Eight | ~ Teak ~
The complete and utter disarray of the fans’ opportunity to meet us backstage was outrageous. I cursed myself for not bringing Jasper along. I would have paid him triple time. As soon as I had lost sight of Serenity, I went into full panic mode. Pushing through the crowd of excited fans, I apologized, but I needed to find her. A horrible feeling crushed my chest. When I finally reached Ivy and Ascher, I pulled them aside as best I could.
“Where is Serenity?” Sweat trickled down my back and my heart thudded against my ribcage. Pure fear evident in my voice.
“She has to be here somewhere. Why the alarm?” Ascher put his hand on my shoulder.
“I’m almost positive I caught a glimpse of Naomi out in the audience.” I pulled my phone from my back pocket and tapped Serenity’s number and put my phone to my ear. “Please pick up and be okay. Please pick up.” I prayed I was being a ridiculous ass. The fans would be pissed because I had stopped interacting with them, but I had a really bad feeling I couldn’t shake. When her phone rang three times and then went to voice mail, that bad feeling morphed into unadulterated terror. Sweat now pooling along my neck and back and the hammering of my heart in my chest intensified.
“Call Serenity. Her phone isn’t turned off, but she’s not answering.”
Anita, one of the coordinators for the concert walked up to me. Her brown eyes unsure. “I was asked to see if you would resume the autographs.”
Swallowing down my panic and frustration, I gave her a tight smile. “There might be an emergency, so there is a good chance I’m going to be taking off right now.”
“She’s still not answering.” Ivy’s terrified voice snapped my attention back to her and she bore her tear filled eyes into me.
“Fuck! How do we find her?” Taking Ascher and Ivy in hand, I tugged them down a hallway and then out to the back lot. I needed a place to think. Outside, I paced in front of my car, yanking my hands through my hair. “If she isn’t answering her phone, I have no idea where to even start looking for her. And I swear to God if Naomi did anything to her, I’m going to kill her!” My thundering voice boomed off of the external walls of the building.
“Her phone!” Ivy shouted. “We can find her phone.” She tapped on her screen.
Rushing to her side, I stared down at her cell as she clicked on the Find iPhone app. “I’m pretty sure I know her password.” She clicked another button and typed. Then she brought her shaky hand up to her lip before punching in what I assumed was a password. “Fuck! That wasn’t it.”
Ascher stopped in front of her and took her face in his hands. “Take a breath. I know we are all running high on fear and adrenaline, but focus. Take a deep breath and think because you won’t get that many tries before it locks you out.”
She raised her gaze to me, her eyes full of the same panic swirling through my gut.
“It’s okay. You got this.” My voice came out stronger than I felt at the moment, but I hoped she believed the words because I sure as hell didn’t.
She typed again and a moment later squealed, “I’m in!”
I stared down at the last known location for Serenity’s phone and a small amount of relief trickled through my chest before a new wave of horror flashed over me. “That’s behind the old office supply warehouse. The only thing back there is woods. Fuck!” I raced over to my car and ripped open the door. “Hop in guys. I’m going to need your help.”
Ivy and Ascher weren’t even buckled into the back seat when I hit the gas and sped off in the direction of the warehouse. Praying I wouldn’t get pulled over by the police, I pressed my foot down harder on the gas pedal. Although as long as they didn’t stop me before I got to my destination; I didn’t care if they followed me there. Then they would see what the urgency was all about. The trip seemed to take hours, but was probably only about ten minutes. But that was ten minutes too long. I barely had the car in park before I leapt from my vehicle and sprinted through the woods, having no idea where to even start my search. I darted my gaze around the wooded area praying for any sign to show me which direction to go.
Crunching through the leaves rather aimlessly, I somehow managed to find a lone cell phone lying on top of a pile of brush and twigs. Ivy raced past me as I typed in Serenity’s passcode. When that unlocked the phone, I knew she had to be close. I pocketed the phone. Tendrils of fear still wound their way up my spine because these woods were pretty large; there were wild animals out here; and if night fell we’d be shit out of luck.
