Escaping Trouble

by Dee Bridle

  “I guess,” I whispered.

  “Stay on the phone, Ivy, I’m in the car now,” he said reassuringly.

  I closed my eyes again. I wanted to bawl like a baby. He sounded worried but so safe, and I just wanted him here right now. You’re weak. You shouldn’t have called him. You could have handled this.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked next, in between giving instructions to someone.

  I heard the instructions and suddenly wondered how the hell he knew where I was? I panicked and ended the call, squeezing the phone tightly in my hand. What the hell was I doing? I swiped at my cheeks, trying to get rid of the tears. I was truly weak. I was trying to rely on a guy to help me, just like my mother always did.

  I heard voices and drunken laughter and noticed two dark figures walking up the laneway towards me. Panicking, I got back up and ran the other way. I was in such a state with my emotions, I had no idea if I had the strength to fight back, if needed. I ran down a street, having no idea of where I was going to end up. I came across another laneway and went down, coming across a bunch of dumpsters. I hid beside the end one, trying to sort out my scrambled brain. I needed to take deep breaths and just think.

  Rick didn’t know I was here in this spot. I was relatively safe here until morning. I could handle the cold. I could handle anything. It wasn’t long before my teeth started to chatter and I hugged myself tightly, thinking of warm things. Like the coat in my bag, that was now probably part of a police investigation. Rick was seriously desperate to do what he did tonight. He wouldn’t stop until he got the money.

  Headlights suddenly lit up the laneway and a car sped towards me. I huddled up tighter, praying the occupants wouldn’t see me. I only hoped it wasn’t the police. It sped past me and then skidded to a stop.

  My heart slammed in my chest as the car started to reverse. Did I run? I had nowhere to run to! Panic locked my limbs and I couldn’t move.

  The car stopped in front of me and a car door swung open. Noah appeared in front of me, saying things but I couldn’t hear him. I truly couldn’t believe that he was here. How had he found me, hidden beside a dumpster?

  His hands touched my arms and he was saying something to me. I couldn’t be strong anymore. His hands were gentle as one moved to my cheek, turning my head slightly, like he was checking for injuries. He turned his head to talk to someone else and I focused on Will standing outside the car.

  “Who did this, Ivy? Where is he?” asked Noah.

  My eyes refocused on Noah crouching down in front of me, his eyes suddenly warming me. Words started to tumble out of my mouth.

  “Rick found me and he needs money. He’s going to steal from the bar, but the alarm will go off. I left my bag there and I’ll probably be blamed for the robbery. He found me and now I’ve got nowhere safe—“

  “Where do we find Rick?” interrupted Will as he looked up and down the laneway.

  Noah’s eyes were still on me, along with his warm hands as he waited for my answer.

  “You don’t want to go there,” I warned.

  I was half afraid of Rick and his friends being at the housing estate. I was also afraid of Noah seeing where I actually lived.

  “Let’s get you in the car,” said Noah, pulling me up and putting me in the front seat.

  I climbed in, and he closed the door behind me. I could hear him talking to Will about finding Rick and I cringed. I didn’t want Noah to get hurt over my life. I didn’t want this. Both of them should be asleep right now, not in a laneway protecting me.

  I heard voices on a radio and realized I was listening to a police scanner. I looked around the interior of the car to see I was sitting in a new Mustang that had obviously been imported. It was covered in leather and very beautiful inside, making me wonder if Will was a rich boy, too.

  My door opened at the same time as Will got in the driver’s seat. I looked to Noah who was leaning in towards me, concern etched into his features.

  “Where did he hurt you? I can see better under the light.”

  I shook my head and said, “I’m okay, really.”

  He watched me for a moment longer before he said, “You need to show us where he lives.”

  “But I don’t want you getting hurt over me,” I said quietly.

  Noah’s eyes warmed as Will burst out laughing, making me jump.

  “Ain’t no one hurting us sweetheart, just give me the address,” laughed Will.

