Troublemaker

by Heather Beck

  Ava reached for her feet, thinking that if she could untie them, then maybe, just maybe, she could kick the trunk door open, but with her hands tied behind her back, it was almost impossible to get a good grip on the knot, far less untie it.

  The car started to go uphill, causing Ava to slam against the door. She let out a cry of pain, the sound muffled by the gag tied around her mouth. As she tried to think, tried to calm her heart that felt like it was going to rip from her chest, she noticed that it was quiet outside. The only noise came from the tires as they sped over gravel, most likely taking her somewhere far away and isolated, where no one would find her. Desperate and not seeing any other option, she started kicking the door as hard as she could in kitten heels, praying that it would open even though she doubted she’d get far with her feet bound together.

  The door didn’t budge, but she refused to give up, kicking until her feet hurt, until her whole body ached from the cramped, awkward position in which she lay. It was only when the car came to a screeching halt that she stopped kicking and started searching in the dark for something – anything – that she could use to defend herself. She came up empty-handed.

  Her body tensed as the trunk slowly opened, letting in the moonlight. As her eyes adjusted to the change in light, she saw the figure of a tall, sturdy man standing over her, his face hidden by a baseball cap that lay low on his head. Seeing him caused anger to course through her veins, but at the same time, she was terrified. Even though she wanted to fight, to attack him just like he’d attacked her, she found herself shrinking back into the trunk.

  He didn’t say a word, instead keeping his head low as he grabbed her arm and began to roughly pull her out of the trunk. His touch was hot and sweaty, and he smelled funny, like he hadn’t bathed in days. She tried to rip her arm out of his grasp, tried to kick him away, doing whatever it took to make it difficult for him to get her, but he was determined, and the only thing her effort seemed to do was make him more aggressive. He grunted and tightened his grip on her, and with both hands, dragged her out of the trunk, dumping her onto the hard, rocky ground.

  White-hot pain shot through Ava’s body as she landed on her side, paralyzing her for a moment. As soon as she could move again, she tried to get on her feet, in one last effort to run or defend herself, even she wasn’t sure. She’d hardly stood up when her knees buckled under her, landing her back on the ground. She tried to scream at her kidnapper, to demand to know why he was doing this to her, but that was pointless, too, the gag still firmly in place.

  He bent down in front of her, making her heart race faster, fearing what he was going to do next. When his face was just inches away from hers, he slowly looked up, revealing a goatee, dark eyes behind a pair of red-framed glasses, and dirty blond hair in need of a haircut sticking out from under his cap.

  Ava recognized him instantly.

  “I’ve missed you, Ava,” Christopher said, his voice more sinister than ever. “Did you miss me?”

  She let out a muffled cry and shuffled backward over the coarse gravel, desperate to get away from him, but he quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her. “Did you really think I would let you get away that easily?” He let out a psychotic laugh, the smell of his breath foul.

  Her eyes widened.

  “Oh, don’t give me that look,” Christopher said, his grip still tight on her shoulders. “Like you’re surprised I’ve come for you. I told you I would. You did get the letter I sent you, right?” Remembering that Ava couldn’t answer him, he laughed, like he loved having this power and control over her. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, you know I’d do anything for you. I’ve proven that just by getting this far, by getting to you. You wouldn’t believe what it took to get here.”

  Christopher took his hands off Ava’s shoulders and stood up, looming over her as if afraid to take his eyes off her for even a second. “I knew I had to be careful,” he said. “I knew it would only be a matter of time before the police came looking for me, so I left my old life behind, taking the cash I’d been saving for years and my fake IDs – driver’s license, passport, you name it. I knew they would come in handy one day.” He smiled, clearly very pleased with himself. “I couldn’t leave you, though, so while I was in hiding, I kept tabs on you any way I could – social media, blogs, magazines – and I waited for the opportune moment to come for you. But your parents had you hidden away in your house, didn’t they? And then you just disappeared, left everyone wondering where you’d gone. Naughty girl.” He shook his finger accusingly at her, but there was a smile on his face, like he’d outsmarted her. “I was heartbroken, but then I saw the pictures, the magazine spreads, and I knew where to find you.”

