Ch. 2 Revised 6/23/16
Today was one of those really, really bad days. C'mon, I kept telling myself. It's make or break time. Once at school, I signaled one of my only friends-Weavel- to help me. I hadn't made it out of the parking lot, having walked most of the way here. All I wanted was some sleep, I told myself. This was nothing worse than most was I kidding, even my own lies were horrible. The man...he's getting worse.
Weevil knew the drill, and kept black clothes hidden on his bike just for me. It hid the blood that I am sure lined my back and arms. Whatever had gotten up The Man's ass last night, was taken out on my body. He'd ranted and raved about how this was my fault.
Thankfully, there was at least someone who knew in case I went missing. His grandma was kind enough to wash some of my clothes too, on occasion. She knew the bastard I was dealing with. He'd run her and several others out of their low income homes to build a resort. They were lifesavers. But I had that cold feeling in my limbs, and the pit of my stomach was filled with unease. Few things ever worried me now.
I squinted my eyes as I tried to hide my mild panting. You know, the pain stung worse than normal. In the distance, I heard the sound of boots on gravel and turned my head. Here was Mac's car...
Weevil returned to the parking lot with a handful of rumpled clothes and handed them to Veronica, who he noted looked like she was ready to fall over. He'd seen her on his way up, made the stop at the gym and got the clothes from Mac, and she'd parked in the school lot. It had been one of those mornings; the times he wanted to go over to that mansion and kill that motherfucker. Veronica still didn't have a phone, but she was lucky to have made it this far. The dickhead of a foster father didn't do jack shit for her. Mostly, Weevil suspected he didn't want her calling for help or taking pictures. He and Mac made sure they did that for her.
"Damn Mars," he barked with the hint of a Spanish accent. The sun shined brighter off the top of his shaved head causing Veronica to squint up at him. He noted she had that weird slow rocking motion going on. "I can see the effort it takes you to walk. What the hell did that guy do this time?" Then he leaned down, "did he touch you, Mars?"
His voice rose like at the end, shock or concern, lining its sword like edge. Veronica struggled not to show what must have been fear, and swallowed hard. "Not that kind of touch." She cleared her throat, obviously thirsty. Dick wad probably hadn't let her even eat. It surprised Weevil that he was so bold to let her openly suffer, but he assumed threats were made to keep her in line. This was how these shitheads worked.
Weevil stepped back and nodded at the girl on the ground, "Good, I'll kill em if he does."
"And go to jail," said another whip sharp voice. Mac glared at him with one eyebrow up. "We're all she has." Mac was Veronica's sidekick and friend, just as Weevil had been. She was short, filled out and had nice eyes and brown hair. That gringa, Weevil thought, could really do some damage on a computer.
Veronica slumped against Mac's car too tired to listen to their banter. They fight like sister and brother, Veronica thought to herself. She laughed slightly to herself, and then cleared her throat. Mac glanced down at her, face calm but Veronica knew better. She was another one of the schools labeled 'outcasts'. Her car was rusted and near broken down, but hell, it worked. "Stop it you guys," she panted with pain. Weevil grimaced when he heard the effort behind that. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and he bent down and put a hand on her shoulder.
Immediately, Veronica hissed and her shirt bled red and he jumped back with shock. "Christ," Weevil muttered. He flipped his cell out, dialed someone and talked too far for Veronica to listen. The way he moved, all jagged and sharp, was not a good sign. He used his hands more than his words.
To Mac he said before he'd turned away, "Grab some of the antiseptic you keep for the bad days." It would take her a moment to disappear with all the faculty scouting for skippers, but he told her which room to hit when she was ready. She rolled her eyes as it was too open, but he was already off walking another direction.
Dick snickered as he took a hit from the joint in his hand, "man we really need to catch some waves." He wheezed as he sucked in the blunt. He waved a hand in front of his Tommy Bahama shirt to disperse some of the smell.
Logan gave him an eyebrow, "dude, we just spent all summer on the beach." His eyes danced with mirth, "you OK there man?" He curiously watched Dick fan himself and cough. He'd been doing more high end shit and lost touch with the simple things. Logan shook his head, switched his leg as it rested on another. His ass felt numb, so he leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head. Senior year was here, he thought to himself.
