When my hands stop pushing on Caleb’s chest, Jagger’s holds both of my small hands in his. When I find his beautiful face, I see what sorrow, pain, heartbreak, and anguish look like. Jagger looks like I feel. Heartache sets in, and it feels as though a ton of bricks are now sitting on my chest. The tears spill down my face, and Jagger frees a hand to wipe them away.
“Oh baby, I’m so sorry. I’m just so sorry,” he says.
His words carve into my heart like a dagger, and whatever gate was holding my sanity firmly in place has slipped. The hysteria slowly sets in on me. I lay my face down on Caleb’s chest, hug him, and sob.
“No! Caleb, no! Please don’t leave me! I can’t do this! Please!”
Caleb doesn’t hear my cries though, and he won’t come back. So, I try to pick up his head, but my left arm is hindering. Jagger and Manuel help me pull his body to mine, and I hold him. I hold him and I sob. My best friend is dead.
“Please don’t leave me. I don’t understand why this happened. I don’t understand. I don’t want this. This isn’t okay. Please Caleb, come back. Don’t leave me. Why? Why did you leave? Why did you leave me?”
I rock him back and forth as I sob and softly speak to my best friend who can neither hear me nor respond. He never will again. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to live without him. Why didn’t I die instead?
Since my pleas to Caleb went unheard, I try Jagger. I find his crystal blue eyes, and beg, “Jagger, please make him come back. He will listen to you. Please bring him back to me.”
Jagger tenderly touches his hand to my cheek, and sighs. “I’m so sorry Henley. I’m just so sorry.” He chokes on his sympathy.
I don’t know how long I stay wrapped up in Caleb, but Manuel keeps telling me to take my time, so I do. I can’t bear to say goodbye. I can’t figure out how. What words can express the way I feel right now? None of them do the reality of this moment any fucking justice. Kip breaks my trance.
“Henley, the emergency workers have been holding the bystanders back, but people are taking pictures and filming this. We need to let them take Caleb baby,” he worries.
I lay Caleb’s upper body down with help from Jagger and Manuel. I touch his face, not wanting to forget what he looks like. I kiss his cheek and tell him how much I love him. I tell him how much I will miss him and that he is the best friend I could’ve ever asked for. I thank him for everything he did for me in this life, and I stand up, and turn away from Caleb and begin walking towards a nearby ambulance. The world spins beneath my feet, and I reach out to steady myself against someone.
“Henley?” Jagger panics.
I avert my gaze in his direction, but I can’t see his face. It’s blurry, and the world spins faster and faster. My heart beats loudly in my ears, and then blackness sweeps in on me.
Chapter 3
King, 23 Dead; Hendrix, Critical Condition
E! News
It is with much regret we report today on E! News that Caleb King of Abandoned Shadow has been killed in a car accident. It is also reported that Abandoned Shadow’s lead singer and guitar prodigy, Henley Hendrix, was a passenger in his car at the time of the accident and is in critical condition at a local Atlanta hospital. Sources close to the band members cite the two left together after an Atlanta concert early this morning. The two were struck on Interstate 75, where King was thrown from his car. He was pronounced at the scene. We will bring you more details as they surface.
Videos of King and Hendrix Crash Surface
Atlanta Alive News
Videos of the car crash that claimed Caleb King’s life early this morning are now surfacing on the Internet. The videos are graphic. Caleb King, 23, was killed early this morning in the crash when he was thrown from his Porsche across the interstate. Neither camp from Abandoned Shadow or Broken Access has released a statement on the death, or the condition of Henley Hendrix who is rumored to have sustained serious injuries in the accident. More news to come about Georgia’s rockers soon, on Atlanta Alive News.
