by Aaron Riley
Christopher opened his eyes for just a moment to notice that Fallon's bike was gone. He immediately pushed Joshua off him. “Where the fuck is his motorcycle?”
Joshua turned towards the front of the bar. His eyes searched the row of bikes but they came up empty. “I don't know.”
He jumped out of the car and ran to the motorcycles. He went through each one looking for Fallon's black and yellow Harley. But it wasn't there. He turned back to Christopher in the car and shook his head.
Christopher cursed and started the car. Joshua ran towards him as he quickly spun the car around. He jumped into the passenger seat as they shot out of the parking lot.
“How the fuck did he get past us?” Christopher asked.
Joshua punched the console in front of him. “He knew he was being watched.”
“But how?”
“He must've spotted us outside his clubhouse. We should've been more careful.”
“So now we're fucked. He isn't going to kill someone when he's got the heat on him.”
Joshua turned to Christopher. “Get to the college now. Fallon loves a challenge. He wouldn't stop for anyone.”
Christopher slammed his foot down onto the pedal and sped through a red light.
Chapter Sixteen
Christopher and Joshua circled around the college parking lots, searching for Fallon's bike.
He turned the wheel hand over hand as they exited the third parking lot. At this time of night, there were barely any cars parked. “I'm not seeing it here, Joshua.”
“I know he's here. Keep driving.”
They came to the last parking lot at the college. “There aren't even any cars parked here. Face it, Fallon is just playing games with us. He knew we were watching him and took us for a ride. Then he went back home.”
“What time is it?”
Christopher pointed to the clock on the dashboard that read 9:57 pm.
“Park the car,” Joshua said.
“What are you talking about?”
“Remember when you told me that a witness heard a bike racing off?”
Christopher nodded, trying to follow along.
“Where was the victim killed?”
“Along one of the pathways through the school.” It hit Christopher like a ton of bricks. “She was too far away from the parking lot to hear a motorcycle.”
“He must park his bike in some bushes close to where he kills. That way it's a quick getaway.”
“That motherfucker.” Christopher kicked the brakes and the car came to a stop. He didn't care if the car wasn't parked within the white lines. He leaned over and popped open the glove box. His government-issued Glock sat there. He pulled it out and checked the magazine.
“You should stay in the car,” he told Joshua.
Joshua pulled out a silver Colt revolver and spun the chamber around. “Fuck that. I'm coming with you.”
Christopher looked at his big gun and wanted to laugh. The ex-con thought he was some sort of cowboy. But this was no laughing matter. And he didn't have time to argue.
They both jumped out of the car and into the darkness. Joshua ran at top speed and Christopher was able to keep up to him thanks to all his marathon runs at the academy. Students began to flood out of the classrooms. They couldn't follow every girl. There were too many of them.
Joshua stood in the middle of the crowd trying to spot Fallon. Christopher couldn't see over all the heads. “Do you see anything?” He knew it was a stupid question.
Joshua sprinted away and Christopher followed, his heart thumping in his ears.
Christopher spotted something out of the corner of his eye as they rounded a corner. “Joshua! Wait up.”
Joshua stopped in his tracks and turned around. Christopher approached a set of bushes and pulled them apart to reveal a yellow and black Harley.
“He's got to be close,” Joshua said, pulling out his revolver.
Christopher did the same. “Be careful. There's too many civilians around.”
They crept through the college that was beginning to quiet down. They stayed by Fallon's bike because they knew he needed his getaway close at hand. But they still needed to find him before he killed again.
That's when Christopher saw it. A white girl with long brown hair and black glasses was being trailed by a dark figure. He couldn't quite make him out but he knew by his walk that he was stalking prey.
Christopher yelled, “Freeze!”
Everything moved in slow motion. Joshua turned to see Christopher bring up his gun and pointed it across the grass. His eyes followed the line of sight until they met Fallon as he pulled the unsuspecting victim into his grasp and put a long hunting knife to her throat.
“Put your guns down or this chick gets it.” He dug the tip of his blade into the skin of the girl until it brought blood. She screamed and tears fell down her cheeks. Christopher never wanted to see that look of fear ever again.
Joshua raised his gun immediately. Christopher had been trained to drop his gun in a situation like this. It wasn't like the movies where they took the shot and always made it. This was real life and this woman's life was in their hands.
Christopher put his hands up in the air. “We're putting our guns down,” Christopher said, slowly bending over.
Joshua's eyes shifted to Christopher. “We are?”
“We both are dropping our guns,” Christopher repeated.
