Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE) - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

ELVIS
August 1st: 12:14
I wanted to punch this bitch in the face. I was well aware that was a disgusting and misogynistic thought to have and I would never actually do it, but I couldn't help the intrusive thoughts pounding at my brain as she hopped out of her stupid white Cadillac looking like a Jersey Shore reject, though much prettier to be fair. She beamed bright and wide, looking like some sort of Barbie doll as she jumped from her car, practically strutting towards us. It was a haunting vision of Violet from all those years ago, airheaded and cruel.
"You look like you could use a shower, sweetie." She cooed, patting Kiara's cheek as she passed.
Kiara clenched her jaw and followed her with her eyes.
"Charlie? Where are you baby? Why are you in this hovel? Is this a crack den?"
"I am going to slit her throat." Kiara growled under her breath, taking a step towards the RV, Cassie right behind, clutching her hand tightly.
"What's your big plan?" I hissed, "Lock her in there?"
"Yep." She shrugged, walking into the RV and slamming the door behind them.
Dixon and I stood, giving each other a wide eyed glance and running into the RV before Kiara could lock the door. Once inside, Kiara bolted the door and turned to the girl who was standing in the middle of the room, hand on her cocked hip.
"Well?"
"About that..." Kiara moved away from the rest of us, taking a step towards Pearl, "He's not here."
"Where is he?"
"He's dead."
My eyes bulged from my head, "Christ, Kiara, way to sugar coat it."
"He's what?" Pearl shrieked, "Murderers! Drug dealing, crack den murderers! Police! FBI! Oprah! Help m-mmf!"
"Kiara what the fuck are you doing?"
Kiara was currently wrestling the smaller girl to the ground, shoving an old sock tightly in her mouth. Pearl lay on the ground, sock in her mouth, unmoving. Her eyes were darting around the room erratically, as if planning an escape route.
"Kiara, let me talk to her." Dixon knelt beside the pair, reaching out to touch Pearl's arm gently, "Hi, my name is Dixon. This is my sister, Cassie. These are our...friends...Elvis and Kiara."
"Give her our social securities while you're at it." I muttered, only to be ignored.
"Now. We aren't going to hurt you. We are not murderers. Charles tried to kill us, so really it was self defence. We are just going to keep you with us for a little bit, then set you free. Alright?"
Pearl nodded.
"So you are not gonna scream if I take this sock out?"
Pearl nodded enthusiastically.
Dixon smirked at us all, "See what happens if you show a little compassion? She's a human being."
Kiara removed herself from her position hovering over Pearl, gesturing for Dixon to take the sock out of Pearl's mouth, while swiftly moving away from the other girl. Dixon smiled widely at the girl, leaning out to pull the sock from her mouth. She sat up slowly, blinking rapidly and glancing around the room. She looked at us, giving us a small smile.
"HELP ME! SOMEBODY HELP! NO! DON'T TOUCH ME YOU MOTHERFMPHR!"
Dixon had unceremoniously shoved the sock back into her mouth with a raised eyebrow. He turned around to our amused expressions and shrugged bashfully, eyes twinkling.
"My bad." He chuckled.
"What now? We can't leave her here." Cassie gnawed on her thumb, eyes flitting between Pearl and Kiara.
"And what? Add kidnapping to our growing list of charges? Kidnapping of one of the most powerful heiresses on the continent?" I rubbed a hand down my face then sighed.
"What choice do we have?" Kiara turned to me, "She'll call the cops and we'll be caught in an instant."
Pearl grunted, reaching into her mouth to pull out the sock, but Dixon slapped her hand away with ease.
"Don't do that." He said, "What if I bake you a pie? Do you like pie? I make a mean cherry pie."
She considered him with a tilted head, then nodded enthusiastically.
"See!" Dixon turned to us, "Pie solves everything."
Pearl used this momentary distraction to yank the sock from her mouth and start shrieking once more.
"Sweetheart, as endearing as your naivety is, it's very inconvenient right now." I pecked him on the cheek and stuffed the sock back in her mouth simultaneously.
"Sweetheart?" He smirked, raising an eyebrow.
