R.I.P.

by Charity B.

  After washing my hands, I meet Kai at the front of the store where he gives me my sunglasses and a pack of four hair ties. They are each a different color and have a plastic star attached. “I thought you could braid your hair or put it in a ponytail. It might make you look a little different.”

  Standing on my toes, I kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

  He holds my water as I braid my pigtails. The hair off my neck gives me more pleasure than I expected. “How do I look?”

  The grays of his eyes darken with his smile. “Perfect.”

  Malakai

  18 years old

  I’m not sure how much longer I can keep going. We’ve been walking in the heat for hours. Every car that passes ignores our upturned thumbs. This looked a lot easier on T.V. We’ve seen a few cop cars along the way, and every time I think I’m going to pass out. Now that we are so exposed, my paranoia is worse than it was in the car.

  I can’t stop thinking about how much they’ve found out at this point. “Do you think that we’d be considered serial killers? I mean, if they find out about the other bodies?”

  “Ooh, I want some cereal. I’m hungry.”

  I laugh, loving how she can so quickly shift my mood. Her comment has me remembering when she was little and thought ‘serial killer’ meant that there was a cereal out there that was poisoned and would kill her if she ate it.

  A sign for an upcoming gas station has me groaning in relief. “We’ll stop there.”

  As an added bonus, there’s a restaurant inside, so we can sit and relax for a bit. I want something hotter than cereal. Eggs and sausage with a side of hash browns sounds freaking amazing.

  I scoot into the booth with Adriel, somehow able to refrain from biting into a sausage until after she prays.

  “I saw a sign a little while ago that said Grande Isle was sixty-three miles away. If we can get a ride, we’ll get there today.” With my mouth full of the best food I’ve tasted in days, I mumble, “Thank God.”

  “What are we going to do once we get there?”

  I gulp down my chocolate milk before answering. Damn, this is good. “We’ll try to find a decent motel. Then, I don’t know. I guess we’ll call Mikkel. Ask if we can meet him.”

  Until now, I had enough to worry about without giving much thought to whether or not he will be a safe haven. Uncle Bennett knew us our entire lives and was ready to send us to jail after he found out about us. I’m not sure this is really the best choice, but I also can’t think of any others.

  “I hope he likes us. We don’t have much luck with that.”

  Scooping a big pile onto my fork, I scoff. “Then fuck him. It’s you and me now, okay? Anyone who has an issue with that is irrelevant.”

  I’m surprised at how much I truly believe that now. She’s all I have, and she’s all I want. When her big smile makes her gray eyes shimmer, I pray for the first time in years.

  I know I haven’t talked to you in a while… just please…don’t let anyone separate us. Help us get out of this. I swear, I’ll do anything.

  Once our food is gone, we set out to finish our wayward journey. The sun beats down on us, and it doesn’t take long for perspiration to wet my forehead. Just as I fear we’ll be walking the rest of the way to Grand Isle, a blue Oldsmobile pulls over to stop in front of us. The driver is an elderly woman, her dark skin a harsh contrast to her white hair holding a tint of violet.

  “You youngins all right? Why you out walking in this heat?”

  “Our car broke down,” I lie.

  Adriel looks at me, though she keeps her lips pressed tightly together. The woman waves her hand, and the click of the doors unlocking urges on my excitement. We’re finally getting out of the sun.

  “Go on, get in.”

  I climb in the back with Adriel right behind me. As I drop my bag on the floorboard, the woman asks, “Where are you two tryin’ to go?”

  “Grand Isle,” Adriel pipes up.

  “My Lord, child. That’s a long way to walk.” Neither of us respond to her, so she adds, “Well, get comfortable, it’s about an hour drive.”

  I could almost cry with gratitude. This woman has no idea how much she’s helping us. “That’s very generous, thank you.”

  “I’m just doing what the good Lord would want me to do. I’m Betty Jean Lewis by the way.” She looks at us in the rearview, grinning. “Your names wouldn’t happen to be Pugsley and Wednesday, would they?”

  A laugh bursts from my gut. “Are you saying we look like the kids from the Addams Family?”

