Ch. 11 (Reaching for Sky)

Chapter 11

After finishing remodeling the deck that surrounded a fiberglass pool we had installed over a month ago, I went and cashed my check; anxious to buy a new phone. My parents haven’t bothered me much since they’ve been enjoying the large sum of money I drop in their lap every few weeks or so. I rode my motorcycle downtown to a cell phone company, enjoying the mild breeze. I wanted to get something more updated, and I had the extra cash to blow--for once. It took over an hour to decide on a phone considering I had no idea on what I was really looking for. As long as I could call and text, I guess it didn't really matter much to me.
Once purchased, I sat in my room reading over the owner’s manual. I was quite positive that I was one of lesser value in the flock of technology. In the midst of boggling my brain with Chinese, Sky’s message tone dinged on my laptop. I hopped on replying with my new cell number, telling her to text me instead.
“I’ll be back on here later. Just text me. I’m going out with the guys for a little.”
“Web chat later?”
“Deal!” I smiled, logging off.

I raced out the front door, jumping into Trenton’s truck. Johnny was having a barbecue and had a pit full of weed that he was ready to burn. Out of all the years of knowing Johnny, he was always smart when it came to science and chemistry, never disappointing the outcasts of social mediocrity, either. He’s created some of the most insane tools and objects to smoke from. If the repercussions regarding the law didn’t weigh so heavily, then I’m sure he’d take the chance on running his own black market. I walked up beside him while he finished setting up and old oil drum filled with marijuana and some other shit I didn’t recognize.
“Are you gonna light that entire thing up?”
“Go big or go home, right?” He smiled, taking a drag from his cigarette.
“What all is in there?” I peered with curiosity.
“Good old fashion marijuana, some salvia, and ground up molly mixed with other pain killer substances.”
I’m sure my wraithlike expression made his phantasmal idea seem ingenious.
“Dude, what is it with you? You’re going to have the entire block fucked up!”
“I think it’s astronomical, especially coming from such a brilliant mind.”
I looked up to see an unfamiliar face run her nails across Johnny’s abdomen. He turned his head to kiss her then looked back at me with a wink. I rolled my eyes, moseying around the crowd of hoodlums gathered in the Rocko yard. There were maybe thirty some odd people standing around drinking and socializing. I assumed the same chick who was rubbing all over Johnny had to be his new playmate, only with the exceptional display of their affection all evening did I come to that conclusion. I saw Tiffany with some of her friends sitting inside Johnny’s garage and she saw me, but never approached me. She did everything but give me the time of day. With egotistical delight, I let it roll off the shoulders and pursued a girl who went to school with Bri. I was already feeling tipsy and pissed off and I wanted to make Tiffany jealous for the sake of my own sanity. Even just to prove she did care beyond her masquerade of denial. When in reality, my imperfections were nonexistent inside her lonely heart that starved for amity. I was in a different headspace on this day, but every other day--I shut her out. Like some dirty little secret--I took great pleasure in our fun.

“Is everyone ready to spark up?” Johnny shouted to gain everyone's attention.
The clamor of clanking beer bottles sloshed about, filling the nebulous evening air. Johnny lit a match, pouring lighter fluid inside of his mouth like a damn maniac as awes sifted throughout the people. I parted my drink from my lips, letting the liquid fall to the grass below.
“He’s lost his fucking mind,” I muttered to myself.
Johnny expectorated the fluid, torching the match as it dropped into the drum bursting into irrepressible flames. The entire crowd was on the verge of asphyxiating to death from the thick layer of smoke that blanketed around us. Colton and Jacoby ran around in their stupid gas masks, freaking everyone out in good fun but I sought solitude. My mind was unfolding--shifting into the unfamiliar. I swore at one point the oil drum somehow transitioned into a gigantic gem, and the girls who stood around it turned into a Pod of mystical mermaids. But nothing was far worse than when Trenton came walking up, appearing to be a fucking centaur, and Johnny’s fucking head was slowly detaching from his body--floating aimlessly. Each time they spoke to me it was as if their words were pouring into conversation bubbles. The longer I stared, the more each letter began changing colors like a lava lamp--suspending before popping into evaporation. I would try to respond--but my word processor hit a traffic jam, coming out long and drawn out. At least I thought I was communicating in English but everything sounded foreign. Trent and Johnny held their obscure expressions asking me if I were okay before laughing until they could hardly breathe.
“Man, I am so fucked up!” My world sat off-kilter as I strayed away into the darkness.