  What the hell is he talking about? Ava thought. What pictures? What magazine spreads? This doesn’t have anything to do with the pictures Tessa posted on social media all those weeks ago, does it? She swallowed hard, beyond unnerved.

  “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble, Ava,” Christopher said mock-stern. “I drove all the way here from California, spending my cash on fast food, dingy motels, and gas for this piece of junk.” He kicked gravel at the car, the tiny bits of rock making a clinking sound as they hit against the side. “I lost count of how many times it stalled on me, but you know what? It was worth it because I knew, eventually, I’d get to you.”

  He bent down again, his face way too close to hers, and slowly ran his rough hand over her face. She flinched at his touch, chills running down her spine. He noticed her reaction and pulled away, looking sadly at his hand and then standing up, so he could look down at the rest of his body. “I know I’m a mess,” he said.

  Yeah, you are, Ava thought, and I’m not referring to your appearance.

  “But you have to understand,” Christopher continued. “I’ve been driving for days, and a lot of the motels I stayed in didn’t have hot water. Then, when I arrived in Mexico, all I cared about was finding you. Nothing else mattered and it wasn’t easy, but in the end, I did it.”

  As Christopher grinned widely at Ava, she got the sense that he expected her to be impressed, maybe even happy, that he’d found her. No chance, she thought, gritting her teeth despite the gag. You’re completely unhinged.

  “I have to admit, I haven’t been too happy with you lately,” he said, a deep-set frown forming on his face. “When I saw pictures of you with that Mexican boy, I almost lost it. I mean, here I am, doing all of this for you – for us – and this is how you repay me? No, no, no.” He shook his head fiercely, as if trying to erase the image of Ava with Javier from his mind.

  When he’d stopped, he took a deep, calming breath. “I forgive you, though. Just like I forgave you for being with Logan. The thing is, Ava, I know you better than you know yourself. I’ve watched you for years. Since you were fourteen, on that very first episode of Getting Real with the Rileys. I’ve seen everything you’ve done. Every episode, every interview, every beauty campaign, every live appearance.” A wistful look crossed his face. “Those were my favorites, you know – live appearances. You must’ve seen me. I was always in the crowd.”

  Suddenly, he knelt before her, cupping his hands over hers, a crazed look in his eyes. “When you broke up with Logan, I knew it was because you wanted to be with me. People don’t want us to be together – your parents, your sister, the police – but don’t you see that it doesn’t matter? Stop listening to them, Ava. You love me as much as I love you, and I thank God that I’ve finally found a way for us to be together. Forever.”

  With a twisted smile, Christopher let go of Ava’s hands and reached into his pocket, pulling out a switchblade. Her heart leaped into her throat as he held it up to her face and opened it with a click. “Promise to be a good girl?” he asked, running the flat side of the blade down her face, arm, and then her leg. “No running away?” He paused and looked at her, hovering the knife above her feet.

  Ava nodded, realizing that he planned to use the knife on the rope and not her. Still, that meant he needed her to w
alk somewhere, and she didn’t want to go anywhere with him.

  “You better keep that promise.” Christopher cast her a warning glare and then started to cut the rope.

  The second Ava was free, she kicked Christopher so hard that he stumbled backward and fell to the ground, the knife flying from his hand. She jumped up, turned around, and ran as fast as she could, ignoring him as he angrily yelled for her to come back. Ava heard Christopher running after her, his feet heavy on the gravel, getting closer and closer. Then she felt herself being tackled from behind, falling face down, landing with a hard thud, every bone in her body aching.

  Ava struggled, but Christopher kept her on the ground. With brutal strength, he turned her around to face him, his expression stone-cold. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he grunted, pulling out a handgun from the waist of his jeans and pointing it straight at her.

  Ava’s blood froze. Any hope of escape, as small as it had been, seemed to slip away.

