by Tia Siren
I started hyperventilating, worried that I was about to end up in jail. Mr. Novak didn’t look worried in the slightest; Jimmy looked about as confident as I did.
Mr. Novak started laughing.
“Don’t worry about them; they’re your ride.”
The two officers stepped from the car, one of them held a phone that looked similar to Mr. Novak’s. Nothing they could say would have removed my worry completely, but I sighed to give myself a little bit of relief. Mr. Novak must be worth a lot of money to be able to buy off the police.
Jimmy and I walked hastily over to the police that were already opening up the back doors. I ducked my head down and leaned in, not the first time I had been in the back of a police car, and I really hoped it would be my last.
Jimmy pulled out the envelope and stuffed it into my purse. I looked at him quizzically and in response, he shushed me.
“Where to?” the cops asked.
“4th and Jefferson,” Jimmy replied.
The driver nodded, and we started to drive. It wasn’t a far destination but it was decently close to home, and I needed a shower and some sleep to calm my nerves.
The police continued to drive. I watched out the window as we drove straight past the destination. My heart started beating hard again.
“Hey, you just passed it,” I said.
They didn’t respond. We just kept driving. Before long we were out of the city and heading upstate. I was hoping they’d stop, but I knew they wouldn’t.
Almost an hour later they pulled over. The only thing I could see were trees and a single stretch of highway. I had a really bad feeling about this.
They cracked open the back door, guns drawn.
“Out,” they said.
I wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. I followed their instructions but kept my eye out for an escape.
“Jimmy, you were a week late again. Mr. Novak doesn’t like dealing with people that aren’t on time with deliveries. Since he can’t just fire you, he is doing the next best thing.”
We marched through the forest for a few minutes before finding a hastily dug hole in the forest.
“It’s too bad you had to get her involved,” they added.
I wanted to break down and cry, but I knew now was the worst time. This was reminding me of a few times I was with my ex-boyfriend. I knew he’d done some things that were less than legal, and sometimes he would bring me along. I’d seen him beat people until they could barely breathe, and then his boys would just take the loser away, and I wouldn’t see him again.
The odd part; that wasn’t the reason I stopped seeing him.
“Get in,” the cops said, gesturing toward the hole. Jimmy acknowledged his fate and stepped into the hole. I, on the other hand, wasn’t in the mood to die tonight.
One of them waved his pistol at me, trying to usher me in the hole.
“Just get in, Celia. They’re probably just trying to scare us, right?”
Bang. Jimmy was dead. He slumped over in the hole, lifeless. I panicked and kicked the officer near me. He must not have had the best footing because he toppled over on top of Jimmy. It was my break, and I took it.
I sprinted through the forest towards the road we had just left. I could hear the officers starting to chase me from behind, but they were a ways.
I started to consider my options. I remembered they had left their keys in the ignition before we left. Cops always did stupid things like that. So, I just kept running.
Their footsteps grew louder, and I could hear the brush cracking under their weight. I could barely see a thing, but in the heavy moonlight, I was able to make out the silhouette of their car. The lights were still on inside.
Then an arm reached out and grabbed my shoulder. I yelped in surprise.
“Stop right there, girlie,” he said.
I grabbed the thing nearest to me, a stick, and stabbed into his hand as hard as I could. He screamed in anger, and I heard him try to draw his gun with his other hand, but it clanked to the ground.
I sprinted the last distance, completely out of breath, running entirely on adrenaline, until I was nestled into the driver’s seat. I heard a smash on the passenger side door, the officer I stabbed was frantically trying to get in the car. I reached over and locked the door before he could open it.
I cranked the key, and the car started up.
“Get out of the car you bitch! I will find you, and I’ll do worse than shoot you,” he shouted.
I floored the pedal and the wheels burned out as I shot off in the darkness. I breathed my first sight of relief as I drove down the road. Finally, I gave in to all the emotions I had denied myself until now. Jimmy was dead; murdered by two officers. I couldn’t go to the police; they wouldn’t believe me. I couldn’t call any of my friends, the few that I had, they would just be put in harm’s way.
There was only one place I could think to go. The only place I ever really felt safe in my entire life. I had to go back home; I had to find Rex and get him to keep me alive.
2.
I ditched the cop car when it finally ran out of gas. It was a liability anyway, as I’d heard that their cars were easy to track, so it was for the best that I left it.
I had driven more than 200 miles last night, and I was exhausted. It didn’t help that blood was spilled all over my shirt. Some of it Jimmy’s and some of it was probably the officer that I stabbed.
I hitchhiked my way into a small town, didn’t seem to have much more than a gas station and a diner. That was fine though, people that live in parts like this are tougher than most. I let my guard down a little bit.
Rex and his boys liked to keep to the open road, and I hoped they’d be somewhere nearby. At least, I was 200 miles closer to the place I last saw him.
I pulled out my phone and dialed his number, only to get his voicemail.
“Don’t bother,” it said.
I was about to hang up, but I couldn’t help myself, I left a message.
