The Halfway Group (book 1)

Chapter 48: The First Move

Jimmy's POV:

"Okay guys.... let's go."  I'm wearing a sports coat and some dress pants with my other clothes in the back seat.  Chloe is wearing a black dress and her boots and Max is wearing a dress.  The funeral is going to be hard, but with these two I can do it... but I'm not playing or singing I already let Mr. Amber know, and he was okay with it.  But goddamn this going to be so hard to say my final goodbyes...

"Jimmy, it is gonna be really hard but we got your back man, it's going to be hard for all of us but together we can do this." Chloe touches my arm and smiles.  It doesn't help make this any easier. 

"I know Chloe, this is just so hard. Because I'll have to let Rachel go.... forever.  Then we go find Haley and end my dad's plan once and for all.  Nathan didn't deserve to die qnd neither did Rachel, I'd trade places with Rachel in a heartbeat. That bullet was meant for me.  What we will fucking do is send in a Trojan horse.  I'll go alone and set the tone for the shit that's about to unfold, and then you and Max will swing in around the back and take one of them out and I'll handle the other, you two will grab Haley and make a run for it back to my car.  I'll then finish what THEY started... nobody will fuck with the Carswells again."

"Let's just focus on what we have going on, the funeral starts in a few minutes.  You got this dude."  I nod and start the car as I start driving I have flashbacks of Rachel....  I put in my avenged sevenfold CD and Second Heartbeat plays.... it was rachel's favorite song by them.

"Almost there bud, slow it down a tad."  We arrive and I get out of the car and hand chloe the keys.  "Don't let me drive for a bit." I bring out a flask and take a drink of what's inside.. 

"Oh no you dont, you are not drinking." Max takes it and puts in her purse.  "I cant believe you, we need to have a serious talk when this is all over."  I glare at her but realize she is right, no need to be drunk and make a fool of myself.... I'm so not ready for this.  I walk ahead of them and see Mr. Amber and Mrs. Amber, he's comforting her as she's bawling and crying profusely. I walk up to the coffin and see a beautiful, but very cold and pale Rachel.... wearing the dress mom bought for her all those months ago.... God I hate myself for being so reckless... I touch her hand and silently pray that I will avenge her, I'll make my dad suffer in ways he didn't think were possible.  This day is going to be the start of his final days.  "Rachel I love you, and if worst comes to worst I'll see you very very soon...."  I let go of her hand and slide a note I wrote into her other hand.. "You'll be able to read it in thr after life.  I miss you so much but I have to go rescue Haley, goodbye sweet girl and watch over us all."  I walk away fighting tears as Chloe and Max take their turn.  I walk to my car and change briskly before anyone sees, my Pantera shirt with some jeans and my green converse.  I get some of my hair glue and shove up my faux hawk.  Jimmy fucking means business.

As I light up a cigarette Chloe and Max walk back.  They grab their changes of clothes and change in the bathroom of the park.  As Chloe and Max run towards the car I finish my cigarette and light up another, since I got out of the hospital yesterday I've gone through 3 packs of cigarettes, this will be my 4th pack. 

"Damn dude, slow the fuck down on the smoking.  I know you gave up your nasty ass chew but god man, 3 packs in one night is bad.  AND that's coming from a smokers point of view." Chloe takes my cig and smokes it.  I guess she's right, Haley would have a coronary if she knew I smoked 3 packs in one night. 

"Alright, so it's on to Salem.... John, Sean, get ready for a fucking war of the ages motherfuckers I'm done playing."  We all get in as I speed away and roll the windows down, I ask Chloe to put in my Primal Fear CD and push it to track 8.  Out in the Fields is a fucking epic song for an epic drive.  The riff in the beginning all the way to the vocals to the solo.  It is so invigorating I have to speed faster. What should have been a 2 and a half hour drive took an hour and 20 minutes. I was so lucky I find get pulled over,

"Jimmy! You are so lucky you didn't get pulled over." Max says in the back seat gripping the 'oh shit' handle.  Then I black out, while parked I black out and have a serious dream.

"Jimmy come on! The movie is about to start. Let's get our seats." My first date with Rachel plays in my head.  "I love you so much, you are my ride or die."  Rachel talking to me while we go rescue Haley.... why now, why show me this now?  Then I feel her lips on mine, I open my eyes and I'm staring at Rachel a now lifeless corpse rotting away in the ground.  I'm in the casket with her and I feel her flesh deteriorate behind my lips, I try pulling away but her grip won't let me go her eyes shoot open and are nothing but black sockets.  Her hair is all but gone and I start freaking out when her tongue enters my mouth I try screaming when a voice enters my head.  "It's your fault I'm dead, if you would have just let John beat your ass and take that beating like a man, I would still be alive and so would our baby.  You have no one but yourself to blame Jimmy, now you will suffocate and rot here with me." I scream snd try pulling away as I feel her arm pierce my chest and rip my heart out....