuring shit out now ain’t ya?” he asked looking at me. I started to nod, but he cut in. “But you told ole Lukey boy that Dennis here touched you, so while you were in Tupelo fighting off what you thought was the flu, Luke was beating the shit out of Dennis! Isn’t that fucking crazy?!” he asked grabbing his head and spinning around. “So since Dennis was accused of it, I figured he might as well do it.”

  I started shaking my head and whimpering. I knew better than to scream, but I contemplated doing it anyway so Crazy would just cut my throat and put me out of my misery.

  “Go ahead Dennis. Feel those perky tits,” he said reaching up and roughly caressing my breasts. I tried to writhe away from him, but it was no use.

  From above them, I co
uld see Dennis’ excitement rising in his pants. “Don’t worry about explaining it to us man. We are all gonna get a turn. Take your time.” I couldn’t take it. I would rather die than let these men touch me.

  I screamed as loud as my hoarse voice would let me. Even though my mouth was duct taped, the sound was enough to travel through and strike a nerve with Frankie.

  “Cut the bitches tongue out!” he screamed at Crazy who looked a little skeptical, but walked towards me pulling his knife out of the holster. I screamed louder, pulling on the ropes that had cut into my wrists, but I felt no pain.

  Out of my one good eye I could see the excitement in Frankie’s face. Out of my one good nostril I smelled the revolting scent of Dennis’ breath. Out of my two ears I could hear my screams and Frankie’s laugh. I could hear Dennis’ harsh breathing and the sound of Crazy’s footsteps, but above all of that, I could hear the rumble of motorcycles.

  The realization hit Crazy first. His face fell as his ears perked up making sure he had not been mistaken by the sound. He turned to Frankie whose smile had turned into a grimace. Both men shared a silent moment between each other as they weighed their options.

  “Another time Dennis,” Cutter snapped turning and heading for the door. He turned before he got there and gave a chivalrous bow. “Until we meet again Miss Dallas.” He ran out the door with Crazy and Dennis in tow.

  When the door swung open I could see motorcycles speeding across the yard. When they stopped I could hear Luke’s voice barking orders. “Don’t let them get away!” I started screaming and crying at the wonderful sound of my rescuer. My staccato screams sounded nothing like a scream due to the hoarseness of my throat, but I tried anyway.

  Luke busted through the door that had swung shut and I cried harder at the sight of him. His face was contorted with worry, disgust, failure, pity, but the one emotion that outshone the others was love. He ran towards me and even when he was right in front of me, I couldn’t stop screaming.

  “Shh baby. I’m here. I’m here.” His voice was so soothing and calm it made me cry harder. He flipped open a pocket knife and rushed it towards my face causing me to scream and move out of his grasp. I knew he wasn’t going to hurt me, but the sight of the knife scared me. I wanted it nowhere near me.

  Realization hit him and anger flooded his face before it was consumed with compassion. He held his hands up as if trying to coax a wounded animal.

  “I’m just going to cut the tape off of you baby and let your hands free, ok?” I nodded my head still crying and whimpering. I looked up to see Regg coming through the door at full speed. When he saw me he immediately lowered his eyes and slowed. I watched as he removed his cut, and then a t-shirt and walked up to Luke with it.

  “Help me Regg,” Luke said his voice desperate.

  “Cut her hands down first,” Regg demanded.

  Luke cut the ropes confining my hands and I fell into Regg’s waiting arms. I could feel the blood begin to circulate through my body. My hands had turned purple and were swollen. Luke threw the knife to the floor and carefully grabbed me from Regg’s arms. My head lulled back onto his arm and he readjusted trying to make me more comfortable. I had absolutely no strength left to move.

  Regg retrieved the knife and came back over to us. “Alright Dallas, I’m gonna cut this tape from around your mouth first, and then we will get it out of your hair, but it’s tight so I need you to hold really still.” I tried to nod my head, but instead I nodded my one good eye.

  Regg slipped the tip of the knife under the tape and with one quick movement pulled it from my mouth. I thought as soon as the tape was off I would want to suck in a deep breath, but I didn’t even have the strength to do that. Regg covered me the best he could with his shirt and Luke carried me across the yard and into the house. I didn’t pick my head up to look and see if the others were still here, but all was quiet when we entered the house, so I assumed they were not close by.

  When we got to the kitchen, Luke sat me down on a barstool and asked for some scissors. I could hear him talking. I wanted to answer him, but my mind would not function enough for me to tell him anything. Regg began digging around in drawers while Luke looked at me with pain in his eyes.

  “I’m gonna take care of you baby. I think you are in shock right now, but you will get through it ok?”

  I continued to stare blankly at him. My tears had stopped and I was nothing but a blob of blood, guts, and bones. I had no feelings. I was completely numb. Regg must have located some scissors, because he and Luke were trying desperately to cut the tape away from my hair, salvaging as much as possible.

