Bruised Angel (River of Lies #2)

by Sammy King

  “We are going to take her to the morgue” he said “we will need someone to make a formal identification, usually that’s done by the next of kin, are you that person?”

  Mason nodded his head.

  “My Dad is” Mason croaked through tears.

  The coroner nodded his head.

  “If you tell him to meet us at 135 Riverdale Road and just press the buzzer he can make the identification” the coroner said.

  Both Chelsea and Mason nodded numbly. Mason fumbled for his keys but dropped them on the ground. The policeman frowned and looked between Chelsea and Mason.

  “I’ll drive the two of you there” he said holding his hands out for Mason’s keys. “I don’t need two accidents tonight”

  Mason handed over the keys and they both climbed in the backseat. The police man drove them to the morgue in silence. Mason had texted his Dad when they left and by the time they pulled into the carpark of the morgue there were a group of Harleys and Choppers parked throughout the parking lot. The police man looked at them in the rear view mirror, as he parked the car. He buzzed the bell and the door unlocked. The police man led them into a big room which was filled with Kings of Darkness members. The police man looked around the room frowning as he left. When Knox saw Mason he ran to him and wrapped his arms around his son, sobbing into Mason’s shoulder. Blade stepped forward and gently took Chelsea into his arms. She suddenly felt numb and broken as Blade stroked her hair and she wrapped her arms around his large girth.

  Soon all the men that stood around either hugged Chelsea and Mason or clapped them on the shoulder squeezing them lightly. After a short wait the coroner entered the room looking around at the men that stood around.

  “Who is the father?” he asked with a frown.

  Knox raised his hand and stepped forward. The coroner nodded his head.

  “Come with me” he said as he left the room.

  “Do you want me to come?” Blade asked

  Knox nodded gently as they both left the room to follow the coroner. It was only a few moments later when they heard the guttural roar of Knox float down the hallway. The door swung open and Lincoln flew in with his parents close behind. They stopped and looked around at all the men. Lincoln fell into Mason’s arms, sobbing.

  Tracey came towards Chelsea and pulled her into her arms. Chelsea sobbed into Tracey’s chest. She didn’t know how to do life without Kelly. She wasn’t just a friend, she was a sister, a protector. Chelsea couldn’t do life without her, she didn’t want to do life without her. Tracey didn’t say a word while she held Chelsea. Everyone was silent as they went back to Mason’s house. Chelsea that night slept in Kelly’s bed, holding her pillow to her nose, smelling Kelly’s scent. Mason tucked himself tight in behind her. In the middle of the night Chelsea heard Knox come into the room and felt him stroke both hers and Mason’s faces, tears dripping down onto their cheeks. Chelsea kept her eyes closed, pushing her own tears away. She reached out and took Knox’s hand in hers and held it tight. He knelt on the side of the bed and put his head onto her shoulder, crying deep thunderous sobs.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Every day was a blur leading up the funeral it was a sea of people filing in and out of the house, each bringing flowers and paying their respects. Chelsea even met some of the member’s women, not that she remembered their names. They were just a sea of faces that drifted into Chelsea’s mind. She wanted to lock herself away and not think about any of what was going on. She wanted to believe that Kelly was just around at Lincoln’s house. The only thing that stopped her from being able to believe it was that Lincoln was at the clubhouse, his eyes stained red and puffy from the tears he didn’t seem to be able to stop crying.

  The night before the funeral, Chelsea was having a look through Kelly’s belongings, tucked at the back of her closet was a frame containing the picture that Chelsea had drawn of Mason. Fat tears rolled down Chelsea’s cheeks and splashed onto the glass. Chelsea knelt onto the soft carpet of Kelly’s room and cried silent screams into her knees, her grief overwhelming her. She brought the picture out of Kelly’s room once the tears had dried and went to find Knox, when he saw her approaching he looked up at her curiously.

  “What have you found?” he asked.