I flushed, "Shut up."
"I liked it." He was giving me that smile again and I couldn't resist leaning in and capturing his lips with mine.
It was warm and wholesome and I put my hand on his cheek, pulling him closer.
"Help m-"
"Your horniness is most inconvenient, sweetheart." Kiara smirked, eyebrow raised and a hand over Pearl's mouth, lodging the sock in further.
"She is not catching a break with this." Cassie chuckled, "I'm pretty sure that's Brent's gym sock too."
Pearl's eyes widened exaggeratedly. Dixon patted her shoulder soothingly.
"Look." Kiara sighed, "I know it doesn't help our not kidnapping the bitch case but I think we need to tie her up."
Pearl shook her head rapidly, saying something that came out muffled.
"I agree." Cassie said, "We need to be able to take our eyes off of her for like ten seconds."
"I swear Violet has a pair of handcuffs in her case." Kiara stood, moving back towards the bedroom area, speaking loudly, "She brought them for some kind of drinking game or kinky Brent sex. I didn't ask for specifics."
She emerged dangling a pair of solid metal handcuffs, moving towards Pearl who started thrashing violently.
"Down, cowgirl." Kiara smirked, poking her nose, "We aren't going to hurt you. Just going to handcuff you to the couch bed so you don't call your daddy and have him murder us." Kiara spoke soothingly, her tone almost sultry with how low it had gotten, "Surely you can understand that, right? Because that's exactly what you would do, right?"
Pearl nodded, slumping down and watching Kiara with glazed eyes. Kiara pulled the cowboy hat off of her head with a wink. She reached into Pearl's pocket, pulling out her phone and throwing it up onto the countertop.
"Good girl." Kiara patted her cheek and I pointedly ignored Cassie turning a rather interesting shade of red by my side.
Pearl no longer struggled as Kiara led her to the couch, gently setting her down and cuffing both of her hands between the bar of the couch arm. Pearl shifted around, finding a comfortable way to lie back, eyes darting between us all.
"See?" Kiara raised an eyebrow at us all, "Maybe I should be a crime boss for a living. Is your dad hiring, princess?"
Pearl narrowed her eyes.
Cassie had grown stiff by her brother's side, face pinched in a way I had yet to see in the days we had known each other. I glanced at Dixon, who looked perplexed.
"Well, if that's done, I'm gonna take a nap." Cassie rolled her eyes and moved towards the back of the trailer, brushing past Kiara who watched her with a confused gaze.
"Are you okay?" She frowned, reaching out for the other girl who shook her off.
"Mhm!"
"Are you su-"
"What the actual fuck? Who is that? And why is she cuffed to the fucking couch?" Brent burst into the trailer, Violet dashing in behind him.
"Oh my goodness!" Violet exclaimed, barrelling past us all and practically tackling Kiara to the floor, curling herself around her, "I am so so sorry! I was being horrible I was just so upset and I panicked and let the anger get the best of me but you're my sister and I never ever want to hurt you please forgive me, please please please-"
"Are you insane?" Kiara clung to Violet and the pair lay in a ball on the ground as we all observed, "I'm the one who's sorry! We never told you what happened and we just let you leave. Please forgive me, you're my sister-"
"Guys..."
"Are you crazy? How could I not forgive you? I left you like sitting dogs for the FBI to catch you-"
"Guys..."
"Doesn't matter. You're back now, never leave again! I love you, Vi-"
"Guys!" Brent snapped, nudging the pair with his foot, "Can we fucking focus for five seconds?"
"Jesus." Kiara snarked, sitting upright, "What's got you wound in such a knot? Did you find out you need at least an IQ of ten to join the NFL?"
"Oh, I don't know. It's pretty hot out and there's a girl handcuffed to the fucking couch!"
"Oh, right." Kiara sat upright, dragging Violet with her as she wiped tears from her cheeks rapidly, still clinging to Kiara.
Violet looked at me and my stomach dropped. Of course she would forgive Kiara, her favourite person on earth. But as close as we were, ever since we had gotten on this trip there was still a distance between us and I figured her forgiveness would be harder for me to gain. To my surprise, she shot me a small smile and a wink, mouthing We're okay.