“Rex, it’s me, Celia. I’m hunkered down in a diner called Jack’s Shake Shack, and I was hoping to see you again. I’m in a tight spot,” I started; then I realized the money in my bag, “I can pay you!”
The message clicked off, and I returned the phone to the receiver. I felt completely hopeless. I sat down at the café bar and rested my head in my hand. I laid my phone on the table in front of me and stared at it, hoping it would ring.
“Can I get you some pie?”
I looked up at the waitress holding a pot of coffee and leaning on the bar.
“How about a cup of that coffee to go with it,” I said.
She smiled and poured me a cup.
“Waitin’ on somebody?” she asked.
“Something like that,” I replied.
She came back with a slice of pie. I pulled a few dollars from the envelope of cash, and as I did so, she held up her hand.
“Don’t worry about it, sweetie. It’s on the house,” she said.
I dug into the pie as though I hadn’t eaten in days. I was truly exhausted. Then my phone started ringing. My heart skipped when I saw the caller ID showed the name, Jimmy. I picked it up and answered.
“Hey there girlie,” said the familiar voice of Mr. Novak, “you got something of mine, and I’m going to get it back.”
A look of horror was plastered on my face; I think the waitress noticed.
“Tell you what; you bring me back my money, and I’ll let you go. Besides, that money belongs to the cops whose car you stole. I’m sure they’ll want it back more than me.”
I clicked off the phone. I didn’t want to hear anymore. Thankfully the phone didn’t start ringing again. I needed to run.
Then I heard rumbling, distant at first but getting closer. Then the sounds made the café shake, and I saw a group I hadn’t seen in years drive by the front of the diner and come to a halt.
I heard heavy footsteps clomp along the ground. Then the door to the diner tore open to reveal Rex, the mountain of a
man I had once dated.
“What the hell took you so long,” he said.
3.
“Hi Rex,” I said with an embarrassed smile.
He walked in and nodded at the waitress, barely acknowledging my existence. He took a seat at the diner bar, next to where I was sitting and waited for the waitress to pour him a drink.
“What the hell have you got yourself into this time,” he asked.
I joined him, returning to my chair and my slice of pie.
“It’s bad, Rex,” I said.
He reached over and started chomping on my food.
“How bad,” he said with his mouth full.
“I saw two cops murder one of my friends,” I said quietly.
He paused and looked over at me, be wildered.
“What the hell, Celia,” he said.
“I know, I know, but you’re the only person I trust right now,” I replied.
He returned to the pie and I to my coffee. He had some new tattoo’s I didn’t recognize. His arms were completely covered almost to the knuckle, and his chest was covered more or less. He wore a simple black leather vest with his crew slogan on the back, ‘Ride or Die’. Words that I knew he lived by.
He looked bigger than I remembered; perhaps he had more muscle on his hulking body. He was still a sight to behold, standing over six and a half feet without boots on. I looked tiny by comparison.
I wasn’t the smallest person in the world, and in fact, I was pretty tall for a girl at almost six feet of height. I never had a problem defending myself, or keeping guys away. And, few men were able to make me feel so small. I was also a bit gangly for some, but I still had some nice curves that drove men wild. Still, there was only one man that I liked driving wild, and he was sitting right next to me.
“Alright, I’ll do it,” he said.
“Do what,” I asked.
“I’ll protect you,” he replied.
I let out a sigh as though a huge burden had left my shoulders.
“After you marry me,” he said.
I spat out the coffee that I had just sipped.
“What?” I asked.
He returned the plate to the bar.
“I’m tired of waitin’ for you to come back. That whole college thing is a mess anyway and it’s not goin’ to get you nowhere.
“You marry me, and do what I say, and I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you.”
He took another swig of the coffee in front of him.
I was surprised that he was bringing all this up because I wouldn’t have hesitated to marry him before I even went to college. It was his fault I decided to move on in the first place. Now, he wants me because I’m in trouble.
“What the hell, Rex?” I said.
“What, Celia? I just told you what to do if you want me to protect you,” he replied.
“Are you serious,” I laughed, “four years ago you dumped me because I was too clingy. You moved on and slept with half the state. You ruined everything that we were, and still I kept coming back to you. Then, you finally cut me loose. It took me months before I was able to get a hold of myself and move on.
“Now, you want me to marry you?”
“Yes,” he said.
I screamed in frustration. I still cared about the guy, sure, but not enough to marry him on first sight in four years. I don’t want to be owned by him.
“I can’t,” I said.
“Then we’re done here,” he replied, standing up and throwing a couple of crumpled bills on the counter. I watched him walk away, again.
There’s always something about men that makes you want to stab them and kiss them at the same time. Right now, I just wanted to stab him.
Would it really be that bad? I thought to myself. He really was the only man that knew how to satisfy. I missed the open road, and the feelings I had when we rode together. I really did miss wrapping my arms around him at campfires and staring at the open night sky. I wasn’t doing incredibly well at college anyway, and it isn’t as though I could go back, with things as they were.
“Fine,” I said.