  “Only if that chubby little boy grew up to be a very handsome young man.” I smile at her in the mirror where she winks at me. Adriel’s hand clenches around mine, crushing my fingers together. My gaze jerks in her direction to see her glaring at Betty Jean. She cannot seriously be mad at this little old lady. It was just a bit of innocent fun. “Don’t give me that look, child.” Though her words are a bit chiding, her smile softens them. “I may be old, but that don’t make me blind.”

  Adriel’s fingers loosen, allowing me to exhale. Moving my hand to her thigh, I give her a reassuring squeeze. “She can get a little protective of me sometimes.” She looks up at me, uncertainty scrunching her dark eyebrows.

  Betty Jean chuckles. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a woman claimin’ her man.”

  At that, Adriel’s face relaxes, and she says, “I’m Adriel. This is my bro—”

  “Boyfriend,” I interject. Betty Jean’s already deduced that we’re a couple. Knowing we’re also siblings would likely lose us this ride. “I’m her boyfriend, Malakai.” Her perplexed expression in the rear-view mirror tells me she senses that something is up. “Do you happen to have a phone I can use, Betty Jean?”

  Reaching across the middle console, she digs through a big brown purse. “I sure do. My daughter got it for me…even though she never calls,” she grumbles. “I think you must be the only young people in all of Louisiana without a cellular telephone.”

  My hand shakes in anticipation when I take it from her. “Thank you.”

  One of the first links that pops up has me holding my breath. Search Widens For Iowa Teens.

  Aside from Uncle Bennett’s remains being identified and us being named the prime suspects, there isn’t more information than last time.

  “Are you all right, honey child? You’ve gone as white as my bedsheets.”

  Instead of throwing the phone out the damn window like I want to, I give it back to her. “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Adriel tilts her head in question, but it’s not like we can really talk right now.

  Betty Jean more than makes up for the conversation as I watch all the palm trees pass by. I’d never seen one in person before.

  By the time we reach a big, blue sign that says, GRAND ISLE, I know her kids and grandkids names, her favorite television show, and all about Norma Lee, the ‘high and mighty’ woman from her salon.

  “You kids be safe. It was nice to meet you,” Betty Jean says once we’re out of her car.

  “It was nice to meet you too. Thank you for the ride,” I say.

  As we wave at her, I look around the beach community. Every building I come across is raised up on stilts. I’ve never seen anything like it.

  “Whoa…” Adriel spins in a circle. “This is magical.” She points to the Gulf of Mexico laid out in the distance. “Can we go to the beach?”

  Now that we’ve made it, I’m anxious to speak with our cousin. On the other hand, we’ve had a long few days, and she deserves to have a good time for a couple hours. I drape my arm over her shoulder to pull her close. “Sure.”

  Her arms hug me tight as she squeals. “Yay!”

  After walking so much today I’m exhausted, yet somehow, she produces a burst of energy that has her dragging me down the long, wooden pathway leading to the beach. The moment we hit the sand, she yanks off her shoes and socks, dropping her bag before running into the water.

  She splashes around, not caring that she’s s
oaking her dress. Watching her having a blast, I sit next to our things. I’ll admit, this place does give me a peaceful, warm feeling, and it’s not from the weather.

  There are a lot of people, and I have no idea how many are tourists. I hope finding an available, cash room won’t be too hard. After I feel like I’ve given her a sufficient amount of time to play, I call for her.

  Thankfully she doesn’t pout. When she gets closer, I see her skin has pinked from the sun. Her eyes are tired as she says, “I’m hungry again.”

  The first three places we try require a credit card and are more than we can afford anyway. The fourth hotel we attempt is unlike anything I knew existed. Instead of a building with rooms, they rent out cottages and trailers. They still require a credit card, though, so it seems like we’re going to have to think of a different plan. As we leave the office, Adriel releases my hand and walks up to a man getting out of his car before I can ask her what she’s doing.

  He nods to her, and she runs back to me. “Give him the money. He’s going to rent us the mobile home.”

