Wrecked

by Luke Prescott

  For the next few hours, Brett and I pull apart the Chevy Impala. She hasn’t kept up maintenance on this car, christ. We’ve replaced spark plugs and wires, distributor cap, fuel filter, and given her a new coil. Even the brake pads need replacing, which is what we are working on now.

  “Dude, you seriously need to teach your girl how to take care of her shit,” Brett says, for the millionth time.

  “I fucking heard you the first ten times you told me. We weren’t together when this shit happened. No wonder she parked it here and took that old piece of shit she’s been driving.”

  “Yeah, well now that you are together, keep on top of this shit,” he says, wiping his hands off on a rag.

  I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh damn, are you giving out relationship advice? The guy who had one serious girlfriend in, what grade was that, third?”

  “Hey, Tiffany and I were very happy until I found out she ate crayons,” he says, completely serious.

  “You’re a fucking idiot.”

  Sipping his water, he shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe I am an idiot, but I’m not hanging out in the garage, fixing my girl’s car instead of fixing whatever it was you guys were fighting about.”

  “Yeah well, it’s not that easy,” I say, finishing up.

  “It’s not easy to apologize for whatever it is you did or didn’t do, I think that’s what chicks expect.”

  “I can’t wait until you get into a serious relationship. It’s going to be so much fun to watch,” I say, laughing.

  “Who said anything about a serious relationship. Give me a girl who likes it rough, and I’m good,” he says, lowering the lift.

  “Same shit I used to say.”

  “Then you went and became a big pussy,” he laughs, slapping my back.

  Crossing my arms, I raise my eyebrow at him. “Jealous?”

  “Jealous? Of you being a pussy? No, I like banging pussy, not being one.”

  I smile, grabbing a smoke out of my pocket. “Ever get fucking hit by a pussy?” I joke, laughing around my cigarette. I shrug and can’t help the grin that creeps onto my face. “I love her. If that makes me a pussy, I’ll gladly be considered one.”

  Nodding his head, he climbs in the driver’s side to test the brakes. “I have been hit by a pussy before. Right in the mouth, and I ate the fuck out of it,” he says, laughing as he winks.

  Slamming the door, I tap on the roof. “Let’s take it for a ride and see how it is. I mean unless you’ve got pussy to rush home to? Oh wait, no you don’t, that’s me.”

  “You’re a dick. Get in,” he says, as we both laugh.

  Driving around, everything feels good. The brakes are working and the engine sounds good. I’m relieved because she deserves to drive this car. I really don’t know why she didn’t have me work on it sooner. Glancing out the window, I rub my neck. She wasn’t even the one to ask, now that I think about it. It was Robert. I wonder why the fuck she didn’t ask me.

  “Hey, listen,” Brett says, pulling my attention back.

  Listening, I hear something vibrating. “Yeah, so,” I say, grinning.

  “What the hell is it?”

  “I don’t know if I’m more embarrassed you’re my best friend or that you’re a mechanic right now,” I joke. “It’s something in here vibrating. Probably coins in the door or something. It feels good though, right? It’s not pulling or sluggish?”

  “Nah, it’s all good. Your girl will be safe driving it, relax,” he says, pulling back into the garage.

  We get out, and I walk over to start cleaning up. The sooner I’m done the sooner I can get over to Payton. It’s been hours, so she better be ready to talk when I get there. I’ve been beyond patient with her.

  “Hey, Asher. Check this out,” Brett calls over to me.

  “What?” I ask, walking over.

  He holds up a small tape. “This is what was rattling in the door.”

  “Okay, so put it back,” I tell him.

  “Fuck no, come on. Let’s see what’s on it,” he says, smiling.

  “Brett, seriously, put that shit back.”

  He laughs and looks over the tape. “It could be porn. Oh shit, it could be a sex tape Payton made with someone. We’ve gotta watch it.”

  Fuck. The thought of Payton with another guy pisses me off enough. The thought of her on video with another guy makes me want to smash that fucking tape. “I don’t want to see that shit.”

  “Fucking pussy. I’m gonna watch it with or without you,” he taunts, going off to the office.

