Havoc

by Alexis Noelle

  He said he wouldn’t hurt me.

  He said he loved me.

  Lies.

  All fucking lies.

  I knew better than to let someone in. I knew I’d get screwed in the end. This is everything that I’ve been running from all these years. I let him blind me and I fell for his crap.

  Now I’m driving around in my car, unable to go home. I can’t call my best friend because she’s with the enemy. I have no one I can talk to. Nowhere to go.

  Passing a hotel I make the quick decision to pull in and grab a room.

  I need time to think.

  I need time to rebuild the wall he convinced me to take down.

  I need time to forget how much I loved him.

  Walking into the hotel I’m that girl, the one with mascara running down her face, cries coming out in sobs. The girl you feel bad for but at the same time feel embarrassed for. The concierge doesn’t even bother with small talk when I ask for a room. He just takes my ID and credit card before handing me them back with the key.

  I make my way upstairs thankful that I’m in the elevator alone. Once I get to the room I collapse on the bed letting out a loud scream into the mattress.

  I’m such a fucking idiot.

  ***

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  A loud noise makes me jolt awake. I must have passed out mid hysterics. My face burns from running the tears away, pissed off that they were there at all. My head feels like a ton of bricks and my eyes are about double their normal size.

  Walking over to the door I look in the peephole and see the last person I expect. Rock.

  I tiptoe backward hoping I can pretend like I’m not in here.

  “Open the goddamn door, Chrissy!” his voice booms from the other side of the door. “I know you’re in there so stop the fucking games.”

  “Go to hell. Actually, go wherever the fuck you want, just go away from here!” I yell back, the screaming almost therapeutic.

  “You open this door or I’ll fucking kick it in. If you think I won’t, try me. I’ll pay the damages and not even blink an eye.” His fist bangs on the door again.

  Would he really kick it in?

  I don’t want to see him.

  I don’t want to hear his bullshit excuses.

  I don’t want to be the weak, naive woman.

  “Fine, you got three seconds, babe. One…”

  He starts to count.

  He can’t be serious.

  “Two…”

  Shit.

  He is.

  I take the few steps to the door and pull it open. Rock is standing there in full crouching tiger hidden dragon position. “Jesus Christ, you were really gonna kick that shit in? You’re psychotic.” I don’t move out of the doorway because I have no intention of inviting him in.

  He stands in front of me as if he’s waiting for me to. “You gonna move out of the way?”

  “You weren’t invited in and you won’t be. Say what you need to say then leave.” I try to keep my voice strong and force all the shakiness back inside.

  “I’m not airing my business in a damn hallway. Now stop being a child.” He pushes the door open and walks past me into the room.

  The room is fairly big with two queen beds and a small sitting area but with him here it feels like a prison cell. “What?” I look over at him standing on the opposite side of the room.

  “Mind telling me why I had to spend the last few hours tracking you down when I’ve been on the road for days and I’m tired as fuck?” He sounds annoyed, he has a lot of nerve.

  “You don’t have to do shit. I didn’t ask for you to come storming in here. In fact, how the hell did you even know where I was?”

  “When I figured out your story was bullshit I had Wrench trace your cards. You don’t want to be found next time use cash, babe.” Hearing him call me that makes me sick right now. “Why did you leave and make up that story?”

  I look away from him, I don’t want to do this.

  “You need to talk to me because right now none of this shit is making sense.” He takes a step toward me and I hold my hand up.

  “No, you need to stay over there.”

  “Okay, that’s enough. Tell me what the fuck is going on.” His voice gets louder.

  “What’s going on is that next time some whore comes onto you, maybe you could push her off instead of letting her put her hands on you.” My voice cracks and I hate myself for it.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now? That’s the reason you left? Did you even think to ask me about what happened?” His arms are waving around.

  “Ask you what? I saw that shit with my own eyes!”

  He takes a few steps and this time my halting hand doesn’t phase him. “What you saw was some chick I used to mess around with at my old club coming on to me. What you saw was the fact that she’s desperate for a patch and she thought I could be her in. What you didn’t hear was me tell her to leave me and you alone or she’d be out on her ass.” Another couple steps. “What you didn’t stick around to see was me pushing her off of me before coming to see you. You have been all I could think about these past few days. Not some random girl, you.” He closes the small distance between us and his hands cup my face. “You gotta learn to talk to me. If we’re in this together you have to trust me, babe.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief at his explanation and I’m embarrassed that I let it get this far. I shouldn’t have just assumed but it was like all my worst fears in front of me. “I’m sorry. I should have believed in you more.” I lean my head against his chest.

  “So you know, you have this hotel room, it’d be a shame if we let it go to waste.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

  I lean up and kiss him. “I think I’ll take you up on that indecent proposal.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chrissy

  “How do we call this love

  I tried, to run away but your eyes

  Tell me to stay oh why

  Why do we call this love” - Rixton

  I need to work today and there is no way I can take one of the prospects with me. I have a home visit with the Deans and I’m hoping to clear them today and give them the good news that they don’t need me checking in on them regularly anymore.

