Unavoidable (25 page)
Authors: Yara Greathouse
Chapter 20
Colton
The shining light from my nightstand is hitting me right in the eyes. I stir and turn
my body around looking for Brianna. I reach out to the side of my bed only to realize
it’s empty. Panic sets in immediately and I sit on my bed rubbing my hands over my
face in an effort to try and clear the haze.
Everything comes back to me painfully all at once, like a stab in the heart when you
least expect it. I drove around town for the remainder of the night, thinking about
all that has happened, good and bad since Brianna crossed my path riding her badass
bike on a beautiful sunny morning. So many memories, good and bad. I drove to Brianna’s
favorite star gazing spot, on top of a hill on a lonely road. Other girls would not
even dare be alone out there, especially at night, but Brianna is not like other girls.
She is not afraid of anything. I had lain down in the clearing, imagining her lying
next to me, holding hands and talking about so many things and nothing at all at the
same time, like we normally do.
When the sun started to rise, I had begun to realize how stupid I had been earlier
with her. I had told her a long time ago that the past was the past and it didn’t
matter. Why I was being such a pussy and making it out to be such a big deal? I don’t
know. I love this girl. Love her. She makes me feel like no one has made me feel,
ever. Why did I walk away? Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Somebody is trying to kill her.
I am so fucking stupid! Here I was complaining that she was Wonder Woman and that
I could not protect her, and then what do I do? I walked away from her. What a fucking
idiot!
I drove home and found my stash of good ol’ Jim Beam hiding in the cabinet, where
I’d left it months ago. Time to drown my sorrows and stupidity. I sat outside on the
porch, reaching out to happy memories, but all I could see was Brianna’s eyes looking
back at me, full of hurt and it was painful to come to the realization that I had
failed her. I tried to call her several times but each single one of those calls went
straight to voice mail. I deserve it. She is too good for me.
Remorse sat in and I had no choice but to polish off the half bottle of bourbon I
was nursing. I stumbled to my bed and closed my eyes, and now I am here, cotton mouth
and full of regrets. It’s almost eight in the evening. I decide to get my ass up,
find some aspirins, take a shower, clean up and then I can be on my way to see her.
She is too important to me to let her go. She may not want to talk to me because I
was such an idiot, but maybe I can show her that I have come to my senses and convince
her to give me another chance. I need her to give me a second chance. I need to let
her know that, yes, I love her enough.
Brianna
I get dressed and look at myself in the mirror. Damn! I didn’t believe Ciara when
she told me that I look badass in this catsuit, but she was right. It was her idea
to get these custom made because – according to her – no one should ever look like
crap, even when asses will be kicked, it can be done in style. A hint of a smile shows
on my mirrored reflection and I start lo load up all the specialty pockets with their
appropriate weapons. I have wiped everything clean and used latex gloves for all the
bullets. I don’t want to leave behind any evidence. I fill my belt pockets with
shuriken
, or throwing stars. Special leg belts with Velcro for knives. A long pocket on my
left thigh for my nunchucks and another one on my right for my baton. I have always
enjoyed close contact fighting. Built in holsters for a Sig on my right and another
on my back. A couple of shoulder pockets for spare magazines full of bullets. I brush
my hair back into a ponytail and secure a kubotan at the crown, holding it with the
rubber band. Finally, I slide on my very special gloves with built in metal knuckles.
These I love because they are barbed metal and they hurt like a bitch when landing
a punch.
One last look in the mirror. I take a second to think of Colton and what we could
have had. Unfortunately, I can’t change the past, and I am doing this to make sure
all those who I love can have a future. I scribble a quick note: “Colton, I will love
you forever. I hope in your heart you know that I love you more than enough. Always
yours, Brianna”
I walk into Ciara’s room very quietly and turn off her phone alarm. I love her too
much to let this happen. I will not allow her to put her life at risk so that I can
right those who wronged me. Leaving her asleep, I silently pray that I will be able
to see her again. She is the only family I have ever had, and will be furious when
she wakes up and realizes that I am gone.
I step outside, it’s somewhat late and quiet. I move swiftly from shadow to shadow
until I get to my car. I drive it to the garage where I have parked my bike. If I’m
going to die, I deserve to have one last ride. It is time to make the phone call.
I load up the SIM card and turn on Mickey’s phone.
It rings a couple of times and then he answers. Bastard. I feel goose bumps all over
my skin as soon as I hear his nasty voice.
