Chapter Two:
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and the OC
I wake up with my head against the cold hard glass window, and watch things fly by. I must have fallen asleep on the train. The rain is pelting the window and the dark gray sky would be enough to put anyone in a bad mood, but not me. I'm on my way to stillwater. I can't wait to see my brother. I remember the day he was taken from me, it burns my memory like it was yesterday.
*FLASHBACK*
BANG BANG BANG ASHLYNN! WAKE UP! I rolled over and looked at the clock it's bright red numbers displayed a 3:00. ASHLYNN! I open the door to see my mothers tear streaked face. Wha- Your brother is in the hospital they wouldn't tell me much but there has been an explosion! I run and grab the first shoes I can find and beat my mom to the car as she races to the hospital. We sit and wait in the waiting room for hours waiting for any information that we can get. By then it is all over the news. They replay over and over the explosion that shook my world upside down. As I watch the explosion for probably the 30th time I find myself searching the dark waters lit only by the burning shell of the boat. There is no sign of life. I let the tears fall and close my eyes until a doctor comes in with a cold glare and states "Well hes alive but hes in a coma, we have no way of knowing when or if he will ever wake up." At that moment I hate this stranger. How can this man stand here and drop that bombshell like hes talking about a pet fish dying. "-transferred to a prison hospital once he is stable" I snap from my thoughts as I hear this and run down the hallway to see my brother. He is a shell of himself. Hes pale laying on the white hospital bed arm cuffed to the railing and hooked to machines that beep in a steady rhythm. The next thing I know I'm being dragged from my brothers side. That was the last time I saw him.
*END FLASHBACK*
I snap out of my thoughts as the train comes to a stop I look out the window to see the familiar sight of stillwater. I grab my bag and follow the others who are getting off the train. I ignore the whistles and catcalls as I remind myself where I need to go. I can't stop myself from smiling even though I am being drenched with the unforgiving rain. I walk through the familiar streets as I search for the church. Its where the saints always hang out. There are more whistles as I walk down the street towards the church I look down and curse myself for wearing a white shirt. I didn't bother to check the weather before I left. I fold one arm over my boobs and keep my bag in the other hand and continue to the church. My smile falls of my face as I get to the church.
"Closed for renovations" How am I going to find my brother now?! I think to myself. I see a man walking down the road on the other side of the street I run to him "Where can I find the saints?!" I ask in no mood to mess with small talk. "Why do a pretty girl like you wanna find them?" he sneers at me. I narrow my eyes then take a breath and say "please sir I'm lost" This gets me a sinister grin from him and I back away realizing that I am in trouble. He advances towards me and I turn and run. Running is an invitation to be chased my mind screams my brothers words at me and I feel the tears run down my face.
The guy is faster than me and I feel his hand clamp around my arm. His nails dig into my arm as he drags me into an ally. I kick and scream until he covers my mouth. The hot angry tears stain my face and I bite down on his hand. He yanks it away and pulls me towards him. I remember Johnny teaching me to slam my head backwards when in this position so I slam my head back with as much force as I can and he lets go. This time he stomps towards me and I can see the anger in his eyes as he approaches me. I remember some of the days I trained with my brother and I use this opportunity to kick him in the sensitive area and I watch with grim satisfaction as he falls to the floor.
There is flashing lights and I look up to see the black and white cop car with SPD on the side. I stare at the car as Troy Bradshaw steps out of the driver side and approaches me. "YOUR A COP?!" I blurt out as he gets within hearing range. "I thought you moved?" he asks avoiding my question. "I moved back, but now I can't find my brother" I say hating myself as the tears start to fall once again. "Hey come one Ash don't cry, I'll help you find him, even though I shouldn't" he says leading me to his car and opening the passenger side door.
I get in and sit down trying to calm myself down. He starts the car and turns on the heat as we drive to the stillwater police department. Neither one of us speak for the entire ride. I can see it from a mile away. Its been remodeled. It is now huge probably five floors with big blue neon letters announcing the building. My mouth hangs open as he pulls up and parks in the Chief parking spot. I open the door and follow him into the building. We get into the elevator and go to the top floor and down a few long white halls. He opens the door to a spacious office with a view. "Can I get you anything?" He asks me. "Anything warm will be nice" I say with a smile, happy to be closer to finding my brother. He nods and leaves the office.
I look around and on his desk I see a picture of him from the old days standing with Julius, Dex, Lin, Johnny and my brother. Their all smiling, it must have been before everything went to shit, and fell apart. I notice a file sitting there and see Julius and Dex's name on it along side it is three tapes that would go in an old cassette tape. Its labeled Julius, Julius, and Dex. I gasp as it hits me, Troy was undercover! The tears come again for who knows how many times today. I hear the door open and I force the smile back on my face as he hands me a cup of Hot Chocolate. I smile as he picks up the phone and dials.
RING... RING... RI- "Troy?! What the fuck do you want?!" my brother yells angry. "Roland I ha-" Troy starts to explain but my brother cuts him off. I smile to myself, it looks like somethings stay the same, when hes mad there is no chance to talk. "Who the fuck gave you my number?!" "Roland Li-" "Don't call me that!" ooh He cuts Troy off again angrier now, he hates when people use his name, well except people close to him. "ROLAND! I HAVE YOUR SISTER IN MY OFFICE!" There is a moment of silence from my brothers end and for a moment I am afraid he hung up. "YOURE A LYING PIECE OF SHIT TROY! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO USE MY SISTER AGAINST ME TO GET ME TO WALK INTO YOUR FUCKING OFFICE!" my brother screams at him. Troy just sighs. "Roland" I say "Ash.. Ashlynn?" He asks in shock. "Please come get me" I say to him half whispering. I'm worn out it has been a long day. "Be there in five" he says "Gat! Ash is here shes at the police station!" I hear him yell before the phone clicks.
"Does he live that close?" I ask wondering if it will be only a few minutes. "No" Troy says "He considers stop lights and signs to be optional" he sighs. I grin and after a minute so does Troy. "Thanks" I say and walk out and get on the elevator to I press the button for the lobby and smile when the doors open on the ground floor and I see my brother. We both have our fathers Tan skin, and mama's brown eyes. Hes grown a lot. Not height though I think he stopped getting taller when he was sixteen. He looks like hes been working out a lot but I wouldn't blame him, he has probably been plotting revenge ever since he woke up. We start walking towards each other but he stops in his tracks.
"Roland?" "Whats wrong?" I ask as I close the gap between us. He puts his hands on my face, his thumbs just below my eyes his grip is soft almost careful. "I'll kill a sorry fucker" he says I jump at the sound of his voice I didn't even notice he was there. "Ash, what happened to your eye?" he asks softly "Wha- oh" I say remembering the bruise the rain must and crying must have washed my cover up away. "Dad.. I came home late.. I should have known better" I say quietly. "THAT STUPID FUCK! WAIT TIL I GET MY HANDS ON HIM!" I jump back from Roland he stops. "I'm sorry Ash" he says pulling me into a soft hug. Johnny rubs my back softly. We all walk outside and I get into the back of my brothers purple Hammerhead and ask "Where are we going?" He glances back in the mirror and said "the new hideout, its a little bit of a dump, but were working on it" I smile as I notice Troy was right he ignores all the stop Signs. We pull up to a brown building and go down several flights of stairs to the hideout.