“Beautiful, we’re safer here than anywhere else, just trust me, alright?” Her gaze drops to the floor, and I know that whatever I say to her right now isn’t gonna make her feel any better. “Come on, let’s get some sleep.”
Chapter Twenty-One
This week has dragged like no other. Sure we’ve talked every day over the phone, but it’s not the same. I’ve gotta tell you; Saturday can’t get here soon enough. I’m bored out of my mind, and it’s been way too long since I’ve held her in my arms, or tasted her supple, agonizingly sweet lips on mine. Alexis went back to campus on Sunday night, and to tell you that I’ve been missing her like crazy wouldn’t be far from the truth.
To say that the week Alexis stayed with me went well wouldn’t necessary be how I would describe it. In fact, we figured out a lot of things, mainly on the day after she arrived here. We decided to go for a picnic, so we could make the most of the warm sunshine, but like the last time, it was cut short. We now know why her father’s house was broken into back in Salem.
We were talking about things. Things that didn’t really seem relevant to anything at the time. She asked me about my music, general things like when I started to play the guitar, that kinda stuff. Then we got onto talking about the bands I used to play in. It was then, when I told her about my band The Vultures, that the day turned out completely different to how we’d intended it.
Alexis started to space out on me, and when I asked her what was wrong, she told me that she remembered reading about us. Well, obviously I thought she was getting mixed up with some other band, I mean, we weren’t huge or anything, you and I both know that. But, then she told me about a diary she found at her father’s house when they were sorting through her moms things. And, then? Well, then it started to all make sense. They must’ve somehow found out that they never disposed of her moms belongings, why else would they’ve broken into the place?
We headed to Salem that same day. Her father and Diane were still in Seattle, so Alexis called them and told them about what she thought she saw. Did we find it? Nope. We searched through all the boxes, but we found nada. Zilch.
She kept apologizing, telling me how sorry she was, but how could she have known that it was Holly’s? I mean, it’s not likely that there would be anything in there to help me out anyways, and Alexis said she couldn’t remember anything else that was written in there. After all, she said she only read one or two pages.
Am I disappointed? Well, it would’ve been kinda nice to know what was written in there. Maybe to see if Holls had written anything else about me, apart from the band. But, it wasn’t there, and it’s not likely we’re gonna be able to find it now, either.
It’s just turned midday, and even though I’m desperate to call her, I know that I can’t. Her last class doesn’t finish until four on a Thursday. Zach and Rach headed back to Olympia after they stopped by for a little while yesterday afternoon, and I’m not expecting them to drop by again until later on this evening.
Rach has work until five, and Zach told me that he was gonna head out of town for a few hours to catch up with some of his old buddies from high school. Honestly, there’s no point them hanging out here all the time anyways. Especially now that things have gotten a hell of a lot quieter since me and Alexis got back from her father’s place.
We were so close. So fucking close. One thing that’s been playing on my mind, other than how much I’ve been missing Alexis, is why? What was in Holly’s diary that made them feel the need to take it? What didn’t they want us to see? There’s one thing that I’m pretty sure of now, though. She must’ve known something. If they were so desperate to get a hold of her diary and break into Alexis’ father’s house, she must’ve known them. She had to have known the person or persons who did this to her.
Why didn’t she tell me if there was something wrong? I mean, I know we didn’t exactly have the best week before it happened, but she could’ve come to me. She could’ve told me anything.
My cell phone vibrating over on the windowsill by the TV brings me away from my thoughts, and when I go over to pick it up, I’m surprised to see who’s messaging me. Not because she shouldn’t be me, that’s not it. She’s just early, that’s all.
A: Are you busy?
Me: Where’s my kiss? ;) X
A: I want to come over.
Me: Now? But what about your classes?
A: The professor’s sick. The weekend is starting early!
Me: Zach isn’t here.
A: I’ll grab a cab.
Me: I’d rather you waited until he got back.
A: Are you on your own?
Me: Yeah. Why?
A: I’ve got a surprise planned.
Me: Beautiful, what’s going on?
A: Do you trust me?
Me: Of course I trust you. I’ll call Zach and ask when he’s gonna be back in town. I’ll message you when he’s gonna pick you up.
A: Too late. I’ve already waved down a cab. See you in a few ;)
Well, that was weird.
I scratch my forehead and smile at the screen. Alexis is coming over a couple of days earlier than we’d planned, and this is making me feel extremely happy.
I place my cell back down, and then head through to the kitchen to start clearing a few of the dishes away. Yeah, I guess you could say that I’ve been a little lazy since Zach and Rach haven’t been hanging out with me here so much. Once I’ve wiped the counter, I check the refrigerator to make sure there’s something in for us to eat. Rach was gonna grab some groceries and bring them over later this evening, but I’m gonna need to rustle something up before then.
I close the door when I don’t see anything inside, and then my nerves kick in when I remember something. Rach and Alexis haven’t officially met yet. I take a seat over at the breakfast bar, but then figure I shouldn’t really be worrying about this. Rach is gonna love her. I know she is. What’s not to love about Alexis? Exactly.
