Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Brugmansia: “The species is extinct in the wild… The pollen alone is said to provoke vivid dreams, and simply being in the same room as a flowering plant can have that effect.”
-Fez Inkwrite, Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants-
Law
Standing at the base of the trail I just wasted an hour on, chugging back another water bottle, I listen as my deputy goes over the information again. “They said there was a mom and kid stuck on the trail.”
“That’s it? Who called, because we need more information outside of that at this point.” I snap.
“Shelby isn’t sure who the caller was, just anonymous.”
The words leave me with an uneasy feeling, the kind that you get when you go out on a bad call and shit is about to hit the fan.
You know something is wrong but you can’t place your finger on what it is exactly.
I look back up at the trail, it’s not uncommon for kids to try and prank the office but they don’t normally lie about someone being in trouble.
“I didn’t see anyone or any signs of someone using this trail in god knows how long.” I finally respond to my radio. “Gonna head in and grab a donut.”
My deputy pauses for a moment before, “Got it sheriff. Grab me a sprinkle?”
“You got it.”
The words would mean nothing to someone else but to my team? It tells them the lines aren’t safe and to lock the town down.
Throwing the empty bottle into the bed I close up the tailgate and rush into the driver’s side. I hit Logan’s name as soon as the car play feature pops up, navigating the snow covered roads as the phone rings. And rings. And rings.
“Hello?” Logan’s panting voice finally answers and I breathe out relief.
“You sounded like you were busy.” I chuckle.
“Fuck I can’t hear you! Something is wrong… I’m at my parents… Thea…” The words are garbled, the line breaking up between us.
“Logan?!” I yell out. “What the fuck is going on?!” The line goes dead without any answers. When I hit Thea’s number it goes straight to voicemail. This time the fear that pushes through me I let take over, allowing it to sharpen my focus and push my truck through the blinding snow.
I bring up Ace’s name just as I hit the pass that leads up towards our house. “Come on fucker answer….” I mutter. It’s an unspoken rule we don't typically call Ace when he’s on a job unless he gives us the go ahead or it’s an emergency.
“What’s wrong?”
My eyes stay trained on the road, knuckles white against the steering wheel. “Someone called the station anonymously, said there was a lost hiker. I went out on search and rescue. No one was out there, whoever called was lying.”
Ace pauses a heartbeat, the sound of shuffling coming from behind him. “You get ahold of Logan or Thea?”
“Not Thea, and Logan… something was wrong Ace. But his service dropped before I could get through fully.” Anger flows over me alongside the fear.
“FUCK!” I yell out, banging my hand on the steering wheel.
Images invade my mind of all the things that could happen and I want to bang my head against the glass to make them stop.
“Rebel.” Ace’s voice cuts through the intrusive thoughts, his tone the only one that seems to force me into submission. “I need you to get back to our house safely. Get back to them now, you hear me?”
“Yes sir.” I respond, my body responding and calming as I breathe deep.
“Good boy, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I let the adrenaline flood through me, let it keep me sharp as Ace hangs up and I pull into our driveway. Instead of driving all the way down I pull to a stop behind the cluster of trees at the start of the gravel, hopping out on foot.
All around the forest is silent in only the way snowfall can make it. I’m careful as I weave through the forest, careful to avoid making noise. Gun drawn. When I hit the edge of the tree line, the house coming into view, I hear Thea scream just as I hear the distinct sound of chopper blades.
I keep my gun locked in my grip, safety off, and rush towards the sound of her scream just as the helicopter appears, dropping down into our pasture.
I watch the blades whirl rapidly, kicking up snow as it does.
The door opens and I spy two men lean out, both with firearms much larger than mine.
Pressing my back to the side of our house I try to think but Thea’s scream has me saying fuck it and moving from cover.
I can ask Ace for forgiveness later.
I watch as she comes into view, thrashing against Royce Ripkins III who has her held tightly to his body, half dragging half carrying her towards the helicopter.
“THEA!” I bellow her name from across the field, her head jerks around, eyes locking with mine. Her face flashes with relief when she spies me, renewing the fight she has against Royce’s hold. “DROP HER ROYCE! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!”
