Page 5 of Storm

Chapter9

Kelsey

Seventeen years old

Ismooth my baby hairs down with nervous energy and gaze at myself in the mirror. My dark blue dress conforming to my curves just right before cascading down to just above my knees. My cleavage can be seen but it's not showing in a "slutty" way, only showing the top of my chest. It’s the right amount of exceptionally classy with just a smidge of trashy. Besides the fine vellus around my face that doesn't want to stay down, my hair is perfect. It’s curled in long ringlets like shavings of chocolate that lay against my back. Even my makeup makes me appear as if I’m graced to this earth as an angel to walk amongst mere mortals. It’s light with eyeliner and mascara and my lips are a pretty light pink. If everything is as it should be, then why am I so nervous?

Because tonight is the night Talon is claiming me as his “Crone” in front of the whole club on my seventeenth birthday. I'm elated, and cannot wait to officially be Talon's girl. His ol 'lady and when I get eighteen, I'll happily wear his property patch, but I can’t deny that edge of nervous energy that seems to invade every free space in my body.It’s going to be fine. It’s going to be fine. You look great.I repeat affirmation in my head as my hands rest on the vanity. My fingers brush the bottle of perfume. Ah, maybe that’s what I’m missing. I spray a few spritzes of body spray and take a few twirls in my dress, capturing the falling mist in the air. That should do it.

I jump in my mom’s beat up seventy-nine BMW. The door screeching as I pull it closed and sit, staring off into the woods. After taking a few deep breaths, I start the engine and head to the clubhouse.

Once I arrive at the old brick building at just after eight, the music is already loud, and there is a shit ton of motorcycles out front. The only one I don’t see is Talon’s bike. It must be in the garage or something. I run my clammy palms over my bare thighs, gathering my courage. This is a woman’s big day, it’s normal to be a little nervous, right?

Without further stalling, I head on into the clubhouse. Weed, liquor, and sex invades my nostrils, tickling the back of my throat. I gag at the air pollution that slaps me in my face. I recover quickly and scan the room for Talon, but I cannot find him anywhere. Where is he?

"Happy birthday, baby girl," Jaxx, one of the brothers, whispers in my ear, wrapping his arm around me from behind.

"Thanks. Where's Talon?" I ask, taking a step away from him. He smells like chewing tobacco and body odor.

"Prez had him running an errand really quick, he should be back anytime." He steps closer to me, again. “Let's go get a drink for the birthday girl." He grabs my hand and drags me toward the bar. My stomach churns with disgust and I yank my hand away.

“Just a coke for me, please.”

"No, no, no give her a Jack and Coke, Prospect." Jaxx winks at the biker in training and says, “it's her birthday."

The prospect slides me a glass and I take a sip. The liquor burns my throat as it goes down. I’m not used to drinking but I’m pretty sure this is more Jack than it is Coke.

"Thanks," I say, taking the tumbler from the bar top and over walk over to a chair in a corner.

I plop down in the seat and pull out my phone to call Talon. His voicemail isn't set up and he isn't answering.Come on, Talon.

My glass sweats creating a puddle on the table. I run my finger through it, writing out Talon’s name. I’m not sure how much time passes, but I continue drinking Jack and Coke to dull my senses. The aroma of this place has my stomach twisting into knots. The drawing on the table blurs and I think I might be crying. I rub my eyes but the distortion of my vision continues. A dizzy feeling hits me, my head begins swimming.I feel off. Something’s not right. Did I drink too much?

If I could just go to the bathroom and splash some water on my face, I’ll feel much better. I climb out of my chair and nearly topple to the floor. My legs are heavy and my focus is hazy. I'm having a hard time walking since my feet are numb and I try to drag them along the floor. Thankfully there’s a brick structure already in place to guide me where I need to go. The wall. That’s it. That’s what helps to hold me up, but the world around me spins. I'm being tugged the opposite direction by someone. The smell of him is so strong that I double over.

"Where are you going, birthday girl? The party is just about to start!" Jaxx throws me over his shoulder like I am a sack of potatoes.

My head swings back and forth along with my arms that dangle over my head. The floor races by as if I’m sitting in the back seat of a car. How the scenery rushes by in a blur of brown and green, but this view is missing that bright emerald cheer. No, the dark mahogany floors are missing all their shine from this devastating place.

His shoes pound with every step and I can hear it in my head.Boom. Boom. BOOM. It’s in sync with my pulse and the blood rushing in my ears. He throws me on something hard. I try telling him to stop, but my voice is lost in my throat. I try to fight him, punch and kick, but I can't move my arms or legs. I try to scream, but no words will come out of my mouth. I can't even cry. My body is useless and there is nothing I can do but succumb to the blackness that is enveloping me.

I wake up off and on as different guys plow into me. Their nasty sweaty bodies drip onto my skin. I want this to stop. I want to scrub the flesh on my bones raw to rid this memory of them. My mind is fighting them, but my body is betraying me. My mouth is dry and my voice box won't work. The thought of ending all of them as I see the guys climb on top of me and do what they want to me is the only thing that’s keeping air moving through my lungs. I try to scream over and over wanting Talon to save me, to help me from his club, but all I see are faces. I keep cataloging them as I go to the void and back again.

But Talon isn’t coming and all I have is myself.

* * *

I jolt up. Pain wracking every inch of my body. My legs are hurting, and my body feels like I've been hit by a car. I hold my head as if at any moment it will bust and split in two. With the tips of my fingers, I rub circles on my temples until the stabbing dulls to a low throb and am able to move my legs to the side of the pool table. There are hand shaped bruises all over my legs and I begin inspecting myself further. The green felt is dark and I look down at the pain between my thighs where I see smeared blood. There are cuts and bruises on my abdomen, stomach and my thighs. I choke down the vomit that arises and look away. I can’t even look at myself. Tears prick my eyes and I shove that emotion down deep into a box of my own making. There’s no time to feel sorry for myself.

My arms and legs are heavy, still hard for me to move and my heart is hammering against my ribcage as though it's going to burst. I try to get enough saliva in my mouth to wet it, but it's not happening. My mouth is parched to the point my tongue is made of cotton balls.Water.I need water.

I crawl off the pool table and as soon as I stand, pain shoots through my legs. My knees buckle and I grab hold of the chair in front of me. I'm wobbly like I'm drunk. The pressure in my head still causes my vision to blur. I throw my dress back on that I find thrown on the floor and search around for my panties which I can’t find.Sonofabitch must’ve kept them as a trophy.

With my shoes in hand, I examine the room, searching for an exit I can slip out of and when I find it, I run. I’m like a new baby fawn as I stumble multiple times, but I finally push open the metal door. The sky is dark, starless even. I look up anyways wishing on the invisible night to take me away from this place. The air kisses my heated cheeks like a soothing balm to my soul.I can do this.

The gravel bites into my heels as I try to find my car, but it isn't where I left it. I have to leave quickly. My breathing is labored as I run, searching the few bikes out front. I’m stuck here.I’m stuck.I pull the strands of my hair and slow my panicked inhales and notice that one of the members left the keys in the ignition. That’s it. My heart soars. I look up at the empty sky, giving it a silent thank you before I hop on the motorcycle and take off heading to my mommy.

The bike beneath me slides on the bends in the road and I’m not even sure how I make it to my house. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush of trying to get out of there or maybe it was the night sky that held me together. I’m not sure, but once I pull into the overgrown grass in front of the trailer. My car just happens to be in the driveway, where I didn’t park it.Those fucking assholes.What were they planning on doing with me, if I hadn’t woken up when I did?

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