  “I’m going to bathe her Regg. Will you see if she has some hot tea or something?” Luke asked. His voice was pleading as if he was trying to stay in control, but was slipping.

  “Sure thing brother,” Regg answered and began digging through the cabinets in search of tea.

  I knew what was going on. I could see the events happening before me, but I couldn’t react. It was as if I was frozen. Luke scooped me into his arms once again and took me to my room. He sat me on the bed and walked into the bathroom to begin running water. I knew he was only in the next room. I could see his shadow from my bed, but not having him touch me filled me with panic. If I couldn’t see him then he couldn’t see me. I needed him to be with me. He could leave if he chose later, but just until I knew I was safe.

  My tears poured down my face and the harsh sobs shook my body. I tried to call out to him but it came out as a squeak. “Luke! Luke!” He walked back in to see me shuddering, sobbing, and crying. I wanted to stretch my arms out to him, but they were so sore they wouldn’t go past my waist.

  “I’m here baby. I’m here. I won’t leave you I swear. Baby I am so sorry I wasn’t here, but I’m here now and no one is going to touch you. I promise I will kill anyone who comes within a hundred yards of you,” Luke said his own eyes shining with unshed tears. “Come on baby and let me get you cleaned up.”

  He picked me up and sat me in the hot water. I didn’t realize how dirty I was until the water darkened from my body. Mud and dirt caked my legs and feet. My fingernails were dirty and torn from clawing at their skin. My wrists were chaffed and even bleeding in some spots, but what made me feel the dirtiest was where their hands had touched my body.

  I began to scrub my breasts with my hands trying to erase the feel of their touch. Luke watched me intently. Understanding my movements he leaned up and let the dirty water out. He adjusted the running water once again and yelled for Regg causing me to jump. “What you need man?” Regg asked from the door. He turned so his back was to us when he saw I was in the tub.

  “Can you grab me a big plastic cup?” “Yeah man, be right back.” Luke turned back to me and swallowed loudly. “Baby, did they touch you?” he managed to choke out.

  My answer was another sob and my head in my hands.

  Luke gently pulled my head to his chest and held me while I cried. “It’s ok baby. It’s ok,” Luke soothed.

  Regg walked back in and discreetly handed Luke a cup, and then disappeared. Luke was on his knees beside me at the tub. He began rinsing my body with my head still on his chest. He gently pushed me off of him and began bathing me. He wiped my face being careful around my swollen eye and mouth, and then continued all the way to my feet. I noticed how he paused, while bathing my most sensitive areas, but I never moved. I just stared like a zombie straight ahead.

  When I was clean, he dried me as much as possible in the tub, and then lifted me. My limp body was not helping him any, but he managed to dry me completely. When he sat me on the bed and went to leave to find me some clothes, my hands gripped his shirt with little force, but enough for him to stop.

  “I’m just going to get you some clothes baby. I’m not leaving.”

  I shook my head in response not letting go of him. He nodded knowingly and picked me up like a child, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. I laid my head on his shoulder while he walked with m
e latched around him into my closet to get me some clothes.

  “Will you sit here for me and let me dress you?” he asked as if he was talking to a small child.

  I nodded in agreement and he sat me in the chair at my vanity table, and then dressed me in some panties and a sleeveless satin nightgown that fell just above my knees.

  “You look so beautiful in satin, but I prefer you in my black t-shirts,” he said smirking.

  I tried to smile at his comment, but I couldn’t. He picked me up once again and carried me to the bedroom. Placing me on the bed, I kept a hold to his hand while he undressed. He wore shorts under his jeans and I wondered if it was because he was in a hurry when he left. It was difficult for him to undress while holding one of my hands, but he never complained. He slid me over to the middle of the bed then crawled under the cover behind me, pulling my back to his stomach.

  “I know this is a stupid question baby, but are you ok? I mean do I need to take you to a doctor or call someone?” I shook my head and closed my eyes. I was safe. I was in Luke’s arms and he would not let anyone hurt me. Regg was in my kitchen and he would not let anyone hurt Luke. The club was close and they would look out for one another. It would take some time, but everything would be ok.

  Before I fell asleep, I thanked God for everything he had given me. I asked him to forgive me for blaming him when my parents died, and for selfish reasons only, I prayed for Luke to never leave me.

  I’m looking down and I see big red feet, clowns feet. They are large and at the top of them sit leather chaps. I raise my face to see that the chaps have been painted blue, red and yellow; the color of a clown.

  The clown is dancing, moving his feet from side to side as if he is stepping on hot coals. He doesn’t wear a shirt, only a vest-a leather vest with orange patches. Luke is dressed like a clown. I smile as I raise my eyes to meet his blues ones, but they are black and belong to a face that has a big scar across it. I scream.