Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland Book 2)

by Nikki J Summers

  Too little, too late, mate.

  I was dancing with the devil, on first name terms with the guy, and had him in my back pocket. He was playing on my team now. The battle lines had been drawn all those weeks ago in a shitty, rundown barn. Now, he was over-stepping the mark and he needed to be taught a lesson.

  I plucked the rose out of its holding place and held it to my nose, smiling like a fool. Anyone watching would think it’d been left by an admirer with the way I was grinning. I opened my car door and threaded the stem into the front dash panel so it sat up proudly on display.

  “Thanks for the rose,” I said in a cool, calm voice. “I hope you rot in hell.”

  Then I drove off, my rose standing tall for everyone to see. I’d get rid of it when I got home, but I knew he’d be watching, and I wanted him to know he wasn’t getting to me.

  Leave all the roses you want. This lady’s stone heart is numb, frozen, and ready to fight back.

  I was fired up and couldn’t relax. Driving back home, I decided I needed to offload some of my tension, so I decided to make a detour to the Lockwood’s house. Mum had said I should call in, pay my respects for the loss of their… cars.

  Fucking jerks.

  As I pulled up to the kerb, I spotted Jensen and Chase on their driveway, arms folded over their chests and looking over two brand spanking new Range Rovers, one black, one white. I supposed these were their new rides and they could take their pick, deciding which one to use every day. Black for their traitorous hearts or white for the fake image they were currently projecting all over Sandland. I’d have thought yellow would’ve been more their style, to match their cowardice.

  They both turned at the sound of my car pulling up and Jensen’s jaw tightened as he muttered something to Chase. A warning, I’d bet.

  Don’t say anything.

  Cover your tracks.

  Protect the family name.

  “Harper,” Jensen said through gritted teeth as I got out of my car.

  He walked towards me, extending his arms like he expected us to hug. After our last meeting, I was going to struggle with a handshake.

  “How are you?”

  He saw that I wasn’t there to play nice. My shitty expression gave it away, and he went back to folding his arms over his chest in a defensive manner.

  “Sorry to hear about your cars.” I nodded over to Chase as I spoke. He gave a strained smile but stayed back.

  “We know who did it.” Jensen turned to glance at Chase, who grimaced on cue. “When we find him, he’s a dead man.”

  “So, you’ll kill him over a fucking lump of metal, but not for my brother?” These guys were unbelievable.

  “It’s not that simple.” Jensen took a step forward then bent down to sneer into my face. “I told you to fucking drop it.”

  I grinned back, trying my best to look unhinged and deranged.

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I won’t drop it. I won’t ever give up. If getting to Mathers means outing your shady shit then buckle up, boys. You’re in for a bumpy ride.”

  The veins in Jensen’s neck looked like they were ready to pop. His jaw was clenched so tightly he’d probably do permanent damage to his teeth.

  “I’m not fucking around, Harper.”

  “Neither am I.” I took a step into his space this time and made him lean back. Good. I liked having the upper hand in his intimidation tactics. “You were there that night. Your statements hold a lot of weight in Brodie’s case-”

  “What case? There is no case.”

  “Oh, there’s a case. And I’m gonna make damn sure it stays open. You’ve got something to hide, I know that. But I think you’re underestimating me. Brodie had the brawn, I have the brains. I’ll find out what it is, and when I do, I’m taking you down with him. Do you hear? I’ll take you, Chase, Mathers, hell I’ll take your whole fucking family down if I have to. Better warn your second cousins I’m coming for them.”

  “That’s big talk from a little girl,” he snarled on a low growl.

  “Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said, ‘she might be small, but she is fierce?’ He liked his tragedies, and when I’m finished, that’s what you’ll be living.” I kept my manic grin in place. I was on a roll.

  “Yeah, and that quote comes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Just like your threats… all a dream. It will never happen. Leave it be or live to regret it.”

  Just at that moment, Don Lockwood strolled out of his front door, giving me the stink-eye but smiling his fake smile.

  “Harper. How are you?” He strode down the steps onto his driveway as if he were the Godfather, all bravado and menace. I half expected a few goons to come strolling out after him, carrying tommy guns and chewing matchsticks or whatever it was they chewed. “It’s good to see you getting out and about. How are your parents? You will send them my regards, won’t you?”

  “Yeah, thanks,” I replied, coming across like a stroppy teen. I eyeballed Jensen and hissed, “This isn’t over.” And then flounced off to my car without another word.

  As I slammed the door shut, Don’s face took on an evil sneer and his lip curled up as if he was threatening his sons. It should’ve made me feel sorry for them, but it didn’t. They needed a wake-up call. The people of Sandland were fed up with the bullshit, and my shit list, which was growing longer by the day, had them toying for first place.

  Mathers or Lockwood?

  Who would I take out first?

  Once I got home, I threw that bloody white rose in the bin and then safely ensconced myself in my bedroom.

  My haven.

