Page 41

Chapter Forty

L ike before, my feet were on the bitumen before I’d pulled the keys from the ignition. A single-minded focus – find her. The thud of Cooper’s feet hot on my heels was the only other noise as we raced for the door. I scanned the signs, desperately seeking the one I was after, just as Coop signalled he’d found it.

“It’s this one,” he appeared calm, but I knew there was an underlying desperation in his tone. A burning compulsion to find Marlee because I mattered to him and she mattered to me.

I smashed my fist against the door, a dog in a neighbouring apartment barking at the sudden intrusion to the otherwise quiet block. My face was slick with perspiration, more from an intense fear than exertion as I banged another three times, calling for her. My voice wavered somewhere between angry and terrified and Coop placed a steadying palm on my shoulder, when there was still no reply.

“I’m going to go round back and have a look. Kick the fucking door in if you have to,” he said, but was gone before I could reply.

I tried the handle, ready to send my foot through it as Cooper suggested but to my surprise, it opened.

“Marlee,” I called urgently, stepping into the apartment. “Marls, you here?” The tremor in my voice betrayed the emotion I was desperately trying to suppress as my plea again went unanswered in the empty flat.

There were signs of life – someone had been here recently even – but other than me, it was still.

Discarded plates lined the bench and two unwashed mugs sat next to the sink. From my quick scan, I noticed there wasn’t much furniture, a newish looking table and chairs, a lounge facing a TV in the living area and a shelf with some picture frames. I raced over, scanning the images.

The shelves contained freshly framed pictures of Lori and Lucas at different stages in their lives. He looked semi-normal in some of them, a time before drugs took hold, when his youth was fresh and there was still clarity in his expression. At least we knew we were at the right place.

Heading towards the hallway, the crunch of glass underfoot sliced through the otherwise stagnant room and I looked down, my foot covering another frame.

Lori, Lucas and Marlee stared back at me and I bent down, grabbing the black frame by the edge. Marls was slightly younger, her face framed by a vibrant neon hue. The orange glasses vividly bright against the night sky, giving those beautiful eyes of hers an otherworldly glow. God, I missed her so much.

I had to move, if she wasn’t here, where the hell was she?

I itched with apprehension, snatching the photo from the frame and racing down the hall, hastily scanning each room.

The main bedroom was sparse, bed unmade and a few clothes strewn around the room. It felt stale, as though it needed some fresh air, or maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

The bathroom was also stagnant and definitely hadn’t been cleaned in a while. A towel hanging over the shower and a lone bottle of body wash were the only indication someone used the space – other than the fresh droplets of water in the bottom of the basin. Someone had been here recently.

I heard Cooper calling my name, an urgency in his tone which hadn’t been there before.

“In here,” I screamed, his footfalls pounding up the hallway until he found me.

“Shit, bro. Was worried about you,” he was holding a light blue jacket and I snatched it from his hand and took in the familiar smell. Remnants of coconut lined the fabric, my gut clenching in response. It was the same jacket she was wearing the night I first met her, the memory almost too painful to conjure.

“Where was it?” My voice was low, my need to get to her increasing tenfold the more I breathed in her scent.

“I’ll show you,” Coop answered, already halfway down the hallway. I held Marlee’s jacket to my chest, leaning against the basin and taking a steadying breath. I was just about to leave, when something orange caught my eye. It was behind the door, barely noticeable but as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what it was.

My beautiful, smart girl.

Marlee

Muffled voices echoed faintly, close but unrecognisable as though they were wrapped in layers of sound. I tried opening my eyes, the effort of anything other than the slightest crack more than I could manage. It was dark, of that I was sure, but otherwise, my thoughts were clouded. I felt entirely detached from my limbs, my mind like warm syrup pulling me towards stillness.

I wanted to call for help but a burning lethargy swam through my bloodstream, the fatigue too strong to fight. Realising the struggle was futile, I succumbed to the dreamy haze, the edges of reality blurring as the smell of petrichor washed over me and the darkness swallowed me whole.

“I still don’t understand why Have You Ever Seen the Rain is relevant?” Coop asked as we sped along the winding roads, his hand firmly gripping the door handle. I was in a hurry before but as soon as I realised where she was, I’d become crazed. She was all I could see and I needed to get to her. My smart, beautiful girlfriend, who always carried a pad of sticky notes with her because what if I need to write something down ? I’d buy her a lifetime supply now – knowing without them, I wouldn’t have ever considered coming here. The words, Have Your Ever Seen the Rain , an instant reminder to the night we danced in the rain to the sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival, in memory of her parents.

The weather was the same now, the first drops of rain peppering the windscreen. Sombre weather for a place forever marred with loss and the resulting grief. The last time I’d been on this same stretch of road – Marls was beside me, reminiscing on happier times spent with her parents.

The thought sent a sharp slice through my chest. Was she terrified and alone? Was she hurt and thinking I wouldn’t come for her? If I hadn’t found her note…

The shrill pierce of my ring tone cut the silence in the cabin of the car as Andy’s name lit the dashboard. Cooper lent over to hit the answer button when I didn’t immediately react, my focus on getting to where I needed to be as fast as possible.

“Any news?” Andy’s voice pierced through my wandering mind.

“Seb knows where she is. We’re on our way,” Coop’s normally chipper voice was tight and I snuck a glance his way. He was watching the road but he was tense. His fists braced for a fight. He hadn’t left my side, supportively quiet, but his anger was simmering the longer it took us to find her.