Eventually, I wound up alone for quite some time, lying in the grass just watching the sky above. I tried staring long enough without blinking to view satellites orbiting in space but the stars began moving too. I’d think of the most random things and just laugh to myself, rubbing my stomach to keep my nausea at bay. Suddenly, a figure stood over me, breaking my concentration. I glanced up to a faceless body and the more I strained the more the obscurity formed a profile.
“Nicki?” I slurred.
“Who?” The voice echoed.
I slapped myself trying to straighten my mind, but it wasn’t working. The figure’s hand reached out to help me stand, but as I went to grab ahold of it, the body disintegrated to the ground. I sat up feeling the strange contents fall through my fingers like soil--cool and soft between my fingers. Once it piled on the ground, the soil became a puddle of blood, streaming in a thin river beside me. As it settled, I stared into the liquid watching crimson ripples form a particular image. It showed Nicki fading into my own reflection. Her voice spoke while I continued looking at myself. It unnerved me and I was mildly frightened.
“This is who you are, Malice. Why change?”
“I-I don’t understand?” I stuttered.
Images of me and Nicki lustfully intertwined displayed against the placid puddle. They portrayed me as a monster--beating Nicki incessantly. She wasn’t enjoying it but my gigantic hand refused to heed her screams. My chest swelled and a wave of anger heated my skin.
“Fuck you…I’m no monster.” I quietly whined.
“No, you’re just a murderer.”
My eyes widened as I was forced to look into the puddle once more. A devilish creature with glinting eyes and ravenous claws held a small child. Devouring the defenseless until both figures disappeared into black smoke, I pierced the air with a harsh scream, throwing my hand into the puddle to splash the images away.
“Hey...hey! Calm the fuck down, Malice! What the fuck are you doing?”
I felt Trenton pull me up by my collar. I was shaking my head rapidly with nystagmic eyes, trying to focus on real life in my mind. I was in a state of paranoia and wanted everything to be normal again.
“Dude, snap the fuck out of it.” I felt a cold hand swat my face.
I fully opened my eyes to everyone else standing around--silently--awkwardly--watching me further. Shoving off of Trenton, I nervously straightened my clothing and adjusted my posture. “Sorry everyone, I had a bad… trip.”
I cleared my throat, pulling out my cell phone to focus on something else. Sky had sent a text asking how the party was going. I replied with ‘Trippy as fuck!’
“When will you be home?”
I looked at the time and it was already pretty late. “Give me ten minutes.”

