I Thought It Was Over

Chapter 24 - California Baby

Chapter 24 – California baby

A few hours later, we were in Cali. Beaches, beaches, beaches! We were along the coast and itching for some sunlight.

First things first, we had to book in at our accommodation.

“Turn left,” I instructed. I had relinquished the wheel a long time ago; preferring to sleep and let the last effects of the medicine wear off. I now had my phone in my hand, and was navi-guessing the way. “Oops I meant right.”

“Becky! Give it here,” Clio took the phone and looked at it. “Shit!”

“CLIO, EYES ON THE ROAD!” Mia snatched the phone and looked at it. “Yeah, turn right C.”

“Here? This one?”

“Yep.”

“Or that next one?”

“THIS ONE – you’ve gone past it. Whatever, go the next one.”

Clio was looking indecisive, so Mia sighed and grabbed the wheel, twisting it to turn.

“There. Now – oh my god.”

We all looked out the window in awe at the beautiful beach, resplendent along the esplanade we were driving on.

“There – that one,” I said.

The sign read, ‘The Cali Malibu Resort – come for an authentic beach experience!’

“Yep, that’s the place,” I continued. “You lot stay here, and I’ll go check us in.

“I’ll come,” Clio volunteered. “Seeing as you’re broken and all that.”

We climbed out of the vehicle and slammed the door.
“Is that the main entrance?” I asked.

“It is now,” C said, shrugging. We went in to the hotel and up to the front desk.

“Hi my name is Allie welcome the the Cali Malibu resort how may I help you?” gabbled a girl.

“Hey, um, we’d like to check in – under the name Kesley, two adults and three kids?” I replied. Clio nudged me.

“We have Kesley, three adults and two kids,” Allie said.

“Yeah that too,” I answered.

“Sure, you’re in rooms 102, 103, 104 and 105, on the twentieth floor. There are only five rooms per floor for privacy, room 101 is vacant but we ask you to be respectful to the other guests in the hotel. Do you have any questions?”

“Nope.”

“Great, here are your hotel keys – those ones unlock the car-park, the lift and of course your rooms. Have a great stay.” She smiled and we walked away.

“She’s way too cheerful,” Clio whispered.

“She gave me the creeps,” I replied. “Hella scary.”

Ten minutes later we were parked and unpacking the car.

“Right, everyone grab something and go up to the room, Lil, you stay there and the rest of you carry everything up. I’ll stay and guard the car because I will die if I walk or carry things,” I ordered. They grumbled, but after I waved my crutch (accidentally hitting another car but not setting off any alarms) they obeyed.

“Why do we need to take everything?” Clio groaned. “My arms hurt!”

“Because we need to get a new car so that nobody can track this car,” I explained. “And obviously, I can’t help because bullet wounds. Now chop-chop.”

She glared at me and picked up a suitcase. “Whose is this?”

“Mine,” I replied.
“Bloody hell Bec, what have you got in here?”

“Guns, mostly,” I told her. “Some bombs, ammo, probably a bulletproof vest or protection of some sort, but mainly guns.”

“So… don’t drop it?”

“The safety locks are all on, but yeah maybe don’t drop it.”

She shot me a look implying that I had a copious amount of idiocy.

“You think?”

We went upstairs in the lift, and arrived in the room, still whining at each other about the suitcase.

“OH MY GOD, RELAX,” Mia groaned, flopping on one of the king beds. “We’re in California!”

That of course prompted us all to start crowing, “Califorrrrnia baaaaabbbyyyyyyy,” in our worst/best crazy accents.

It was all fun, until someone stepped out of a cupboard. He was an attractive but slightly mad-looking man, mid to late twenties, and twirling a pistol around his hands.

“Yeah, baby,” he sneered. “We are in sunny Cali, aren’t we?”

“What?” I gasped.

“Nice day out, isn’t it?”

“Who the fuck are you?” Mia demanded. He turned to me and smirked.

“I’m sure you remember me, Pony.”

And then it clicked.

“Leo?”

The End.