Chapter 13 Cala - At War with Myself
Cala - At War with Myself
Something has me popping up in bed and rubbing my eyes. My TV is on and there are three men sitting around my room.
Well, let me introduce you to ourselves, I’m your alter ego.
Wait, what? I have an alter ego and I can hear her? What the fuck is going on?
Oh, sweet Cala. We’ve been as one for a long time, I’ve just decided to take initiative to make your life easier.
My life easier?
The guys realize I’m awake and are studying me as I have this fight with myself. It’s not an argument. I’m crazy.
Crazy is relative. It’s time to take your life back. We are one and you know you like living on the dark side. Why not start tonight?
Hunter scoots closer to me, “Are you her or Cala?”
The question catches me off guard, “What? I don't understand what’s going on.”
I jump out of bed and start pacing, trying to rationalize what is happening and my eyes take in the doll. The doll. My life started unraveling because of the doll.
Not unraveling per se. I’ve just removed some obstacles. I mean do you actually miss Rachel and the others? Our Aunt Helen was the worst. And our parents did something that hurt Savannah.
Well that’s not wrong and no I don’t miss them. But I’m not a killer, right? Who is Savannah?
You are, but it’s for the good of the world. And Savannah is who brought us together. She is who created me, who brought me into your life. We owe her everything and we have to help her. After everything they did, we have to help her get revenge.
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” I scream out loud this time.
I am now telling myself to shut up. I’m losing it. I knew the the day I opened that box that something would happen. And it has. I’m going crazy all because of a doll that was a gift meant for me.
Maybe I should have listened to my mother when she said not to open it. But curiosity was killing me and here we are now. But I was drawn to the closet where I found the box. I was drawn to the doll.
Because we are meant to be.
Again, shut up, I think to myself. Yep, going crazy.
I turn to Hunter, “What is happening and how are you involved?”
He has Peck turn down the TV and points to the bed and like a good girl I sit, waiting.
He sighs, “We’ve been infatuated with you for a long time and when you weren’t looking we kind of took care of bullies that hurt you.”
“Kind of?” I ask, not following.
“We’d beat them up, push them around,” Daze clarifies.
Hunter goes on, “We just watched, taking care of you, until one night we followed you, wondering why the sweet girl we fell for was wandering around. And we watched as you took your first life.”
I gasp, “My first life?”
Peck pipes up, “Decker West. He broke your leg one year. So we broke his, but then you stabbed him in the heart and laughed.”
I laughed at taking another person’s life? I’m crazy.
You did it for the right reasons. He hurt us.
Again, shut up.
I gesture for Hunter to continue, “So we started helping you by cleaning up the crime scenes. Lily, well you at night, were wild and free and we like that.”
“We also like the sweet side of you,” Daze nearly shouts and we all have to shush him because parental figures, if they can be called that, are down the hall.
Our dad is gambling our college fund away.
He’s what?
I have to look crazy as my eyes drift back and forth as if I’m lost in thought, but really I’m arguing with a crazy person—me.
“It’s time for you to take back your life,” Hunter says softly and something comes over me almost like a spiritual awakening. Yeah, maybe it’s time.
That’s the spirit.
“That’s enough out of you," I say as I pat the doll’s head and go to dress, “What do we wear to an awakening?”
The guys just gesture to themselves—black. Got it. And wanting to embrace everything, I dress head to toe in black. Black jeans, black long sleeve shirt and combat boots.
I wore heels to my kills.
Looking at the doll I shrug, “Well this is the new us. New me.”
For some reason, I feel a rush of energy, almost like if a fog was lifted.
“So I guess my father figure likes to gamble like his step-brother. Can you get him?” I ask the guys and they just grin.
“We will make it happen.”
We drive to this run down hotel that probably used to be hopping in the old days.
The guys slide out and open a door, stepping in.
I can hear some shouting and then a few minutes later, they have Dad tied up and are dragging him towards the car.
Our eyes meet and Dad tries to send me a pleading look.
Too late for second chances. It’s time to take out the trash.
They throw him in the trunk and then get back in the car, “We have a place.” Hunter places a hand on my thigh as he says it and all I can think of is the car race. That was fun. I hope we can do it again, maybe using dad’s blood as lube.
You’re sicker than I thought.
All I can hear is laughter in my head and I don’t find it annoying anymore. It’s like having a best friend, one I don't have to share.
We’ve always been friends. And so are the Shadows.
I’m guessing that’s what she calls the guys—The Shadows. I like it.
Hunter drives to an abandoned warehouse on the river, the air smelling like dead fish, maybe even people. Uncle Tom was found floating. And his brother will be next.
Peck takes my hand, helping me out of the car like a gentleman and leads me inside while the other two get Dad. The doors open and I take in the warehouse which has a certain appeal to it if you like haunted houses. Maybe I'll start liking them.
Peck brings a chair out from somewhere and they tie Dad to it. He’s looking at me as if I’m his savior. He’s wrong.
They take the tape off his mouth and he lets out a yell, ‘That fucking hurt.”
I scrunch my nose up, “That’s not really nice language, daddy.”
Dad turns to look at me, “Cala, what’s going on?”
I tap my chin, “I’m finding myself and soon you will too. You’re going to leave Mom.” I’m not sure where I’m going with this yet, but I probably will find my rhythm.
Dad looks confused, “Leave your mom? Have you lost your mind?”
I laugh, “No, I’m finding it. I know that you hurt someone that means something to me, to others. And it’s time you pay. If you want to live, you will leave Mom.”
Dad just stares at me like I’m crazy. Well, I probably am.
“You’re going to be put on ice and tomorrow you will write a letter stating you’re leaving Mom.”
He blinks, “And then what? You’re my daughter, she’s my wife. What is going on?”
I slap him, “You know what you did. And you let it happen to me.”
His eyes widen in fear, he remembers now, “We…I…I…we…”
He can’t even stammer out an apology or an excuse, what a sorry excuse of a human.
I turn to Hunter, “Is there somewhere we can store him so he doesn’t disturb the peace until tomorrow?”
“Yeah, we have a place,” he says, hauling Dad to his feet. I follow as we walk around a corner and Peck finds a panel with numbers.
“You have a panic room?” I ask, wide eyed at this.
Daze shrugs, “Never know when it will come in handy.”
Wow, they’ve thought of everything.
“We’ve learned along the way, especially when cleaning up after you,” Hunter says. I feel bad that they’ve put themselves in that position.
Hunter lifts my chin, “We would do it no questions asked, for you.”
I nod, “Okay. Can we go home for now? Let him sit?”
Hunter takes my hand and helps me in the car, “You need your rest.”
I yawn and pass out before we even make it down the road. Plotting murder is exhausting.