"I suggest you let her go." Axel warned in a deadly serious tone. He stood threateningly before us, all of his friends surrounding him. My eyes met Aces who was now pointing a gun at all of us, I widened my eyes in fear when he winked at me and smirked, not easing my nerves at all. He wore a manic look and I was struggling to rid myself of thoughts that told me how good looking he was when he pointed a gun at me. Was I loosing my mind?
My back vibrated as the man that held me hostage laughed loudly in my ear. "It's either this dies or every fucker in this joint does!" He snarled, pressing the gun roughly against my head for emphasis. I whimpered as my scalp began to throb at the cold metal pressed against it.
I tried to wiggle away as he shouted at me. "Shut it bitch." He shook me angrily, making me cower away in fear.
At his threat of violence every member of the Inferno Kings pulled their guns out, mirroring Aces stance. It gained the attention of all of the customers within the diner, some of the screaming while others just cowered in fear. The screams were enough to distract the Rebel who held me hostage as she shouted at them all to be quiet.
I seized my opportunity as soon as I felt the cold metal move further away from my head. I brought my elbow back as hard and as fast as I could, jabbing him painfully in the ribs, enough to force him to release me. "Get back here!" He growled, reaching for me as I jumped away from his hand.
A gun shot rang out through the room and instinctively I threw myself to the floor. I screamed when something got and wet splashed up the right side of my face, against my better judgement I wiped it away my fingers stained a bright crimson. Shots fired above my head as I recognised the lifeless body beside me. It was the rebel. Except now he had a gaping bullet hole in the centre of his head.
My screams were trapped in my throat as I looked at the man, horrified. I rolled away from him, tears in my eyes as I attempted to crawl beneath a booths table. I was pulled back by my leg and I kicked out at the stranger, they turned me over. As I rolled over I'd managed to grab a fork from the table tops and without even thinking stabbed into my attackers face.
Thankfully I'd stabbed another rebel who was screaming and clutching at his eyeball where a fork was protruding from. I felt sick at the sight but was quickly on the move again as Gunner pulled me to my feet and pushed me towards Ace who was awaiting me with open arms.
Gun shots still rang out as he ushered me towards the kitchen door which was now open as Charlie stood holding it open. He beckoned for me to come in but the image of a little girl and her parents stopped me from moving. "What are you, fucking crazy?" Ace growled attempting to push me in.
"We've got to help everyone!" I shouted over the crossfire.
"I don't care about anyone else Ava, I care bout you so get out of here!" He told me.
"We can't just leave them!" I pleaded, he made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat. His face scrunched up in annoyance.
"Fuck everyone else Ava, get in that god damn kitchen!"
I pushed past him, charging towards the family with determination. The mother was holding her child beneath the table as the father shielded them both with his arms. "Come on!" I shouted pulling on the fathers arm.
He peered over his shoulder cautiously and I pointed towards the kitchen door. "Let's go, come on!" I screamed impatiently. He grabbed his wife's hand and they all ran towards the kitchen door.
"You've done your good deed now let's go Ava!" Ace yelled, tugging my arm but I couldn't just save one and nobody else.
"Get off me Ace!" I pulled my hand from his and ended up running round the tables to empty our booths. I directed the customers to the kitchen that Charlie still stood in the doorway of, ushering everybody through.
My eyes scanned the diner that was a murder scene, bullets still flying as two rebels still remained. They were hiding behind a booth, popping up every now and then to fire bullets. Ace had just grabbed onto me when I noticed a Rebel point a gun at him, I didn't have time to think I just acted.
I jumped atop of him, sending us both to the floor. I landed on top of him as a bullet penetrated the plaster behind where we had just stood. I looked down at him as he looked up at me in awe, his arms still around me protectively.
For a second it was like the world had stopped for a few seconds and it was just Ace and I. I took the quick moment to really look at him. He had a freckle just underneath his left eye and up close you could see how long his eyelashes were that framed the green colour of his eyes perfectly.
"Ava!" Axel called for me worriedly, bringing me out of the trance I'd found myself in. I rid myself of all thoughts Ace and looked up to see my brother fast approaching. I climbed off of Ace and offered out my hand to pull him up. Expecting him to ignore it he shocked me when he held my hand and pulled himself up onto his feet.
