Chapter 19 | Alone

*** Author's Note ***

This next chapter contains the POV of Chad. I found this chapter necessary given the sudden twisted turn of events. This is to give the reader a better view of what's going on in his head, how he's feeling, and the actions he will take now that Callie has been arrested.

Hope you enjoy reading as much as I have enjoyed writing, and shaping these characters into who they are.

Happy Horror xxx

--- Lysapiercee

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Chad's POV

I threw my phone onto the couch in frustration, another call left unanswered by Katherine. I couldn't get in touch with either her or Jeremy, and the more time had passed the more I could feel my heart ripping out of my chest.

It had been two hours since Detective Massey had arrested Callie, if only you could've seen the look in her eyes. They were filled with fear and worry, and out of all of us she seemed to be the strongest. There she was, at her weakest point.

Tears had filled her ducts, and she tried her hardest to keep her breathing maintained. I could see it in her eyes, however, she was inches away from a breakdown.

Detective Massey toyed her around like a rag doll, there wasn't a hint of sympathy in his bones as he had clicked the handcuffs to Callie's wrist. This was, in fact, what he had been working towards since Stefan had disappeared. To him, phase one of the investigation was complete.

The sound of my phone ringing filled the apartment and I hesitated when I saw the long distance phone number pinging across my screen.

My hand shook as I brought the phone closer to my ear only to hear Katherine's voice on the other end, "I told you to keep our calls to a minimum, it's only been a week. What could possibly be wrong?"

I couldn't bring it within myself to respond to her, I felt the inside walls of my chest caving in. Breathing was impossible, talking was impossible.

The static of the phone broke once Katherine realized I wasn't going to return her question with an answer, "They got Callie, didn't they? Shit."

The sound of her words rang through my ear, bringing my biggest fears back to reality.

"I'm taking the first flight out of here, we need to stick together," she was talking a million miles a minute, "I'll be there by morning."

The line went dead promptly, and I was given no choice but to hang up. My entire world was crumbling to a bits all around me, and it seemed as if nothing I would do could stop it.

I grabbed my keys from the countertop and retreated from the apartment, craving the taste of fresh air and needing company before I did something arrogant. The humming of the elevator drowned away the vividness of my thoughts, Callie was everywhere I looked. It was as if she was a ghost, haunting my every move. Her sleek hair moved with her and dropped to the middle of her waist effortlessly, her captivating smile that lit up any room she walked into. Every corner I turned, she was there leaning against the wall. She would smile and correct her posture as her eyes met mine, damn I miss her.

Georgie's Pub was open twenty four hours and I found myself craving the burning sensation of Scotch down the patch of my throat. The parking lot was more filled than usual, some of the cars were ones I didn't recognize.

The static of music and chatter escaped the establishment, a rare sight. Georgie's Pub was never one for young adults and parties, it was a laid back honky tonk setting where people would gather after work for a few shots of Scotch and whiskeys. It was always the same group of people, newcomers was a rarity.

Half dressed women in their early twenties danced around the bar, the scene fit one of a nightclub. Strobe lights hung overhead, circling around an array of colors. The old timed country music had been replaced with the newest hip-hop singles. Men stalked around drunkenly with beers in their hands, on the prowl for the drunken women scattering the joint.

Jeremy was at the bar, as normal, wiping down the remnants of alcohol and beer. He was thumping his head to the music, mimicking it's rhythm. He was carrying on with his life without a care in the world, or at least that's what anyone would have thought if they didn't know the real him.

Jeremy was a laid back fellow, he enjoyed the nights at the bar where all seemed quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the light humming from the radio, the crickets off in the distance, and tumbleweeds that would sometimes roll in the wind. Seattle wasn't a rural city, but Jeremy made a home for his rundown honky tonk. He was proud of it, but this nightclub would've been a disgrace to Jeremy.

It wasn't his character, he wasn't normal.

"How about a Scotch?" I rose my voice loud enough to be heard over the latest track blaring from the speakers.