  I logged my computer on and clicked into the bereavement chatroom. I needed a bit of light-hearted banter after the day I’d had. I was done with people who thought they could walk all over me.

  LadyStoneheart23 has joined the chat.

  Regina_Phalange- Mate, you know it’s a fucking bad day when the dog shitting on your bed is the least of your worries.

  JoeNotExotic- I hope you fed him dry food last night.

  Regina_Phalange- Did I fuck. My whole house is getting fumigated. Hey lady!

  JoeNotExotic- Welcome back, lady. Glad we didn’t scare you away.

  HangingWithMyGnomies- Hi lady, how’s it going?

  My fingers hovered over the keys, but I stayed silent.

  Regina_Phalange- Anyway, enough of my… shit. Lol. How was counselling yesterday, Joe?

  JoeNotExotic- Ugh. Fucking pointless. He wants me to keep a diary of every time I feel angry about my brother’s suicide. I don’t think they make notebooks big enough to write all my anger in to. Guy has no fucking idea. It’d be easier to list all the times I don’t feel angry.

  Regina_Phalange- I hear you.

  LadyStoneheart23- Me too.

  I’d done it. Typed my first line in the group chat and it was shit. But I understood what he was saying. Anger was the norm for me these days.

  EmoGirl has joined the chat.

  Legion has joined the chat.

  Regina_Phalange- What’s your story, Lady?

  HangingWithMyGnomies- Don’t feel like you have to tell us.

  JoeNotExotic- What he said. ^^^

  EmoGirl- Afternoon, guys.

  I took a few deep breaths. Like the counsellor guy had said earlier, I didn’t know these people. I had to be on my guard. Yet, I wanted to tell them. I felt like I needed to spout a bit of this shit to get it off my chest. Like a release for the pressure valve that was compacting my overworked brain.

  LadyStoneheart23- It’s okay. I lost my twin brother. He was murdered, and not a day goes by where I don’t want to hunt down his killer and make him suffer.

  Regina_Phalange- Shit, that’s deep. Do you know who it was?

  LadyStoneheart23- Yeah, I do. The fucker has been stalking me for weeks. Thinks he’s clever, leaving me little warnings, like he’s coming for me next. Watching me. Standing in my garden at night.

  Regina_Phalange- Fuck.

  HangingWithMyGnomies- Sounds like something
from a horror movie.

  EmoGirl- I don’t like the sound of that. Do you wanna DM me, Lady?

  JoeNotExotic- Yeah, I think a DM with Emo would be good. Have you told the police? That is some real shit, lady. You shouldn’t have to deal with that.

  LadyStoneheart23- The police don’t care. They don’t do anything. And thanks, but I can handle it. I should’ve made my Game of Thrones inspired username Aria or A Girl With No Name. That’s what I feel like. I have my kill list ready to go and I’m adding to it every single day.

  EmoGirl- I understand you’re angry and hell knows I’d be shit scared too if I was you. But you need to get the authorities involved. Stalking is some next level shit.

  JoeNotExotic- What she says! ^^^

  HangingWithMyGnomies- I would definitely be backing away and calling the cops. How do you even leave your house? Do you leave your house?

  LadyStoneheart23- He doesn’t scare me. If he wants to come for me, I’m ready for him.

  EmoGirl- I don’t agree. Lady, you need to get help. I mean that coming from a place of love. Don’t put up with this. We don’t want to see you on the front page of the newspapers tomorrow.

  JoeNotExotic- If it was me, I’d be moving house, city… Damn, I’d leave the country. I’ve no idea what this murderer did to your brother, but they sound crazy as fuck if they’re after you too. Ring the police and get help. Now.

  Legion- I disagree.

  EmoGirl- Why????

  JoeNotExotic- He would say that, he’s a legion. He thinks we’re all fighting with an army.

  Legion- On the contrary, the definition of my name doesn’t come from the dictionary. Try the bible. As for the police, they do fuck all. If you want revenge, Lady. Do it yourself.

  EmoGirl- Legion, I’m guessing you’re a guy. It’s a bit different for us girls… And it’s a hell of a lot different in the real world.

  Legion- Oh, I live in the real world, Emo. I’ve seen shit that’d make your head explode.

  EmoGirl- Nice. But Lady has a real problem. A stalker. Save the exploding heads for your computer games, Legion.

  JoeNotExotic- Legion, if you’re going with the biblical definition it sounds pretty fucked-up. A guy possessed by demons? My name is Legion, for we are many? That’s some twisted shit, dude.

  Fucking_Alan has joined the chat.

  Legion- What can I say? I’m a complex guy.

  Fucking_Alan- Complex. Sounds like you’re in the right place, my friend.

  Legion- No one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles into pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. (Mark 5:3-4)

  Fucking_Alan- Legion, you’re stealing my crown, dude. I’m the king of cool quotes in here.

  LadyStoneheart23- I like that quote. Kinda sums up how I feel. I won’t be shackled anymore. I want to let my rage out.

  Legion- Then do it.