  Mother fucker. Running my hand through my hair, I follow behind him. I’m not about to let him see Payton naked.

  He puts the tape in, and we watch the screen. My hands are sweating, and I wipe them on my pants, before squeezing the back of my neck. But I realize quickly it’s not a sex tape. It’s a police tape.

  “What the fuck is this?” I ask, leaning closer to the screen.

  “I think it’s a video from a police car. It’s got a bunch of stuff flashing on the screen.”

  Staring at the screen, the first thing I notice is the date, March 26th, 2012. The date alone makes my pulse race. It’s all dark, except for a random car lights flashing by every so often. My throat is beginning to go dry, as I continue to watch the date blink on and off the screen.

  Suddenly, it’s as though the world around me stills. Nothing else matters except what I’m watching. The car drifts into oncoming traffic, seemingly not even in control. That’s when it happens. A silver SUV comes into view. But fuck, not just any. It’s their SUV. The wind is knocked out of me, and I need to grab onto the desk.

  It happens so fast, I almost can’t comprehend what I’m watching. The big oak tree, metal twisting, glass shattering, smoke rising. “No fucking way,” I whisper, choking back a sob.

  “What?” Brett questions, but I’m too focused on what I’m seeing.

  That’s when I see him. That son of a bitch ran over to see what he did, and as he’s rushing back to his car, I see his face. It will forever be burned into my memory. I will fucking find him.

  “That’s him,” I whisper, trying to speak around the lump in my throat.

  “That’s who?” Brett asks, looking back at me.

  “That’s the son of a bitch that killed my parents.” Squeezing my eyes tightly for a second, I snap them open. “Brett, go back.”

  “Asher, what do you mean this is the guy who killed your parents?”

  Scrubbing my face, I blow out a breath. “That’s them. Now go back.”

  “No, let’s just take it to the police,” he says, looking up at me with sympathetic eyes.

  “Fucking play it back,” I yell, holding tightly to the seat.

  I watch again and again. I watch my parent’s SUV come into view before swerving to miss the hit. I watch the person who did it, get out of the police car, check on them and fucking flee. All these years of trying to figure it out and here it is, the fucking evidence. I have Brett freeze it on the person and I get a bad feeling.

  “Take that to the cops, I need to see what Payton was doing with this tape.”

  “Don’t. You have no idea who that is, don’t go fucking up the only good thing that’s happened to you, probably ever. You’re too emotional right now,” Brett says, trying to be the good friend he is.

  “She’s been hiding things, keeping her past hidden. What if this guy is part of the reason? What if she was in the car? What if this whole fucking thing has been a lie because she’s protecting him? Fuck. That.” I feel an anger I haven’t felt since I found out about my parents. Seeing it, watching it play out in front of me, makes me physically sick. I need answers and I need them right the fuck now. But I start to think of Payton, and the fear on her face today. It doesn’t make sense. “What if he’s what’s she’s scared of?” Fuck.

  “What?”

  “Take that to the cops, I need to go make sure she’s alright. I have a feeling she’s here to avoid him,” I yell, hauling ass to my truck.

&n
bsp; I race over there, getting to her place in record time. Jumping out of the truck, I rush up the stairs. I turn the handle and it’s locked. “What the fuck?” Knocking on the door, I step back and fold my arms. A minute goes by and nothing. Knocking, I try the doorknob again. This time I bang my fist on the door and yell her name. I hear the door unlocking and my stomach, that is in knots, starts to relax. But the door only cracks open and she peeks out at me.

  “Hey,” she whispers.

  “Hey? What’s going on, Payton?” I question.

  “Not now, another time,” she says, looking at the ground, as she starts to close the door.

  “Payton, what are you doing?” I don’t even know if I’m more pissed or worried at this point.

  She swallows, shaking her head. “Nothing.” This time she lifts her head, locking onto mine. “It’s dark now. You know how I feel about the dark.”

  Before another word comes out of her mouth, the door slams shut. What the fuck? Staring at the closed door, I run my hands through my hair. Closing my eyes, I blow out a breath and it hits me like a fucking ton of bricks.

