This was my shortest chapter of any story in a while. I wanted to finish Tori's side of the backstory and get things moving. For those of you waiting patiently will like the end. Please review and thanks to those who have written and followed so far.
She woke up with the knocking of housekeeping. It must be later morning if they're about. Tori's head wasn't in the mood so she reached for an empty beer bottle from the coffee table and launched it from the couch toward the door.
It falls short of the door but smashes impressively with a crash about a foot from it. "Go away!" the hung over singer managed. When she could hear the sound of the cleaning cart moving on, Tori reverts back into the fetal position she preferred.
The room was a disaster. Trash was strewn about, the small dining furniture was toppled over from a bad fall, and the spent liquor bottles left an ever-present funk in the air. Noise and odor complaints came in every other day. When the management realized the source of the disturbance, they normally backed off to avoid a scene.
It's hard to believe that four months have passed.
Walter Gator was nervous about his protégé. She has been listless and sketchy. Gone was the bubbly, resilient girl he first met when he was trolling Hollywood Arts for fresh talent years ago. He called daily for appearances, recordings, something to get her out of that den of self-loathing. But, sadly, no prospects. She was once the hottest ticket in town and now he couldn't book a free concert at a shopping mall in Wyoming.
It was more than just the money. The royalties kept coming in and paying the bills. He's come to care for her like the daughter he's never had. Ever since her own father died in the line of duty eight years ago, he tried to be just that. He always knew how to protect her and when it was best she didn't know the complete details.
For the last few months, Walter racked his brain thinking of what could snap Tori out of her depression. For the first time in their professional friendship, it felt like she was out of his control.
Tori heard a loud banging that violently knocked her out of her slumber. She sneered at the door and buried her head. Then it came again. Whoever this was they were sounding like they were trying to break the door down.
She slid down from the couch and looked from behind paranoid. Was it the police? Did somebody finally call the cops on her?
Tori mustered all she could to stand upright, preparing to answer the door and try to talk herself out of this.
She approached the door with growing fear. She had never been on the receiving end of the law before.
Metallic clicking from behind the door made Tori jump back. They were picking the lock. She ran, nearly falling in the process. Once she made it to the bedroom she dodged under the bed. Tori's heart sank when she realized that her phone was left in the other room.
This was it, this was the end. All those people threatening her on the blogs. One lone nut has finally broke out and has tracked her down to kill her.
Tori's mind goes blank when the metal sounds stop and the door swings open with a creak. Whoever it was they were wearing combat boots from the thud of those footsteps. Her suspicions are confirmed when those boots walk into her bedroom. She has a flashback of that French horror movie where the girl hid from the psycho killer by going under the bed.
A powerful pain in her head blanks her mind. She covers her mouth to keep from screaming. The intruder found her. At least her hair.
When the stranger spoke, Tori was shaken by it. It was so familiar, albeit with a few years on it.
"Jesus, Vega! Forgot your manners?"
Jade? Jade West?