  While I’m hesitant, worried he’ll rip us off, I hand over the cash. Surprisingly, moments later he returns with the keys.

  “Thank Christ,” I mumble on the way to the white trailer.

  It’s much cleaner in here than I expected based on the dated exterior, and while it’s small, it’s more than enough space for us.

  Adriel immediately rips off her dress and undergarments, grabbing the toiletries from my bag. “I really need a shower.”

  Following her lead, I tear down my filthy jeans and toss off my shoes. It feels amazing to wash off the grime of the last few days. Swimming in that pond didn’t do much to make me feel clean. As the shampoo rolls down my face, my cock is consumed in a hot suctioning. I don’t need to open my eyes to know her mouth is on me. God, her tongue feels incredible. Finally, my nerves are relaxing. For the first time in days, my stomach isn’t twisted in a knot.

  The way she looks when I open my eyes has my erection jolting against her lips. Water drips down her face and body. Her eyelashes look so long when they’re wet, making those gorgeous, ashen eyes even more stunning. Long strands of her charcoal hair stick to her petite breasts right next to those rosebud nipples. I was such a moron to think I could have lived without having her this way. How had I ever believed this was wrong?

  I grip her wet head to pound against her throat. “Fuck, yes. Make me come.” The vibrations from her lips when she moans are about to kill me. “I love you more than anything. Do you know that? I’m sorry I haven’t thanked you for loving me back.”

  She stands, never ceasing her stroking. “You loving me is thanking me, Kai.”

  I tug my last clean shirt over my head before stuffing the trailer key in my jeans pocket. “They have a laundromat here, so I’m gonna grab some soap. We’ll clean clothes when I get back.”

  She’s still naked from our shower, jumping up and down on the bed with one of her dolls. “Okay. Princess Sparkle wants to know when we get to eat? And when are we calling cousin Mikkel?”

  This is still taking a lot to get used to. She needs to know that I will always support her, so I try hard to hide the fact that every time she talks to her creations, it feels like a knife turning in my stomach.

  “I’ll get some food while I’m out, but since it’s getting late, let’s just chill tonight. We’ll call him tomorrow.”

  As I approach the bed, she bounces to her knees, puckering her lips for a kiss. “Hurry up! We’re hungry.”

  The squeak, squeak, squeak of the bed continues from her jumping as I shut the door. On our way here, I saw a small convenience store a little farther down that should have food and detergent.

  It’s not even a twenty-minute walk. This entire place is only eight miles long and a mile wide.

  The shrill chime of a bell alerts the clerk that I’ve arrived. He holds up his hand in greeting while I pick out soap and softener sheets. Adriel likes the lilac ones.

  The food selection is pretty decent, the easiest option being pizza and soda. When I drop everything on the counter, the clerk tilts his head. The examining expression he’s giving me is creeping me out.

  His eyes widen as he drops the box of fabric softener sheets. “Holy crap.” Before I can catch up with what’s happening, he reaches beneath the counter to reveal a rifle. “I just realized why you look familiar.”

  Shit.

  It’s odd how things like this can affect time. I’m not sure if I hold my hands up before or after I say, “Okay, man. Chill. You’re not gonna shoot me for trying to buy some groceries.”

  “Nah, you’re that guy from Nebraska or wherever that fucked his sister. And didn’t you guys kill your uncle?”

  Swallowing is the only movement I can make. My feet fuse to the floor.

  “I could really use that reward.”

  He shifts his eyes upward, likely fantasizing about selling me out for a payday. At his small distraction, I am released from my hold to the linoleum. I push off my feet, bolting out the door. The moment I step onto the gravel, glass shatters behind me with a BOOM.

  White hot pain wraps around my thigh. I nearly fall on my face as people in the parking lot stare. That asshole actually shot me. My adrenaline surges into effect, allowing me to continue running.

  Keeping my eyes peeled for cops, I stay off the main street, taking the first side road I reach. It doesn’t take long to realize that was a bad choice considering there are no other connecting streets, and it’s a dead end. This place is so open, it gives me an unsettling feeling of exposure. I’m forced to risk running between the houses, trees, and hotels to head in the direction of Adriel.