  I mumbled the address and then looked at Noah.

  “Are you hurt anywhere else that I can’t see?” he asked.

  I shook my head even though it was still pounding from being shoved against the wall.

  “We need to go,” said Will listening to the scanner. “They’re close.”

  Noah climbed in and I crawled over to the back seat. Will was then speeding off down the lane and then out onto the main road.

  I shut my eyes, annoyed with myself for telling them the address. Rick had mates in other apartments nearby. It would take only one call and they would all be out there ready for a rumble. Why the fuck was I letting my life affect Noah’s like this? He didn’t need this shit.

  “So what’s Rick to you?”

  I opened my eyes to find Noah had turned back and was watching me.

  “My mother’s boyfriend.”

  “His apartment or yours?”

  “His,” I said clearing my throat.

  If he knew me, he would know that was a silly question. We owned absolutely nothing.

  “He hurts you a lot?”

  I took a deep breath. I didn’t tell anyone anything, it was the safest way.

  “I’m not going back there. You can maybe take me to Lou’s place.”

  “You’re coming home with me,” he demanded softly.

  His words were like balm to my battered soul, and I had to fight back tears. I slowly nodded.

  “He hurts me sometimes. He needs money and expects to take anything I earn, to pay their rent and their drug habit.”

  He frowned and said, “And if I pay him?”

  “He’ll only want more. He never stops,” I said, cringing at the tears starting to form in my eyes again.

  I willed them away, not wanting to lose my shit in front of him and Will. I couldn’t understand this guy who was considering to pay someone off to just help me.

  “So you live with him?” asked Will.

  “Not since…I was…robbed,” I said looking down at my hand and smoothing my sore wrist. “I’ve been staying in the office upstairs at the bar.”

  “So who hurt and robbed you?” asked Noah next.

  I had to be truthful, he was already going out of his way to help me, yet again.

  “Some heavies who were looking for Rick. He owes them money.”

  He swore under his breath and turned back to look out the windscreen.

  “I’ve never seen them before, but they said they’d be back. That’s why I’ve been staying at the bar,” I whispered.

  I couldn’t believe I was telling them everything. It felt weird, but a little comforting if I had to be honest.

  “He’s desperate. It’s why he came into the bar tonight to get money from me. It’s usually my mother.”

  “Jesus, Ivy,” he said. “Why the fuck are you coping with all of this alone?”

  I didn’t look at him but gave a slight shrug. It was all I had ever done for years. He swore again, and I suddenly wanted to get out of the car. He was annoyed at me, and it felt horrible.

  “It’s my problem,” I scowled. “I can deal with it. I don’t need you to be angry at me.”

  “I’m not angry at you,” he said with a sigh. “I just don’t want you hurt. You deserve so much more than this shit.”

  “How do you know that?” I said angrily. “You don’t know me.”

  “But I’d like to,” he returned. “And from what I already know about you, I still think you deserve more.”

  I shook my head, refusing to listen to his words.

  “Yo
u don’t know anything. Take me to Lou’s. I’m not going back with you, and, I refuse to sleep with you.”

  He paused in disbelief and said, “You think I’m taking you back to sleep with me?” he asked incredulously.

  “No,” I said quickly. “I mean, yes, oh, just forget it.”

  “Fuck! What type of guy do you think I am?” he asked angrily.

  I burst into tears, no longer able to keep them from falling. I felt utterly broken.

  “I don’t know, okay! I don’t know what you want from me!”

  I felt crazy and emotional as I quickly wiped at my falling tears. I couldn’t believe I was crying in front of him and Will.

  “I fucking like you, Ivy, and I want to help you. Is that so hard to understand?”

  I looked away from him and stared out the car window.

  “I have nothing to give you.”

  “I don’t remember asking for anything,” he said quietly.

  I closed my eyes and kept my head turned away, willing the tears to stop falling.

  “I don’t want a fucking pity party,” I whispered softly, almost to myself.

  “You’re not getting one,” he said.