  “I don’t like the dark. Everything bad that happens, happens when it’s dark.”

  Fuck. She isn’t pushing me away, she’s begging for my help. A strength I didn’t even know I possessed comes crashing over me. I slam my body into the door, over and over until I hear it starting to give way. “Fuck. Come on,” I grunt, slamming into it one last time.

  The door slams open, banging into the wall behind it with so much force I’m sure the wall is fucked. Stepping in, the air is sucked out of my lungs. My heart slams against my chest, my pulse races and the world crashes around me.

  “Payton,” I yell.

  Defenseless, powerless, wrecked.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ───────────────

  Payton

  The dark. Everything bad happens when it’s dark.

  I need to get out of here. I’m not going to stick around and see how much worse it can get. I’ve done that long enough. Not even realizing I’m crying, until I blink my wide eyes. My body shakes with a fear I have never felt before. It’s consuming, it’s powerful, it’s real.

  My lungs burn I’m breathing so hard. I throw some clothes into a duffle bag. I have no idea what I’m grabbing, I can’t even focus on it. It’s as though I’m rushing, but not moving at all.

  Faster. You need to move faster. Grabbing my phone, and my purse, I toss the bag over my shoulder. My body is shaking as I slowly make my way to the stairs. Peeking over, I can see Jake pacing the living room.

  Tears are running down my face, as I grip tightly onto the railing. Walking down the stairs, trying to put on a face of bravery, that I don’t feel. It seems to take forever to make my way down. The fear of what will be waiting when I face him, has my heart pounding in my chest.

  Where am I going to go? What the hell am I going to do? I have no idea. The only thing I know is this will never happen to me again. I will never allow it to. Even so, trying to figure out what to do next seems impossible right now. My body is not my own right now, and it’s taking all my effort just to get down the stairs. I choke back a sob, shaking my head. No. Not now. I need to get out of here before I break down. Because once that happens, it will be impossible to stop. My tears will never dry.

  Reaching the entryway of the house that has been mine for the last four years, wraps me in dread. There are no memories I want to take. Nothing. I want to leave it all here, where it belongs.

  Jake notices me by the door and I take a deep breath. “I’m leaving. I’m not sticking around to be your punching bag.”

  He laughs, sipping his beer. “Payton, it was one slap. Don’t be fucking dramatic.”

  “One physical slap. You’ve been beating me down for years and I’m done.” I don’t know where I find the courage to say it, but I do. Opening the door, I turn my back on him. That’s when the beer bottle smashes against the wall next to me, causing me to jump.

  “Good. Go. I’ve fucking wasted too many years with you,” he shouts, as I rush out the door.

  A noise outside has my knees go weak. My heart stops beating and my stomach churns. I need to go. Adrenaline kicks in and I sprint to the car, not bothering to even close the door behind me. I need to get into the car, once I’m in I’m safer. Unlocking the door as I run, I open the door and with a shaky hand push the key into the ignition. Hearing the car roar to life, stops me. Where am I going?

  Sitting there playing out the scenes like a flip book. One by one they flash through my head. A noise breaks through my thoughts, and I realize it’s me. I’m sobbing and screaming. I should have gone a long time ago, I shouldn’t have waited.

  I need to go. I need to be gone before he tries to force me to stay. Before I can’t go. Throwing the car into reverse, I peel out, flying out of the long driveway.

  The dark. Everything bad happens when it’s dark.

  Getting a few miles up the road, I pull over. I can hardly see I’m crying so hard. But I need to keep going. I continue to drive and no matter how far I get, I feel no safer. My only thought is my dad. I don’t want to bring this to his door step, but I need to be somewhere no one knows about, that I’ve never mentioned. The other side of the country. That’s where I need to be.

  I force myself to keep driving, even though the pain is unbearable. I’m having a hard time seeing, my body shakes, and my head spins out of control.

  Just go. Don’t look back. Keep driving until you are safe.

  Chapter Sixteen

  ───────────────

  Asher

  My focus is on Payton. The fear in her eyes, the gash above one, dripping blood. Her body is shaking. An arm wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly.