  JoeNotExotic- Wasn’t legion a shitload of demons exorcised from a possessed man? All sounds a bit dark, mate.

  Legion- Isn’t that what this chat is for? To exorcise our demons. To go to the dark places other people don’t want to hear about. Not in the real world, anyway. A freaks playground.

  Fucking_Alan- He’s right. We are all a bit freaky in here.

  EmoGirl- Speak for yourself, Alan.

  JoeNotExotic- Naming yourself after a bloke who was possessed by thousands of demons is as dark as they come.

  Legion- Feared by many, loved by few. That’s me. But then, I’ve always lived by the motto, ‘It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot have both’.

  EmoGirl- Machiavelli

  Fucking_Alan- Dude, enough already. You’re making me look bad.

  EmoGirl- Alan, these quotes would go over your head anyway. Nineties rap and your mums record collection are the extent to which you go.

  Fucking_Alan- And who doesn’t love a bit of nineties rap? I’ve got ninety-nine problems but a stalker aint one.

  JoeNotExotic- Low blow, dude. Low blow.

  I saw a private chat pop up along the bottom of my screen, and thinking it was from EmoGirl, I opened it. It wasn’t.

  Legion- Burn them to the fucking ground. That’s what I say. Burn them all, then rise like a phoenix.

  One chat and I already felt like this Legion guy got me better than anyone else I knew. He got my situation, anyway.

  LadyStoneheart23- I plan to.

  I replied, then shut the window down, smiling to myself. At least someone had faith in me.

  My insane hunger was turning into an unquenchable thirst. I’d hungered for redemption for so long it’d become an everyday emotion for me, a need that burned deep. But now, since her, I needed to know more. I was thirsty for knowledge. I wanted to know more about her. What made her tick?

  I’d seen her cry at her brother’s funeral. I’d watched her rage and go wild at Ryan’s garage. And I watched her swing from fear to defiance at my little calling cards. And through it all, I couldn’t ever get a handle on the girl. I could never second guess her. Like yesterday, she’d gone into that office building to do whatever the fuck it was she was doing, and when she came out and saw my rose, she smiled like it’d been left by her fucking boyfriend.

  I used the car I’d hot-wired to follow her, expecting her to go straight home, but no. She’d rocked up to the fucking Lockwood’s of all places, and then totally blew my expectations out of the water when she started getting arsey with them. I could see she was arguing with Lockwood, and when his dad came out, she turned on her heels and left, flying down the driveway like a bat out of hell and looking like she was ready to go nuclear on all their asses.

  She wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met before. She was unstable, unpredictable, and slightly psychotic. It was like looking in the mirror at a daintier, blonder version of me. Hell, she was me. A female version of me, anyway, and I needed to find out more.

  That was why I’d ventured a bit further over the line tonight, coming out from the shadows where I usually stood. I was on her back patio, looking up at her bedroom window. I knew it was hers. The glittery pink skull in the windowsill gave it away.

  The window was open, and it crossed my mind to climb up the drainpipe at the side of her house. Maybe use the flat roof of the extension to help me get across and through into her window. But I didn’t. Instead, I tried the patio doors that led into her dining room, and sure enough, they’d been left unlocked. Pretty stupid when you considered all the criminal damage that’d been going on around Sandland over the past few weeks. You couldn’t trust anyone these days. The Yates’s obviously thought they were safe. Looked like I wasn’t doing my job properly. I’d have to do something to rectify that.

  I stood at the door for a few seconds, letting my eyes adjust to the dark so I could pick my way around the furniture by the light of the moon without making a noise or waking anyone up. I’d have hated to have to up my plans so soon and start using violence to get my point across. Best they all stayed asleep. The bogeyman works better when he’s left alone to do his bidding.

  They had an open-plan kitchen diner, and I made my way around the table towards the breakfast bar, ready to leave my next surprise for her. The electrical buzz from the kitchen appliances gave the house a comforting feel, and I could smell the vanilla from the plug-in candle thing her mum had next to the door, wafting over me like it was trying to calm me down. Must be nice to live in a house that pumps out a fresh scent even when you’re asleep and can’t smell that shit.

  I laid the white rose I’d stolen out of the next-door neighbour’s garden on the work surface and took the paper out of my back pocket, tucking it underneath. Then I got an apple from the fruit bowl and placed it on top of the paper, just to make sure it didn’t blow away when a door opened. I wanted her to see it. I couldn’t wait for her reaction, knowing I’d been inside her house. Would it scare her to know I could get to her anywhere? Or would it give her
a thrill? I had no idea, but I’d enjoy finding out.

  Standing in her kitchen, power coursed through my veins, and I didn’t want to leave yet. I hadn’t quenched my thirst for all things Harper. So, I walked over to a sideboard that ran the length of the wall opposite the kitchen area. I took my mobile phone out from the pocket of my jeans and clicked the flashlight on. Probably a shit move if the neighbours saw it, but I wanted to get a better look at what lay in front of me.