Caleb King killed by drunk driver
August Reaves
New York Times
Early this morning, rockers Henley Hendrix and Caleb King were struck by what authorities are saying was a drunk driver. The two were struck in King’s Porsche, and the car subsequently flipped fifteen times down Interstate 75 in Atlanta, Georgia. The two played Phillip’s Arena last night and left together reportedly bound for their hometown of Macon, Georgia. Hendrix is reported to have required help to escape the vehicle, but King was thrown from the car. Bystanders state King’s body was thrown from southbound traffic to the northbound side. King, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene, and Hendrix is receiving medical attention at Grady Hospital. It is unclear what injuries Hendrix has sustained, but she is listed in critical condition. Videos of the fatal crash have surfaced on the Internet from bystanders. It is unclear what the videos contain. In my opinion, it is distasteful to post such a tragic event on the Internet. Something so tragic is a private moment. While reporters around the country will write articles and record news segments on the contents of the videos, I remain steadfast in my disapproval.
Carlyle and Paxton Help Hendrix Escape Car
TMZ
As videos of the crash that claimed Caleb King’s life went viral this morning, one thing became clear. When traffic came to a standstill stop in Atlanta in both directions for two hours because of the accident, bystanders made use of their time by filming the events that ensued after the crash. In this segment, Jagger Carlyle and Kip Paxton are helping Henley Hendrix escape the vehicle that flipped fifteen times down the interstate. The vehicle is almost unidentifiable, but the individual captured the entire rescue on video. Audio is not the greatest, but subtitles have been added for what can be understood. The video ends as Carlyle pulls her out of the car.
Hendrix’s Arm is Broken, and She Loses Consciousness.
E! News
The Hendrix and King camps have remained silent all day. As videos continue to surface of the crash and events surrounding the crash, everyone linked to the bands have remained eerily quiet. The latest video to go viral shows Henley Hendrix, 22, escaping the Porsche Caleb King was thrown from in the collision. Once Jagger Carlyle and Kip Paxton, of Broken Access, help her escape, this video’s author captures Hendrix with a bone protruding from her arm. The video also catches Paxton embracing Henley while Carlyle wraps the wound with fabric. It is still unclear what injuries Hendrix has sustained, but Grady Hospital has not changed her status from critical as of late. Another video posted online an hour ago, shows Hendrix covered in blood and collapsing. Jagger Carlyle scoops her up and rushes her to a nearby ambulance. While Carlyle and Paxton were not passengers in King’s car, the two were also Macon bound after their Atlanta show last night. It is unclear how close the two were to Hendrix and King’s car when the accident occurred. They did not appear to be injured in any of the videos.
This just in…. publicist and long term friend of both bands, Samantha Davenport, will issue a live statement tomorrow morning in front of Grady Hospital. We look forward to receiving news of Hendrix’s health. Don’t forget to watch for the statement tomorrow morning on E! News.
Caleb King, drunk! Scheduled to Enter Rehab Day of Death!
The Sun
An inside source states Caleb King, 23, was drunk when he crashed his Porsche with Henley Hendrix in it. Apparently, King has long fought with his addiction to alcohol and is rumored to have caused problems with his band, Abandoned Shadow, as a result. Three days ago, King was given an ultimatum from his band mates. He was either to seek treatment for alcoholism, or leave the band. King was scheduled to enter rehab the same day he crashed his car, and his alcoholism could have led to the death of Hendrix besides his own. She remains listed in critical condition at Atlanta’s Grady Hospital.
Hendrix tells King Goodbye on Video! Holy Shit!
CelebStalker Blog
The videos that keep surf
acing all day are crazy! I’ve seen every single one of them and keep waiting for more to post. So far I’ve seen a drunk driver swerve and hit Caleb King’s Porsche. There is also a video that shows King’s body literally fucking flying over the interstate. It looks like something out of Jackass! The car flips, count with me on this video, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen times! I can’t believe she is still alive! Jagger Carlyle and Kip Paxton are caught on video helping Henley Hendrix escape, and when she does her fucking bone is sticking out of her arm! WTF? My favorite video is the one of the Guitar Goddess herself, leaping across the barrier between the two directions of traffic and bounding to her best friend. Watch this shit in slow motion. I bet we can add a badass song for effect to this one. That will come later though. Now the newest shit is of Hendrix holding King’s dead body crying, and all I love you and shit. At what point did this crazy chick not go, oh a dead body? Gross! You can hear and see snippets of the drama unfold because the emergency workers crowd around here. Cock blockers! Anyhow, is this bitch crazy or what? Leave your comments.