  Being recognized is not good at all. He seemed more concerned with the money than doing the right thing, giving me a shred of hope that he didn’t call the cops. Without me, there is no ransom.

  Fuck. That’s a slim chance.

  Slick blood seeps through my jeans, coming off on my fingers. It stings like a motherfucker.

  Adriel’s going to freak out that I was shot.

  Adriel

  17 years old

  “Toss me up, and catch me at the same time that you bounce!” Princess Sparkle squeals.

  I like this little trailer. Too bad me and Malakai can’t just live here. I do as she asks a few times, laughing at the sound of her high-pitched cackle. After catching her one last time, I jump off the bed to snoop through the cabinets. She wiggles out of my arms, crawling on the counter as I look at the flower calendar pinned above the sink. It’s only the 22nd.

  “It feels like we left home a lot longer than three days ago,” I tell her.

  “Uh-oh…” Her pink bear paw points to today’s square. “Look at the date. You always start bleeding before the 6th. That’s bad.”

  It takes me a second to figure out what she’s talking about. When what she’s implying sinks in, I feel dizzy. With everything that’s happened, I haven’t even thought about my period. The desire to have a baby has never been something I’ve experienced, and I want one even less now. Kai would be so angry, and Uncle Bennett said if this happened, the baby would be sick.

  My fingers grip the sink, wondering if I really do have something growing in my tummy, feasting on my insides. I shake my head. “That can’t be what’s happening.”

  “You have to make sure. Malakai would hate you if you had a baby that was like you and your mommy.”

  I’m suddenly straining to breathe. “What do I do?”

  Her sharp teeth gnaw on the corner of the calendar. “Make it go away before he finds out.”

  “How?”

  “Stab it so it dies. Use something sharp.”

  Fear fills up my throat. I don’t want to do what she’s saying. I wouldn’t be mean to it like my mommy was to me. And Kai might not get mad at me. It would be a perfect person, created by us both because we love each other.

  Even as I question this, my thoughts bounce back to how something could be wrong with the bab
y. What if we have to keep running? We won’t be able to take care of it. Or worse, we get caught, and they take it away, giving it to someone evil.

  Looking over my shoulder at the closet, I wonder if there are hangers in there. I know I’ve heard of that before.

  Abomination!

  Get it out!

  His baby would be beautiful.

  I cover my ears. This is confusing enough without the voices yelling at me too. Yanking open the door reveals three wire hangers, each with white paper wrapped around it.

  “You sure this is going to work?”

  Flopping on her bottom, Princess Sparkle kicks her legs over the edge of the counter. “It’s the only way I can think of.” She holds up her fuzzy arms for me to carry her. “Uppies!”

  I pick her up before sitting her next to me on the bed. The paper rips as I tear it off and drop it on the comforter. While I unbend the metal, I examine the jagged ends. “This is really going to hurt.”

  Princess Sparkle crawls on her knees to bend over and poke at the sheet with her horns. “Just get it like this.”

  Once I straighten the hanger as much as I can, I scoot back to the headboard. She’s watching with curiosity as I spread my legs. The daunting metal wire makes my stomach hurt. When I don’t move, Princess Sparkle tilts her head, so I answer her silent question. “I’m scared.”

  She waves her paw at me. “It’ll be over before you know it, but you better hurry. Kai will be back soon.”

  Do it!

  With a big breath, I slowly slide one end inside me. It doesn’t hurt at all until I hit something. Stabbing pain surges through me, as if it electrocuted me. I suck in through my teeth, tensing before I jab it a little harder.

  Black covers my vision. My voice screams like I’m not in my body anymore. Sliding out the hanger, I see a little blood on it.

  Smell the flowers, blow out the candles.

  I reach down, my fingers shaking as I touch myself. The moment I feel how wet it is, I look at my hand covered in red. Blood drips onto the white sheets, and suddenly my skin is covered in sweat. My chest aches from my thrashing heart when I realize the bleeding isn’t slowing.