Joshua grit his teeth. He didn't like this one bit. He just needed the right moment to take the shot. There was no way he could miss. But Fallon wasn't going to wait one more moment before he slit this poor girl's throat.
“Is that you, Joshua Kent? I've always dreamed of being in a situation where I could kill you,” Fallon said.
“You and me both, Fallon,” Joshua replied.
“Drop your weapon, motherfucker. I swear to god, I'll kill her right in front of you.”
Joshua knew he wasn't bluffing. He put his hands up in the air to surrender.
“Throw your guns to me,” Fallon said. His psychotic grin stretched from ear to ear.
They both complied and threw their guns across the grass until they rested at Fallon's feet. Christopher gulped. He could kill all three of them now. Why did the FBI train him this way again?
Fallon just smiled.
And Christopher felt unsettled. He'd never been face-to-face with a serial killer before and he wasn't prepared for how fucked up they were.
“Let the girl go,” Christopher announced. He had nothing to bargain with except for empty threats. “We'll let you walk away if you let the girl go.”
“Fine. I'll let the girl go,” Fallon replied. He released his stranglehold on the woman and pushed her away. The girl whimpered as she ran off into the night.
Christopher was shocked. His negotiation tactic actually worked. The boys back in Washington would laugh when they heard about about it.
But Joshua knew better.
Fallon eyed Christopher and threw his long knife straight towards him.
Joshua screamed out Christopher's name as he ran to him. He wanted to jump in front of the path of the incoming missile and save him.
But he was too far away.
Christopher saw it coming and tried his best to dodge. He always thought he had a quick reaction time. The blade of the knife buried itself in Christopher's shoulder. He howled in pain as he clutched the hilt of the blade. Christopher had never felt pain like this before. His brain was screaming at him. The scenery began to spin. Christopher swayed from side to side. He almost toppled over until Joshua came to his side to keep him from falling.
“Christopher! Are you okay?” he said with tears in his eyes. He slowly laid Christopher onto the grass and brushed his hair.
Christopher was more surprised by the tears than the knife. Joshua really cared for him. He never expected that. “I think I have a knife stuck in me. Can you take it out?”
“Yeah you do. But I can't take it out yet. We don't want you to lose more blood
. Just keep pressure around the blade.”
Christopher cursed. Joshua was right. He could bleed out in seconds if he took the knife out.
Joshua turned back to Fallon.
The serial killer shrugged. “Sorry about that, Joshua. Didn't know he was your man. Now I'll have a little more fun with him after I crush your skull.”
Joshua was blinded with rage. Nothing could stop him. “I'm going to kill you.” He lunged for the guns that sat at Fallon's feet but Fallon kicked them behind him.
Fallon wagged his finger at him. “No guns. Only fists.” He cracked his knuckles and craned his neck to both shoulders.
Joshua stood up and did the same. He was going to enjoy every second of this.
Fallon came screaming at him, fists flying in wide crazy circles.
Joshua put up his arms in defense and blocked most of the blows but caught one in the jaw. His eyes went blurry for a moment but he was able to counter with two punches to Fallon's midsection.
Fallon doubled over, holding his stomach. It looked like it was already over. Joshua straightened up and then Fallon began to laugh. It started off low and began to build until it became villainous.
Joshua felt a sudden fear wash over him. This wasn't a man. It was a thing that needed to be exterminated.
Joshua came out swinging, catching Fallon in the cheek with a right cross. Another punch to the face crushed Fallon's nose. Blood streamed down his face.
Joshua backed off as Fallon tried to kick him away. Fallon licked the blood off his upper lip and smiled. “This is more fun that I thought it would be.”
Joshua punched him over and over again. Fallon's face turned in a bloated purple mess of bruised flesh. But he wasn't going down. Sweat streamed down Joshua's face. He could barely lift up his arms.
And that's when Fallon took his chance. An uppercut caught Joshua right in the chin. His head snapped back and he flew to the ground. He wondered if it was all over as he lay there dazed and confused.
Fallon came up to him in his field of vision. He was hardly recognizable anymore. Both his eyes were puffed up little slits. Joshua didn't know how Fallon could even see. But he was ready to finish this.
Joshua glanced over at Christopher that was still sprawled out in the grass clutching his wound. The adrenaline rush brought him right back.
But Fallon never played fair.
“I think I've had my fill of you.” Fallon pulled out a pistol from his waistband and pointed the muzzle right at Joshua.
Joshua didn't want it to end this way.
“Any last words, Joshua?”