"Totally, and you're complaining why?" He offered the joint to Logan, but he passed with a wave of his hand. Cassidy, Dick's younger brother, took it instead. His mass of brown hair looked over grown and too fluffy. When Dick pulled it back to himself, Cassidy glared, "I'll run interference for you guys. How long you going to be in here?"
Dick rolled his eyes, giving his brother a half smile, "Whatever." He blew him a kiss and flicked him off.
Cassidy made another swipe for the blunt, but was kicked by his brother behind the knee. After he fell and grunted, Logan looked between the two with a grin. He had a sibling, but she was a complete bitch. He never had this kind of fun. Growling, Cassidy lunged, but missed as he swung at his brother. Logan noted he looked like a beaver when he made that face.
Logan hollered, "Beaver!"
"Don't call me that. My name is Cassidy."
Dick laughed again and returned his gaze to Logan, "Who knows. This school blows. Where's Duncan?" His breath exhaled a large O as he puffed the smoke from his mouth.
Cassidy said, "Like he'd have anything to do with a joint?"
Dick agreed, "Clean and straight. B.o.r.i.n.g. Must be what having a Mar's will get you. What did he ever see in that dirty bitch?" He flicked the blunt down and squished it under his Dockers.
Logan's brow shot up, "who, Veronica?" His voice rose at the end and he shrugged.
She'd been a real piece back when she showered, he thought to himself. He still remembered when he first saw her at twelve. Too bad, he thought with some added distaste. While he'd been young, he'd jacked off to bending he rover many times. He hadn't much spoken to her since she ratted him out to Lily. It had been one kiss, one fuck up. Lily wanted nothing to do with him, and actually seemed pretty quiet on all things Veronica. Until she went on a tirade to ruin her.
"Who else, yo?" Dick said and Cassidy got up to leave. He tossed his brother some cologne and shut the door as he left.
"I don't spend much time thinking about that whore," Logan said in passing. He shrugged a shoulder and started to gather his things. Why'd he even come today? His bitch of a dad had been home more than normal, ergo, more whipping.
Dick laughed pretty high himself, "Dude, I saw the way you stared at her," he said. "Make sure you wash that first." Dick watched Logan's expression. He knew Logan had a thing for the little thing back in the day, but Duncan had gotten to that first. Well, the Kane family usually did. He frowned for a second, maybe if she was sleeping she'd be kinda hot, he supposed.
Logan shrugged, "that was when she didn't have lice." Next he rolled his shoulders and scratched at his shoulder sitting up quickly.
"Man, why do you keep doing that?" Dick asked annoyance lining his voice. His hands fanned out in question.
Logan stopped in his tracks and looked over at Dick sideways, "What?"
"Messing with your arm."
"Oh," Logan said quickly. "Healing a bruise."
"Maybe if you didn't wear those long sleeve fucking shirts, you wouldn't be so hot. I'm telling ya, that's what it is. Don't attract a circle of flies, dude."
Logan was about to deliver a rebuttal when hushed voices caught his attention. Adrenaline surged, and Dick waved the air and put on his cologne. Within a second, Logan mapped out the only hiding place and pointed. He mouthed 'fuck', and they dashed towards the desk to hide. It was a miracle they made it without any sound.
They heard a noise, and jerked to attention. After a second of fumbling with the knob, three bodies came in. Dick was about to stand up and bitch when he saw it was teenagers, when Logan pulled him back down. It was Weevil, Mac, and Veronica. There goes my day, he thought bitterly. Threesome in here maybe? A cruel smile lined his face then. he plucked his phone from his pocket and pointed at it while showing Dick. He also nodded with gleam.
He frowned when he saw they were dragging her in, and waved to Dick to just wait. This could be juicy, so he hit record on his phone. Who knew what these freaks were up to?
"Put her down over there," Mac said urgently. "She doesn't look very good today."
"ya think?" Weevil complained.
"Stop complaining, and lift her up."
There was a soft moan of protest, and Weevil put Veronica in the chair with her stomach to its back. Dick made a lude gesture, but Logan waved him off. Something wasn't right here, Logan thought. Dick rolled his eyes and relaxed back on his butt flinging his arm up in frustration. After a few minutes, Logan could tell he was drumming on his knees. Giving the evil eye, Logan batted for him to stop.
He returned his gaze frontward and watched as Mac lifted Veronica's shirt in the back, and his mouth gaped at what he saw. He slapped Dick on the arm, and pointed. He then came forward to look, eyes narrowing. Both glanced at one another wide eyed. Dick mouthed, 'damn'. Whatever Logan thought, Dick was back to making obscene gestures.
