Hellbent
Chapter 16
1980
Ashley slunk down on the couch as Blake and Maxx hovered over him. Andreas and Yvette sat in the background, watching.
Blake: “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!”
He scolded Ashley.
Maxx: “Yeah, A-Rad! Mckayla has bigger boobies!”
He scoffed at Yvette. They all turned to gape at him. Yvette smacked him over the head and folded her arms across her chest.
Maxx: “OWWWH!”
Blake rolled his eyes at Maxx and turned back to Ashley.
Blake: “You went off by yourself in the middle of the night and led that asshole to us!”
He exclaimed. Andreas frowned.
Ashley: “I’m sorry… I didn’t know he was following us.”
He bowed his head.
Blake: “Oh, you missed the big fucking idiot truck with ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ spray painted on it?!”
He said dryly.
Ashley: “I’m sorry, I was looking ahead and… I was thinking about… stuff.”
He sighed and bowed his head.
Blake: “NO! You WEREN’T thinking! Now he knows where we live!”
He threw his arms up in frustration.
Andreas: “Blake probably should have told you he tried to follow us here…”
He frowned. Ashley turned to Blake.
Ashley: “What?! Why didn’t you tell me?”
He knit his eyebrows. Blake drew a breath.
Blake: “Because I didn’t think I had to! I didn’t think you’d throw a tantrum and run off with the car!”
He threw his arms up in frustration. Ashley recoiled, looking hurt.
Blake: “What are you going to do if Craig comes back and does something to you while I’m at work?!”
His sharp tone softened into one of concern. Ashley glanced up at him.
Ashley: “Don’t worry, Blake, I’ll just do some ‘ticklewondo’ on him!”
He assured him, trickling his fingers in the air. Yvette giggled.
Ashley: “Oh, and spray him with my lavender spray so his feet don’t stink!”
He added with a laugh. Andreas couldn’t help but to laugh at that. Yvette snickered and Maxx laughed. Blake groaned and rubbed his temples.
Blake: “You have NO idea how the real world works, Ashley…”
He exhaled sharply.
Ashley: “Maybe I would if you let me get out in the real world!”
He cried, folding his arms.
Blake: “What, so you can bring MORE chaos to our doorstep?!”
He fired back at him, throwing his arms up.
Blake: “Every single time you run off on your own, THIS happens! Look what happened when you brought that clown into our home! Now we’re stuck with that thing!”
He rasped, pointing at Maxx. Andreas quirked an eyebrow, wondering what he meant by them being stuck with Maxx now.
Maxx: “Owww! Dats right! Now your lives aren’t boring and lame anymore with Maxxy around!”
He grinned, putting his arms around them both. Blake shoved Maxx away from him.
Maxx: “OWW!”
Ashley: “What about Yvette? She’s not chaos!”
He rebutted. Yvette smiled a bit.
Blake: “Maybe not, but you brought that bogan asshole here going to her! What if he hurts you?! …What if he hurts Andreas?!”
He snapped. Andreas pursed his lips.
Ashley: “I-I’m sorry, Andreas… I didn’t mean to! It won’t happen again!”
He bowed his head.
Blake: “You’re damn right it won’t because you won’t be going off on your own anymore!”
He scolded him, swiping the car keys in his hand.
Ashley: “...W-What?”
His heart sank and they all gaped at Blake. Andreas swung his gaze over to Blake and sighed.
Andreas: “You can’t keep him locked away in a tower, Blake.”
He said firmly, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Ashley: “I’m not Rapunzel! My hair isn’t long enough! Stop treating me like a little kid! I’m a grown adult!”
He cried.
Blake: “Then act like one!”
Andreas stepped in between them and turned to Blake.
Andreas: “Take me home, Blake.”
He commanded. Blake turned to Andreas.
Blake: “What? Now? What if Craig is there?!”
He exclaimed.
Andreas: “Then I will deal with it as I always do.”
He said matter-of-factly.
Blake: “I can’t leave you to do that on your own!”
Andreas sighed and looked over at Ashley. He then turned back to Blake.
Andreas: “We need to talk.”
He bowed his head and pursed his lips. Blake gave him a quizzical look.
Blake: “Oh… sure.”
He nodded and approached the door with him.
Blake turned back to Ashley and pointed.
Blake: “Stay here and make sure that clown doesn’t burn down the house.”
He huffed, slamming the door behind him.
Maxx: “What?! I don’t need no babysitter!”
He slurred, drinking his goon sack. Ashley tensed up when he thought of their house burning down back in Golden Shore and visualized their current home burning.