Statement from Samantha Davenport
(The morning after the collision)
Thank you all for coming today. I will read directly from my statement.
Yesterday morning at 2:35 am Eastern Time, Caleb King and Henley Hendrix were struck by a drunk driver on Interstate 75 Southbound in Atlanta, Georgia. The two were leaving a concert they performed at Phillip’s Arena. Caleb King was thrown from his car after the collision causing the vehicle to flip many times. Authorities state Caleb was wearing his seatbelt, but due to the momentum of the car while flipping, the seatbelt broke against his weight, and he was ejected from the vehicle. Henley was able to exit the vehicle with the help of Jagger and Kip. Neither Jagger nor Kip were involved in the accident or injured in any way. The two left the venue shortly after Caleb and Henley did and were mere seconds behind the collision. Henley attempted to revive Caleb for close to an hour after she emerged from the vehicle. Caleb was killed instantly from the trauma of being ejected. His preliminary toxicology reports state he had no alcohol or drugs present in his system. He did not have a problem with alcoholism, nor was he given an ultimatum to enter rehab. Caleb rarely drank, and the rumors that say otherwise are malicious and untrue. Henley’s toxicology report had the same results; she had no alcohol or drugs in her system. Henley has sustained a broken arm that required surgery to fix. She suffered internal hemorrhaging from the impact of the collision, and she is in a coma due to a hematoma on her brain. The next several days are critical for her as she fights for her life.
Christopher Johnson, 28, of Raleigh, North Carolina was arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of drunk driving. He registered a blood alcohol content of .30 on a Breathalyzer test after the collision, and is charged by the Atlanta City Police with driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, and first degree homicide by vehicle. Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow morning, and a bail hearing will be set.
The band members, family, and friends of Caleb and Henley would like to thank you all for your support, sympathy, prayers and well wishes during this dark time. It is requested that all videos of the collision and events surrounding it be pulled from the Internet out of respect for Caleb, Henley, and their families. The family would like to thank the paramedics on scene, Atlanta Police Department, and Atlanta Fire Department for shielding prying eyes from seeing the most private and heartbreaking of moments when Henley said goodbye to her best friend. No individual was given permission to record either of them, and legal action will follow if videos are not removed within twenty-four hours.
Funeral arrangements for Caleb have not been made. The parents of Caleb would like to thank everyone for their deepest sympathies. They have postponed arrangements pending Henley’s recovery. An announcement will be made at a later date. Thank you all for coming and please continue to pray for the families of Caleb and Henley.
Hendrix Awake After Fourteen Days
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Henley Hendrix’s publicist has issued a statement notifying the public of Hendrix waking up from a comatose state. She remained in a coma for fourteen days after a vehicle collision that claimed the life of longtime friend and band mate, Caleb King. An earlier statement by the publicist stated Hendrix suffered from a broken arm and internal hemorrhaging. Funeral arrangements are still postponed for Caleb King. Fans have poured out in masses to show respect to Hendrix and King at the site of the accident and at Grady Hospital.
Hendrix rose to fame as a guitar prodigy at the tender age of twelve. Her legendary grandfather, Red Newman, taught her to play the guitar, and she was first noticed on stage with close family friend Buddy Guy. Guy has always joked that she played him right off the stage. King, also rose to fame as a guitar prodigy at the age of fifteen, and the two childhood friends formed the band Abandoned Shadow. The two recorded their first album with band mates Griffin Hughes and Rhys Ryan and were touring by the age of sixteen. Their following grew quickly, and they remain one of the top grossing rock acts in history. Her brother, Koi Hendrix and his band Broken Access, rank right behind Abandoned Shadow. All members from both bands have roots in Macon, Georgia. It is reported King will be buried in his hometown.