I jog back through to the living room and pick up my cell when I hear my ringtone again, and see another message from her.
A: I’m close. Did you unlock the door?
She’s close? Oh, she’s gonna be close when I grab her inside and drag her through to the bedroom. She needs to know the extent of my torture and what I have to go through when I haven’t seen her for the best part of a week.
I head over and turn the key in the lock while sending her my reply. I notice on the display that it’s now a little after one o’clock, and decide to go and grab a quick shower before she arrives. Knock! Knock! Or, maybe I won’t.
Huh. She wanted me to leave the door unlocked, so why is she knocking? Wait. Who cares? She’s here, and that’s all that matters. I stride over to the door and pull it open.
“Brandon Taylor?” Unless Alexis has turned into a six foot five male with blonde hair and a large scar under her right eye, then it’s not her I’m opening the door up to. “It’s good to see you again.”
My eyebrows furrow because this guy knows my name, but nobody is supposed to know that I’m here. I take an immediate step back while trying to close the door, but he takes a step forward, resting his hand on the inside wall while opening the door up wider with his foot, a smirk appearing wide over his mouth. He looks familiar. “I know you, don’t I?” I ask. I recognize him, but I can’t remember where I’ve seen him before.
“Yes,” he answers me, his smile growing even wider now. “Yes, you know me.”
My gut’s telling me that something’s not right here, and I do the first thing that comes to mind, “Zach, can you come through here, bro?” I call out behind me. Yeah, I know he’s not here, but this guy doesn’t. He sure as hell doesn’t look like he’s come here for a coffee and a slice of cake.
“Good thinking. I like your style,” he starts to laugh. “But, you and I both know that your cousin isn’t around to help you out this time.” Shit. Double shit. Motherfucking shit. How does he even know this?
He steps closer, and I back away, try
ing to reach for my cell that’s in the back pocket of my pants. I bump into something behind me, but there shouldn’t be anything there. The hallway runs right down to the back of the cabin. Shit. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.
***
It’s dark in here. Wherever here is. I have no clue. None whatsoever. The place smells damp and old. There’s a slight light shining through a small window on the other side of the room, but it’s not enough to help me try and figure out my location.
The last thing I remember is being hit hard across the back of the head. I don’t know how many of them were there in the end. The first guy punched me hard in the face while the other held my arms behind my back. I couldn’t move. I tried to fight back, but I was being restrained. Then I heard the front door open again, and another unfamiliar voice sounded behind me. And another, and then another. I was turned around before I even had a chance to get a look at their faces, and then I was slammed hard against the hallway wall. One of them grabbed at my hair and smashed my face right against it. They laughed. I could hear them. But, I couldn’t do anything. I felt sudden déjà vu right then. It reminded me of the time back in the alleyway, when I went to meet with the guy who said he could help me.
A few kicks to my lower back, the sound of their snarls, and more punches to both my right and left sides later, it all went dark. I don’t know how long I was out for. I’m not at the cabin, this I’m completely sure of. Sharp pains shoot right the way through my arm before spreading throughout the rest of my entire body.
Alexis.
Shit! She was on her way over. She was— “Where is she?” I grind out, wincing from the newfound tightness that’s closing in on my chest and all around me. “What did you do to her?”
I hear a faint chuckling sound travel over from the corner of the room, before I see a shadowed figure walking toward me, “Who? The little brunette? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” his words are snarled, and he’s laughing now, mockingly.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” I bark out while attempting to get on my feet, but the pain’s too intolerable, and I slouch back against the hard wall behind me. “If you’ve touched a single hair on her head then I swear to fucking God I’m gonna—” He slaps me hard across the cheek when he goes to walk by me, his cell phone chiming loud.
This pain, the sting across my face, and the burning agony through my shoulder, I can handle, but not knowing where Alexis is or if she’s okay is killing me.
“All went to plan.” I hear him speak into his cell. All went to plan? “Let me know.” I see him stuff his phone inside his jacket, a smile creeping over his lips. “She’s very pretty, that girlfriend of yours.”
No. Please tell me he hasn’t touched her. Shit. Damn this fucking asshole! I clench my eyes closed when I grip my arm with my other hand, hoping that somehow it’s just gonna snap back into place so I can kill this motherfucker, “If you’ve laid even one finger on her then I’ll—!”
“You’ll do what?” he asks casually while kneeling down right ahead of me. If I could summon up enough energy to take a swipe at him, then I would. But, he’s just out of reach for me to be able to get to him. I struggle to sit up straighter. “You don’t look in any fit state to do anything.” He shrugs his shoulders, and shakes his head as he backs away, just as a brighter light filters into the room. Someone else is here. The light’s coming through from the open door, and I squint as I try to get a closer look. It looks like …Neil? “Neil! Neil you’ve gotta go find Alexis!” The light fades and I hear the door fully close.
“Brandon?” His voice is quiet, calm even as he takes a step closer.