  Chelsea silently handed the picture that Kelly had, had framed as she promised. Knox took the picture and stood from his chair nodding and allowing his tears to fall down his face, splashing on the glass where Chelsea’s tears had dried. He went to the wall and took the picture of the motorcycle that hung above the television and replaced it with the picture. Knox kissed two fingers and placed it on the picture.

  “I’m going to fucking miss her like crazy” he wept.

  Chelsea nodded her head as her tears trickled down her face. They seemed to be endless, she could no longer control them. Her world was no longer perfect but shattered into millions of tiny shards that there was not enough glue in the world to put back together. Knox turned and came to Chelsea, pulling her into his chest. They stood in the living room as the world around them disappeared, lost in their heart ache and grief, sharing each other’s tears.

  Chelsea pulled out of Knox’s arms and went into Mason’s room and pulled out the box of art supplies that Brenda had given her. She spent the rest of the night working on a portrait of Kelly, she put a big rounded pregnant belly on her and a halo on both her and the baby’s head. When the morning light popped out Blade came into the dining room where Chelsea had set herself up. He looked over her shoulder and put his arm around her waist.

  “That’s perfect Chels” he said giving her a kiss on the side of the head.

  Chelsea smiled and nodded her head.

  “I like this” he said pointing to the top of the picture.

  Chelsea looked up and smiled. Above where Kelly stood in the picture were her parents with smiles on their faces and their hands outstretched to hold the baby in her tummy. Chelsea nodded her head. Finally Kelly had her family. Her real family and she was free. Mason and Chelsea drove the Mustang to the funeral being led by a number of Harley’s and Choppers with Knox, Bobby and Blade leading the group. The funeral hall was a dark and dingy place, with carpet that looked like it was straight out of the seventies. The place stunk of old people and death. Chelsea felt panic rising in her, she thought it would have been nicer to hold a graveside funeral out in the sun rather than this windowless stinking overwhelming place. However, she hadn’t been in charge of planning the funeral.

  As they walked into the room Chelsea saw her picture was propped onto an easel beside the beautiful white coffin. On top of the coffin were red roses that covered the entire top. The ceremony didn’t last very long with Mason saying a few words and the preacher talking about Kelly’s life as if he knew her. As Mason, Lincoln, Knox and Blade took the coffin out to the waiting hearse she followed close behind. They followed the hearse to the cemetery. The sky was a bright blue, not a cloud to be seen anywhere, the smell of summer was in the air and Chelsea knew that Kelly would have loved the day. Chelsea smiled knowing her friend was happy and at peace even if they weren’t.

  As they lowered the coffin into the ground each member of the clubhouse tossed a white rose down into the grave. Chelsea took her red rose and threw it down on the coffin, holding in the sobs that wanted to escape. Mason followed suit and put his red rose in the hole, followed by Lincoln and Knox. The four of them stood staring down at the flower covered casket that lay nestled amongst the brown clay earth, their arms around one another, silent tears falling down their face.

  They stood there for a long time soaking up the sun’s rays and each other’s love. Saying their own personal goodbyes to their friend, girlfriend, daughter and sister.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  The summer didn’t feel good anymore. Chelsea didn’t enjoy it. She just wanted to stay in bed and not talk to anyone. Her and Mason seemed distant and didn’t make love very much. She just seemed to drift from motion to motion. Chelsea had occasionally see
n Dylan, but even her interest in him waned. She went to his going away party briefly, but sat in the corner on her own not interacting with anyone. She didn’t want to socialise. Chelsea didn’t want to put on a happy face and pretend everything was good.

  The start of Uni came around fast and she was starting her first day. Chelsea was excited but at the same time didn’t really want to do it. Chelsea felt like she wouldn’t have anyone to come home to share her work with now that Kelly wasn’t there.

  Chelsea found herself quite regularly going to go into Kelly’s room to tell her something and remembering at the last minute that she wasn’t there. People say that time heals all wounds, but Chelsea didn’t think this was ever going to heal. Knox busied himself with the club. Mason seemed to be drinking a lot more and interacting with Chelsea less. They didn’t see much of Lincoln anymore and Chelsea just wasn’t interested in seeing anyone else. She just didn’t want to socialise. She felt completely numb.

