Chapter 689: Club TRIC - Breaking the Cycle
Monday, March 13th, Afternoon
The movie moved along in chronological order, which made Kat tense up. The end of what Kat considered to be the end of the real Mental Lapse. That hot summer day when she packed up her stuff and left Hell and the band she helped create. Kat felt her body tense up more and more.
Suddenly, Kat felt a hand on her knee. The tension started to lessen. Kat released her deeply held breath in an audible sound. She turned and looked at her husband, Arne. Since they met, he challenged her, and the attraction had been instant. Where Kat had felt increasingly entangled, enthralled, or entrapped by Brian, Arne pulled her out, been her pillar of strength, and allowed her to heal.
"As Brian's behavior became increasingly erratic, the one important professional relationship became strained. One hot summer day, Kat Hartmann showed up at Hell, Mental Lapse's practice, and cleaned out her equipment, only leaving a single picture taken by Gabi from the previous summer," Felicia said in a voice-over.
The picture of Brian playing guitar while Kat played bass appeared on the screen. The photograph taken during an English Concert showed the two friends playing music, looking at each other, smiling, and having fun.
Haley appeared on the screen and looked at the camera. She looked tired. "It was the deal that Brian gave the girl. Be his harem together. Gabi said yes; Trin noped out of that. That broke Kat, and she left the band, her publishing, and ownership behind," Haley said.
Kat sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. Though eleven years old, the pain seemed fresh and alive as she heard what Haley had to say about the death of her first "baby." Kat felt Arne squeeze her knee to let her know he was still there and let her go.
Lucan appeared on the screen. "I was surprised in retrospect to Kat leaving; she was always closer to Trin than Gabi. So, when all that went down, Kat sided with Trin," Lucan said.
Trin appeared on the screen. "Kat Hartmann left the band," Trin said.
Kat appeared on the screen. She looked at herself and felt her body shaking. Her breathing became labored, and her ears throbbed, her heartbeat drowning out the ringing.
"When you left Mental Lapse, you left one thing behind, the before-mentioned picture. What was the significance of that?" Felicia asked.
"I wanted Brian to be reminded of better times and a better version of himself," Kat said.
Kat shot up with a gasp and pulled away from Arne. She moved with a purpose through the row. Kat tripped, bumped, and swore as she reached the end of the row.
Kat turned and raced to the door. Felicia paused the movie and watched Kat run out of Club TRIC. Everyone paused and turned to see Kat fleeing like she had robbed a bank.
Arne stood up and shrugged. Slowly, he made his way to the end of the aisle, apologizing as he went. Once he reached the end, he sheepishly waved and turned around. Arne followed his wife out of the club. Once outside, he didn't have far to find her as she was leaning on the rail.
"Here you are," Arne said.
"Sorry, I needed to get some air," Kat said.
Arne nodded, "Take your time," he said.
"You're not mad?" Kat asked.
Arne took his palace next to Kat. "Why would I be?" he asked.
"I shot out of my seat, and I ran like a rabbit out of there," Kat said.
"I know," Arne said.
"So, you don't have to agree with me," Kat said.
"This was an emotional time in your life; I'm surprised everyone else has sat still as they have," Arne said.
"Yeah, but I thought I was stronger than this," Kat said.
Arne shrugged, "Brian has that way about him; he has a way of worming his way into your mind, living rent-free, and driving you crazy," Arne said.
Kat laughed/snorted, "You wrote a whole album about your limited contact with him," she said.
Arne nodded, "He was that much of an ass," he said.
"That he was," Kat said.
Arne looked off into the distance. "What made you stay by his side so long?" he asked.
Kat signed, "Brian wasn't always the person he turned out to be," she said, shaking her head, "He became twisted and evil. I fear for his kids with Gabi."
"Haley and Nathan have them," Arne said.
"They raised Brian," Kat said.
"They also raised James," Arne said.
Kat nodded, "I don't know, but it's tough for me," she said.
"I get it; five years was a long time to work so closely with someone," Arne said.
"It's not that when I left Mental Lapse, which I sank my energy, all my energy, into. It was my baby, my vision; I drove Brian. But he so perverted it, I had to cut it off," Kat said.
"I see," Arne said, "I knew you gave everything up to join us, but I didn't know it cut that deep."
Kat nodded, "Yeah, it does," she said.
"Who owns the publishing now?" Arne asked.
"I'm not sure," Kat said.
"Maybe, you could get it back?" Arne asked.
"Why?" Kat asked.
"Make something good out of his crown of shit," Arne said.
"Nine Inch Nails?" Kat asked.
"It works," Arne said.
"I don't know," Kat said.
"We could always look into it," Arne said.
Kat nodded, "True," she said.
"I think we should go in and finish the movie," Arne said.
"It's not playing?" Kat asked.
"No, Felicia paused it when you ran off," Arne said.
Kat nodded, "Okay, let's finish this movie," she said, straightened up, and re-entered the club.
Arne nodded and followed his wife.