“NO!” Ivy’s pain infused screech tore me from my thoughts. She had dropped down to the forest floor.
I sprinted toward her, that ball of dread plummeting to my stomach.
Ivy wailed as she rocked Serenity’s limp body in her arms; her face soaked with her tears; her eyes emitting so much anguish; her best friend’s blood coating her yellow blouse.
“Fuck fuck fuck! She can’t be dead.” Rage, terror, and helplessness swirled around inside of me. It was a toxic cocktail. I dropped down beside her and pulled Serenity into my own arms and stood. “Check and see if she’s breathing and has a pulse and then we’re racing to the hospital.”
Ascher joined us and put his cheek at Serenity’s mouth and then felt at her neck. “She’s breathing but barely and has a pulse but it’s thready.”
A nameless dread engulfed me. We couldn’t be too late. Things had to turn out okay. Maybe if I repeated that mantra enough, it would come true. “Let’s go.” Curling her tighter to my chest, I dashed for the car.
Thankfully no one had stolen it considering I had left it running. I slid into the back with Serenity while Ascher and Ivy hopped in up front. “Without getting us killed, run every damn red light and speed like demons are chasing you. Please.”
Trying not to jostle Serenity too much, I ripped off my shirt and used it to help stop the bleeding. I knew it was bad when I had dropped down beside Ivy, but my main focus was getting her out of there. Now staring at the gaping wounds, a new terror seized me. What if she bleeds out before we get her help? She was so pale and her fingers and some other areas were icy and turning bluish. “Please go faster.” I begged. Then I ducked my head and rained kisses all over her face. “I love you, Serenity. Hold on, Baby. We’ll get you taken care of. Just hold on. I love you.” I continued that chant for the duration of the trip.
“Where do you want me to park?” Ascher’s question brought me out of my near hypnotic state.
“Right in front of the emergency room doors. I don’t care if they tow my fucking car.”
As soon as Ascher pulled to a stop. The three of us jumped out and dashed to the doors.
Once inside, I screamed for anyone to help. “Please someone help her!”
A nurse came bustling around the front desk. She took in the blood soaked clothes and the pale unresponsive woman in my arms. “What happened?”
“Someone attacked her. I’ll answer every one of your other questions once I know she is going into surgery and someone is working to save her. She needs help now. Please.” The words trembled out, tearing a part of my heart and soul with them. I couldn’t lose her.
She nodded to another nurse behind the desk who picked up the phone. Then she grabbed a stretcher. “Lay her down. The O.R. doctor will be right down.”
Staring down at my world, possibly taking her last breaths in my arms, it was so fucking difficult to release her. I was terrified I was never going to see her alive again. But I couldn’t do anything else for her.
“We’ll do all we can, Sir.” The nurse placed her hand on my arm. “Do you have a name and date of birth for her at least?”
“Of course I do, I’m her fiancée.” The lie rolled off of my tongue with ease. “Her name is Serenity Renee Hayes.” I was so relieved we had talked about middle names and that I had asked about her birthday this past week. “And her date of birth is April tenth nineteen ninety seven.” I gently laid Serenity down and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Serenity.” I choked on her name. “I’ll be waiting for you after they fix you up.”
An older man with graying hair at his temples stepped up to us. “I’m Dr. Rispen.” His green eyes gazed at me with sympathy. “We’ll do all we can for your fiancée. You can wait up in the waiting area on the fourth floor.” And with that he rolled Serenity to the elevators and then he and a few others in white stepped inside.
Ascher wrapped his arm around my shoulders, his other one around Ivy. “It’s going to be okay. She’s strong and a fighter. Let’s go find that waiting area he mentioned.”