  When Chelsea got home from her first day of school she walked into the house and saw there were men filing in and out of everywhere. She noticed women in skimpy outfits gyrating on the men’s laps and the men leering up at them. It took everything Chelsea had not to shudder in disgust. She ignored the goings on, remembering that Knox had said the annual get together was happening. She opened the door of the bedroom her and Mason shared and stopped dead in the doorway. Laying naked in the bed was Mason with a blonde woman on top of him rocking back and forth with her head thrown back and her eyes closed. The woman opened her eyes and looked at Chelsea and smiled.

  “Oh are you coming to join in?” she asked seductively.

  Chelsea felt anger fill her and the next thing she realised she was on top of the woman punching her in the face over and over. The woman was screaming and Mason was trying to pull Chelsea from her. Knox came running into the bedroom and helped Mason remove Chelsea who had a firm grip on the woman’s fake hair, which came off in chunks as she was dragged from the woman’s naked body. The woman stood grabbing her dress from the floor and running holding her face out of the room. Chelsea spun on Mason and slapped his face.

  “You piece of shit” she spat before turning and running out of the house.

  Laughter followed her as she ran with tears stinging her eyes. She pushed them back determined not to let them see how hurt she was by Mason’s betrayal.

  “Chelsea wait” she heard Knox call from behind her “For fucks sake girl stop”

  Chelsea stopped and turned around her fists were balled tight and her breath heaved from her chest. She turned and punched the fence hard, feeling the pain reverberate up her arm. The pain felt good and the urge to cut hit her hard. It began to consume her. Knox approached her and she looked at him.

  “I can’t do this Knox. I meant no disrespect to you in front of all those guys. But I have done nothing wrong to Mason. I’ve treated him like a fucking king” she screamed.

  Knox nodded his head.

  “What he did was an arsehole move” Knox said.

  Chelsea heard the gate shut behind Knox and looked over to see Mason come out and look down at them. He started to walk towards her with his head down and his hands shoved tight into his jeans pocket. Chelsea shook her head and turned running as fast as she could. She knew that Mason would be able to outrun her, but she hoped that she could get enough of a lead that he wouldn’t bother. She was wrong. She hadn’t got far down the road when she felt his arms wrap around her waist and spin her around in the air. She kicked back at him and got him in the shin. He let out a yelp and she kicked again aiming for his balls but only getting his thigh.

  “Chelsea stop trying to kick me” Mason growled.

  “Well put me down and let me go” Chelsea screamed.

  “Fine fuck off then” he roared as he put her down.

  Chelsea didn’t look back as she ran, leaping over the fence of the park and hiding amongst the tree’s. As she leant against the base of the tree she realised she still had her bag on her back. She reached around and threw it off her watching it hit the tree in front of her. She sat and banged the back of her head on the tree, tears streamed from her face. She didn’t feel just angry she was hurt beyond anything she had ever felt before. Of all the things that she thought Mason would do, she never thought he would cheat on her and especially with some cheap whore. Chelsea balled her fists and shoved them into her eyes trying to push back the tears that seemed to not be able to stop.

  Suddenly Chelsea remembered the box cutter she had in her bag for art class, she crawled over to her bag and pulled it out. She pushed the sleeves of her shirt up her arms and held it straight on her knee. With her other hand she lengthened the blade out and put it to her wrist.

  “Up the river Chelsea” she said quietly to herself “You emo freak”

  Just as she put the blade to her skin and felt the initial sting of the first prick it felt like the wind was knocked out of her. The box cutter flew from her hands and landed near the tree she had thrown her bag near. Chelsea fell to her side and hit her face on the ground.

  “What the fuck?” Chelsea screamed and looked around.

  Mason was standing beside her his face red with fury and he pulled her up off the ground and wrapped her into his arms holding her tight against his chest. She tried to push against him to get away but he held her too tight. Finally Mason let her go and Chelsea punched him in the stomach. He bent over winded but she didn’t run this time.