Nothing could bring me down at that moment.
"Is anyone going to explain or are you just going to break out into a fucking orgy?" Brent snapped, sitting down on the opposite end of the couch as Pearl, watching her closely.
"What is wrong with you today?" Kiara frowned, "I get that you're stressed but there's no need to yell."
"Well, my relationship is over, you all hate me and there's an FBI agent hanging out in the village 'on case' so sorry if I'm not in the mood to cuddle you right now."
"Woah, woah, woah." Cassie gaped at him from the doorway between the living area and the sleeping areas, "FB what now?"
"Would you like to tell them or would I?" Brent turned to Violet, arms folded.
"I may have been having breakfast with a friend who may be an FBI agent."
"What?" Everyone screamed in unison while Brent smirked, clearly happy to not be the asshole for once.
"I didn't know!" Violet defended, hands raised, "I realised right before I left the diner."
"Does he suspect you?" I asked calmly, sensing Kiara was vibrating with withheld anger.
"No." She blushed, "Definitely not. I promise."
"Someone got smooched." Dixon sing-songed, stopping when I drove my elbow into his side, "Ow!"
"Guys..." Cassie sighed, face dull, "We aren't getting anywhere right now. I say we just get on the road. The longer we're here, the more likely we are sitting ducks."
"I agree." Brent rolled his eyes, "The sooner we do this, the sooner we don't have to see each other again. I'll drive."
No one said a word as he moved to the front of the RV, driving off silently. Violet stood, arms folded and stance tense, watching him closely. She muttered something unintelligible before walking off to the queen bed, out of sight of everyone else. Pearl's eyes followed him to the front seat and I smirked, realising I may have found a solution to our little screamer problem.
"I'm gonna take a nap." Cassie shrugged, moving past everyone without a word and curling into one of the bunkbeds.
Kiara watched her with concerned eyes, "I'll uh...have a shower."
"Guess that leaves me on dinner duty!" Dixon beamed, moving towards the oven, "Brent, dinner?"
"Please, man." He called back.
Brent seemed more at ease with Dixon than any of the rest of us, and rightly so. Which would make my plan go down all the better. I moved up behind Dixon as he fiddled with the hobs of the oven, placing my hands low on his hips.
"D, sweetheart." I murmured into his ear, noting the small shiver that went through his body as I did, "I have a plan. I need your help."
He nodded wordlessly.
"Uncuff Pearl, move her up to the front seat and take the sock out of her mouth."
"Are you insane?" He hissed, "She'll go mental."
"She won't." I smirked against his ear, "Just let me talk to her first. Brent will let it happen if it's you. He doesn't hate you at least."
"Stupid idea."
"I'll give you a reward..."
"I'm not a dog."
"Fine. None then..."
"Well, let's not be hasty."
I snickered, pecking a kiss behind his ear before moving back, training my eyes on Pearl who was fascinated with something - or someone - at the front of the RV. Smirking, I sat down next to her, clearing my throat to get her attention.
"That's Brent." I supplied, shrugging nonchalantly, "Also known as the guy whose sock is currently in your mouth."
Her eyes widened, "Hmph?"
"The one and only. He's recently single...I'm sure he could do with some good company like yourself."
She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head, "Hmfp?"
"Say I decide to throw you a bone...maybe cuff you to the front of the RV, next to the driver. Maybe even take the sock out of your mouth so you could have a nice conversation...would you like that?"
She nodded eagerly, bolting upright. As if her boyfriend isn't rotting ten feet away. There was clearly no love lost between those two anyway.
"Then you're going to have to do me a favour. Don't scream for help. Act like a normal human being. We don't want to hurt you, we just need to finish our trip and that will be that. Can I trust you?"
At her eager nod I sighed, very ready to regret my action. I reached out, pulling the positively dingy sock out of her mouth and tossing it behind me on the floor. I hesitated for a moment, body tense as she moved her jaw around, blinking rapidly.