Suddenly, he jolted when Yvette tapped him on the shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie.
Yvette: “Are you okay?”
Ashley soothed to her gentle voice of concern.
Ashley: “Y-yeah… I’m SO sorry about dragging you into all of this!”
He slunk to the floor, rubbing his eyes.
Ashley: “Blake is right… all I do is bring chaos into people’s lives!”
He cried.
Yvette: “You aren’t the chaos in your life.”
She assured him, giving Maxx the side-eye as he passed out on the couch.
Yvette: “Your dad just doesn’t understand. Most dads don’t.”
Ashley gaped at her and laughed a hollow laugh.
Ashley: “Oh, uh, Blake isn’t my dad, haha!”
He awkwardly shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “That man is my dad.”
He pointed to Nikolai Sabatini in the family portrait on the wall.
Yvette: “Oh! I thought Blake looked really young for that! That makes more sense!”
She chuckled.
Yvette: “Where is your dad?”
Ashley sighed and looked away.
Ashley: “We don’t know…”
He cradled himself in his faux fur coat.
~
Blake lit up a cigarette as he drove with Andreas beside him in the passenger seat.
Andreas: “So, you’re not going to let Ashley go off on his own anymore?”
He challenged. Blake tilted his head back.
Blake: “No. If it weren’t for Ashley, we wouldn’t have Maxx and Craig buzzing around! That wouldn’t have happened if I was there with him!”
He huffed. Andreas sighed.
Andreas: “And what about me?”
He pressed him.
Blake: “Don’t worry, I won’t let that asshole hurt you! I won’t let you deal with that alone!”
He assured him.
Andreas: “So… you don’t think I can handle things on my own either?”
He challenged.
Andreas: “Would the same rule for Ashley apply to me, too because if it weren’t for me, Craig wouldn’t be buzzing around in the first place?”
He challenged. Blake paused and turned to him.
Blake: “No, no, not at all!”
He assured him.
Blake: “I’m sorry, Andreas… you were only young when you made that mistake. It’s not your fault. You’re not responsible for what Craig does!”
He assured him.
Andreas: “How is this different from Ashley?”
He challenged.
Blake: “Because Ashley is vulnerable. He doesn’t understand the world… ”
He countered.
Andreas: “But you do?”
He challenged.
Blake: “Yes, because I had to grow up quick and learn it…”
He pursed his lips and kept his eyes on the road. Andreas paused and turned to him.
Andreas: “What do you mean?”
He pressed him.
Blake: “Ashley was only sixteen when our parents…”
He pursed his lips. Andreas bowed his head.
Andreas: “I see… so you raised Ashley… now it makes sense.”
Blake nodded.
Blake: “Yes… it was 1980…”
~
Flashback to Golden Shore, 1st of June, 1980. Blake was twenty years old. He was clean-shaven with shoulder-length hair. He was sitting in the garage on his Honda Integra motorcycle, revving the engine and blasting heavy metal. He smiled down at the one-way plane ticket for Pink Top City, USA, he had pulled out from his leather jacket. The date was scheduled for June 26th.
Branch peeked his head into the garage. He was slimmer and had a shoulder-length shag cut with a blonde streak in his bangs and was dressed in Jean shorts with a purple flannel and a “Baked” shirt with a cake on it. He recoiled to the lyrics in the music about death and blood.
Branch: “Lake! Can you turn the music off? It's giving me bad vibes!”
He cried, covering his ears. Lake shoved the ticket back into his leather jacket. He rolled his eyes at Branch and turned the music up more, spitefully locking his glare onto him.
Lake: “Not my fault you’re high as a kite again, Branch.”
He scolded him, narrowing onto his red eyes and the waft of marijuana emanating from him. Branch shifted his eyes.
~
Cut back to the present day 1985.
Andreas: “Hold on! Lake and Branch?”
He pressed him. Lake sighed.
Lake: “Yeah… those are the birthnames we were given in Sunshire and went by at the time...”
He explained with a groan.
Andreas: “Hippie parents. I should have guessed. Go on…”
~
Cut back to 1980.
Branch frowned at Lake and marched over to the stereo, turning it off.
Lake: “WHAT? What do you want?!”
He hissed sharply at him. Branch recoiled and drew back.
Branch: “...Mum and Dad are leaving for their trip now.”
He stammered. Lake gaped at him and his ire soared.
Lake: “Oh, they’re running off again?”
He rolled his eyes.
Branch: “They’re not running off. They’ll be back in two weeks!”