  The lockdown has been going on for almost a month now and this is the first time I’m going to cheat protocol. I have to though. I can’t take anyone with me to their house. Everyone is in church right now and as much as I know I shouldn’t, I’m calling an Uber and sneaking out. I’d take my car but the prospect at the gate won’t let me out without a babysitter. I’ve tried that already.

  Grabbing my purse, I head out the back exit and look down the road to see my car waiting. Slipping in between the gap in the fences I break out into a slow jog.

  Sorry Rock, I’ll be back soon.

  I slip into the car and glance back, breathing a sigh of relief that no one saw me. The drive goes by quick although. I can’t help but wait for my phone to ring from a very pissed off biker.

  Walking up to the house I’m a little upset that I won’t get to keep seeing this family. Most of the people I try to help are reluctant. Joe has always been gracious and grateful. The kids are sweet and always so happy to see me.

  Amy opens the door. “Miss Chrissy is here, daddy!”

  She leads me through the house for my walk through like she does every time. There isn’t a thing out of place. The kids are clean and seem happy. I walk into the living room where Joe is sitting. “Well I have some good news for you guys.”

  They all sit down and look over at me.

  “You have been doing so well during our visits, and there haven’t been any incidents. I am able to move you guys to yearly checkins instead of monthly.” I smile but no one else is.

  “So that’s it?” Joe looks at me confused. “Just like that you ain’t comin’ back?”

  “Well, it’s a good thing. It means that I feel like there isn’t any cause for worry anymore. I thin
k you’ve done great with the kids, Joe. You don’t need me anymore.” I offer him a kind smile but he doesn’t return. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and I know Rock must have realized I’m gone.

  “So just like that you’re gonna walk out on us, Karen?” He stands up and red flags are starting to go off in my mind. Karen was his wife and the kids’ mother. She died in a car wreck. After the accident Joe had been drinking and there was a concern for the kids. He quickly got clean but they assigned me to the family. “I thought I had fixed this shit with you last time. You can’t just fucking walk out on us!” The kids flinch as he yells.

  “Joe, I’m not Karen. I’m Chrissy Evanson, your case worker. Remember?” My phone vibrates again but I don’t make a move to grab it.

  “You are the same as you were that day. Maybe we need to follow the same plan. Let’s go to the cabin.” He gets up and tosses a jacket to each of the kids. They look scared now and I’m trying to process exactly what’s going on but I can’t make sense of it.

  “I said we’re going to the cabin, Karen.” He glares at me.

  “Joe I’m not—”

  “I said now!” He pulls a gun from his waistband and points it at me.

  I freeze immediately flashing back to the incident with Mr. Cane and Sophia. Slowly I stand up and nod my head.

  “Good girl.” He tucks the gun into his jacket pocket as we all walk out the door. There aren’t many neighbors out. It’s been cold and the forecast said it might rain today. “All of you get in the car right now.”

  Everything inside of me is screaming not to get in the car but I see no way around it right now. I open the passenger door slowly sitting down. Looking into the backseat I whisper to the kids that it will be okay before Joe gets into the car.

  I feel my phone vibrate again, this time I reach in my pocket sliding where I hoping the answer button would be. “Joe, where are you taking us?” I’m hoping I can get him to say enough that Rock can find me.

  “I told you we’re gonna head to the cabin, but just like the last time you won’t make it there. Except now I think we’ll go with you.” His voice seems far off and I know at this point he’s having a breakdown.

  “What do you mean Joe?” My voice is quiet.

  “I mean this time instead of you leaving us here alone, we’ll all die together.”

  My stomach drops at the finality of his voice.

  Please be listening Rock.

  I need you.

  Chapter Twenty

  Rock

  “I remember the day you told me you were leaving

  I remember the make-up running down your face

  And the dreams you left behind you didn't need them

  Like every single wish we ever made” - 5 Seconds of Summer

  We had two successful runs that didn’t get screwed with so this church has a much better feeling than the last few. We aren’t naive and know that this shit isn’t done with but at least we had some uninterrupted runs and have time to formulate some kind of a theory or a plan.

  Walking out of church I see James, the prospect who’s supposed to stick with Chrissy, standing there. I immediately know something is up.

  “I uh…I don’t know what happened. I saw her one minute and then the next I couldn’t find her.” He’s stuttering but I don’t give a shit that he’s nervous. He should be.

  I grab him by the collar of his shirt slamming him against the wall behind him. “You better start talking and quick. Where the fuck is my girl?”

  After a bunch of stammers I realize he’s fucking useless. I pull out my phone and start calling her. It rings a bunch of times before going to voice mail. Come on, Chris. This shit is not cute.

  After the fourth call she finally answers. Except she doesn’t say anything. I can hear voices in the background. “Everyone shut the fuck up!” I scream needing to strain to hear what’s going on.

  She says the guy’s name and I grab a pen from the bar, writing it on my hand. Then I hear him say something and the phone drops from my hand. He’s going to kill her, and his fucking kids are in the car.