  “We’re here,” interrupted Will scanning the apartment building. “Let’s focus on this shit for a moment.”

  It looked relatively quiet for 3:00 a.m., but I knew it wouldn’t take long for them to all come out like rats at the first sign of trouble.

  “Don’t do this,” I said.

  “He needs to be taught a lesson,” said Noah. “Where we come from, guys don’t hit girls. It’s that simple.”

  “Who else lives there?” asked Will.

  “Just my mum, but he may have friends over,” I said seeing that the light was on in the window.

  “We should wait a while. We don’t actually know what we’re walking into,” said Will.

  “Fuck that,” said Noah. “I’m ready to hurt him now.”

  Will narrowed his eyes onto Noah.

  “Your head isn’t in the game. You’re not thinking straight. We need to do this properly. She’s busted up a little, but she’s safe now with you. We need to go in and be prepared for anything. What if the fuck wit is packing?”

  “Then I hit him before he gets a chance to use it,” said Noah.

  I spotted a figure running towards the car from the street and focused on him.

  “That’s him,” I said in disbelief. “That’s Rick running now.”

  Noah turned to Will, and they gave each other a silent nod and got out of the car.

  “Stay in the car,” demanded Noah before he closed the door, shutting me in silence.

  A second later, Will was on the other side of the car, stopping Rick from passing. Rick was holding a laptop that he had obviously stolen from the bar’s office.

  “Get out of my fucking way,” said Rick.

  “I don’t think so,” said Will shoving him back. “Are you Rick?”

  “Who the fuck wants to know?” spat Rick, his eyes darting back to the car.

  Could he see me through the heavily tinted windows? Half his face was covered with blood, and I realized it was from me hitting him with the lamp.

  Noah suddenly slammed him into the brick wall, and the laptop dropped to the ground with a crunch.

  “Keep your fucking hands off, Ivy,” he growled menacingly.

  “What the fuck?” exclaimed Rick looking over to the car again.

  I glared back at him just in case he could see me.

  “What’s it to fucking you? The whore owes me money,” he said quickly letting out a sharp whistle.

  He had made a call and was hoping the other rats would come and help him.

  “You did not just call her that,” growled Noah, punching him squarely in the face.

  Rick’s head fell back against the brickwork and blood splattered from the blunt force of Noah’s fist.

  Will clenched his fists and stood back, scanning around them, waiting for any others to appear.

  I saw two guys running up behind the car, and I scrambled over the seats and opened the car door.

  “Behind you!” I shouted.

  Will spun around and threw a punch at one. The guy landed on the ground with a groan. Will soon got the other one before he even had a chance.

  Breathing heavy, I got out and looked around, scared. I didn’t know how many rats were on Rick’s side, and if they all came out, we were in trouble.

  “Get back in the fucking car, Ivy!” shouted Noah.

  I jumped at the demand and got back in as I watched him pull Rick by the neck of his T-shirt. Rick tried to shove him off, but Noah was unmovable as he swung and connected his fist with Rick’s jaw.

  Rick groaned and slumped to the ground.

  “Don’t fucking come near her again, you understand me?” said Noah.

  I saw another three guys appear and Noah had two down before I blinked. Will finished the other one off and they stood together, ready to fight any more thugs who appeared.

  “Fuck,” I whispered to myself.

  He hadn’t been lying about the fight club thing. They were both worthy of a superhero status, if you asked me. I hated violence, mostly because I was usually at the end of it, but this time, I felt some sort of weird satisfaction. He was doing all of this for me. Rick was finally suffering, from me.

  Another guy appeared with a knife, and I watched Noah kick it out of his hand. It clattered to the ground near Rick as he punched the guy with amazing force. His hits were precise and lethal.

  Years of torment whirled around inside me and without a thought, I got back out of the car and ran to Rick. I picked up the knife and held it to his face.

  “You piece of shit,” I said to him.

  “Fuck you, bitch,” he gurgled up at me. “You will pay for this.”

