Page 6 of Storm

I lose what little control I have left. The bike, still running, falls to its side as I hop off on shaking legs. The handle sinking into the soft ground.

I got this. I just need my mommy.

With a trembling hand, I push open the unlocked flimsy door to the trailer. My feet crunch on old burger wrappers and knock over abandoned half full beer bottles. The mess is of no concern to me right now. I’ll clean it up later. My focus is getting to my mommy and I find her where she always is when she’s not at the clubhouse. The old tan couch that we got off the side of the road a few years ago sinks in where she sits drinking a bottle of Jack and smoking a cigarette. The ashes sag on the half-burned cancer stick, ready to fall at any moment.

"Mom, please help me," I cry, as I stagger into the living room. My eyes are full of tears and my body aches all over. "I went to my party at the clubhouse and they drugged and raped me." The words come out as fragile as glass that’s ready to break.

"What did you expect, Kelsey?" she says, wrinkling her nose up at me. “You went there looking like a whore. Look at that dress, that slutty makeup. They treated you like they treat me. They just wanted to welcome you like they do all the Crowettes." The distaste for me rolls off her with a well-practiced sneer before chugging her fifth of whiskey.

"You’re just gonna drink and blame me when I tell you I was raped by no telling how many men?" I motion to my chest with a splayed hand willing her to see me as I hold back the whence of pain in my side.

"Get over it, Kelsey. Ain't nothing you can do about it. The Crows practically own this fucking town." She snubs her cigarette, extinguishing the flame.

My brows pull together and my mouth falls open. This is it. The one time I expected her to care about me or anything that happens to me, but again I’m left disappointed. Even if she was never there for me any other time I needed her, this was the moment I could have forgiven her. My heart sinks down to my feet and my eyes burn with unshed tears that I refuse to let fall.

“Fuck you, you old whore. I hope those bikers make you happy."

I clench my fists at my side and limp to my bedroom to throw what little belongings I have in a bag. This place is rotten to the core. I have to get away from her, from this house, from this fucking town. Once I have all my belongings, I grab the picture of Talon and me by our tree and sling it in the bag. I don't know if he was a part of this or not, but I can't go back to the clubhouse. The only person I have to save me is myself, because as far as I’m concerned there is nothing left for me in this town.

“You’ll be back.”

“We’ll see about that.” I glare at my mother one last time. The door slams hard enough to make it fall off the hinge as I make my way out into the night.

* * *

Everything is white, almost virginal, but I know it’s a fabrication due to the strong chemical smells. Bleach, antiseptics, andhuman shit. This normally wouldn’t bother me since it’s to be expected in a place like this, but my nerves are fired and I’m irritated as I go to the emergency room admittance window and lie.

The story I tell them is that I went to a party and I was raped and possibly drugged, but that I didn't know by who or how many, so a half-lie anyway. They take me back, perform a rape kit before doing a small procedure and checking over the rest of my body. They even do an x-ray, because I think one of them beat me while I was unconscious. They tell me the tests may take hours to come back, so I push the plastic covered pillow under my head and curl up on my side. I try to rest up, because I’m sneaking out as soon as I get the results of all the tests. I just want to see what all is wrong with me, then out of this shit-hole town.

"Ms. Weatherspoon, in case you didn’t know when we do a rape kit, we take DNA samples.” Her eyes shine with pity that I didn't ask for. “I am sorry to inform you that we found five different DNA strains." She pauses, allowing that information to sink in. “You also have a cracked rib and some bruises but that should heal in a few days along with the small tear to your inner labia we had to stitch up. Those should dissolve in a few days as well.” She hands me a plastic cup with two pills and a glass of water. “Pain medication." I take it from her hands, slinging the contents into my mouth. Anything will help take the edge off right now. The doctor waits for me to gulp down every last drop before adding, “It is up to you whether you want it, but we can also provide you with a Plan B pill. It’s usually referred to as the morning after which you can also find them at most pharmacies if you decide to think about it.”

“Yes,” I blurt out. My mind was already made up before the pill option was ever provided. I won’t let those bastards control my life.

The nurse gives me a curt nod before handing me another small cup with a small blue pill inside it. "There are officers here that want to talk to you," she says, glancing toward the emergency room doors.

"Can I use the restroom first?"

"Sure, honey. I'll tell them to wait."

When the nurse walks out, I snatch up my clothes and shoes before heading to the bathroom. I take off the hospital gown and put on the disheveled dress. The one I was wearing when I arrived at the party, and the only thing left as a reminder of this awful day. I sneak past the nurse’s station and the cops that are more focused on the hospital coffee than their actual jobs. My BMW—that’s used, rode hard and beat up like me—sits in the front row. I jump in and turn the key. The fields on both sides of the road, whoosh by as I head out of Kentucky. The small town I grew up in grows even smaller in my rearview and without looking back, I hold up my middle finger to the backseat.

Chapter10

Talon

Then... 18 years old

Fucking, Prez. Fucking, Dad. I think, jumping on my bike. He fucking knew I wanted to be here at the club when Kelsey arrived for her birthday party. I'm going to claim her in front of everyone, so they know she’s mine. She's my girl. She always has been, but I want the club to know it too. I was going to call her, but my cellphone is missing. Now, I’m in bum-fucked Beattyville meeting with a guy who sells dime bags. He’s not even the normal fucker we mess with. I know something isn't right and I feel it in my gut. As soon as I make the deal, I race back to the clubhouse.

The gravel lot crunches beneath my tires and it’s filled with the other member’s bikes, but Kel’s vehicle is nowhere in sight. Is this the foreboding I was sensing? That she backed out and changed her mind?

When I push open the door to the clubhouse, dad is already there with his hand for the money. Now that that’s taken care of, I saddle up to the bar and ask if anyone has seen Kelsey. I get a few weird looks, but no one claims they have seen her. My shoulders sag with despair at the thought that maybe she didn’t show up because she doesn’t want me anymore. This is her way of saying she isn’t ready to be claimed. I knew growing up she wanted nothing to do with the club, but I held out hope that maybe she would do it for me. I get me a beer from the bar and chug it and wait a few more minutes to see if she shows up.

There’s not even a moment of peace, because I have to fight off a couple Crowettes, the clubwhores that are always trying to get a brother to patch them as their ol’ ladies. It doesn't matter if you are on the council or not but they rather you were, and since I’m the President's son all the Crowettes try sinking their talons in me. They kiss on my neck and run their nails over my chest. Their suggestive notions cause a shiver to run down my spine and not in a good way. I shake them off and go outside for some air.

It's almost one in the morning. The sky's the bleakest I’ve ever seen or maybe it’s because I haven’t actually taken the time to look at it much these days. That nagging sensation pulls at the edges of my mind, pulling me toward my bike. There’s no way Kels would have not shown up. There has to be a reason and I need to see her. The desire to go to Kelsey's to see why is overwhelming. I hop on my bike and spray rocks as I speed out of the lot.

I'm a bit buzzed, but the wind in my face and the thrill of the ride helps to ground me. It’s not long before I’m banging on the door of her trailer. It’s been knocked off its hinges and I get no answer, so I pull it open to find Kelsey's mother naked on the couch passed out.

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