  Christopher stood up, keeping the gun pointed at her. “Get up,” he instructed. Obediently, with no other option, she stood. “Good,” he said, grabbing her arm and forcing her in front of him. “Now walk.”

  Her feet felt like they were made of lead, but somehow, she managed to walk, wondering, fearing, where he was taking her. For the first time since she’d been dragged out of the trunk, she studied her surroundings. The land was barren, with the exception of a few scraggly shrubs, and the path was well-worn, even though there was no one around now. The wind gusted against her, and the sound of waves crashing grew louder the longer they walked.

  “Why do you always do this to me?” Christopher demanded through gritted teeth, like he was trying his best to stay calm with her. “Pushing me away when you know you love me? You might be scared, but I’m not. I won’t let you stop me from doing this.”

  “Stop you from doing what?” Ava tried to shout.

  He answered as if he’d understood her muffled words. “I told you I found a way for us to be together forever. It’s not what I had planned for us, but if it’s the only way...” His voice softened, “Then, I’ll do it for you.”

  “Do what?” she tried to scream.

  “We’re going to be legends, Ava. Just like Sebastián and Itzel, our love will bind us together for eternity.”

  Oh my gawd, Ava thought as they stopped near the edge of Acantilado de la Enteridad – Eternity Cliff. He’s going to make me jump. Panic seized her as she closed her eyes and pictured the cliff, how steep it was, how the rocks jutted out from the water below. She remembered it so clearly from when Javier had shown it to her and told her the story of Sebastián and Itzel. Javier, she thought, tears welling in her eyes. The time they’d spent together had been so short but so sweet. The thought of never seeing his face again, never hearing his laugh, or feeling his touch broke her heart. Why didn’t I tell him the truth? she cursed herself. Maybe then we would’ve had a few more precious days together. Then another thought popped into her mind: her family. The thought of never seeing them again, especially Tessa, was too much for her to bear.

  “But there’s something you have to do for me first,” Christopher said, making Ava’s eyes fly open. He forced her to turn around, so she was facing him, her back to the cliff. “I want to hear you say you love me, just once, before we die.”

  She narrowed her eyes. Go to hell.

  “It’s the least you can do for me,” he practically begged. “I want – no, I need – to hear you say it. Please, for me?”

  Ava made no attempt to talk to him, keeping her face expressionless. Somehow, that seemed like a good enough answer for him because he started to untie the gag.

  “Don’t do anything stupid,” he said. “Not that it really matters. No one will hear you out here. But don’t worry, our names will be everywhere soon. Our very own tragedy – lovers who couldn’t live without each other.”

  The gag fell to the ground, and in one last effort to save herself, in case someone could hear her, she screamed for help.

  “What are you doing?” Christopher yelled, putting the gun to her head, his index finger shaking as he placed it over the trigger. He forced her backward by one step, dangerously close to the edge. “You were supposed to tell me you loved me!”

  She was about to spit out that she would never love him, but then she caught sight of someone in the distance moving steadily toward them. Her heart almost stopped, and for a second, she didn’t even believe it, but there he was: Javier, holding the switchblade Christopher had dropped back at the car, his index finger to his mouth, telling her to stay quiet. Suddenly, an idea formed in her mind.

  “I’m...I’m so sorry,” she said to Christopher, trying to sound and look as apologetic as possible. “I don’t know what came over me. I guess you were right. I guess I’m scared.”

  Christopher’s expression softened. “As long as we’re together, you’ll never have to be scared again.”

  “I know that’s true, but you have to understand that these feelings I have for you scare me. I’ve never felt so strongly about someone before, and it’s hard for me to know how to handle my emotions. That’s why I’ve been acting the way I have with you.”

  Christopher’s eyes misted up, a look of sheer happiness coming over him. “I’ve waited so long for you to open up to me. Doesn’t it feel good?”

  No! Ava thought. She nodded at Christopher, trying to keep her focus on him. It was hard, though, as she saw Javier getting closer. She had to keep Christopher talking and unsuspecting until Javier reached them.