He doesn’t stop dragging her towards the helicopter, I feel a sense of pride as I watch her bite and kick and scratch.
She even manages to break his hold and bolts towards me.
I’m so focused on her that I don’t register the sound, only the scream that flies from Thea’s mouth and the utter devastation that paints her face.
She screams my name, the sound so full of agony that I’m shocked. I’m right here, why is she so upset?
Until I feel warmth trickling down my chest and arm, the light around me dimming as I look down and see blood dripping from my finger tips into the white snow.
Oh fuck.
The feel of the bullet now fully takes over as I try to shake myself out of the darkness that is edging my vision.
I feel the impact of a second one, the pain ripping through my body.
Thea keeps screaming my name but the sound is muffled, and when I try to step forward I fall to my knees instead.
I watch as Royce tackles Thea, dragging her back to the helicopter as she keeps screaming for me.
I raise my hand, desperate to get to her, but my body won’t move.
Failing. I’m failing her again.
Move.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I’m frozen as Thea is thrown into the helicopter. Royce smiles triumphantly as he slams the door shut, the last thing I see before the darkness claims me is the helicopter taking off with the one person I was never supposed to fail again.
Thea
I wake to agonizing pain, my own screams pulling me from the sleep that had claimed me after watching Law fall in the snow. The grief in my soul feels big enough to drag me under and for a split second I want to allow it, until more pain overrides it.
“Cut it the fuck out of her or they’ll track us.” Royce demands. The sound of his voice makes me want to wretch.
Another scream is violently pulled from me as I feel a blade and then fingers digging around in the side of my neck before it stops, finger retreating and I’m left with a dull, throbbing ache and warmth trickling down my chest.
“No you were… you were in jail.” The words feel heavy on my tongue. The confusion evident within them.
Royce’s face looms in front of mine with a pleased look as he holds up a small, metal device.
“They will never keep me from you. No jail could hold me from my little doll.” I watch with horror as he drops the metal to the floor before crushing it with his boot.
Gripping my face hard he yanks my eyes back to his.
“You are mine. No one is coming for you. Not anymore. That tracker is dead and gone just like the sheriff.”
Sudden rage, hot and swift, blooms through me as I listen to his words. “Fuck. You.” I hiss. “I’ll never be yours.” I spit the last word, literally, my saliva dripping down his face.
Royce looks shocked for a moment before he flushes a deep, crimson red as rage flows through his body like electricity.
I don’t even register the impact before my body flies back, hitting the ground hard as he kicks me over and over again.
I curl inward on myself in a desperate attempt to not end up with another shattered rib, or worse.
The blows finally stop and I uncurl myself with the grace of a newborn.
Royce says something but the words sound muffled, as though I’m at the bottom of a pool listening through the water.
Hands drag me upward, from the helicopter floor and push me into the blinding light.
My world tilts as I spy the skyline of Seattle, knowing full well we are in the one place I never wanted to be again.
Royce picks me up and I bite back the urge to yelp as he drags me over the roof and towards the elevator doors that will lead down to the penthouse.
I try my hardest to push against him but my body feels sluggish and weak.
The doors slide open and the moment we are through he drops me to the ground, the sounds of the helipad shutting out as the metal doors slide shut. It feels like my coffin just shut.
The trip down takes a matter of seconds and he’s dragging me into the pristine hell I escaped months ago. My body slides across the marble floors as Royce drops me and continues towards the bar, I can already smell the tequila.
“Strip.”
I jerk my head towards him. “Fuck you.” I spit.
The bottle is flying from his hand and shattering around me before my mind can process the action. Glass shards and liquor shower me and the floor around. “I SAID FUCKING STRIP!”
My hands shake as I stand and start to peel the layers off my body knowing full well how this will end once he sees the covered brand. “Royce please… if you let me go now I won’t press charges, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
He lets out a cackle, the sound rough and edged with violence.
“Oh Theadora you will never leave my side again.” His eyes devour my legs as I slip my pants free, followed by the heavy jacket.
I pause at the flannel which only enrages him further.
“Take. It. Off.” Slowly I peel it from my body to expose the intricate tattoo that covers the brand.