"Hold her still," Mac ordered.
Weevil responded matter of factually, "That's not a problem. Look, she never screams. You gotta talk some sense into her. That guy is gonna kill her if she stays there."
"She may today," Mac muttered. "Besides, she isn't going to leave without enough evidence on him."
"Fuck evidence,"Weevil all but yelled.
"There is an entire frickin ring of these guys. She wants to get the others out. Prove her dad was right."
Weevil groaned and sagged a degree, "look, I love my grama too..."
"And you would do the same." she applied some antiseptic to paper and held it over Veronica's back. She jerked, and then relaxed through the pain.
Logan frowned at that. This was more than once? He didn't much care for his old friend, but he hated seeing women beaten. This wasn't retaliation then.
With her voice wavering, Mac added, "this looks worse than normal. Like, infected bad." Her hand shook, and Weevil steadied her arm.
"She don't even cry man. That's fucked up." Weevil shook his head as his face paled.
Then he stood over her shoulder, "we can't take her in or he'll cover it up and beat her worse." Mac said.
They stared at one another for a moment. Logan watched as Mac's shoulders trembled and he also leaned forward to look closer. He used his zoom when he couldn't make it out with his naked eye.
"Well," Mac started angrily, "We gotta do something." Her hands fanned out as if anything less was nonsense. When she looked down, Veronica looked to be asleep.
"Its fine," Veronica managed surprising her. "It's been like that before and I was fine." She stirred a bit more, and yawned. "I'm just so tired. He never lets me sleep."
"Cause you don't want him to rape you, be real," Weevil added with contempt.
Veronica shrugged knowing he was right on. Then she looked to Mac, her inner will weakening.
"What was it this week, hon?" Mac bent down to her level and looked up at her friends face. "Why was he so mad to do this?"
Veronica stared at the floor and didn't want to answer. "I didn't do anything this time. He was just pissed and came in swinging." Her voice sounded small as she trembled from the pain as Weevil worked the wounds. Apparently, he was no stranger to fights and blood. Logan also felt his back straighten at her words. She knew.
Logan stared on baffled as she remained passive in what would make anyone scream. Dammit, he thought shocked. They looked like whip marks, not belt. He knew the difference himself. Shit, had this been what was going on the last two years?
"How much longer, Mars? You are eighteen now," Weevil said. "My grandma's gonna go in there with her cain if you don't leave soon."
"And where do I go that he cannot reach?" She winced as he pushed just a little too hard, "They accused me of cheating on the S.A.T last year. Van has been up my ass since school started." It had been a total of three weeks, but this year was proving the worst of them yet.
Logan remembered the commotion, but the student with the near perfect score was never named. Damn, Veronica was that smart? Smart enough to get a second look.
Mac offered, "Maybe he knows you're smart." She looked up worriedly to Weevil and tossed her hair to the side, "Like maybe he knows you're on to him."
"Well, I am a Mars." but just the thought of leaving the other girls in ther ealone was enough to make her rise up. Mars had meaning to it. Dad, she thought and closed her eyes as that particular pain rolled over her. "Well he can't," She returned painfully. "I know there are other girls in there. Maybe not with my sicko, but he has friends. They like to watch." Her voice broke.
"You white girls," He put in his two cents, "You ain't no help to them if you're dead. Girls like you don't live through shit like this."
Mac added, "who does? We all saw the movies." She looked down at Veronica, "I know you. You are stronger than this. Let us help you get what we need. i'm ready to hack at any given moment."
"You need to do it so they can use the evidence."
"Fuck evidence," Weevil chimed in. "put it on the web and let people make their justice of it."
"I can't just leave them in there and go on my merry way. Look," she added and pulled the shirt off. Dick moved in closer, eyes wide. He was probably trying to look at her boobs, more than seeing the scars. There were several scares that lined her body. It confirmed what Logan just started to suspect. Fuck.
"It smells like weed in here," Weevil mentioned. "You sure this place is safe?"
Mac rolled her eyes, "rich kids smoke up here in the A.M. and everyone knows that."
"Then why are we here?" Veronica asked sharply. She pulled off her old shirt quickly.
Mac jumped trying not to spill the bottle, "Hang on or you'll smell like this and people will really want to take a look."