“It’s about time you called. I don’t appreciate what you and your friends did to my
men and now it’s my turn to repay the favor, you fucking bitch!”
My friends – what the fuck is he talking about? His guys must have told him that it
was not an even fight. I can understand that. I am sure they didn’t want to tell him
that one girl beat them up. I feel my adrenaline boiling, raising to the surface.
Oh, he is gonna get it, alright! I will let him think that it was a bunch of us taking
care of his men. No problem!
“No need for calling names, Jesse. What happened to your manners? Oh, I forgot, slimeballs
like you don’t have any!”
“Just wait until I get my hands on you, bi…”
“I did not call you to trade insults, asshole. I imagine you are already in town or
well on your way. I hope you are ready to meet. Midnight. Abandoned quarry south of
town, off of Highway 30. See you then.”
I hang up the phone and take the SIM card out and turn off the phone. I should destroy
it, but decide against it in case I need it later.
Out of the trunk of the car, I remove a backpack with supplies, just in case, and
stash another gun and more ammo. Since Ciara was going to be my sniper, I won’t have
that advantage or anyone covering my back. It’s all or nothing. Live or die. Carpe
Diem… or should I say Carpe Noctem since it is night time and all…
Stop rambling, Brianna. Get your shit together and get going.
And with that last thought, I get on my bike and go face the monster who has taken
everything from me. It’s time I reclaim my life.
Colton
I feel almost human again after reacquainting myself with toothpaste, a shower and
some food. I was going to stop by the store for flowers and chocolate, but decided
to go to the outdoor store instead, and picked her up a new Mossy Oak pink camo pocket
knife, with a matching travel coffee mug. I think she would like this peace offering
a lot better than any other option.
I get to her apartment, it’s late night now. I park the truck and grab the gift bag.
I hope I can explain myself to her and that she can forgive me. I need to let her
know that whatever happened in her past, it will not impact our future. I love her
enough, hell, I love her more than enough.
As I am about to knock on the door, it magically opens and I am in front of Ciara,
but she looks like she just stepped out of a Call of Duty: Black Ops game. She has
a black catsuit on, but it is outfitted with all kinds of weapons, and she is carrying
a small crossbow in her hand.
“Uh, hi Ciara. I came to see Brianna. Where are you headed, a costume party?”
“Bullshit, Colton. I don’t have the time to deal with the likes of you. I did not
think I would see you anytime soon due to your walkaway performance. But for the record,
I owe you a huge ass whooping!”
“Shit, she told you about our argument. Look, I had a brief moment of stupidity. I’m
back to my senses now. Let me in. I need to see her.”
“She is not here.”
“Look, I understand she may not want to see me, but I come bearing gifts and a huge
amount of groveling.” She is not budging. “Brianna! Come let me in – your little bodyguard
is intent on blocking me!”
“I
told
you – she is not here!”
I push my way past her and go straight to Brianna’s room. Ciara is right behind me.
I walk inside her bedroom and she is not there. There is an eerie quiet in her room.
I look around and on her full length mirror, I see a pink sticky note. I smile because
it makes me think of yesterday and the trail of sticky notes she had left with clues
for me.
I read the note. “Colton, I will love you forever. I hope in your heart you know that
I love you more than enough. Always yours, Brianna”
I look at Ciara and her anger is evident. “What the hell does this mean?” Where is
she?”
“Like I said, I don’t have time to deal with you right now. I have somewhere to be.”
I look at her again. I
really
look at her. Then it suddenly dawns on me. There is no party to attend. Brianna has
gone to face him.
“Oh, no! Please tell me she is not gone!”
“I really wish I could.”
“When did she leave?”
“I don‘t know! I woke up sometime after your argument and found her on the floor,
almost catatonic. She told me everything that had happened, then we stayed up looking
at the plan we had devised and we went to bed for a few hours. I set her alarm and
then I set mine but it never went off and when I woke up, she was gone. I don’t know
when she will be facing him, Colton! I have got to get out of here right this fucking
minute!”
“I will drive” She looked at me but I didn’t give her a chance to argue. I started
walking to the door.
“You cannot go, you will get hurt.”
“I may not be great at hand to hand combat, but one thing that I am is a good shot.
I’ve been hunting since I was ten years old. I can handle a bow and arrow and I can
handle just about any type of gun you give me. You can brief me on the way.”