"Thanks." He breathed, staring at me in disbelief. I gave him a small smile before I was pulled into my brothers arms. It was the first time I'd noticed that the bullets had stopped and I pulled away looking at the scene before me.
Windows had been broken, tables had been thrown to the side and the floor was littered with dead bodies. Mels had well and truly been ruined. I felt sick at the sight.
"Are you okay?" Axel questioned, his voice raised as he broke me out of my reverie.
"I'm fine Ax." I told him, looking at him my mind a blur. It was as if I could see he was there but not at the same time. A numbness began to take over my body and I couldn't wrap my head around today's events. I looked back at diner in disbelief.
"Ava!" Axel called, waving his hand in front of my face and I slowly brought my eyes to look at him, my eyes only pausing on the dead body that lay in a pool of blood. "Ava!"
"I'm fine Axel." I snapped, frowning as I took in his concerned face. "I just need some air."
I pushed past him, tripping over my own feet as I headed towards the door. On my way out I could vaguely see Ace talking with the others about cleaning this all up yet my mind was focused on getting outside. I was completely ignoring Axel as he called after me.
The bell rang above me as I pushed open the door, the air hitting me like a brick in the face. I looked down the street, up and down, I felt lost. What had even happened here today? The images of a man with a bullet hole in his head, a man with a fork in his eye, my hands covered in blood.
I look down at my hand again, the blood had dried against my palm and I felt the bile rise in my throat. I raced towards the nearest trash can, attempting to contain my vomit until I reached it. I leaned over the side, emptying the contents of my stomach until I dry heaved.
"Ava!" Axel called a little way away and I pulled away from the trash can before slumping down onto the sidewalk. The cold pavement almost made shiver beneath Californian Sun. A shadow covered me and I squinted as I looked up to see the concerned blue eyes of my older brother.
"You don't look to good." He commented before plodding himself down beside me.
I shook my head before holding it in my hands, I tried to rid myself of the memories but every single time I closed my eyes all I could see was blood. Blood and guns. "I feel sick." I spoke, trying to fight tears as my voice broke. I sounded so scared and timid.
"I told you not to go to work," Axel scolded as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his chest. "I'm sorry kid." He whispered before pressing his lips to the top of my head.
We stayed like for as long as possible before Diesel called from outside Mels and the thought of having to look at that place again made me feel sick to my stomach. My legs felt like jelly as Axel helped pull me to my feet, he kept his arm around my shoulders as we walked to meet Charlie and the Inferno gang.
I couldn't even bring myself to look at Charlie. This was his business, it had been in his family for years. I couldn't imagine how he felt and I couldn't help but blame myself for it all. If I wasn't Axels little sister then maybe none of this would've ever happened, Ace and Diesel never would've sat in that booth. Those rebels never would've even thought about stepping foot inside that place.
I was surprised to see him shaking hands with Ace. Charlie looked a little sad but not devastated. He nodded at me and smiled at me a little before disappearing back inside of the diner. I sighed as my head began to pound and rubbed my puffy eyes. I bet I looked a mess.
All of the men looked at me sympathetically before Axel pushed me towards his bike, handing me his helmet. "Let's get you home." He told me. "You look rough as shit." I knew he was joking but I believed him anyway, I was covered in blood, sick and god knows what else.
I climbed into the bike, not caring about my skirt and wrapped my arms around my brothers waist, pressing my face against his leather and finding comfort in it just like I had not even two hours ago.
Ace caught my eye as he climbed onto his bike and he nodded at me, his eyes full of concern. I smiled at him sadly not being able to bring myself to actually smile properly. In all fairness I think both him and Diesel had, had enough smiles from me today.
Aces bike was the first to thrum with life and the rest followed after, everyone waited for Ace to speed off first before they followed behind him closely. I closed my eyes, finding comfort in the wind that blew in my face. Even the sound of the Harleys sounded soothing as they all blended together into one sweet harmony.
