Steal My Soul

19 | bobbi

Bobbi

Rusted relics of vintage cars are sprawled against the land of dust.

I step gingerly picking up pieces of metal as I go. Everything here was faded, chipped, or broken. I couldn't imagine anyone being able to live here comfortably.

The wind picks up and I scrunch my nose, pulling the gray fabric wrapped around my neck, up to my nose. A spring gets caught in my boot, making a high pitched noise rolling onto the feet of a German Shepard. It pants its tongue, smiling.

Then it bares its teeth, foam trickling from its mouth. It jumps at me and I jump back, my heart thundering in my chest. I put my hands in front of it, putting a finger to my lips. It continues barking, its voice, deep, clear, and angry.

I see the glint of a knife. I turn on my heel and run, breathing hard as my lungs churn and twist. Sweat drizzles down my face as I pump my arms. I won't be able to outrun the dog.

I take out my knife, puncturing it deep into the tree in front of me, and start to climb. When I am sitting on the highest branch I let myself rest. Young kids dressed in leather come out of their hiding places.

Their skin is covered in dirt and they each carry a sharp switchblade. A tall one with long brown hair is the last one to appear. He grins. All of his teeth are made of metal.

Alastair Caine. Overseer of the junkyard. The leader of the tweakers and zombies in this town.

Even from here, he sends a bloodcurdling chill down my spine. I glance at the swarm of kids at my feet. They're all so young, around my age. Most of them don't make it past nineteen because of their living and smoking habits.

A few like Alastair are lucky when they do but that doesn't make them change their ways.

"We don't like visitors," Alastair barks. "Why don't come on down here and see what happens when you trespass on other people's property,"

"I would have called but I didn't know how to reach you,"

He raised an eyebrow at me, smirking. "Then how did you know about this place?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Everyone knows about this place. About you. You're not exactly discreet. The only reason the feds don't try to blow your operation is because they're scared of you but you already know that. As long as you don't cause too much trouble they stay out of your way,"

He grins, pulls a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket, and lights it up. "Someone's done their homework. What do you want? We don't typically make deals with females but you're pretty so we'll make an exception,"

I scowl, sliding down the tree and landing on the ground. A sharp pain shoots up my right ankle but I don't flinch. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction of showing him I might be hurt.

He had to know who I was because if he didn't he would have sent one of his boys after me already and dragged me to the shelter. I cross my arms, walking towards him. The boys around me stepped towards me, their weapons raised.

Alastair flicks his hands in the air and they grudgingly put their weapons back in their pockets.

"I want to know why Ken Roux is visiting you," I spat.

He throws the end of his cigarette butt at me. I feel the pinch and singe of sparks through my shirt but I barely bat an eye at it. He was trying to make me squirm but I was going to come and get what I came for.

He winks at me. I see the outline of a nasty scar on his left shoulder. "How about I take you inside and we can talk about it?"

I turn my eyes to slits, biting the inside of my cheek. "Do I look like an idiot to you?"

Alastair steps towards me, making sure his nose touches mine. He leans into my ear and whispers a list of inappropriate fantasies he would like to test out on me.

My hand cracks against his cheek. His head whips to the side. Alastair stays like that for a moment.

All of his boys whip out their knives again. His cheek quickly turns a deep cherry red.

"I don't like repeating myself," I sneered.

He gives me a wicked grin. "You're fiery, I can see why Roux likes you,"

I flinch. So that's how he recognized me. What kind of trouble did Ken get himself into?

"Don't act like you know him," I snapped.

He lights up another cigarette, blowing a ring of smoke in my face. "Sorry sweetheart, I don't kiss and tell. That's something you have to take up with him,"

I bare my teeth at him. I wanted to slam my hand against his chest but I don't think his swarm of children would let me get away with hitting him again.

I batted my eyes at him, pulling my lipgloss from my pocket and giving my lips a nice glossy layer. "Oh, can't you tell me? Please?"

Alastair licks the front of his teeth and I gag. He dips his head taking my hand and giving the top of it a sloppy wet kiss. "Don't you have someone to be?"

I cursed, checking the time on my phone. I was going to be late to Ken's sports awards ceremony tonight. I give him one last glare before turning around. "This isn't over," I say.

Alastair bit his lip. "Oh, I hope not,"

On my way out, I noticed a car door that looked a little too familiar, it was banged up pretty bad and stained with blood.

"Hold on!" Alastair shouts behind me.

"What?" I say through gritted teeth.

"What kind of rich girl carries around a knife?" He asks.

"I don't," I toss it on the ground. "It's yours,"

-•-

The guard standing in front of the golden encrusted doors nods recognizing me and moves the red leather rope letting me inside.

I wipe my sweating palms on my black sleeveless halter dress. My heels click against the floor as I enter the big auditorium filled with thousands of seats. I spot Ken in the front and I quickly make my way through the chairs and sit in the empty spot next to him.

I squeeze his arm. "Hey," I whispered. "Sorry I'm late, I got caught up with something,"

He turns to me, his brown eyes twinkling. "Don't mind that. The important thing is that you're here, thank you,"

Ken kisses me on the cheek and I blush turning my head away. I was not expecting that. Ken usually doesn't show me any affection in public. He likes to keep the things close to him private.

"You should win awards more often," I teased.

He flashes me a grin, his fingers moving around my thigh. I looked at the other empty seat beside him and frowned.

"Where's your dad?" I whispered.

He shrugs. "Working, it's no big deal, probably better that he's not here anyway,"

I nod, not pushing the subject any further. I could tell he was hurt from the look in his eyes. Ken and his dad had a complicated relationship but all of the things Ken does, he does it for his dad. He couldn't care less so when he doesn't show up it adds a new wound.

The host announces his name and he gets up, kissing me. I clutch my bag under my arm and clap as hard as my hands will allow, and scream making sure my cheer is the loudest one in the room. He winks at me when he gets on stage and my heart melts.

It felt good for things to be back to normal.