“No! Go and find her! You need to get the hell outta here and get her! She was heading to the cabin and—”
“No, buddy. No. She wasn’t,” he interrupts me, and I notice a wry smile displaying over his mouth now. “It seems you managed to redeem yourself.” I hear him say, but he’s not speaking to me. He’s already turned away and is talking directly to—what? Why isn’t he leaving? Wait a second. Why is he talking to—? “I’ll take it from here.”
“Neil?” I shuffle around some more and … wait a second. Why is he shaking that guy’s hand? No. I’ve gotta be imagining this. Yeah. Yeah, this isn’t happening. I’m still out cold, and I’ll wake up at any second, back at the cabin, but this time with Alexis’s arms firmly wrapped around me. Come on, wake up. I close my eyes and count to three. One. Two. Three. But, the pain is still present, and when I reopen my eyes, I see a pair of dark ones staring directly into mine, and only a couple of inches away. Neil’s eyes. “What is this?”
“You should have listened and left it alone, Brandon. You should’ve left this the hell alone. But, no. You couldn’t, could you? You had to keep going. You had to try!” his voice is short and he sounds angry. He’s scowling right at me, but it doesn’t make any sense. What should I have left alone? “Have you really no idea what this is? I always knew you were a little on the slow side, but come on! Have you not figured anything out yet?” I rest my head against the back wall, and see the other guy leave through the door. “It’s just you and me now. Everything’s going to become a lot clearer real soon.” He sneers, and I notice that his whole demeanor’s change.
“I don’t understand …” I shake my head, but instantly regret it. It hurts. Everything hurts.
He moves away, and starts to pace the floor, just as my cell phone sounds out. That’ll be her. Shit. I’ve gotta get this. I clench my eyes closed from the pain as I try and shift over, but a foot to the ribs pushes me back down, “Allow me,” he grips a hold of my arm, and pulls me to the side before leaning over and snatching my cell from out of my pocket. “Sweet, sweet, Alex.” He whispers, still staring at the screen while resting back on his heels, shaking his head.
“Give me my fucking phone!” I snarl. If I wasn’t able to see him then I wouldn’t recognize the guy. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I shout, and he slowly turns to face me again, a new expression crossing over his entire face.
“Why didn’t you stay away, Brandon? I thought my warning was clear!” He’s starting to look upset now. Sad even.
“Your warning?”
“I told you to leave, and I made it pretty fucking clear what would happen if you ever went near her again!” The tone of his voice is venomous, and he spits to the ground, right by my left foot.
“It was you?” I choke out when it finally hits me. “You wrote the note? But … but, why?” I’m struggling to make any sense out of this. “But I thought it was … no. The … the note … they said they’d hurt her in the same way that they …” I feel as though my entire air supply has just been ripped away from me. All this time? All this fucking time? “… You.”
“And finally he gets it,” he throws his arms in the air, letting out harsh laughter. “Finally he under-fucking-stands!”
“It was … it was you? You hurt her? You killed Holly?” I think I’m gonna hurl. All this time and it was him? But he’s one of my best friends. “B-B-But you’re my friend. You, no. I can’t—”
“I was your friend, but you let me down. You could’ve stopped all of this from happening. I haven’t been your friend since we were back in Olympia!” His words immobilize me, my gut twists, and my chest aches.
No amount of physical pain compares to the sheer harshness of my reality. The pain I’m feeling inside reaches depths so deep, I didn’t know it was even possible to feel this way. My gaze falls to the ground because I can’t even look at the person who I loved like a brother. I saw him as my family. I trusted him.
He’s not gonna get away with this. No fucking way. If I have to die trying, he’s gonna pay for what he did. Fuck it. Fuck everything! I growl through the pain as I try to stand, and this time I’m able to get on my feet because of the adrenaline that’s now coursing through me.
He’s facing the other way now, punching some keys into his cell. I stumble to the side once and then charge right at him, but he turns a
round before I manage to get my first strike in. He places his hands on my chest and pushes me backward, almost making me lose my balance. I try again, but this time he laughs and grabs a hold of my arm. “Arghh!” I growl from the excruciating pain, and double over, falling backward and hitting the side of my head on the brick wall when he knees me straight in the face.
“Sit down and be quiet.” He sounds bored, and I clutch the side of my head with my good hand, trying to regulate my breathing.
I watch him as he holds my cell phone to his ear, internally vowing that this isn’t the end, “You’re at the wrong lake, beautiful.”
“Alexis!” I shout out to her, and the harshness within his laughter as he drops the phone away from his ear is sickening. We’re at the lake? Our lake? I glance around, realizing that we must be inside the small building. We’re not in some secluded place. We’re right outside the campus. Shit. Please don’t come here, beautiful. Please stay the fuck away.
“Now we wait for the second half of the show,” he says with amusement, and takes a seat over in the corner of the room, crossing his arms up behind his head. “You haven’t heard the best of it yet.”
He hasn’t looked at me once since the last words he spoke to me. I’m having a hard time trying to figure all of this out, and it’s still not making any sense.
Misguided Truths: Part Two (Misjudged) Page 26