Death Is The Easy Way
The following day Lucas arrived at Peyton's doorstep promptly at noon. The two had agreed that he would scour the house searching for any hidden traces of drugs. He searched high and low, over turning cushions and rummaging through the entirety of her cabinets. He took Peyton's phone and deleted Rick's number and all traces of it from her phone. She watched him flush everything she had down the toilet. She knew it was for the best, he was trying to help her.
The entire process took close to two hours ending with Lucas collapsing in a heap upon Peyton's bed. He sighed resting his hands behind his head as his eyes bore into the ceiling. Peyton smiled leaning on the edge of her bed playing idly with a bracelet.
"Thanks Luke." she murmured tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
Lucas propped himself up with his elbows looking at Peyton with an arched eyebrow, "You don't have to say thank you."
Peyton shook her head in defiance, "No you don't understand Luke, I need to say thank you. I would never have had the strength to do this all by myself. You pointed me to the light a few days ago. I just didn't realize it. I yelled at you, I told you get out of my life and you still came back. You've been a better friend than I deserve and for that I'm thankful. So thank you again Lucas Scott."
Lucas smiled jumping off the bed to wrap Peyton in a warm hug, "You're welcome Peyton Sawyer, but you deserve more than you think." he whispered burying his cheek into her blonde locks.
Peyton chuckled resting her hand on his chest, "Seriously, Luke, learn how to take a compliment."
Lucas snorted and joined in her laughter. The two friends spent the rest of the afternoon listening to music and talking. Lucas also tried to stump her with songs, but to no avail she was successful in naming everyone. Time seemed to pass to quickly when they were together. The seconds sped by and the hours went by faster than they realized. It was not long before they realized how much time had actually gone by when Lucas glanced at his cell phone. Peyton groaned knowing she still had things to do at Tric.
"Ugh, well I guess I had better get going. I've got some last minute things I need to do at Tric." she paused for moment her eyes meeting her floor. "Um Lucas…" she trailed tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Hmm?" he replied with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Things are probably going to get bad tonight. I'll most likely start having withdrawal symptoms soon. Things are probably going to get ugly… but could you stay with me tonight?"
Silence fell between them, but not for long as Lucas answered her. "Of course Peyton. I promised I would be here for you no matter what."
A smile parted Peyton's lips as well as a sigh of relief. "Good thank you so much Luke."
He shook his head pulling her into another hug. "I'll tell you what, I'll drop you off and stop by a little bit later and pick you up?"
Peyton nodded in agreement and soon they were on the road blasting music and dancing at the stop lights. After he dropped her off she watched him leave and she slowly began her trek up the stairs. One step at a time each step slower than the rest.
Once inside she began her usual routine of doing inventory of all the drinks since their last club night. The task was tedious, yet completely necessary in order to keep the club afloat. The silence inside the club calmed her and relaxed her muscles. It was definitely a break from the usual upbeat and loud music with people yelling ad the heat rising from everyone dancing. She preferred it like this, calm and quiet. It was just her in her own world with a pad of paper and a pen sifting through the alcohol and making notes.
Next she made her way over the merchandise tallying up the number of shirts left, smiling realizing how many they had actually sold. Even some of the band ones were gone. She triple checked the balance in the register making sure everything added up. Things were moving along quickly, if she kept at this rate she would be able to call Lucas and she could be out of here before nine.
Peyton was wrapping up the final things on her to do list when a light knock alerted her senses. Immediately she whipped around to face the door, only to find it was closed. It was nothing calm down Peyton, she told herself continuing to write down the list of things that Tric needed. Minutes passed in silence until she heard a small thump again. Her heart raced as her eyes scanned the club and still nothing.
Instinct seemed to overtake her in that moment. The fight or flight response. Something was out of place; something just did not feel right. She trusted her senses, there was someone else here. Her pen dropped on to the counter and she turned to run. Despite her reaction, she was caught around the waist a strong hand covering her mouth. Her first reaction screaming was in vain, his hand muffled most of her sound. The more she squirmed trying to get free, the rougher he became with her, jerking her around and throwing her up against the counter. Finally her teeth clamped down upon his flesh causing him to rip his hand away from her mouth cussing loudly.
"You little bitch." he shouted his hand flying across her face, the sharp sound of the slap echoing about the club. Her eyes grew with surprise. The voice was so familiar and so rough.
"Rick?" she questioned backing away from his silhouette in the darkness. He followed her, as he stepped into the light she could see his crazed grin and a fury in his eyes.
"Why hello Peyton." his voice sounded almost maniacal as his sentence finished with a crazed laugh. The distance between them was closing and soon enough Peyton was going to run out of space and trap herself. She stole a glance to the door that was at the other side, too far away; he would catch her before she ever got that far.
"What do you want Rick?" she managed trying her best to keep her voice even and calm. Even she could not fool herself, she could hear the anxiety as she spoke. She hoped that she could buy herself some time. Lucas would show up and know what was going on.
Rick chuckled continuing to close the space between them. "Funny you should ask Peyton. I thought of all people you would know why I'm here. I pegged you to be smart."
Peyton racked her brains, she had not called him. There was absolutely no reason for him to be attacking her. "Rick what do you want?" she repeated feeling her heart race within her chest.