  “It’s totally up to you,” Ava began, “but now that I’ve admitted my feelings for you, is this really necessary? I mean, can’t we just run off together? No one has to know where we are.”

  “They’ll find us.”

  “No, they won’t.”

  “Yes, they will. I’m sorry, Ava, but like I said, this is the only way.”

  Gun still to her head, Christopher forced Ava back another step. She looked behind herself. One more step and she’d fall over the cliff and to her death.

  “There’s just one more thing,” he said with an odd, lovesick expression on his face, “tell me you love me.”

  “I...” Ava stalled, giving Javier a couple more seconds to reach them. Now right behind Christopher, Javier raised the knife, about to drive it into his shoulder when suddenly, Christopher spun around.

  Javier took a swipe at Christopher, who moved quickly to the left, the blade missing him by less than an inch. Christopher aimed the gun at Javier, but Javier grabbed his wrist, forcing the gun away from him and pointing it to the sky just as Christopher pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed loudly around them.

  As Javier and Christopher struggled to gain control of the gun, Ava darted away from the cliff’s edge. That’s when she noticed something lying on the ground near Javier’s feet, shining in the moonlight. It was the knife. Javier must’ve dropped it when he grabbed for the gun, she realized. Without thinking twice, she ran to the knife, fell to her knees, and with her hands still tied behind her back, tried to pick it up. It took a couple of attempts, but she finally got it.

  “Ava, what are you doing?” Javier cried. “Get out of here!”

  “You can’t run from me, Ava!” Christopher yelled. “Wherever you go, I’ll find you!”

  Ava stood, but instead of running away, she slid the knife in between her hands and sawed at the rope. She worked fast, nicking herself on the blade once, twice, hardly even noticing since she was preoccupied with getting free and helping Javier.

  “Drop the gun,” Javier said, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He still had his hand wrapped around Christopher’s wrist, stopping him from aiming the gun at him or Ava. “You don’t want to do this. Just think about it.”

  “It’s all I’ve been thinking about,” Christopher said, sounding more deranged than ever. “No one’s going to stop us from being together, especially you.”

  “If you really loved her, then you wouldn’t do this.”r />
  “You know nothing about our love!” Christopher cried, shoving his shoulder into Javier’s chest so forcefully that Javier almost lost his grip on him.

  Oh gawd, come on, Ava silently willed herself to go faster, almost through the last few strands of the rope. She’d seen Christopher take down her bodyguard before, and if that fight was any indication, she had a sinking feeling that Javier wouldn’t be able to hold him off much longer.

  “I know more than you think, Christopher,” Javier said. “Do yourself a favor and put an end to all this craziness.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” he sneered, a twisted smile forming on his lips.

  With a grunt that seemed to come from the very depths of his troubled soul, Christopher tore his wrist out of Javier’s grasp. He lowered the gun to shoot Javier, but Javier was quicker, punching him across the face so hard that he stumbled backward, swaying on the edge of the cliff. Little rocks fell from under his feet, tumbling down the face of the cliff, and then the ledge gave way. The gun flew from Christopher’s hand as he fell, and he reached out to grab onto something – anything – that could save him. His hands wrapped around Javier’s leg, causing Javier to land on the ground with a heavy thud. As Christopher slipped further over the cliff, Javier began to slide with him, getting closer and closer to the edge.

  “Let me go!” Javier’s voice was panic-stricken as he struggled to free himself.

  “It wasn’t supposed to end like this,” Christopher cried as he refused to let go, sounding more angry than scared. “You’ve ruined everything!”

  “Christopher, please!” Ava screamed, her eyes wide with terror, the blood pumping furiously in her ears. “Let him go!” She sliced through the last strand of rope, flinging it from her wrists and onto the ground as she ran to the cliff’s edge. Desperate to pull Javier to safety, she grabbed for his hand, her fingers barely brushing his when Christopher plummeted down the cliff’s face, taking Javier with him.