  I had no doubt about that and the thought deadened me.

  An arm went around my waist and pulled me completely away from him. I struggled against it, wanting to hurt Rick once more before he found me again and killed me.

  “What have you done?” screamed my mother, running down the steps to Rick’s body on the ground. “No,” she cried, turning her eyes to me.

  Her eyes were dead, no longer a mother, but a drug addict.

  “You stupid little bitch!” she screamed at me.

  I struggled against Noah’s arm, but he was too strong. I felt a wildness rear up and explode in my skull.

  “Fuck you!” I screamed from the depths of my chest.

  I wriggled out from Noah, trying to shove him off me as I swung the knife at my mother.

  His arm of steel went back around my waist, and I was instantly pulled away from her.

  “He will kill you for this!” shouted my mother. “Do you have any idea of what you’ve done?”

  One of the guys got up again, until Will put him down with his fist. There were suddenly sirens in the distance.

  “Time to go,” said Will getting into the car.

  Noah picked me up, my legs still kicking out, wanting to hurt Rick as he brought me around to his side of the car. He shoved me into the seat as Will revved the engine. I scrambled to the back, still holding onto the knife as he followed me in and closed the door.

  Will skidded in reverse, turned the car around sharply and then sped off, leaving the carnage behind. I sat in the back, trying to remember to breathe as I held the knife tightly in my hand.

  “He won’t touch you again,” said Noah, his hand leaning over to me in the back seat.

  I automatically flinched away, not knowing what I was feeling or doing. I wasn’t used to anyone touching me unless it was violent. I now knew what Noah was capable of, and I didn’t know whether to feel scared or safe.

  His hand pried the knife from mine and I watched how he flicked it closed. Then he passed it back to me. I took it like a lifeline. I wouldn’t need it to protect myself from him. Something in me knew that, but he was giving it to me anyway.

  “Well, that was fun,” lau
ghed Will, pressing on the accelerator. “We should do that again some time.”

  I took in a deep breath and looked at Noah again, as his eyes connected with mine. He silently seemed to be telling me that I was going to be okay, but I didn’t want to believe him because I was never okay.

  We were soon pulling up at Noah’s unit above the garage, and Will left the engine running as Noah climbed out. He pulled the seat forward so I could also climb out, careful to not touch me. He grabbed Will’s hand in a friend shake and then closed the door. Will reversed out and I looked away from the glare of the headlights.

  “Let’s go,” he said heading up the steps to his front door.

  I numbly followed him up the steps and walked into his place.

  “Will your mother mind me staying here tonight?”

  “Who knows? I stopped clearing things through my mother many years ago. This is my place, my rules,” he said going over to the kitchen.

  I watched him get two bottles of water out of the fridge, and I didn’t know whether to follow him or sit down somewhere.

  Picking up on my discomfort, he walked back over with a bottle of water and passed it to me.

  “You can sleep in Zac’s room.”

  “Oh, so he won’t need it tonight?” I asked taking the bottle.

  He headed over to Zac’s room and went inside.

  “No. Ignore the mess.”

  I walked over slowly and looked in to see him taking the sheets off the bed and putting new ones down. It was such a thoughtful act that tears brimmed my eyes again. If only he knew what I usually slept in. I looked around at the room, trying to get a hold on my emotions that were usually nonexistent.

  “Make yourself at home. Just don’t touch any of his computers. He’s almost as possessive of them as he is of Ava,” he said.

  I swallowed a lump of emotion down and nodded in silence. I couldn’t relate to a guy being so possessive and taking care of a girl, but it suddenly sounded so nice. Noah was taking care of me. He had hurt Rick because of me tonight, and I now had a bed for the night because of him.

  “I’ll get you something to sleep in.”

  I met his eyes and then looked away again. I had two possessions. A phone and a knife. The rest was gone. He didn’t have to know that I slept in my clothes anyway. It had always been a strategy if I needed to run quickly from something in the middle of the night. Just like tonight.