  Looking back at the person holding her, the air is sucked out of my lungs. Anger I’ve never experienced vibrates through my body. This mother fucker. I’m staring in the eyes of the man who killed my parents. The man who now has his arm around my girl. Fuck this, he’s already took two people I love, he’s not taking my heart.

  “You mother fucker,” I growl, running toward them.

  Lifting his arm, he presses a gun to Payton’s temple and I stop dead in my tracks. Holding up my hands to let this piece of shit know he’s in control. For now.

  “My fiancee here, doesn’t need you anymore. You’ve had your fun, but that shit is over,” asshole says.

  Fiancee? She’s engaged to this guy? What the fuck? She’s engaged to the man who killed my parents, who destroyed my life.

  “I should just shoot you now for screwing what’s mine,” he says, pointing the gun toward me.

  “Jake. No,” Payton screams.

  Yanking her head back by her hair, he gets right in her face. “Shut the fuck up.”

  “You might as well fucking shoot me, because once you’re man enough to get your hands off Payton, I’m going to fucking kill you myself,” I say, seeing red. I’m hoping if I push his buttons he’ll let her go.

  Tsking, he points the gun at my face. “Watch who you’re threatening. I’m not a man you want to fuck with.”

  Every word out of his mouth has the anger vibrating through my body. “Believe me, it’s me who you don’t want to fuck with.”

  “Asher, even if I don’t shoot to kill, I will destroy you. This has nothing to do with you,” he says through clenched teeth. The cocking of the gun, echos in the empty apartment.

  “Jake, please,” Payton cries out.

  I snap my eyes to hers, trying to calm her. I need to fucking do something, because as much as I want to kill him for taking my parents from me, my heart is breaking looking at the fear in her eyes.

  “Do you always hit women? Too much of a pussy to get your ass kicked by a guy?” I need to get him to let her go. Pushing his buttons might be the only way. If I need to take a bullet for her, I’ll fucking do it. I’ll do whatever I have to, to make sure she’s safe.

  He la
ughs and waves the gun around. “You don’t know shit about me. But considering I’m the cop in the room, no matter what happens, it’ll be my word they take.” Wrapping his hand around her face, squeezing her cheeks, he turns her head to face him. “Isn’t that right, Payton?”

  This piece of shit. “Video evidence proves differently, you fucking murderer,” I bite out.

  His face pales and he knows I saw the tape. He’s visibly shaken, but it does nothing for me. He needs to pay for what he did, and causing a bit of fear is nothing. He might be the one holding the gun, but I’m the one who’s got the upper hand.

  “Murder?” Payton whispers, trying to search my eyes, but her one eye is starting to swell. She doesn’t know, she couldn’t have been with him.

  “Shut the fuck up,” Jake yells, tossing Payton to the side.

  She hits the corner of the wall, and my heart shatters when I watch her go down. I snap my head to him and see he’s watching her. I take the advantage and rush at him, knocking him to the ground. The gun slides across the floor, and I take my first punch. Right in his fucking jaw. Watching the blood run out of his mouth, just fans the flames.

  When his fist connects with my mouth, I lose it. Every hit. Every grunt of pain. It’s for my parents, for Payton, for all the lives he’s destroyed. I can’t stop, even when his fight starts to slow.

  I’m not focused on anything but his face when I finally say, “It was my parents. The car you ran off the road. The bodies you saw. Steven and Connie Kilby. He was a mechanic. She was a teacher. They were real people, with real lives, you pathetic son of a bitch.”

  “Fuck you,” he grunts, spitting blood out of his mouth.

  Grabbing onto his shirt, he tries to pull my hands away, but I glance over at Payton whose eyes are slowly opening, and he’s no match for my strength. “You hurt my girl, and now I’m going to fucking enjoy watching you take your final breath.”

  As his head connects with the hardwood floor beneath him, I’m ripped off of him. Trying to fight and pull away, that’s when I realize it’s Brett.

  “Asher, stop. It’s over man,” he calmly says, holding his arms tightly around me.