“Please bring her home,” Andy pleaded softly, his worry equalled by Arna’s muffled sob through the speakers. I wondered if Marlee knew just how many people loved her and were willing to do anything to keep her safe.

“Call you soon,” Coop gritted just as I saw the crest of the hill in the distance. I pressed my foot heavier on the pedal, my knuckles tight on the steering wheel, knee bouncing. Up ahead, a set of car lights illuminated the road, the cross I had seen only a few short weeks ago taking centre stage under its spotlight.

“There,” Coop yelled at the same time that I noticed the crumpled heap on the floor. I swerved, screeching to a stop, unable to take my eyes from the lifeless form. Lucas and Lori stood a few meters away, their eyes darting from Marlee to the car, as they both thrust their hands up to block the beam of the headlights.

“I’ve got them,” Coop sneered almost gleefully as I reefed the handbrake up and ran towards Marls. The relief at having finally found her, short lived as I dropped to my knees beside her. Bile rose in my throat as I gently wiped the hair from her face. Her forehead was covered in blood and her hands tied at the wrists with a thick blue rope. She was breathing but it was shallow, each inhale laboured, her exhales weak.

“Marls, please wake up. My love, can you open your eyes?” My voice was choked, the adrenaline coursing through my veins my driving force.

“Cooper, call an ambulance!” I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Lifting her wrists, I placed them on my knees as I began untying the knots despite the tremor in my hands. I gently caressed the angry red cuts on her wrists, visible reminders that these mother fuckers had restrained her, as a dull ache began behind my temples, a simmering anger boiling within. I ripped my shirt off and used it to wipe the blood from her forehead until I located the gash above her right eye. I needed to stop the bleeding before I moved her. I winced as a tiny groan escaped her throat, the pressure against her wound enough to rouse her.

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry. I’ve got you,” my voice trembled, unable to mask my fear any longer.

Looking up for the first time, I saw Cooper holding Lucas by the throat against a tree, his eyes on Lori who was on the ground beside them.

“I will fucking kill you both,” he roared and I knew he would if I didn’t stop him – not that I gave a fuck about either of them, but I wouldn’t let someone I loved have to live with that.

Marlee

He was barely audible, broken only by bursts of air. I knew it was him by the intonation of his voice – deliberate with his words – but I couldn’t see him.

I reached out, wading through the abyss in an attempt to calm him. My mind thick with fog as I desperately sought to open my eyes. They were so heavy, weighed down by an invisible force.

Remnants of other voices moved through the waves. Was that Lucas? Why was Lucas here?

“What the fuck did you do to her?” ’s voice was muffled as if he was moving further away from me.

Wait! Please don’t leave me.

“Nothing she didn’t deserve!” A shrill female voice spat.

Lori? I was so confused. Nothing made sense.

I pushed, focusing everything into opening my eyes. Seb was close, I could feel him, which meant I was safe, but time was warped.

Where was I?

With every ounce of willpower I had left, I gently placed Marls back on the grass and ran over to where my friend was close to do something which would destroy him.

“Let him go, Coop,” I gripped his shoulder firmly, the pressure causing him to flinch as I spoke again. “This motherfucker is not worth it.” I didn’t believe my words for even a second, I wanted to slice both of their throats open and watch them bleed out, but they weren’t what mattered now.

Placing my hand on top of the one Coop had around Lucas’ throat, I added a little bit more pressure, sadistically enjoying the way his eyes bulged before I pulled Coop back with my other arm. Lucas fell to the floor next to his sister, gasping for breath.

“Marls and I need you,” my voice was ice and Cooper nodded before turning towards Marlee.

Lucas got to his feet, his hand still gripping his neck as he coughed and I turned to walk away.

“I hope she’s dead,” the shrill feminine voice was raspy, “just like her parents.”

I stilled. Her words slicing through me like an inferno as white hot lava swarmed in my chest. Any sense of rationality dissipated as I spun back and took in the sight of Lori.

Leaning down into her face, I gripped her chin hard enough that the widening of her eyes sent a sick pleasure through me.

“If she dies, you do too. You and your pathetic fucking brother,” I hissed with barely contained rage, before turning and leaving them both to rot.

Marlee

Light. Bright lights. The soft hum of an engine. fighting with someone I couldn’t see.

Lori was screaming, yelling at him to let go; to get off whoever he held as the sound of a siren neared.

Snippets of memory filtered through – her apartment, a knife, the unrestrained craze in her eyes.

Oh my god – he was in danger. Did she still have the knife?

I needed to warn him, panic bubbling just below the surface but my mind was still too sluggish to react.

I ran back over to Marlee, Cooper crouched next to her, my shirt firmly pressed to her forehead.

I took over, lifting her head into my lap and whispering to her tenderly while Coop went to flag the ambulance.

“Seb,” she rasped, the sound of my name nearly breaking me.

“I’m here, baby. Help is on its way, be strong,” I pleaded as the sound of paramedics grew louder, the blue and red lights bouncing off the otherwise darkened road.

“Th-think she drugged me,” she wheezed, something I already assumed based on how groggy she was. How she was barely able to open her eyes.

“It’s okay, baby,” I reassured, “you’re safe now,” I whispered, cradling the woman I loved as help finally arrived.