“Like you really had a choice,” he replied.
I couldn’t stay my rage anymore, so I grabbed the fork from the diner table and charged at him. He grabbed my wrist with his meaty fist and stopped me.
I tried my hardest to break free from him, but he was just too strong. With his free hand, he pulled off his sunglasses and leaned down to me, so we were face to face.
“Are you going to play nice?” he said.
I clenched the fork tighter and clenched my teeth. But, I knew it was pointless. I dropped my weapon and gave up.
He continued his walk towards his motorcycle, and I followed. However, it was at right that moment that my exhaustion took over; the color left the world, and everything went black.
4.
Things came in patchy at best. I can remember someone hovering over me and checking my vitals; then I can remember Rex throwing me on the back of his bike and taking me for a ride. I wasn’t exactly sure how much time passed before I woke up.
I was on a bed. Looking around at the single bedroom and the crappy TV sitting on a table in the corner, I figured I was in a motel.
“So you’re finally up,” I heard Rex say.
“How long was I out,” I asked, rubbing my head.
“About a day,” he replied, “don’t worry; nobody has come looking for you yet. And, I got the boys keepin’ watch.”
“Got anything to eat,” I smiled.
Rex tossed a sack full of convenience store food at me.
“Didn’t think you had time for steak,” he said.
He wasn’t wrong. I chomped down on whatever I could get my hands on. It might not be the best food for you, but when you just wake up from exhaustion, anything is a gourmet meal.
“Thanks, Rex,” I said.
He grunted.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, “we gotta hit the courthouse and get hitched, then we’ll be on our way out of this Podunk town and back to the road. I think we’re going to head out to-”
“You still want to do the marriage thing?” I interrupted.
“What part of our deal didn’t you get?” he replied.
“Yeah, well don’t you wanna have a little ceremony where we get all our friends together to have it?” I asked.
He bellowed out a laugh.
“Celia, you and I both know that the only friends we have are either dead or out there riding a motorcycle right now,” he said, “besides, this makes things easier.”
I sighed. I needed to know something, and I was hoping that he’d answer me truthfully this time.
“Why didn’t you ask me four years ago?” I asked.
He stopped laughing. His face went back to the cold, angry stare I was used to seeing. He reached over and drew the tiny curtain shut before plopping into the only other chair in the motel.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“Well tell me something, Rex,” I said.
He slammed his fist on the table.
“It's freedom,” he started, “you weren’t giving me that. You wanted to take it away and settle down with some stupid white picket fence fantasy. You wanted me to get a stupid job where I walk around like some penguin and take phone calls.
“That’s not me, Celia. You wanted that back then, and you pushed me really hard for it. It drove me nuts. Well, now you’re back on my terms. We do things my way, or you can kiss your ride goodbye.”
The truth always hurts. I didn’t really know what to say. My memories were much different from his. I only remembered the drunken fist-fights and the nights we would pass out after some of the wildest sex imaginable under the starry skies.
“Why didn’t you tell me then?” I asked, timidly.
“Do you think you would’ve listened?” he said.
I sighed and shrunk a little. I was young and dumb, and I didn’t listen to anyone. I still feel that way sometimes. Rex knew me better tha
n I did.
“Alright, let’s go,” I said.
Rex stomped out of the motel, and I weakly stood up. The food was helping a lot, but this would still take time. I put on my things and went out to join Rex on his chopper.
We flew down the road toward my inevitable fate.
5.
I wasn’t excited to be married in the slightest, but I didn’t mind the man I’d be marrying. Old feelings had been stirring up inside me lately, and I couldn’t help myself anymore. While we rode on his motorcycle, I gripped his waist just a little tighter.
If he was excited, he didn’t show it. Then again, he didn’t show much of anything except maybe anger at anything in his way. Then again, he did laugh louder than just about every other guy in the club.
The courthouse wasn’t much to look at, just a small box with a door. I didn’t expect much in this small town anyway. Behind the courthouse was the small local police station. I did my best to act nonchalant, but I was still nervous.
The inside of the government building wasn’t much to look at either. Notices were strewn out over the walls, and a row of chest high desks were setup just inside the door.
“Can I help you,” said an old woman who appeared to have been sitting behind that desk since the dawn of time.
“We’re here for a marriage license,” Rex said.
She fiddled with a stack of papers and laid a scrap of paper on the desk.
“Sign here and here and I’ll need both of your ID’s for verification,” she said.
I nervously dug out my identification and Rex slapped his on the counter. He was already signing his name on the paper, which he immediately thrust at me when he was finished.
I held it and scanned the document. This was it; I was saying goodbye to my old life. I signed my name to the paper and handed over my ID.
She took both of them and scanned them in the computer, and I couldn’t tell, but it sounded like she gasped.
“Take a seat over there for a minute,” she said, taking our ID’s and waddling off toward the back of the office building.
I felt my nerves come back in a bad way. I wanted to get back on the bike and run for it, but Rex didn’t seem to care.
“Calm down, would ya? She’s just making copies,” he said.