“Wait!”
Colton
The shining light from my nightstand is hitting me right in the eyes. I stir and turn
my body around looking for Brianna. I reach out to the side of my bed only to realize
it’s empty. Panic sets in immediately and I sit on my bed rubbing my hands over my
face in an effort to try and clear the haze.
Everything comes back to me painfully all at once, like a stab in the heart when you
least expect it. I drove around town for the remainder of the night, thinking about
all that has happened, good and bad since Brianna crossed my path riding her badass
bike on a beautiful sunny morning. So many memories, good and bad. I drove to Brianna’s
favorite star gazing spot, on top of a hill on a lonely road. Other girls would not
even dare be alone out there, especially at night, but Brianna is not like other girls.
She is not afraid of anything. I had lain down in the clearing, imagining her lying
next to me, holding hands and talking about so many things and nothing at all at the
same time, like we normally do.
When the sun started to rise, I had begun to realize how stupid I had been earlier
with her. I had told her a long time ago that the past was the past and it didn’t
matter. Why I was being such a pussy and making it out to be such a big deal? I don’t
know. I love this girl. Love her. She makes me feel like no one has made me feel,
ever. Why did I walk away? Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Somebody is trying to kill her.
I am so fucking stupid! Here I was complaining that she was Wonder Woman and that
I could not protect her, and then what do I do? I walked away from her. What a fucking
idiot!
I drove home and found my stash of good ol’ Jim Beam hiding in the cabinet, where
I’d left it months ago. Time to drown my sorrows and stupidity. I sat outside on the
porch, reaching out to happy memories, but all I could see was Brianna’s eyes looking
back at me, full of hurt and it was painful to come to the realization that I had
failed her. I tried to call her several times but each single one of those calls went
straight to voice mail. I deserve it. She is too good for me.
Remorse sat in and I had no choice but to polish off the half bottle of bourbon I
was nursing. I stumbled to my bed and closed my eyes, and now I am here, cotton mouth
and full of regrets. It’s almost eight in the evening. I decide to get my ass up,
find some aspirins, take a shower, clean up and then I can be on my way to see her.
She is too important to me to let her go. She may not want to talk to me because I
was such an idiot, but maybe I can show her that I have come to my senses and convince
her to give me another chance. I need her to give me a second chance. I need to let
her know that, yes, I love her enough.
Brianna
I get dressed and look at myself in the mirror. Damn! I didn’t believe Ciara when
she told me that I look badass in this catsuit, but she was right. It was her idea
to get these custom made because – according to her – no one should ever look like
crap, even when asses will be kicked, it can be done in style. A hint of a smile shows
on my mirrored reflection and I start lo load up all the specialty pockets with their
appropriate weapons. I have wiped everything clean and used latex gloves for all the
bullets. I don’t want to leave behind any evidence. I fill my belt pockets with
shuriken
, or throwing stars. Special leg belts with Velcro for knives. A long pocket on my
left thigh for my nunchucks and another one on my right for my baton. I have always
enjoyed close contact fighting. Built in holsters for a Sig on my right and another
on my back. A couple of shoulder pockets for spare magazines full of bullets. I brush
my hair back into a ponytail and secure a kubotan at the crown, holding it with the
rubber band. Finally, I slide on my very special gloves with built in metal knuckles.
These I love because they are barbed metal and they hurt like a bitch when landing
a punch.
One last look in the mirror. I take a second to think of Colton and what we could
have had. Unfortunately, I can’t change the past, and I am doing this to make sure
all those who I love can have a future. I scribble a quick note: “Colton, I will love
you forever. I hope in your heart you know that I love you more than enough. Always
yours, Brianna”
I walk into Ciara’s room very quietly and turn off her phone alarm. I love her too
much to let this happen. I will not allow her to put her life at risk so that I can
right those who wronged me. Leaving her asleep, I silently pray that I will be able
to see her again. She is the only family I have ever had, and will be furious when
she wakes up and realizes that I am gone.
I step outside, it’s somewhat late and quiet. I move swiftly from shadow to shadow
until I get to my car. I drive it to the garage where I have parked my bike. If I’m
going to die, I deserve to have one last ride. It is time to make the phone call.
I load up the SIM card and turn on Mickey’s phone.
It rings a couple of times and then he answers. Bastard. I feel goose bumps all over
my skin as soon as I hear his nasty voice.
