I can hear the bass in the man’s voice, but I can’t make out what he’s saying or even if it’s a familiar voice.
If I go out the back, I can push the bike through the neighbor’s yard without being spotted.
There’s a crash through the phone as she’s huffing, slamming a door, something else slamming down to the ground
I imagine that she’s barricading herself in her room.
“Eli,” she whispers as I struggle with the weight of the bike, pushing it as fast as I can.
“Yeah, Sketch. I’m here.” Pushing it onto the neighbor’s driveway.
“Please hel —” her voice jumps, cutting herself off, as I can only imagine whoever is there slams their body against the door.
“I’m on my way.” Kicking over the bike.
“You won’t make it.” She whimpers into the receiver.
“Do you recognize him?” Turning the key, the bike revs to life.
“Their faces are covered. It feels like I’ve seen them somewhere before, but I can’t figure out where.”
“No,” I gasp as I peel the bike out onto the street.
“No!”she screams. There’s crashing and grunting before a hollow thud. I can hear two voices speaking to each other, but I can’t make out what’s being said.
* * *
Moving past the gym, I continue back. I can see from where I am that their bikes aren’t here. They must be at the studio.
Rounding the corner, I come to a stop, pulling my bike up behind theirs as I dismount and take my helmet off.
Turning around, he doesn’t need to say anything. The barrel aimed at me as one-by-one they step out the door and stop. Slowly, I hold my hands up.
“Zeke, come on…” I trail off, knowing that there’s not a lot I can say to stop his anger, which he’s apparently directed entirely at me.
But Zeke doesn’t answer me.
“Give us one reason why he shouldn’t pull the trigger.” I know it’s Z’s voice as the door closes behind the group and he walks through them.
“Is she here?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He laughs this time, turning and looking at Zeke. “You fucking believe this, him coming here and acting like his fate isn’t —”
“Shut the fuck up!”I shout, cutting him off. Except for the three of us, everyone’s mouths drop.
I can hear Zeke racking the slide.
“Don’t toy with that shit; shoot me if you want to, just tell me if she’s here! Please fucking tell me that she’s here.” I shout again, my voice shaking as I plead with them.
Zeke drops his gun, just enough for me to notice, as he takes in the concern on my face.
“I can’t find her.” Comes out in a pained whisper as I say it.
“What?” the twins both exclaim as they continue to look at me.
“She called me; she hasn’t done that in months, not even after we were all at her apartment, but she didn’t say a word… at first. I could hear her talking to someone, but couldn’t hear the other voice at all.” The words come out faster than I actually want them to. “I couldn’t make out what they were saying. She locked herself in what I assume was her room and told me I wouldn’t get there in time. Said she feels like she recognizes them, but their faces are covered. She’s not at her apartment. But it looks like there was a struggle there.”
“Then why the fuck would she be here?”