Joshua spit on Fallon's black boots. “Fuck you, Fallon.”
“Very well,” he replied. Fallon cocked back the hammer.
Joshua clenched his eyes shut. Two loud gunshots rang out.
After a second, Joshua felt no pain. He opened his eyes and checked himself. No bullet wounds. He was alive for some reason.
Fallon dropped his gun and looked down at the two massive exit wounds in his chest. He grinned one last time before falling to the ground.
Christopher was on the grass behind Fallon holding onto Joshua's revolver. Smoke still hung in the air around the gun. His knife wound was still bleeding.
Joshua got up and ran to Christopher. “You're one hell of a man. I guess I owe you now,” he said as he gathered him in his arms.
Christopher smiled. “You owe me big time.” The gun dropped from his hand as his eyes fluttered.
Joshua shook him. “Stay with me, Christopher!”
Christopher could hear Joshua calling him but he was so tired.
Everything soon went to black.
Chapter Seventeen
Christopher's eyes shot open. A white ceiling greeted him. Beeps from machines rang in his ear. His head tilted down and he saw that he was dressed in a white hospital gown.
Christopher breathed a sigh of relief. He was still alive.
He poked at the bandage on his shoulder and winced. The pain was still there but dulled by whatever drugs he was on.
Christopher smiled when he saw Joshua sitting in the chair next to him, his arms crossed and sound asleep. Christopher didn't want to wake him just yet. They both needed their rest.
Joshua could almost sense something and opened his eyes. Christopher was still asleep in the hospital bed. Even with everything they had been through, he still looked insanely handsome. The doctor had told him that he was going to be all right.
Everything was going to be okay.
And when the nurses told him that visitor's hours were up, all it took was one look from Joshua to make them leave him alone.
–
Christopher was in the hospital for a few days while he recovered. Joshua sat by his side the entire time. But they both knew that things weren't going to end the way they wanted it to.
Christopher would have to go back to Washington D.C.
Joshua couldn't leave his motorcycle club.
They didn't want to speak about it but the cloud of darkness hung in the air.
When the day came that Christopher had to leave, Joshua wanted to drive him to the airport but he refused. Christopher didn't want to make things even harder.
They hugged for a long time while a yellow cab waited for Christopher.
It took a couple honks from the driver to finally get them to break the embrace.
Joshua took Christopher's face in his hands and looked him in the eyes. They both fought back tears. Christopher thought he might tell him that he loved him. But that would complicate things even more.
“I'll never forget you Christopher Taylor.”
Christopher smiled and wiped a tear from his cheek. “Stay out of trouble, Joshua Kent. Don't make me come all the way back here to put you in prison.”
Joshua smirked. “That's a tempting offer.”
Christopher kissed him on the cheek and got in the cab without giving him another glance. He would break down if he saw his face one more time.
Joshua had changed him for the better. He'd never met a man quite like Joshua before. And he seriously doubted he would ever meet someone like him again.
Joshua stood on the corner of the street and waved goodbye as the cab drove off. He wanted to run after him and make him stay. Marry him and be with him forever. But that's not how real life worked.
They were from different worlds and it would never work.
But they both could dream about what if.
Epilogue
Christopher was shocked at the reception he received when he returned to the FBI. Every big-time boss had congratulated him on a job well done. It made Christopher think that they didn't have much faith in him in the first place to solve this case.
Things were moving fast. He'd only been back a week and the higher ups had already assigned him to a new case: a missing woman in Colorado.
Christopher didn't have much time to pack. Time was of the essence when it came to missing persons. In most cases if they weren't found in the first forty-eight hours, the chances of finding them were very slim.
Sixteen hours had already elapsed since the woman was reported missing. He needed to get there as fast as he could.
Christopher threw together a bag and checked outside to see a cab ready to take him to the airport.
He heaved his bag out and threw it into the back seat. A familiar roar made him stop from getting in the cab. He looked up to see Joshua Kent on a motorcycle stop next to the cab.
His jaw dropped to the floor. The cab driver yelled at him to hurry up but he couldn't hear him anymore. He ran to Joshua and almost knocked him off his bike.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Joshua unhooked his helmet and kissed Christopher harder than he'd ever been kissed before. “Sorry I was an idiot. I'm here for you now.”
Christopher head was spinning from the surprise and the kiss. “But what about your MC?”
“I'll still go back to help out and vote but they can get on without me.”
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Christopher couldn't help but grin. He had hoped something like this would happen. He wondered if he was a dream.