He explained.
Lake: “Sure, whatever. At least I get two weeks of peace and quiet.”
Branch sighed and bowed his head.
Branch: “...Can you at least come say goodbye?”
He sighed. Lake groaned and turned off his motorcycle engine.
Lake: “Alright, fine. Then I will know when they’re gone.”
He rose to his feet.
Branch: “You shouldn’t speak like that about them…”
He said with hurt in his tone.
~
They sauntered through the blooming backyard that resembled a colorful jungle and entered the humble Edwardian home from the backdoor. Lake rolled his eyes at the arts and crafts scattered throughout the living room, haphazardly shoved away. Homemade wreaths and dreamcatchers cluttered the yellow walls with fresh herbs drying from the ceilings.
At the front door, a short, plump woman with long caramel hair dressed in a long flowing blue paisley skirt stood beside a tall man with shaggy dark hair and a beard, dressed in a faux fur coat. Branch ran up to them, encircling them in a hug.
Branch: “Please don’t go!”
He pleaded with them. The woman gently placed her hand on his cheek. She had the same sun symbol tattoo on her thumb that they had.
Eleanora: “Don’t be sad, my little Branch. We will be back.”
She assured him, kissing his forehead.
Nikolai: “You have Lake here to take care of you.”
He smiled up at Lake. Lake huffed and folded his arms across his chest.
Lake: “Why do I have to take care of him?!”
He snapped at them both. Branch bowed his head.
Nikolai: “Because Branch is your sibling and they need you.”
He stated, placing his hand on Branch’s shoulder.
Lake: “That’s YOUR job! He needs YOU!”
He snapped and everyone fell silent. Branch’s bottom lip trembled as he tried to hide his tears. Eleanora uncomfortably shifted and clung to Nikolai.
Nikolai: “You’re upsetting your mother.”
He held her close to him.
Lake: “WHAT ABOUT MY FEELINGS?!”
He threw his arms up with frustration.
Eleanora: “That horrid metallic music is making your feelings so angry and negative!”
She cried.
Lake: “...You think music did this to me?”
He threw his head back and laughed bitterly.
Eleanora: “You used to be such a nice, happy boy… I don’t know what happened…”
She sighed.
Lake: “Yeah, because I HAD to be, but I wasn’t! You know damn well what happened!”
He hissed between clenched teeth. Eleanora bowed her head and exchanged a look with Nikolai.
Nikolai: “We don’t discuss Sunshire.”
She said firmly.
Branch: “Why not?! Why can’t we go back?!”
He cried. Lake’s expression darkened.
Eleanora: “...Someday you will understand.”
Her voice trailed off.
Branch: “Why do you have to leave again?!”
He cried.
Lake: “Good fucking question.”
He huffed.
Nikolai: “Because sometimes you have to do what you need to do for those you love…”
He stated. Lake huffed, dismissively.
Lake: “Yeah, except be here.”
He said bitterly.
Nikolai: “When we get back, I promise we will explain everything...”
He nodded to Lake and Branch, holding his hand up, showing his matching sun symbol tattoo. Lake quirked an eyebrow.
Lake: “Really? No rugsweeping?”
He glared over his mother.
Eleanora: “I think it’s time you knew… but that will have to wait. We’re going to miss our flight.”
She gripped Nikolai’s hand and they interlocked their thumbs with their sun symbols on them. Nikolai nodded.
Eleanora pulled her children into a tight hug.
Eleanora: “Love and light!”
Branch hugged her back.
Branch: “Love and light!”
Lake: “Hate and Dark!”
He quipped dryly.
Nikolai shrugged out of his faux fur coat and draped it onto Branch’s shoulders.
Nikolai: “I’ll leave this with you, Branch.”
He leaned forward to his eye level, placing his hands on his shoulders.
Nikolai: “When you miss me, I will always be there with you, giving you a hug…”
Branch smiled and wiped his tears, nestling into his coat.
Branch: “Grazie mille, papa…”
He beamed and gave him a hug. Nikolai shook Lake’s hand and pulled him into a hug.
Nikola: “Take care of him, Lake…”
Eleanora turned around to Lake.
Eleanora: “Be good to each other.”
She waved him goodbye and left with Nikolai.
~
Cut back to the present day 1985. Andreas and Blake were now at Andreas’ house, sitting together on his couch.
Blake: “I didn’t know that would be our final farewell and taking care of Ashley meant forever…”
He sighed.
Andreas: “You don’t know when you will last see someone.”
He thought of his mother’s passing.