The journey was quick and we were pulling into the clubhouse parking lot into no time. Ace was already off of his bike, helmet in hand as he leaned against his bike with a cigarette placed loosely between his lips. He puffed a cloud of smoke as I climbed off my brothers bike.
I didn't speak a word as I raced inside to the bar, all I wanted was a shower and to get into bed. It was all I needed. Maybe I even needed to cry. I don't know just yet, I didn't know if I had any more tears in me.
Tahlia was sat in the bar on a stool braiding Rylees hair as she spoke to her father on the other side of it. She halted when she noticed me race through the room isn't my head down, trying not to attract too much attention. "Ava!" She called, dropping her sisters hair before racing after me.
I'd made it into the corridor before she finally caught up to me, she grabbed onto my hand and spun me round. She gasped at my bloodied face. "Shit Ava, what happened?"
"It's not mine." I told her, trying to keep my voice from cracking until her face softened and I begun to sob. "It was so bad Tahlia, there was so much blood."
She didn't say anything but pulled me against her shoulder and stroked my hair softly. "It's okay." She cooed. "You're safe now, your back at the clubhouse."
"Tahlia." A deep voice called from the bars doorway causing us to pull away and look up unison. "Can I talk with Ava please?"
Tahlia nodded before patting my shoulder comfortingly. "Come find if you need to talk, Kay?" She told me and I nodded as she walked away. Waiting for Ace to move before she completely disappeared. "Ava." He breathed before pulling me into his arms. I hadn't expected him to do that but I didn't mind either and I melted into his embrace.
"It's okay." He told me. "They won't ever get anywhere near you again."
I nodded against his chest before pulling away and swatting at the traitorous tears that rolled down my cheeks. "I'm fine." I told him, my voice unconvincing. "I just need to shower."
He looked at me warily before nodding. "Okay," he spoke. "Come find me once you're done. We need to talk."
His words had my mind whirling with questions as he walked away, what could he possibly want to talk about? What was there to say? How did you manage to stab that man in the eyeball I sarcastically thought as I dragged my feet along the carpeted floor in the direction of my brothers room.
I currently stood in the shower watching the last of the pink water disappear into the drain by my toes and I closed my eyes in relief. I placed my head against the cold tiles and let the hot water wash away all of my troubles, all of my horrors from today. I could still hear my music from inside my brothers room, right now 'Changes' by Black Sabbath was playing and I could think of a better son to describe the way I was feeling.
The song had been interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door. "Ava!" Axel shouted through the door. "You okay in there?"
"Yeah." I called back, shouting over the running water.
"You've been in there nearly an hour now, are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Well Ace told me to come and grab you, he's waiting in the parking lot."
I sighed realising that I'd have to get out the shower and turned off the water. "I'm getting out now."
"Okay, I'll be in the bar." He shouted back through the door. I grabbed the towel beside me wrapping it around my head before grabbing the larger one to wrap around my body. My feet met the fluffy bath mat and I wiggled my toes at the softness. I wiped the mirror above the sink, revealing my fresh appearance.
I was thankful that the blood no longer stained the right side of my face and that you'd have no idea of the trauma I'd been through today. I ran the tap and threw the cold water over my face, pulling the towel from my head to dry my face.
I towel dried my hair and left it To hang limply, not really caring how it looked. I'd lost a lot of energy and just felt completely drained. I walked into the bedroom door tutting at my brother leaving his bedroom door open, anyone would think he had a girl sharing his room.
I turned back to the wardrobe and picked at some of the clothes I'd packed with me. I decided on an avenged sevenfold baggy T-shirts and paired them with some black ripped slinging jeans.
After tying my laces I set off to go and find Ace. I came into the bar which seemed deserted compared to what it had been like the day before. Tahlias parents stood behind the bar laughing with one another as they polished glasses. Some bikers lingered around the pool table but apart from that it was empty.
A door opened beside me, revealing the grim face of Ace. His expression changed once he realised I was stood in the bar. "Thought you was in the parking lot?" I asked.
"Yeah but Axel said you was in the shower so I called a meeting." He told me. "You ready to go?"
I furrowed my brows. "Go where?"
"On a ride." He smirked devilishly.