Hendrix Hysterical after Miscarriage
The Sun
Sources close to the Guitar Goddess report Henley Hendrix is devastated after losing her unborn child while she was comatose. The sources disclosed Hendrix was around three months pregnant with Caleb King’s child. There is a clear link to our earlier reports that King was being forced into rehab, and his expecting a child is a prime motivator for the intervention and ultimatum given to him. Funeral details have not been reported for King.
Statement issued by Jagger Carlyle
It is common knowledge that members of Abandoned Shadow and Broken Access have all been linked since childhood, so it is with a heavy heart that I thank our family, friends, and fans for the outpouring of love and support in the three weeks we have endured the loss of Caleb and the near loss of Henley. I felt it necessary to clear up rumors about the tragic accident and later injuries that claimed Caleb’s life and nearly claimed Henley’s.
Henley is not pregnant, nor has she ever been pregnant. She and Caleb have always been friends and have never been romantically involved. I find it abhorrent that media outlets find it necessary to report false information in an attempt to further financial gain. This is a time of grieving for our friends, families, and fans, and we ask our privacy be respected so we may have time to remember, mourn, and heal. Funeral arrangements have not yet been scheduled because of Henley’s injuries. She and Caleb have been friends since the first grade, and Caleb’s parents would like her to be able to attend.
I would like to take a moment to ask the world to consider other options when intoxicated. Drunk driving claims innocent lives and is a senseless act. Caleb touched so many people around the world in his short twenty-three years, and his life was cut ridiculously short because someone made a selfish decision. Please call someone for a ride, walk, or call a cab if you are intoxicated. I urge you to think of the possible consequences your actions can have on others. If you are prone to drink and drive, surrender your keys before you drink.
I appreciate all the support during this difficult time. Our parents have held us together, and our friends have been our rock. Henley is awake and doing as well as can be expected. She is healing well physically, but is still coming to grips with an immense loss. Thank you to all of our fans who have poured out their hearts on social media for us. Your words do not go unnoticed. Please continue all positive thoughts and prayers as we endure the days, weeks, and months to come.
Chapter 4
Four Years Later
“Henley! Look this way.”
“Who are you wearing?”
“Your dress is gorgeous.”
The lig
hts flash all around me as I walk into the awards show. I was taught a long time ago to look straight ahead. You can’t see a damn thing when the masses of photographers aim their incessant flash at you. So you just smile and look ahead. When you join the league of the rich and famous, your life belongs to the world. You are superhuman, and all around eyes lurk in the shadows watching and waiting for you to fall gracelessly from the top. It reminds them of their own humanity, their own impermanence.
The red carpet always turns into the lights on the dash. Caleb is laughing about the gig we just left. A girl in the front row flashed him all night, and he loves being rich and famous. We cruise down Interstate 75 South heading for Macon, home. The bump startles me. Caleb’s smile leaves his face, and he peers in the rear view mirror. I see horror take over his beautiful face. The world is upside down, and I’m trapped. I can’t breathe. Where is Caleb? I have to get out of here, but the seat belt is stuck. Something is oozing down my face, and it stings my eyes. I begin to pour sweat as I work to free myself. What is wrong with this damn seat belt? I grow frantic, and I want to scream, but I cannot seem to push it from my belly. Then I see him. Caleb! I finally scream for him. I finally free myself and kick my way out of the car. There are people everywhere, and they are in my face. Get out of my way! I finally get to the other side of the car, but Caleb isn’t there anymore. Where is he? I scream for him. I beg him to tell me where he is.
Guitar Face Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 3