Blake: “They always went away, so I didn’t think it would be forever this time…”
He frowned.
Andreas: “I didn’t think my mother going to work would be forever either… At least you got to say goodbye… she died in a car accident.”
His voice trailed off. Blake placed his hand on his lap.
Blake: “I’m sorry… if it's any consolation… I wish we didn’t have that goodbye…”
He admitted.
Andreas: “Why?”
Blake parted his lips and drew a long breath.
Blake: “I was an angry young man. I had all this rage and resentment that I didn’t know how to deal with, but had I known that would be the last time, I wouldn’t have parted like that. I always regretted that.”
He confessed.
Blake: “I let my emotions get the better of me and never got any closure.”
He sighed.
Blake: “I had so many questions I was too stubborn to ask and I’m always thinking about what they were going to tell me when they got back, but now I will never know…”
He flopped back in his seat and gazed up at the ceiling, pondering that thought. Andreas leaned onto his chest.
Andreas: “I’m sorry… sometimes we don’t get closure. Life isn’t like a movie with everything wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end. Some things just end… and that's it.”
He explained.
Blake: “I guess you’re right… I can’t help but wonder though…”
He pondered.
~
Ashley and Yvette sat together sipping their tea out of Ashley’s cat-shaped teapot and matching tea cups. Ashley nervously glanced up at the swinging cat clock on the wall and gazed out the window.
Ashley: “They’ve been gone a long while now…”
He shifted in his seat.
Yvette: “Don’t worry, I don’t have to be back at work today.”
She assured him, sipping on her tea.
Ashley: “...It’s not that.”
His voice trailed off.
Yvette: “What’s wrong?”
She knit her eyebrows.
Ashley: “I just get nervous when Blake is gone for a long time…”
He sighed and glanced at the family portrait on the wall, fading into a memory.
~
Flashback to 26th of June, 1980. Sixteen-year-old Branch sat on the window sill, looking out the window.
Branch: “They’ve been gone for a long while now…”
He cradled himself. Lake glanced up from his book and rolled his eyes.
Lake: “No shit! They should have been back a week ago!”
He huffed bitterly, glancing down at his plane ticket wedged between the pages of his book with today's date on it.
Branch: “...I-I don’t want to kill the vibes, but—”
He began.
Lake: “The “good vibes” are already dead, but go ahead!”
He huffed, throwing his book to the floor. Ashley swallowed hard.
Branch: “...What if something happened to them?”
He said in a small voice. Lake looked away.
Lake: “Don’t worry, Branch. I’m sure they’re on some beach somewhere, living it up.”
He huffed bitterly and folded his arms across his chest. Branch smiled a bit.
Branch: “Oh… you’re probably right.”
He forced a smile.
Branch knelt to pick up Lake’s book from the ground when he noticed something wedged between the pages.
Branch: “Pink Top City?”
He read out the plane ticket. Lake froze and snatched it from his hand.
Branch: “Ooh! Are we going on a trip?”
He beamed.
Branch: “Oh no! That's tonight! I'm not even ready!”
Lake: “No, Branch. Just me and not a trip. But it’s looking like that’s not going to happen now. No thanks to mum and dad!”
He huffed at the calendar. Branch’s heart sank and he stepped back.
Branch: “W-Wait… you’re leaving?!”
He cupped his mouth. Lake drew a breath.
Lake: “I have my own life to live! I’m sick and tired of them holding me back and I’m sick of this place!”
He vented. Branch slunk down in his seat and cradled himself.
Branch: “...W-What about me?”
He sobbed. Lake looked away.
Lake: “You’ll have mum and dad to look after you as they SHOULD be! It’s not MY job!”
He said bitterly, full of resentment.
Branch: “Oh… I’m sorry I’m a burden to you…“
He bowed his head.
Branch: “Don’t worry about me! Mum and Dad will be back any day now! Go live your dream!”
He cried, looking over at the front door. Lake looked over at the door and pursed his lips.
Lake: “Whatever.”
He huffed, storming out the door. He got onto his motorcycle and sped off down the street. Branch fell to his knees and sobbed, keeping his gaze fixed on the door.
~
Hours passed by and Branch nervously paced around the empty house alone, keeping his eyes fixed on the door as he finished another tray of cookies. His eyes brightened when he saw the doorknob rattling.
Branch: “...Mum? Dad?”
He beamed, rushing over to the door to greet them. His face dropped when he saw Lake standing there with a blank expression.
Branch: “...Lake?!”
He stammered.
Branch: “You’re back?!”
