Run from your problems, but you cannot run from yourself.
Witness Comes With A Price
Austin's POV
Alan had just walked back to the bus. I decided to go and meet any fans were were the last to leave. I thought that I saw a group of men walk out the front. Maybe we could talk a little. It was fairly dark outside, and the tall buildings obscured the star lined sky. The alley behind the building we just played would provide me a short cut to the front.
As I admired the sky once more, I bumped into a trash can. The rusted metal rattled loudly. Faint voices from down the alley stopped at once. I cautiously edge forward. Maybe I was just imagining things.
As I rounded the corner, I saw a group of men standing in a circle. Two were kneeling on the ground next to a figure. My rational brain thought he was hurt. The hooded figures didn't spot me yet. Reaching into my pocket, my numb fingers grasped my phone as a cold wind blew past me into the alley.
The rustling trash caused them to look up. Fourteen eyes all peered at me under their dark hoods. I opened my mouth to speak but the figure on the ground leaped up. A gleam of metal reflected a light post's luminescence as it was aimed to a thin figure. The man on the ground gasped as the boy who was attacked took the motion and plunged the knife into his chest.
The fallen man screamed once, twice, and then went still. The blood in my bones chilled. No, this couldn't be happening. This wasn't happening. One of the older men motioned to the others. The body was picked up and taken until the only man left was staring me straight in the eyes.
I felt as if he would raise a gun and shoot. Our short huffs of breath was visible in the cold air. The man with dark hair and brooding eyes took a look behind his shoulder.
I took off from the entrance of the alley, skirted around the building and went to a halt. The fresh pools of blood still steamed from the recent memory. I saw the knife and heard the screams. The tears dropped silently to the concrete ground. Despite all I saw, I didn't take out my phone to call the police.
I had witnessed a murder.
"Austin!" A voiced called persistently. It didn't sound like Alan or Shay.
The world faded to black and then came back in a pop of dim light. Raelyn Croft was leaning over me. I was so relieved to see her beautiful face take me out of a nightmare, or a hellish memory.
"Austin!" She cried out again. The tears from the dream were still fresh on my mind and warm on my cheek. I locked onto her eyes for what seemed like wonderful ages, and then pulled her into me. Yes, she was real. Yes, she was alive.
Yes, her dad was the man I saw in the alley.
I put my head on her chest. She was warm and caring. I could feel her worry for me in every fiber of her being. Her tender hands stroked messed up hair and rubbed the back of my neck soothingly. The sadness was being taken out of me and a deep calmness replaced it.
She probably didn't know about her father. We talked for a little while, and it seemed like the bad memory finally disappeared. Eventually, I asked her to come to California. I already knew the answer. Rae explained about her family, and I knew it was a fading hope.
"Just for a visit?" I begged. She laughed and agreed. I pulled her warm body on top of my cold flesh and kissed her. I pressed my lips to her mouth passionately. She was all that I wanted and more. She was all that I needed.
Her dad was gone, maybe he wouldn't return, but I still wanted to keep her safe. Rae was the only things that kept me grounded and stable. Midnight panic attacks were less often, and I felt happier around her. If she was gone, well, I don't know what i'd do.
I could feel her head rest lightly on my chest and felt her fluttering heartbeat match mine. Her soft blue eyes closed and her lips curled into a tiny smile. I loved her with all my heart, no doubt about it.
All would be well.
Alan had just walked back to the bus. I decided to go and meet any fans were were the last to leave. I thought that I saw a group of men walk out the front. Maybe we could talk a little. It was fairly dark outside, and the tall buildings obscured the star lined sky. The alley behind the building we just played would provide me a short cut to the front.
As I admired the sky once more, I bumped into a trash can. The rusted metal rattled loudly. Faint voices from down the alley stopped at once. I cautiously edge forward. Maybe I was just imagining things.
As I rounded the corner, I saw a group of men standing in a circle. Two were kneeling on the ground next to a figure. My rational brain thought he was hurt. The hooded figures didn't spot me yet. Reaching into my pocket, my numb fingers grasped my phone as a cold wind blew past me into the alley.
The rustling trash caused them to look up. Fourteen eyes all peered at me under their dark hoods. I opened my mouth to speak but the figure on the ground leaped up. A gleam of metal reflected a light post's luminescence as it was aimed to a thin figure. The man on the ground gasped as the boy who was attacked took the motion and plunged the knife into his chest.
The fallen man screamed once, twice, and then went still. The blood in my bones chilled. No, this couldn't be happening. This wasn't happening. One of the older men motioned to the others. The body was picked up and taken until the only man left was staring me straight in the eyes.
I felt as if he would raise a gun and shoot. Our short huffs of breath was visible in the cold air. The man with dark hair and brooding eyes took a look behind his shoulder.
I took off from the entrance of the alley, skirted around the building and went to a halt. The fresh pools of blood still steamed from the recent memory. I saw the knife and heard the screams. The tears dropped silently to the concrete ground. Despite all I saw, I didn't take out my phone to call the police.
I had witnessed a murder.
"Austin!" A voiced called persistently. It didn't sound like Alan or Shay.
The world faded to black and then came back in a pop of dim light. Raelyn Croft was leaning over me. I was so relieved to see her beautiful face take me out of a nightmare, or a hellish memory.
"Austin!" She cried out again. The tears from the dream were still fresh on my mind and warm on my cheek. I locked onto her eyes for what seemed like wonderful ages, and then pulled her into me. Yes, she was real. Yes, she was alive.
Yes, her dad was the man I saw in the alley.
I put my head on her chest. She was warm and caring. I could feel her worry for me in every fiber of her being. Her tender hands stroked messed up hair and rubbed the back of my neck soothingly. The sadness was being taken out of me and a deep calmness replaced it.
She probably didn't know about her father. We talked for a little while, and it seemed like the bad memory finally disappeared. Eventually, I asked her to come to California. I already knew the answer. Rae explained about her family, and I knew it was a fading hope.
"Just for a visit?" I begged. She laughed and agreed. I pulled her warm body on top of my cold flesh and kissed her. I pressed my lips to her mouth passionately. She was all that I wanted and more. She was all that I needed.
Her dad was gone, maybe he wouldn't return, but I still wanted to keep her safe. Rae was the only things that kept me grounded and stable. Midnight panic attacks were less often, and I felt happier around her. If she was gone, well, I don't know what i'd do.
I could feel her head rest lightly on my chest and felt her fluttering heartbeat match mine. Her soft blue eyes closed and her lips curled into a tiny smile. I loved her with all my heart, no doubt about it.
All would be well.
Notes
Okay, so this update came a little earlier than expected, but I try to update around 9:00 Mountain Time, or so.
Here's a little bit of Austin's POV and a little more Austlyn as well!!
Rate/Comment/Subscribe!! I really enjoy the comments you leave, and it encourages me to write more!!
@AngieRofl
Yay, I'm sooo happy you loved it! Third book is still in progress and I'll try to update fairly frequently!! I'm with you on staying up....If it's two in the morning, I'll just get on my phone and find a new story to read!!! XD XD
8/16/14