"I can't smell worse than I already do, Mac." Veronica shook her head.
Mac bent down after she closed the cap, "It's getting to you. I know you have this mission-for your dad and all-but," she paused as Veronica's eyes told her the subject was closed. "let us help."
Without response, Mac told Weevil, "They leave before first period," Mac finished and shrugged. "Don't see anyone, do you?" Mac glared at Weevil who was still looking at Veronica. Her eyes bulged and she hinted that there was a half-naked girl in the room as she stared back and forth from Veronica to him. He rolled his eyes and turned away. "Dude, she's like a sister to me, get over it."
Mac pushed his shoulder from behind, "she needs some degree of dignity."
"What is that?" Veronica commented. She took the black shirt he handed her and put it on. She winced, and Mac helped her get it over the wounds without them touching.
"You want to sleep in my car?"
Veronica swung her head no. "This is a fresh shirt. Don't want to sweat in it. Wev's, can you toss the other?"
"Sure, momma." He pointed at her, "no man in his right mind would send a girl back to that dick ass. I'm giving you one week."
Her eyes met Mac's.
"None of that girl speak."
She said, "If I go missing I got a plan in place."
Weevil sniffed in with a pissed off face, "you go missing and I'm goin' for him, Mars. Keith was good to me man, but I ain't gonna stop till that fuckers laid out if you gone."
"You can't," the girls both said.
Veronica looked at Mac's apple watch, "Shit, now I'm late."
Veronica dug into her pant pocket once Mac helped her stand, "here," she said and passed it to both of them.
"Where do you get these," Mac asked. She looked over the late pass and shook her head approvingly. "Nice, Mars."
"Not by doing favors," Veronica mentioned.
Mac picked up her bag, and they walked to the door. Weevil stayed behind. Mac looked back at him.
"I can't go behind you. They may think something is up. You know, me and two chicks." He made what was a sly face, and Mac nearly puked in her mouth.
"No, No, no," she said as she passed through the door. "it's all you."
Veronica snorted, "Yeah, let's not add you to the stinky list."
"I ain't afraid of no rich boys, Mac." He hollered and watched the girls get up and leave, and pulled out his phone once they were out of ear shot. "Eh man. You know that dude I was tellin you , the one that took that girl in couple years back. he's beaten on her." He licked his lips and bit the lower one as he held in his contempt. "He beat this girl real bad, man. Yeah she's my friend, not just some white girl. He needs to be taught a lesson. Got anything yet?"
Logan wanted to get to class, first period that he shared with Veronica. Once Weevel left still talking on his phone, he turned off video and stood along with Dick.
Logan looked to his friend, who didn't say a word.
"Why'd you video that?" Dick finally asked. "You got a ton of shit to blackmail him on now."
Logan asked, "Did you see the scars?"
"I'm not blind dude," he said in jest, but Logan slapped his chest as he moved towards the door. "She's a bitch," he said trying to justify himself.
"Wow, that's low even for you."
"Hey man, she's got a bad deal, but it's her deal." He washed his hands of any guilt. "Anything Mar's equates to bad. If that's the only formula I remember from school, it's that." Dick shrugged and open the door leaving Logan to contemplate a moment.
Wow is right, he thought shocked. That's what Veronica meant the first day of school.
He looked down at his phone knowing that this would come in handy, just not when. Disappointed with Dick's reaction, Logan was unsure what action to take. Man, what if that was him, would Dick be the same? He could go over there and kick dick-face in the mouth, but that wouldn't fix things. And it wasn't his place. He scratched the back of his neck and paced. Why did he even care? He thought, as the cloud lifted from his thoughts. She was a total bitch before, and she'd been taken down a notch. He knew first hand just what Veronica was up against though.
he'd called her slut for other things, but now he felt bad for doing it when she never slept to avoid...that.
Weevil was right. Girls didn't come back from this type of thing. If her bruises and marks were any indication, this had escalated pretty fast.
His phone dinged, a text from Duncan displaying on his screen, Hey you seen my sister?
No, Logan typed back. Why? Like he knew where Lily hung out anymore. This reminded him of Weevil, and he devised a plan. Payback is always a bitch.
She didn't come home last night, was Duncan's message. It's the second night. She never stayed out past the first when she and mom fought.
With a sense of unease, Logan took one last look around and pocketed his phone. Maybe Veronica knew where her friend was? Now, how was he going to get her to talk to him?