He laughed again stroking the stubble on his cheek. "Oh Peyton, maybe you recall a week and a half ago, our last meeting here if you will. I vaguely recall some one who looked much like yourself telling me that they would get the money in the near future. So I listened, this person was a good customer, a very good customer indeed and pretty too. I trusted her, going against my better judgment and allowed this girl to pay me back soon." he paused, his crazed stare never leaving Peyton's face. "So I waited thinking maybe she would call me in a few days. No, nothing but silence. I figured, what was a week? Maybe she was waiting on a check or something else. A week went by and still no phone call. I am a patient man, but not this patient. You've kept me waiting for far too long now Peyton. I believe your options are clear, hand over the money you owe me right now, or simply be killed."
Peyton gulped her eyes never leaving him, she watched intently, making note of any sudden movement. "Just give me one more day Rick, I have the money." she pleaded scooting down the wall.
"Hah, I am not that gullible Peyton. I've waited far longer than I intended." he laughed again moving closer to her still.
"Wait, Rick you don't want to kill me."
Arching a brow his stare turned fierce, "And why the hell not?"
"Because, if you kill me you don't ever get your money and what good would that do?"
It took him only a second to close the gap between them his hand clasping around her throat and his face only inches from hers. She felt the muscles in his hand constrict around her windpipe cutting off nearly all of her breathing. He slapped her hard across her face again. A single tear fell from her eye.
"Oh I don't plan on killing you here. I plan on leaving you here to bleed to death." he replied in a growl taking her head and smashing it against the wall. "Now are you going to give me the money or not?"
She clawed desperate at the hand that clasped around her throat but he did not move. She was going to die right here at his clutch. Her breathing would eventually stop and he would win. All of the nonsense would be over, no more false pretenses. Darkness began to take her.
"Peyton." called a voice that sounded like an angel to her. An angel whose voice sounded extremely familiar.
"Who the hell is this?" questioned Rick turning to see Lucas standing in the doorway his hand never leaving Peyton's throat.
"You little bitch!" he screamed at her throwing her body against the wall, turning to meet Lucas who was running full tilt.
Lucas stopped in front of Rick stealing a glance to the crumpled figure on the ground that was Peyton. Anger rose within in him, even more than before. He turned back to Rick his fist meeting the man's face in full contact. Rick stumbled back, wiping the blood from his lip a smile still etched upon his features.
"Is that the best you got?" he taunted glowering at Lucas.
Lucas responded with another punch to his face, followed by another directly in his stomach. He watched as Rick fell to the ground. It took him only seconds to pounce back on top of him continuing the blows to the head.
"You will never touch her again, you fucking bastard!" he screamed finishing his last punch. Lucas rose to full height nudging Rick with his toe. He was alive, unconscious and still breathing.
"Peyton." he whispered kneeling down besides her picking up her broken figure. She collapsed into him tears falling freely from her eyes.
"It hurts Lucas. It hurts so bad." she whispered clinging tighter to him.
"I know. I know it does. You're going to be alright. I'm going to get you out of here and we're going to go far away." he whispered stroking her hair cradling her close to him. He rose to his feet, still carrying Peyton.
"Where Rick?" she asked weakly clinging tightly to Lucas.
"Shh, he won't bother you anymore. I promise." he whispered back placing her gently in the passenger's seat of her car. They needed to get out of Tree Hill and fast. It would not belong before Rick came to and would come looking for them. They needed a plan, but most importantly they needed to get out of Tree Hill first.
He came to screeching halt in front of Peyton's house, moving quickly around to the passenger's side, he helped her out. Are you okay to walk? I can carry you again if you needed me to."
Peyton shook her head, "I can walk." Lucas grabbed her hand leading her up to her bedroom and immediately instructed her to begin packing a bag. His heart was racing, he hoped he still had enough time to get his things and get out of Tree Hill before Rick was back on his feet.
"Lucas what are we doing?" she questioned though still followed his orders and began to pack her bag.
"We're getting the hell out of here and laying low for awhile." was his response as he helped her pile things into her duffle bag. The entire process took only minutes, but to Lucas and Peyton it felt like a lifetime. Everything became a blur then, thundering downstairs, jumping in the car and speeding off all felt dream like to them.
Soon they were in Lucas' driveway and he wasted no time thundering to his room with Peyton in tow. He too began to pack himself a bag, making much more noise than necessary. It was only inevitable that Karen Roe burst through the door demanding why he was making all the noise.
"What do you mean you're leaving Tree Hill?" she shouted making Lucas recoil on to his bed.
"Mom, there are things that I don't have time to explain right now. What I can tell you is Peyton needs help and the only way to get her help is to get out of Tree Hill. I'll come back soon I promise. Mom the only other things I can tell you is there is a guy looking to hurt Peyton and I can't allow it."
Karen looked from Lucas to Peyton her face falling and her heart breaking. Keith was already gone from Tree Hill and now she was going to lose her son too. Tear glistened in her eyes as she fought back the sobs.
Lucas wrapped his mother into a reassuring hug, "Mom, everything is going to be okay. I'm going to come back I promise." he whispered.
"I'm so sorry Karen." Peyton whispered as she too began to cry.
Karen wrapped Peyton in a tight hug. "You stay safe. Promise me you two will stay safe."
Peyton nodded, "We will. We will."
With that they departed the house leaving Karen watching from the porch step as they sped away. Peyton immediately glanced to Lucas, "Tell me what is going on where are we going?" she demanded.
Lucas sighed, "Listen Rick tried to kill you. We're getting out of Tree Hill because that is the first place he will look. Peyton I promised I would help you this is the only solution. I've called the cops they're looking for him. I'm taking you to a cabin that Keith always took me and my mom up to. Everything is going to be fine." he finished pressing his lips to her brow. Unfortunately, they both did not believe that they would be okay.