  “Wrench!” He pushes through the small crowd that had gathered around me. “I need you to trace Chrissy’s phone, yesterday.”

  “Pres, she’s in trouble. I need to go and take a few guys with me.” I hope he’ll approve it if not I’m going alone.

  “You got it. Take who you need.” He gives me a nod before walking away.

  “Tracker, Colt, Storm, Hunt let’s go boys. Just like old times. I wouldn’t want anyone but these men beside me right now. I know we’re part of the club and we’re all family but these four brothers have been with me longer. We came here together and I’d trust them with more than my life.

  And I am.

  I fill them in quickly on what I heard before heading to Wrench’s room. “We are heading out. Call me as soon as you have a track.”

  “Almost there, brother. Take the Bluetooth and I’ll give you step by step directions.” I give him a nod of thanks before heading out.

  Megan is waiting in the common room with Lucy, tears falling down her cheeks. “You’ll find her, right? She’ll be okay?”

  Jesus, word travels fast around here. “I got this.”

  Walking out to the bikes I take the road to the interstate entrances figuring that will be my best bet. My phone rings and it’s Wrench. He starts to guide me as he’s watching Chrissy get farther and farther from us.

  “Seems like they are headed to the middle of nowhere according to this map, brother. Be careful with these roads. The turns are really sharp and you can wreck your shit with one wrong turn.

  I feel sick when he says that. I know this crazy asshole is planning on them all dying together. I need to get to them fast.

  I push my engine to the limit.

  My heart pounds louder than my bike.

  I will make it to her on time.

  I have to.

  Chapter TwentyOne

  Chrissy

  “I’m sinking slowly

  So hurry hold me

  Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on

  Please can you tell me

  So I can finally see

  Where you go when you're gone” - Michelle Branch

  Joe hasn’t said anything for the last fifteen minutes. Amy started to cry so I reached behind me and grabbed her hand. Johnny hasn’t said anything but I think he might be in shock. “Joe, I have an idea. Why don’t we go home and I’ll cook us all a nice dinner?” I’m trying to play along. In his mind he thinks I’m Karen and telling him any differently will only agitate him more.

  “Like I would fall for your lies again. You tried this last time. I told you before you’re either with me or you’re with no one.” His hands grip the wheel so tight his knuckles start to turn white.

  She must have tried to leave him and he killed her. I don’t understand how because the reports all said she was driving and wrecked the car. They thought it was an accident because of the bad weather that day.

  Okay, I need to find a way out of this.

  “Why don’t we just go to the cabin? We could all live up there. It would be so quiet and we could all be so happy.” I insert as much softness into my voice as I can manage. Inside I’m losing my shit.

  “Why don’t you just shut your goddamn mouth!” he screams and I jump. Obviously I’m not going to outwit him because he is too far gone. I know the turn that Karen crashed at. It’s probably about five minutes away and that is where I’m guessing he’s going. He thinks he is making history repeat itself.

  I am going to need to overpower him somehow. Whatever I’m going to do I don’t have much time to do it. Even if Rock figured out how to get to me, he won’t get here in time. I have to save myself and these kids alone.

  Ahead of us I see a small clearing with some trees. I know what I’m about to do is crazy but it’s the only idea I have.

  I look behind me and the kids have their seat belts on.

  Here go
es nothing.

  Once we get to the clearing, I quickly reach over and yank the wheel to the side, making us veer off the road and into the trees. Joe screams at me but I don’t let go as he tries to steer us back onto the road. The car smashes into a big tree and we stop.

  The airbag deploys hitting my face and slamming my head back into the seat. I groan as it slowly deflates. “Kids, you guys okay?”

  They both give me a quiet yes. When I look over Joe is passed out, this is my opportunity.

  “Johnny, get out now. Amy, I’m going to get out and get you.” I open the door, my body sore from the impact, and my head pounding like there is a jackhammer in there.

  There is something wrong with my left leg and can’t move really fast because my head is still spinning. I start moving the kids toward the road, praying there might be another car even though we hadn’t seen one in a while.

  “Stop right fucking there!” I freeze at the sound of Joe’s voice.

  Turning around I move Amy behind me. “Let’s just talk, put down the gun.”

  He walks toward me the gun pointed at my head. Reaching up he grabs a chunk of my hair and I can feel the roots pulling from my scalp as tears rush to my eyes. I scream from the pain as he starts to pull me with him. “Walk now you little brats or I’ll shoot you where you stand.” The kids run to catch up to us Johnny taking Amy’s hand.

  How the hell was I going to leave these poor kids with this lunatic? He has really lost his mind. His grip on my hair stays firm and he starts walking up the mountain trail.

  “You just had to fucking ruin shit. This was supposed to easy and perfect. It should have been just like last time except this time I wouldn’t jump out of the car. I should have stayed with you the first time.” He pulls me against him almost in an embrace. “Now we will just all have to die together in the cabin. I have just enough bullets for each of us.”