"Well." She sighed, holding out her hand as far as she could given the handcuffs, "My name is Pearl, which you already know. Something tells me we're going to be around each other for a while Elliot."
"Elvis."
"Don't push your luck."
I smiled broadly, shaking her hand with mine.
"Before I go...can you tell me what happened?" She lowered her gaze, "I mean...once the terror and mayhem faded I realised that well...you're all so normal. People are usually talking about ransom by now...normal people don't go killing mafia guys for no reason."
"We were camping. We saw him kill an FBI informant and when he realised we were watching, he shot at us. He tried to strangle Kiara and Brent stepped in to save her. They fell into the lake and...well only Brent came up."
She nodded, gnawing on her lower lip, "So you're not psycho murderers?"
"We're trying not to be, at least."
"You'll understand if I'm a bit...cautious."
"Of course." I shrugged, "I mean your boyfriends in the trunk back there. We can't expect you to be best friends with us instantly." Her eyes widened but I pushed to continue before she could interrupt me, "But, as insane as this sounds, they're really good people, who just want to protect each other. And maybe you too, if you let them in."
She nodded, "I'll think about it. Where are we going? To a...dump site?"
I nodded, "I think you'll understand if I say I can't tell you that right now."
"Of course."
"You're very calm about this...considering."
"My last ex got murdered too." She shrugged, "Runs in the territory. I'll have a bit of a breakdown later when you're all asleep."
"You are only slightly terrifying." My voice shook.
"I know!" She beamed.
"Does his father...know?"
Pearl shrugged, "Daddy and Richard think he's off on a bender somewhere. They aren't worried yet. He does this a lot. Now. Your end of the deal, sir."
I nodded, glancing over at Dixon who was watching me with a soft expression, smiling. I rolled my eyes at him and gestured for him to come over, grabbing the key from the table as he did. He reached down, gently undoing the cuffs and rubbing her wrists softly as he did.
"Are you okay?" He glanced up at her.
Pearl nodded, smiling back at him, "All good."
Dixon led her to the front and plopped her down in the passenger seat, cuffing her to one of the door handles with ease. I watched as he said a few words to Brent, who shrugged and didn't take his eyes off the road. Dixon left them, sitting down next to me and laying his head on my shoulder.
"Since when do you play matchmaker?"
"Since it shuts her up."
"I think it's a bit more than that...I think you feel guilty."
"Guilty? Hardly? Charles deserved it."
"Not guilty about Pearl...guilty about Brent."
I sighed, "I don't like how much of a quick study you are sometimes."
"Mm you seemed to like it yesterday."
"Shut up." I flushed, "Yeah...Brent is just...I don't know. I don't like him but the guys human and I kinda fucked with his life a bit. Thought I could maybe throw him a bone. It's nothing."
"It's sweet." Dixon smiled pecking my cheek, "I'm gonna go finish dinner."
"I'll join you." I smiled, letting him grab my hand and drag me towards the oven.
I was never one for cooking but as we moved around each other in the small kitchen area with ease, I couldn't help but imagine this exact scenario in different ways. In a kitchen that wasn't housing a body for one...maybe in the French suburbs...
"Hello my homosexual darlings!"
"Jesus Christ, V." I shook my head without even turning around, "You really push the envelope on PC."
"I called you darlings, you hardly need to start a witch hunt." She snorted, looping her arm through mine, "What are we having?"
I dropped a kiss onto the top of her head, hiding my smile in her hair, "Pasta."
"Such a stereotype, Dixon, tut tut. Break the mould a bit."
A wide smile spread across my face. There was something so comforting about this moment, properly talking to Violet for the first time in days. She had been so distant, to the point where I doubted she even noticed she was pulling away from me...but it hurt badly.
"You won't be saying that when you taste it!" He beamed, "Made with vero amore."
"You'll be cleaning amore vomit if you keep making those faces at each other in front of me." She burst into peals of laughter as we both swatted at her jokingly.
Something sparked through me as this entire scene unfolded. It felt as though maybe, somehow, we could have an after this. A happy ever after for all of us.
If only we knew the shit that was going to hit the fan in the next few days.