Swiping my hand down my face, I was surprised to find it wet. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. But really it wasn’t all that startling at all. I loved her with every part of my being and my heart was being ripped to shreds with the terror that this time that bitch might end up being successful. I refused to focus on that right now. Instead, I followed Ascher and Ivy to the elevators. When – not if – Serenity woke up, she’d be able to identify her attacker and justice would be served and this entire nightmare would be over.
This waiting area was almost desolate, as it was evening and scheduled surgeries happened earlier in the day. Emergencies were the only – I couldn’t finish the thought. My throat clogged and a rush of tears poured down my cheeks again. I was too antsy to sit so I paced the small space like a caged tiger.
The receptionist called me over to her desk. She was an older woman with kind hazel eyes. “Serenity’s name will pop up on the board over there so you can get updates. And when she’s out of surgery, the surgeon will come out to talk to you. Here is a hospital gown you can put on until you can get another shirt.” She handed me one of those hideous wrap around gowns that your ass normally hung out of.
“Thank you.” Although I would have worn a garbage bag if necessary. I wasn’t leaving the hospital without Serenity. And I prayed those words didn’t come back to bite me in the ass. “Where is a restroom I can use?”
She gestured to her left. “Second door on the right is the Men’s Room.”
I walked in that direction and ducked into the room. At the sink, I twisted on the water and washed my hands; the sight of the blood rinsing down the drain had the tears rushing down my cheeks again. I had to grab the sides of the sink to steady myself as huge sobs shook my entire body. I couldn’t lose her. Not like this. My brain knew it wasn’t my fault but that didn’t absolve the guilt in my heart. And along those lines; Serenity was a part of my soul now. Losing her would kill me. I would be left a hollow man.
Once I managed to take a few minute breaths, I splashed water onto my face, used a little bit of soap, and then moved on to cleaning the blood smears from my chest. After I rinsed, I patted myself dry with some paper towels before tossing them into the trash. Then I slipped on the gown and tied the back. I had some blood on my dress pants as well and although a bit morbid, I wanted to keep that small part of her with me. Until I got to hold her again. I know; as I had admitted, I was well aware it was dark contemplation. But anguish would do that to a person.
Back out in the waiting area, I paced. However, when my reflections grew suffocating and I needed a bit of comfort, when the panic started to burst through my chest, making breathing almost impossible, I walked over to Ivy and pulled her into my arms.
The two of us sobbed into each other’s shoulders.
“She’s going to be okay. She has to be. I haven’t had enough time to love her yet.”
“I want to kill that bitch too, Teak. I want blood. We both get a piece of her. Not just you. You hear me.” Ivy’s voice was low in my ear, but her tone was hard venom.
Despite my grief, my lips pulled into a tiny smile. “We’ll take turns. I promise I’ll share that privilege with you.” Then I remembered Serenity’s phone in my pocket. “I should call her parents. They need to know what’s happened, even though I don’t have much information to give them right now. But it’s going to take them a while to get here.” When I released Ivy, she walked back over to Ascher’s waiting arms while I pulled out Serenity’s phone. “What would her parents’ number be listed under in her contacts?”
“Mom and Dad.” Ivy squeaked and Ascher hugged her closer.
I opened up her contacts and found the correct one, took a huge deep breath, and clicked on it.
Her mom answered on the third ring. “Hey, Sweetie. Wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon.”
I swallowed my sob as it threatened to tear me apart.
“Are you there, Serenity? Are you okay?” Her mom’s voice grew panicked.
“I’m sorry.” I choked out, failing miserably at forcing down my torment. “This is Teak. I’m sure she’s mentioned me.” At least I hoped she did. “I wanted to let you know that Serenity was attacked earlier today and she is in surgery right now. I think you guys might want to make the trip up to see her, as soon as possible.” Way to sound just like the Grim Reaper.
Serenity’s mom gasped and then burst into sobs.
Fuck. I didn’t know how to do things like this. No one should have to do things like this.