Lake locked his gaze on him and pulled out his ticket. He pulled out his lighter and set it on fire, burning it up. Branch cupped his mouth.
Branch: “...W-why did you do that?! Why did you come back?!”
He cried. Lake pursed his lips.
Lake: “...I don’t think they’re coming back, Branch.”
He huffed, throwing his burning ticket to the ground and stomping out the fire. Branch’s heart sank.
Branch: “W-What do you mean?!”
He swallowed hard. Lake drew a long breath.
Lake: “They’ve been gone for a month… maybe you were right…”
His tone took on a somber note. Branch felt sick to his stomach.
Lake: “...I didn’t go to the airport… I went to the police and filed a missing persons report.”
He confessed and looked away.
Branch: “WHAT?!”
He cupped his mouth and sobbed.
Lake: “Come on, let’s get some dinner.”
He nodded, placing his hand on his shoulder. Branch huddled himself in his father’s coat and went inside with him.
~
Cut to the present day, 1985. Ashley glanced over at the door as the knob rattled. He rose from his seat when Blake entered.
Ashley: “You’re back!”
He said softly. Blake pursed his lips.
Blake: “Let’s take your friend home.”
He nodded to Yvette. Yvette rose from the couch with Ashley and they left with Blake.
~
The Kingswood station wagon pulled up beside an old apartment complex down the road from Voyage Burger. Ashley was seated beside Blake in the passenger seat and turned around to Yvette in the backseat.
Ashley: “I’m sorry about all of this… I’m sorry you had to be around all that scary fighting… I understand if you don’t want to be around me again…”
He sighed, bowing his head. Yvette gaped at him.
Yvette: “Are you kidding me?! I got to see a VIKING BATTLE! I got to drink your delicious tea and tickle your cute little feet, hehe! That was the BEST night ever!”
She beamed. Ashley blushed and shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “R-Really?!”
He brightened.
Yvette: “Yes! Let’s do it again and again!”
She flashed him a smile as she climbed out of the car.
Ashley: “Pawesome! See you again soon!”
He waved at her.
Blake stepped on the accelerator and pulled out onto the road. The two sat in silence as Blake drove through the streets of Selene Valley.
Blake: “Andreas told me there’s a ‘Lake Bake’ sale this weekend…”
He cleared his throat, cutting through the tension and ashing out his cigarette. Ashley brightened and turned to him.
Ashley: “Really?”
He then frowned, getting flashbacks to his peanut cookies nearly killing Maxx.
Ashley: “I don’t bake anymore though…”
He sighed.
Blake: “That wasn’t your fault!”
He hissed between clenched teeth. Ashley bowed his head.
Ashley: “Yes it was… you said it yourself! All I do is cause chaos!”
He cried.
Blake sighed.
Blake: “It’s not your fault…”
He frowned. Ashley gaped at Blake.
Ashley: “...Huh?!”
Blake drew a breath.
Blake: “...You were raised by mum and dad in a cult… and then you were raised by me.”
He frowned.
Blake: “They didn’t teach you shit about the world! Turns out I wasn’t much better either. I was lost in my own way… and I thought I was protecting you… but I became the very thing I hated about them and rebelled against…”
He twisted his mouth. Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “What’s that?”
He swallowed hard. Blake kept his eyes on the road ahead of them.
Blake: “I wanted to be free of them holding me back and keeping me sheltered from the world… I wanted to live my own life by my own rules…”
He explained.
Ashley: “...Like me?!”
He placed his hand on his chest. Blake nodded.
Blake: “I just didn’t want you to get hurt… and I guess that’s what they were trying to do, too?”
He said softly. Ashley wiped a tear from his eye.
Blake: “Look, Craig would have done what he did, regardless of you.”
He twisted his mouth.
Blake: “He’s my problem and I will deal with him. It doesn’t concern you.”
He added, taking a drag from his cigarette. Ashley bowed his head.
Blake: “As for Maxx… you need to learn about the world and the best way to do that is through experience.”
He groaned. Ashley stared out the window deep in thought.
Blake: “Turns out, I have a lot to learn, too…”
He said earnestly. Ashley smiled a bit.
Ashley: “I’ll say! Andreas is your first-ever love!”
He teased and chuckled. Blake blushed a bit.
Blake: “Yes…”
Ashley: “He’s good for you, Blake!”
He smiled at him.
Blake: “I hope you find someone good for you, too.”
He said earnestly.
Ashley: “Maybe I have…”
He smiled a bit, gazing out the window.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Comments