On The Other Side

Chapter 19 - Unleashed

CLAY
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With the sun on the verge of rising, we've been driving for an hour and a half. After convincing Nick to make a pit stop at a gas station, to purchase food, water, and supplies to treat our injuries, he finally stops.

Nick gave us his clothes from the trunk, and I can't help but feel a bit ridiculous in them. Despite being taller than him, the oversized clothes he offered are so big that they're still oversized on me. I suppose I don't look too bad, but I'm just not used to wearing such baggy clothing.

George on the other hand, looks very attractive.

"I think it's safe for us to stop here," Nick states, turning off the car's engine. His gaze shifts between me and George as he adds, "We can't be too long, though. They're still looking for us. Be quick." I exchange a glance with George, who nods in agreement.

We all get out of the car. Nick proceeds to the rear of the car to pump gas, George heads for the restroom, and I make my way inside the store.

Stepping into the store, I head straight for the aisle stocked with first-aid supplies, gathering bandages, ointments, and plasters. I then navigate my way to the food aisle, where I spot George contemplating the sandwich choices. Our eyes meet, and he offers a gentle smile. "I'm so glad we escaped," he says, almost in a whisper.

I nod and my heart warms up. "I am, too, but we still have to lay low and be careful." I remind him and he nods, turning his attention back to the sandwiches.

"Go get water, I'll take care of the food," he suggests, and I nod in agreement before heading to the beverage aisle.

A man catches my attention.

I hate to say it, but he looks exactly like my Dad. I walk past him, scanning his arm. My heart sinks as I see an identical scar as my father's.

I start breathing heavily and I need to sit down. How doesn't he recognize me?

It dawns on me that I'm completely different than when he last saw me. I have a stubble, my style is different and my whole face is beaten up, my swollen eye is also probably not something you want to look at.

It's good that he doesn't recognize me.

I move around him a little, pretending that I'm looking at the beer like he is, and when I reassure myself that he doesn't recognize me, fear turns into anger.

The weight of my anger intensifies, fueled by the realization that none of this would have happened if it weren't for him. I want him to suffer like I did, hell, like George did. I want him to die a slow and painful death.

"Which beer do you think is the best?" I inquire, catching him off guard. He briefly glances at me, then shifts his gaze back to the beer selection.

He points at one of the beers he always drinks. "I like this one," he says and I nod.

"Thanks," I reply as I reach for the recommended beer, placing it in my basket before heading back toward George. Once there, I discreetly place the beer on a nearby shelf.

George smiles at me, proudly displaying the sandwiches he's chosen for us. I nod in appreciation with a slight smile. Together, we head to the checkout counter, and I use Nick's card to pay.

George takes the bag, and we make our way to the car, where Nick is already waiting for us. I inform them, "I need to pee," I say through the open window and Nick nods at me as I make my way to the bathroom.

As I exit the store, I spot Dad leaving with a woman, and I deliberately walk past them. I offer a casual greeting, saying, "Have a good afternoon, Damian." He continues for a moment, then suddenly halts and turns around. It's at that moment I see it. The recognition.

He cocks his head and says. "I've never told you my name."

I shrug and then look at the woman behind him, not shocked by the fact that he's cheating on Mom. "My bad. Guess I should have said Dad."

There's no second guessing whether that's recognition on his face now.

"Clay?" he takes a step forward, but that was his second mistake.

His first was not recognizing me, to begin with.

I stride over to him and come down on him with both fists. The pathetic fuck hits the ground before I even follow through with a full swing. I can feel Nick trying to pull me off him. His girlfriend is screaming in my ear, scratching at my face, trying to pull me off of him.

I punch him again. I punch him for every year he threatened me. I punch him for every time he laid a hand on my mother. I punch him for every fucked up thing he has done to me or to mom that scarred us for life.

I keep punching him until my fists are covered with blood and I can no longer see my father's face. There's so much blood, I'm pretty sure I even mistake the concrete for his head because that punch hurts the worst.

When Nick and George finally pull me off him and start dragging me toward the car, I feel tears flowing down my cheeks.

I've never felt so powerful and so weak at the same time.

I have no idea how I make it to the passenger's seat, but I'm beating the dashboard, punching it so hard it cracks. Nick is driving off the parking lot, trying to beat the security before they find the bloody mess I left at the entry.

George reaches around my seat and tries to pull my arms behind me, but I rip them from him and start punching the dash again. I'll punch it until my arms are numb.

I don't want to feel this anymore.

"Somebody give me something," I grunt, through my teeth. It feels like my bones are trying to tear through my skin. I pull at my hair, I punch the window. "I can't fucking breathe!"

"Clay stop!" Nick yells and tries to grab my hand, but his attention quickly shifts back to the road, so he doesn't get us killed. He rolls down the window, but it doesn't help.

"Give me something, please." I cry out, looking back at terrified George.

"It's in the trunk!" Nick yells and George quickly looks around.

"Pull over!" George yells and the car suddenly stops.

I turn around and punch at the dash again. Several punches later, George returns to me and hands me the needle. I pull the cap off with my teeth and shove it in my arm.

I lean back in my seat.

"Go," George says to Nick.

I close my eyes and I feel the car begin to move.

I am nothing like him.

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