A man’s voice came over the line. “This is Mr. Hayes. You said our daughter is in surgery?” Thank God he was able to remain calm. I was mere seconds from transforming into a sobbing hysterical mess and my failure to stay composed had upset his wife.
Closing my eyes, I clenched my hand into a tight fist, grasping for a way to gain some semblance of poise, at least while I spoke with her father. There’d be time to break down later. “Yes, Sir. This is Teak Pierce. I don’t have any other information on your daughter. But I’m here now and am not leaving so I can meet up with you guys when you get here.”
“We’re leaving shortly, Son. Thank you for calling us.” He ended the call.
And I dropped to the floor with my face in my hands, trembling with my sobs.
Ivy and Ascher rushed over and sat down beside me.
Maybe two hours had passed and Serenity was still in surgery. Or at least that was what the board indicated and no one had come out to give me an update. I had hoped the fiancé thing would get me special access. Time would tell. The elevator binging shifted my attention to a new arrival to the waiting room. An officer stepped out and his eyes settled on me, curled on the floor.
“Teak Pierce?” He walked over to where I sat with my knees bent and my arms wrapped around them as I’d been working to keep myself from falling completely apart.
At my shaky nod, he continued. “Are you able to answer a few questions?”
“I’ll give it my best shot.” I pulled myself to a standing position, my muscles shaking and protesting the movement.
The inquiries seemed pretty straight forward. When he was finished, he studied me for a long moment. “We normally don’t give this kind of information until it’s confirmed, but I feel like I need to give you something here. An officer pulled Naomi Howards over for speeding and reckless driving. And when the officer approached the vehicle, he discovered blood smears across the back seat. Because you and Serenity had mentioned her name in prior incidents; well I wanted to let you know that. We’re going to compare the blood in the car with the blood on the shirt we got from the hospital and see if we have a match. We’ll be in touch.” Giving me a nod, he handed me his card and left.
I stared blindly at his retreating figure. This time the bitch didn’t hide her tracks. She was going to pay for what she had done. However, with no new news about Serenity, that update provided me little relief because this nightmare wasn’t over.
“They got her.” Ivy’s scratchy reply shifted my attention back to her. “I wanted to kill her myself, but she’s not going to get away with this. Now as long as Serenity – ” Voice cracking, she pressed her face into Ascher’s shirt and her body shook with her tears.
I needed to know that she was going to be alright. But it was back to . . . waiting.
Another two hours passed and finally the surgeon walked out to the waiting area. “Serenity Hayes’ fiancé?”
I stepped up to him. “Yes. I’m Teak Pierce. How is she? Can I see her?”
“She’s stable. I was able to stop the bleeding and repair the damages inside but we have her sedated so that she rests. She lost a lot of blood. She’s not out of the woods yet, but she’s breathing on her own so that is always a good thing. You can go see her for a few minutes. Then no visitors until at least tomorrow.”
Ivy walked over to us. “Can I see my best friend too, just for a minute?”
“Sorry, only family for tonight.” He gave her an apologetic smile.
Ivy shot me a look that was full of pure venom and I prayed she didn’t blow my cover.
“I promise I’ll tell her you are here and will see her tomorrow. That’s she’s not alone.”
Her eyes softened slightly and she nodded her head. We were all running on high emotions and I wouldn’t have blamed her for lashing out at me, but I would have been pissed. I was relieved to see she realized that I didn’t want Serenity to be alone. Her parents were still hours away.
I followed the doctor down the hallway. He stopped at a door and indicated I go inside. Hands shaking, my heart racing, and tears rolling down my cheeks, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Serenity lay in the bed, pale, unmoving, hooked up to a ton of wires and shit, but at least she wasn’t covered in blood anymore or bluish. And she was on her way to recovering. I had to remind myself of that. We found her; she was getting treatment now; and she was safe from that psycho bitch. I tiptoed over to her – funny I worried I would wake her.