  “Why Mason? I give you everything. I haven’t held back any of my body” Chelsea cried.

  Mason lowered his head and nodded.

  “I know” he said. “I have no excuse. I don’t know why I did it. I’m a fucking idiot”

  Chelsea scoffed and nodded.

  “Well you tell the truth there at least” she said. “So how many other times have you cheated on me?”

  Mason’s eyes widened as he shook his head.

  “Never Chelsea, never. That was the first time. Fuck. I’m so sorry” he said stepping towards her.

  Chelsea held her hands up and forced him to stop, shaking her head.

  “Mason I don’t want you to touch me right now” Chelsea said sadly.

  Mason nodded and backed off.

  “I just want to be alone” Chelsea said with a hiccupping sob.

  Mason shook his head and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, moving and sitting down beside the tree that her bag and the box cutter sat beside.

  “I’m not leaving you alone” he said looking at the box cutter.

  Chelsea shrugged her shoulder and nodded her head.

  “Fine you can sit here and watch then” she said

  Mason frowned and cocked his head.

  “Watch what?” Mason asked

  “Watch me draw out my suicide seeing as you won’t let me actually do it.” Chelsea said “At least if I was with Kelly, she would truly love me, she would treat me right and she wouldn’t hurt me like you do”

  Mason dropped his head again and when he looked up at her he had tears falling from his eyes.

  “I miss her to Chels. This has been a fucking nightmare” he said shoving his fists into his eyes.

  “I never doubted you missed her Mason. Never once did I question that. I tried to give you your space. I tried to love you. I knew that you had to get better on your own, I couldn’t do it for you. But unlike you, I was prepared to ride out your grief and wait for you” Chelsea cried.

  Mason dropped his head and stood as he turned and suddenly punched the tree. He punched it again and again turning his knuckles bloody and bruised. When he had finally exhausted himself Chelsea was standing watching him with her arms folded across her chest.

  “Feel better now? You made yourself bleed, you hurt yourself. I mustn’t be the only emo freak” Chelsea spat.

  Mason looked over at her dropping his hands to his side and shook his head.

  “Don’t call yourself that Chelsea, please don’t do that” he said.

  Chelsea shrugged he
r shoulders and went to her bag. Mason watched her like an eagle to make sure she didn’t pick up the box cutter. She pulled out her pencils and sketch pad and sat against the tree. She sat and drew herself laying on the ground, blood swamping around her like a crimson tide as she lay bleeding, her arms open wounds from her wrists to her elbows. From the ground hands emerged trying to pull her down. Mason sat against the tree opposite and watched her draw. She made a conscious effort not to look at him. She sat there going over the same line, her drawing long finished, but she was waiting to see how long it would take before he would get bored and give up. It seemed he more staying strength than she had given him credit for. Chelsea felt tired and went to her bag and started to pack away her book and pencils, pointing at the box cutter.

  “Am I allowed to put it away or do you want to?” Chelsea asked.

  Mason frowned and bent picking up the box cutter and putting it in his pocket. Chelsea raised her eyebrow and shrugged her shoulder. As she went to walk away, Mason grabbed her hand and turned her to face him.

  “I meant what I said Chelsea. I’m not leaving you” Mason said with a look of determination in his eye.

  “You may not be leaving me, but I’m not sharing you with some fucked up blonde whore, who now has a bald spot. Very attractive” Chelsea replied and noticed Mason wipe his mouth to hide the smirk.

  She turned and walked away, climbing the fence and heading back towards Mason’s house. When she got there, she received cheers and noticed the whore huddled in a corner her mascara running still, rubbing her head over the new bald spot. Chelsea curled her lip and narrowed her eyes at her. The whore quickly looked away and tried to slink back into the shadows. Chelsea went into the house and pushed her way through the throngs of people with Mason close behind her. She headed for Kelly’s bedroom and as she entered she turned and shut the door in Mason’s face. She rested her back on the door and felt him push lightly on the door. Chelsea continued to stand against the door, she knew there wasn’t much point in trying to keep him out if he wanted in he could easily push her out of the way.