The previous chapter where Striker kidnapped Jake and Kaitlin was based on a dream I had back in December 2021.
Chapter 2: Getting Over Striker
Now that Striker was in prison, Kaitlin and Jake had peace to themselves, although it took some time to adjust. Not because they missed him, but because they were still hurt and angry at him for abducting him a week ago.
Kaitlin listened to break up songs and songs about ending relationships, knowing the lyrics from the songs she listened to was how she truly felt about Striker. The break up songs and songs about ending relationships she listened to were:
"Burn" from the musical, Hamilton
"So Sick" by Ne-Yo
"I Really Don't Care" by Demi Lovato ft. Cher Llyod
"IDGAF" by Dua Lipa
"Good 4 U", "Deja Vu", and "Traitor" by Olivia Rodrigo
"Reprobate Romance" by Blacklisted Me
"You Should Be Sad" and "Without Me" by Halsey
"Set It All Free" from the movie, Sing
"Since U Been Gone" and "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson
"Apologize" by Timbaland ft. One Republic
"Over You" by Daughtry
"Don't Stay" and "In Pieces" by Linkin Park
"Complicated" and "Everything Back But You" by Avril Lavigne
"Going Under", "Call Me When You're Sober", "The Last Song I'm Wasting On You", "Yeah Right", and "Better Without You" by Evanescence
"Bye, Bye, Bye" by NSYNC
"Fragile" by Megan McCauley
"Let It Die" and "Gone Forever" by Three Days Grace
"Snuff" by Slipknot
…
Striker was lying in bed in his lonely cell, reflecting on what he'd done to Jake and Kaitlin and realizing he needed to give them time to heal. So, he had to restrain himself from calling them because chances were they weren't going to respond to his phone calls because they were too mad.
Even Blitzo wasn't planning on talking to him for at least a while, not that the cowboy imp blamed him because Blitzo, too, needed to heal. Not only that, Striker got himself fired from I.M.P. for strangling Moxxie.
Speaking of Moxxie, he was happy that Striker was in jail. Millie couldn't blame her husband for that, knowing that what the cowboy had done to him was wrong.
Then another thought occurred to Striker. What would Jane, his late wife think of him? He imagined she'd be disappointed in him just as his son and Kaitlin were and think the husband she knew and loved was dead. Like Blitzo said, she'd never do what he did to his friends and family.
…
The next day, Kaitlin and Jake were out for a walk when they saw a familiar succubus with a whitish pink fur coat ordering a smoothie.
"Jake, would you like a smoothie?" asked Kaitlin.
"Sure, Kaitlin," Jake replied and they stepped into the coffee shop that included smoothies.
"What flavor would you like?"
Jake carefully looked at the menu until he found one that stood out to him.
"Strawberry Banana Smoothie."
Kaitlin smiled. "Good choice. That's one of my favorite flavors."
The two imps stepped up to the register, ready to order their smoothies.
"Hello, what would you like?" the male imp asked them.
"Two small Strawberry Banana Smoothies, please," Kaitlin answered.
The male imp entered their order on the operator.
"That would be $8."
"Thanks." Kaitlin gave him $8 in cash.
"Thank you, Miss."
"No problem."
Jake and Kaitlin stood, waiting for their drinks to arrive.
Five minutes later, a hellhound employee announced, "Two Strawberry Banana Smoothies for Kaitlin."
The two went over to get their drinks and sat at a table. They sipped their smoothies through a straw.
"How is it, Jake?" Kaitlin asked.
Jake sipped his smoothie and swallowed it. "Good."
Then the two found a succubus sitting alone at a table.
"Hi," Kaitlin greeted, getting her attention.
The succubus took off her sunglasses, revealing her yellow eyes with pink irises. Her name was Verosika Mayday. "Hello," she greeted back, "Are you spying on me?"
"Uh, no. My stepson and I decided to get smoothies and I found you sitting by yourself."
Hearing the word "stepson" made the succubus gasp in shock as she spat out her smoothie. "Stepson, you say? Where's his father?"
Kaitlin did not want to mention her ex-husband in front of everyone, so she replied, "Can I tell you this in private?"
"Why?"
"Can we please just do it, so no one else has to hear it?"
Verosika relented. "Fine. Sure."
The imps sat next to her with their smoothies.
"My ex-husband and I got a divorce a month ago. Last week, he kidnapped me and Jake and he got arrested."
"Good for him."
"Not to mention, Striker had been drinking ever since our divorce," Kaitlin added.
"He needs serious rehab."
"Big time. Sounds like we have something in common when it comes to boy trouble."
Verosika thought for a moment before saying, "Oh, right. Me and Blitzo and you and Striker?"
Kaitlin nodded. "Exactly."
"That makes two of us, being hurt by those men we thought cared about us."
"True that."
"He even choked Moxxie," Jake said, recalling the bad memory.
"That's awful."
"Now, my innocence is ruined."
Verosika Mayday wrote down her hellphone number and tore out a slip of paper. "Call me if you need anything or want to hang out."
Kaitlin grabbed the small sheet of paper. "Yup."
"Got it," Jake said as he saluted.
Once the two left the coffee shop, Kaitlin said to Jake, "Blitzo doesn't need to know we talked to Verosika Mayday."
"Okay, Kaitlin."