I was high and aroused, longing to get home. I haven’t had any sort of sexual release since Nicki and Tiffany left me to fend for myself. Porn was a great alternative but Rosie Palm needed a break. I was going out on a limb here, hanging on by a withering thread and I wanted to see just how accepting Sky was at this point. I was so excited that for some reason, I thought it was necessary to hurl myself through my unscreened window--nearly breaking the glass. I was slowly coming down from my high but was not equipped enough to even think about using the front door. I’d be expecting a gun barrel pressed to my cheek with my father on the other end. Shushing my own clumsy movement, my laptop rang with a call from Sky.
“I’m coming, baby. I’m coming I’m coming!” I hurried over to my bed.
I pulled off my shirt, inserting my headphones. Once Sky popped up on my screen, excitement jolted throughout my entire body, effortlessly placing a grin on my craggy face. She was lying on her bed in just a tank top with Captain America across the front, and a pair of panties. I felt my breathing lessening to almost nothing at all, pulling my laptop over my expanding jeans. “Hey there,” I said lowly.
She smiled, greeting me back. “You look like you’re up to no good, Mr.” She raised an eyebrow, carefully wetting her lips.
I gave an innocent chuckle, trying not to make notice of how intently I was observing her. I couldn’t help it--her curves--her lavish smile--and those soulful eyes--pictures did Sky absolutely no justice.
“Nah, I’m just feeling some type of way.” I rubbed my chin hairs, inhaling slowly.
“Oh yeah? And what feeling is that, exactly?”
I pressed my lips together with a nervous smirk and Sky rolled her eyes with a giggle. Stretching her legs just barely caused for her tank top to raise just above her naval and my Adam's apple sat in idle--unable to swallow. My eyes traced the definition of her stomach and down her hip. My jaw tightened and I sat frozen while she studied my expression, daring to appease me further. With a nip to her lip, I watched her chest expand. My lungs weighed in my chest as lowering lace revealed unmodest intentions. More daring than I anticipated, Sky motioned for me to show a little something myself. I timidly undid my belt, slowly pulling down my zipper.
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Malice, I’m quite sure I can manage.”
I shrugged, pulling out my semi-hard length for her to view. Her eyes held a gaze of impressiveness that soothed my nerves. “Damn, yeah… I’m pretty sure I can handle that.”
I lost my breath, watching her hand slide down in between her legs. Engaging a little private fun for two, I heard something bang. It was so sudden…yet loud enough to make me second guess it. I pulled out a headphone to listen further, thinking it might have been my mother roaming around the kitchen in the darkness. I figured I had better investigate to ensure all was well. I tucked myself away, telling Sky to hold on.
I crawled out of bed, cracking my door for a peek. The house was still and I found it odd. I shrugged it off, getting back into bed when I heard yet another loud thud.
“What the fuck?” I ripped out both earbuds as the cord extracted from the outlet.
“Is everything okay, Mali?” Sky's voice echoed through the speaker.
“I don’t know. Hold on, I’ll call you back.” I said, slamming my laptop shut.
I shoved my blinds out of the way, searching about for movement, clutching a pocket knife in my fist. Nothing revealed, but my instincts told me otherwise.
I killed my light switch and crept through the living room, trying to open the front door as quietly as possible. As I stretched the screen door with a prolonged creak, I saw a limp body lying out on my porch. I looked down my driveway seeing taillights disappearing down the street at high speed. Folding up my knife, I shoved it into my back pocket, crouching down. I was skeptic about moving a wounded body until Nicki's tattoo caught my eye. "Shit!"
All battered and bruised, she was almost unrecognizable from all the blood that was dried and smeared on her face. I pulled her dead weight into my arms, hoisting her over my shoulder to bring her safely inside. It was a struggle getting her back to my room but I tip-toed in slow motion the entire way.
Lying her up against my bathtub, I pushed sticky redden strands of hair from her blackened eyes. Reaching atop my sink for a dampened wash rag, I gently removed the blood from her face. She had finger size bruises on her throat and around both wrists and cuts decorated her face and the tops of her hands. I examined Nicki's body further, wanting to throw up at the sight of dried blood stained across her inner thighs. My stomach twisted into knots as I sat there just staring at her--helplessly. Nicki started moaning from pain, fighting to open her eyes.
“Shh... it’s just me. You’re safe now.” My lips trembled.

I took her in by the face, seeing tears streaming down her cheeks. It merely broke my heart. All I could do was hold her tightly against me, letting her know I was there to protect her. I knew I didn’t want to cause attention from the media or local authorities, so I didn’t bother calling the police. Nicki was breathing shallow but thankfully her lungs we taking in oxygen. I finished cleaning her up, dressing her in one of my tee shirts before laying her in my bed. Crawling in beside her, I drew the covers up to my chest, turning out the light.
Nicki rolled over in my direction grabbing me by the arm. “Thank you.” She whispered, nestling into my chest.

I gripped her arm, accepting her praise. I stayed up for about an hour, staring off into the darkness of my room while keeping a close eye on Nicki. I yearned to message Sky to apologize for leaving so abruptly but dozed off before I was able. Johnny and the guys were going to be beyond disbelief tomorrow when I inform them of the situation.

Photo credit by yours truly, the author.
-Ky