Chapter 33 Wren
Wren
THE SONGBIRD
Kage and Nox left a while ago to go find my bear.
After the night I had last night, I’m grateful they were willing to go find it for me.
It may seem a little childish to be attached to a stuffed animal, but it’s the one thing that’s been there for me through it all and I’m attached.
It’s been a rough few weeks living without Mr. Teddy Bear.
A package was delivered this morning with the new wardrobe my boys were so kind to let me buy with their fancy metal credit card.
I’ve been spending the last hour trying everything on and having my own little fashion show in the floor length mirror.
If Olive was here, she’d be freaking the hell out.
I miss her.
I haven’t talked to Olive much since I started staying with Kage and Nox.
We’ve texted briefly, she told me she hasn’t heard from Harper since we all went to Devils Den, but that’s typical.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Harper, but she’s the type of friend who is only really around when we’re doing something fun.
Grabbing my phone off the bedside table, I open my messages to shoot Olive a text. The second I do, a notification pops in that shocks me. It’s from Loretta.
Retta: Hi honey, could you bring me some soup? I’m still not feeling well.
What the hell? Retta’s been sick for so fucking long. With me being out of work these last few weeks, I can only imagine how hard it’s been to cover my shifts plus Retta’s at the bar.
The boys told me not to leave the house when they left earlier, but I’m sure I can make it back before they return. They’ve only been gone for about two hours, and they said they had other things they needed to do afterwards, so I should have plenty of time.
Me: Omg, of course! I didn’t know you were still sick! Be there soon.
How the hell am I supposed to get there? My car is still at my apartment. I really don’t trust Ubers, but for Retta I can suck it up for the night. She’d do the same for me.
Grabbing my purse, I shoot off a text in our group chat.
Me: Hey, I know you said to stay put but Retta is still out sick. I’m going to bring her soup and check in on her. I’m calling an Uber there but if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you pick me up on your way home?
After I send the text, I pull up the Uber app and order a ride. I make my way downstairs so I can wait outside, too antsy to stay inside this house much longer.
My phone dings with a notification. Ten minutes until my driver is here.
Not a long time at all, but with nothing to do but sit with my thoughts, I can’t help the anxiety that takes over.
I don't know why I’m so nervous to see Loretta.
Things have just felt off with her the last couple of weeks.
Calling me names she’s never called me before, not speaking in any spanish slang. It’s just not like her.
I wait a few more minutes before finally getting a notification that my Uber has arrived.
Checking the group chat once more, I see Nox and Kage still haven’t responded to my message.
I don’t even know if they’ve read it yet.
Surely they would have said something if they did with their very demanding instructions they gave.
Oh well, I guess. They’ll see it eventually.
It’s not like they have anything to worry about.
Retta’s is pretty close by, I’ll be done before they notice I’m gone.
Surprisingly enough, my Uber driver was extremely nice.
She was quite young, college age maybe. I felt more at ease knowing I didn’t have to ride in a car with some random guy.
She was kind enough to stop at a drive thru for me to pick up Retta’s soup, and even offered to take me to a convenience store to pick up some medication for her.
Part of me wanted to ask her to wait around for me so she could take me back home, but I’ve missed being around Retta, so I don’t mind waiting at her place for Lennox and Kage. Besides, she’s going to freak the hell out when she sees them again and I’m dying to see her reaction.
Walking up to the front door, my anxiety only heightens. I don’t know why I’m freaking out but something feels off, I just can’t put my finger on it. As I get closer, it looks as if the door is slightly ajar.
Why would she keep the door open?
Knocking on the door, I push it open the rest of the way, calling out for her.
“Retta? Why is the door open? Are you alright?” I call out, but she doesn’t respond.
“What the fuck is going on?” I whisper as I take in the wreckage around me. Barstools are overturned, couch cushions ripped open, shards of glass littering the floor like tiny pieces of diamonds.
My panic spikes so high, it makes me dizzy. Walking further into the torn apart house, I check every room and find no signs of Retta anywhere. I pull out my phone as quickly as I can, my hands shaking as I try to find Kage or Nox’s contact.
Finding Kage’s first, I hit dial, holding the phone up to my ear as I look around the house.
“Come on, come on. Pick up, Kage. Please, fucking pick up!”
It rings, and rings, and rings, until I get his voicemail.
Fuck!
“Kage, it’s me. I’m at Loretta's house, I don’t know what’s going on,” I cry, trying to hold it together but it's no use. After finding my own apartment like this with Chen's blood everywhere, I can’t help but to feel like this is all connected.
“Everything is destroyed, there’s glass everywhere, I think—”
“Hello, Wren.”
The ice that freezes down my spine is unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. That voice, I recognize it instantly. Turning around to face him, I look him dead in the eye, trying my best not to show any fear.
“Rich. What are you doing here?”
He smiles at me like he can see right through my I don’t give a fuck bullshit exterior.
That smug, knowing look makes me want to claw his fucking eyes out.
His face doesn’t look nearly as bad as it did two weeks ago, but he’s still pretty bruised.
I guess Kage and Nox really did a number on him. How fucking unfortunate.
“Well, now, that’s no way to greet an old friend, is it?” he says smoothly, his voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard.
“You’re not my fucking friend, Rich. Now get the fuck out.” I yell at him as I point to the front door.
“Well you see Wren, that just won’t be possible. I’m sure you were hoping Loretta would answer the door herself, but…” He gestures lazily to the wreckage surrounding us. “She’s been…unavailable.”
My stomach plummets.
“What did you do to her?” I snap, trying to keep my voice steady, but it cracks under the weight of my terror.
Rich tsks softly. “Me? Nothing at all. Poor Retta’s been gone for weeks, Wren.” His eyes gleam. “But you…you came right on time.”
I spin on my heel, bolting towards the back door, only to slam into something solid. A masked man. Then another appears behind him.
“No!” I scream, thrashing wildly. A strong arm wraps around my waist, yanking me backward, causing me to drop my phone. It lands face up with the screen still lit, showing me that the voicemail is still recording.
“Let me go! Kage!” I scream as loud as I can. “Help! Nox—”
My scream is muffled by the chemical stench rag that’s clamped over my mouth. Chloroform. I fight like hell, kicking and clawing, desperate to cause some kind of damage, but it’s useless.
Through the haze of my panic, I see Rich strolling towards me, calm as ever.
“Oh, Wren,” he coos, crouching in front of me as my vision starts to tunnel. “Leaving your boyfriends a little message, were you?”
He picks the phone up off the floor, the glowing screen reflecting in his blue eyes. Rich brings the phone to his lips, smiling directly at me as he says the last words I hear before everything goes black.
“Bye bye, birdie.”