Page 38 of The Catalyst

“Hand me my bat,” I demand as I put the car in park and climb out.

“Ollie, what are you going to do?” Oisin asks, looking confused like always.

“Give me it!” I extend my hand out and Oisin does as I tell him.

“Don’t do something stupid.”

Too fucking late.

I usually have a good handle on my anger, but that went out the window when my best friend told me that Mrs. Mercer has been putting her hands on Beth, the princess, my forbidden fucking fruit.

They’ll be lucky if I don’t kill the cunt. The warehouse is too good for this bitch.

I walk right over to the car before I swing my bat right into the windshield, the glass shattering. It explodes with the single move, but the rage isn’t quelled at all. I run my fingers over the words I burned into the wooden bat myself.

BLOOD

DEATH

RESPECT

PROTECT

I pull back the bat before I move to the driver’s side window. I break that glass too before I slam my boot into the door, causing such a huge dent it looks like it was run into by another car.

Nope, just one pissed off motherfucker.

I pull out my pocket knife before I slash both tired, then I carve a message into the paint job.

Lay another finger on her and the cops won’t know what to make of the ways I tear you limb from limb.

–The Town Psychopath

They gave me that colorful moniker for a reason. I fucking earned it and I will gladly make good on my threat. I don’t even know why all it took was hearing what this worthless excuse for a mother did to my princess and I went from calm, cool, and collected to ready to commit crimes against humanity on a woman I’ve never met.

For a woman that doesn’t belong to me.

My best friend’s girlfriend.

December 23, 1814

My son was born today, two days shy of being a Christmas baby. His mother is weak from her delivery, but they’re both safe, and their hearts beat beautifully. Aileen needs her rest, but I know she’ll recover soon. Until she does, I’ll be by her side, and so will our friends. Our families are healthy, but we all know this can’t last. Aodh and Eabha can’t house us forever. The walls are closing in. We all need our own space, and our travels aren’t over. I can feel it in my bones. We still have a long way to go, but we’ll all feel it when we find our forever home.

Until next time,

Séamus O’Reilly

CHAPTER 19

BETH

I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and this offer felt like one. I have been curious about what happens to people who break the rules in Grove Hill, but I have the feeling that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Especially once Nigel drives out of Grove Hill and takes Highway 290 into Houston, turning onto 610, heading for The Ship Channel.

It’s been a very rare occurrence when I go to the big city. Heading in this direction for this purpose makes me anxious.

The sun has set. Orange and pink hues blanket the sky as Nigel pulls off the highway and takes a few turns on what seems to be random streets, but there must be a method to his madness.

He takes one final turn onto a dirt road that seems to only lead to a large abandoned warehouse.

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