“It’s about time you called. I don’t appreciate what you and your friends did to my
men and now it’s my turn to repay the favor, you fucking bitch!”
My friends – what the fuck is he talking about? His guys must have told him that it
was not an even fight. I can understand that. I am sure they didn’t want to tell him
that one girl beat them up. I feel my adrenaline boiling, raising to the surface.
Oh, he is gonna get it, alright! I will let him think that it was a bunch of us taking
care of his men. No problem!
“No need for calling names, Jesse. What happened to your manners? Oh, I forgot, slimeballs
like you don’t have any!”
“Just wait until I get my hands on you, bi…”
“I did not call you to trade insults, asshole. I imagine you are already in town or
well on your way. I hope you are ready to meet. Midnight. Abandoned quarry south of
town, off of Highway 30. See you then.”
I hang up the phone and take the SIM card out and turn off the phone. I should destroy
it, but decide against it in case I need it later.
Out of the trunk of the car, I remove a backpack with supplies, just in case, and
stash another gun and more ammo. Since Ciara was going to be my sniper, I won’t have
that advantage or anyone covering my back. It’s all or nothing. Live or die. Carpe
Diem… or should I say Carpe Noctem since it is night time and all…
Stop rambling, Brianna. Get your shit together and get going.
And with that last thought, I get on my bike and go face the monster who has taken
everything from me. It’s time I reclaim my life.
Colton
I feel almost human again after reacquainting myself with toothpaste, a shower and
some food. I was going to stop by the store for flowers and chocolate, but decided
to go to the outdoor store instead, and picked her up a new Mossy Oak pink camo pocket
knife, with a matching travel coffee mug. I think she would like this peace offering
a lot better than any other option.
I get to her apartment, it’s late night now. I park the truck and grab the gift bag.
I hope I can explain myself to her and that she can forgive me. I need to let her
know that whatever happened in her past, it will not impact our future. I love her
enough, hell, I love her more than enough.
As I am about to knock on the door, it magically opens and I am in front of Ciara,
but she looks like she just stepped out of a Call of Duty: Black Ops game. She has
a black catsuit on, but it is outfitted with all kinds of weapons, and she is carrying
a small crossbow in her hand.
“Uh, hi Ciara. I came to see Brianna. Where are you headed, a costume party?”
“Bullshit, Colton. I don’t have the time to deal with the likes of you. I did not
think I would see you anytime soon due to your walkaway performance. But for the record,
I owe you a huge ass whooping!”
“Shit, she told you about our argument. Look, I had a brief moment of stupidity. I’m
back to my senses now. Let me in. I need to see her.”
“She is not here.”
“Look, I understand she may not want to see me, but I come bearing gifts and a huge
amount of groveling.” She is not budging. “Brianna! Come let me in – your little bodyguard
is intent on blocking me!”
“I
told
you – she is not here!”
I push my way past her and go straight to Brianna’s room. Ciara is right behind me.
I walk inside her bedroom and she is not there. There is an eerie quiet in her room.
I look around and on her full length mirror, I see a pink sticky note. I smile because
it makes me think of yesterday and the trail of sticky notes she had left with clues
for me.
I read the note. “Colton, I will love you forever. I hope in your heart you know that
I love you more than enough. Always yours, Brianna”
I look at Ciara and her anger is evident. “What the hell does this mean?” Where is
she?”
“Like I said, I don’t have time to deal with you right now. I have somewhere to be.”
I look at her again. I
really
look at her. Then it suddenly dawns on me. There is no party to attend. Brianna has
gone to face him.
“Oh, no! Please tell me she is not gone!”
“I really wish I could.”
“When did she leave?”
“I don‘t know! I woke up sometime after your argument and found her on the floor,
almost catatonic. She told me everything that had happened, then we stayed up looking
at the plan we had devised and we went to bed for a few hours. I set her alarm and
then I set mine but it never went off and when I woke up, she was gone. I don’t know
when she will be facing him, Colton! I have got to get out of here right this fucking
minute!”
“I will drive” She looked at me but I didn’t give her a chance to argue. I started
walking to the door.
“You cannot go, you will get hurt.”
“I may not be great at hand to hand combat, but one thing that I am is a good shot.
I’ve been hunting since I was ten years old. I can handle a bow and arrow and I can
handle just about any type of gun you give me. You can brief me on the way.”
“Wait!”
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