Frozen Cycle.

Chapter 6. What the Hell?

"So, why are you here, Chase?"

"To warn you. That coffee fag is no good."

"Hunter? He's not a fag!"

I pulled my robe on and walked out of the bathroom. Steam permiated the air as the door opened and I walked into the cold room. The floor almost froze my feet. Looking at my brother standing in the doorway reminded me of when we were younger. I noticed a bruise on his wrist. My eyes widened. 

"What happened to you? Did the cops do this?"

"No. Hunter broke me out of jail. He chained me up in his basement. He told me that he was going to get me out of the picture to win you over. He knew that you wouldn't believe me if I told you so he put the key three feet in front of me and told me to test his theory. Sis, you need to get away from him. Call off work, and let's get out of here for a few days. He's bad for you."

"No. I need to work. If I call off, I'll lose my job. Chase, do you realize how batshit insane you sound? An how is he really bad? Just because he cuffed you to something after getting you out of jail for God knows why this time? Why would he need you out of the picture, anyway? You're my brother, not my husband."

"Because Hunter knows that I know what he is. He dated my ex, Sandy."

"The one who would come to our door with new bruises every other week?"

"Yeah, I'm surprised you remember her, really."

"So he's an abusive asshole, is that what you're trying to say? Chase, that was 5 years ago. Maybe he's changed." I went to my closet and put up a room divider so I could get dressed. No point in sitting around my flat in a robe with my brother here. 

"You're not listening, sis. He will kill you if you don't fit everything he thinks a woman should be. Please, stay away from him."

"Why the sudden concern?"

"What? What do you mean sudden?"

My phone started ringing somewhere in the flat. Chase had run to find it; the patter of his feet on the cement floor echoed lightly. I was finally dried off and could roam my temporary changing room.  Searching the drawers of my worn wooden dresser, I found baggy sweats and a tank. I pushed the divider to the side and returned to the bathroom to put my wet hair into a pony tail. Looking at my reflection, I noticed the hair dye starting to fade. Another thing I would have to go get on my day off. 

Chase returned to me as I was exiting the bathroom again. His face said he was pissed, but his eyes said he was scared. I've only seen this look twice from him; when our mother and father fought, and when he had seen the outcome of the fights that had taken place between them. He handed me my cell phone, looked me in the eyes and proceeded to mouth to me that we need to get out of the area. 

"He's going to kill you sis." He whispered.

"Chase, I don't believe that for one second. Besides, he doesn't even have the makings of a killer." I looked at my phone, silencing it.

"You don't know him and you went on one breakfast date with him. You have no idea what he is capable of?"

"Enough, Chase."

"And? There are other people who go there every morning. Why does he pick you to remember?"

"Look at me. Fire truck red hair, bright ass blue and green eyes, always in a black hoodie. Always sounding exhausted. How is the girl with Red hair not memorable?"

"You know what I mean."

"I don't think you realize how fucking crazy you sound," I was starting to get irritated as he kept repeating his warning. "Okayy," I sighed. "I'll see if someone can take my shift tonight and my next shift after that."  

"Thank you." He said, releasing my phone.

I clicked the button on the top of the phone to see a missed call from an unstored number which I assumed was Hunter. Drawing the pattern to unlock my phone, Chase yelled from the kitchen.

"Get packin when you're off the phone!"

"Where are we going?" I hollered back. When did he start walking away? And he better not eat my cheesecake.

"Don't know yet."

I found and called the first coworker in my contacts, and I went down the list until someone answered. 

"Hey, Trace, can you cover my next two shifts? Tonight and Sunday? Oh my god, you're a saint. What happened? Oh, Um, family emergency. Thank you so much! Bye!"

Locking my phone, I returned to my closet to find the skull duffle bag Chase gave me after the first time I ran away. I smiled, tracing the ink stain, remembering how it got there from one of Mom's many drunk nights. I picked it up, feeling an unfamiliar weight to it. What had I left in it?

Pulling the bag to my bed, I riffled through the many zippered pockets to find four pocket knives, pepper spray, and a necklace from my father from when I was 4. I had also found a small box I never noticed. It must have been put there while I was away. 

Chase walked up to me, sensing the discomfort at the thought of someone I didn't know being in my flat when I wasn't there. I tossed him the box, not wanting to open it, and proceeded to pack for a few days away. 

"No sexy shit, ok?" He teased, knowing I wouldn't be caught dead in anything of the sort. 

I laughed dryly, stuffing my clothes and a hair brush into the  bag, packing other random objects that I thought I might need, keeping the knives and pepper spray in an easily accessed place.

Once I finished, Chase handed me the box, still unopened. 

"Do you know what it is?" I asked, doubt in my voice.

"No," He replied. "But I have an idea. Leave it here."

I placed it on the bed, turned to my brother and nodded. His blonde hair was the shame dirty dishwater shade as dad's, but he had our mother's lips and eyes. Both kinda narrow and long. His eyes were the same emerald green I had often watched turn glassy. He was the perfect blend of our parents. 

Chase grabbed my bag and started towards the door, then turned around to tell me that I was out of incense. I replied with a soft 'I know' and walked to my coat hanger, grabbing my white hoodie, and pulled it on. I offered my over-sized Deathstars hoodie to Chase, which he accepted excitedly. Once we were out the door and up the narrow stairway, I locked the door to my flat, being greeted again by the old man.  He handed me the mail that had come for me and smiled. 

"You don't let that boy hurt you!" He pointed to Chase.

"I'm sure my brother won't harm me." I said with a soft smile. 

With that, the old man nodded at walked back to his room. Chase and I stood there for a long moment. I glanced at the envelopes in my hand. One, I could tell, was hand written. Chase slid them out of my grasp and into the bag.

"We'll have time for that later."

And with that, we left the flats, stepping out into the frigid air; our faces instantly numb. He threw my bag into the back of a solid black impala, I'm guessing his new ride, and opened the passenger door. I slid in,  letting him close the door and run to the driver's side to join me. We stat together in total silence as the car roared to life at the turn of the key.

"Let's hit the road, Jack," I sighed. "But we will have to come back."