A look of shock could be read on Jeremy's face, "What are you doing here?"

I cupped my hand towards the side of my mouth to amp myself, "Callie was arrested a few hours ago. Katherine will be in town tomorrow morning, I needed to talk to you. We need to get together, figure out how we're going to get Callie out of this mess."

He shrugged his shoulders and began to chuckle slightly, "I can't help here anymore. I've done all I can."

I was taken aback by his sudden abruptness, how could he turn his back on everyone?

More importantly, how could he turn his back on Callie?

He pushed a shot of Scotch in my direction ultimately breaking my silence, "So you won't be there tomorrow?"

He nodded his head, "We were told to act normal, that's what I'm doing. Normal me isn't your friend, I'm your bartender. Normal me is here all day, here all night. Katherine declared if this went south, which it has, she's taking the blame. She needs to be the one trying to get Callie out of this, the less we are seen with each other the better. Callie did something to set off the police, you running and involving the entire world is doing nothing for her. She is your girlfriend, your problem. Figure it out."

He tossed his dishrag over his shoulder, waltzed over to Stanley who seemed to be standing guard in the back. Whispering something to Stanley I watched as his straight glare landed in my direction, followed by a slight nod. Jeremy retreated behind the sliding doors separating the bar area from the stock room.

Stanley approached me his blank stare not changing, "You need to leave pal, finish your Scotch and get the fuck out of here."

"Listen," I held both of my hands up in defeat, "I'm not here to cause any trouble, just came for a couple shots and to chat with a buddy."

He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't care. My buddy owns the bar, and he says you need to go. You can leave quietly and we drop this charade, or I can have the authorities assist you out."

I didn't want to involve the police, I didn't want to make myself look suspicious by prying into their investigation when Callie was already behind bars. The only thing I wanted to do now was get Melanie to the apartment promptly.

I willingly left the pub without giving it a second thought, without giving Stanley the oppurtunity to go for the phone hanging from the back wall. I pulled my phone out from the center console, swiping to find Melanie's number to send her a quick text:

Be there in 10 -- Chad

Her apartment was a twenty minute drive from the pub, I knew that, but I wanted to cut the time in half. I wanted to let the speed allow for my adrenaline to drain before arriving at Melanie's. She was in a delicate position emotionally, and any false movement could easily send her spiraling out of control. Bad enough I was delivering the news to her about Callie being arrested, something neither of us were prepared for.

Her apartment was cluttered from the lack of tidying, if it wasn't for Callie coming over to straighten up the place then it didn't get done.

Dishes would stay piled in the sink, clothes strewn throughout the floors, floors left unswept, and dust would begin to collect in various places.

The door to Melanie's room was shut, the ray of her bedroom light shined from underneath the door panel. Light static escaped from the television in the living room, signifying she had retreated from her room earlier in the day.

When I entered the bedroom, the aroma of body odor and vomit filled the nostrils of my nose. Melanie laid on her bed next to a pool of her own making, flipped facing the opposite direction. Her clothes appeared as if she hadn't changed in weeks, her hair matted from the lack of showering. She was almost unrecognizable from the Melanie I had come to know and befriend once upon a time.

I seated myself at the cleanest section of the bed, "They arrested Callie, I need you Melanie. Jeremy has turned his back on everyone, he's going back to acting as if nothing had ever happened. Katherine will be here in the morning, but I can't do this with just Katherine. I don't trust her, I have a bad feeling about her."

Melanie didn't make the slightest movement. Her gaze stayed glued to her ajar closet, and her breathing remained at a slight murmur.

I sat at the foot of her bed claiming defeat, I was alone. Katherine had proposed a plan to take the blame for both murders, but I found it hard to believe. Why would someone be willing to face two life sentences, one for a murder she didn't commit?

Callie was now behind bars, and the future for her was now uncertain. I couldn't pick up the phone and dial her at any time, there was no way of knowing the condition she was in. I had no way of knowing if they were properly taking care of her.

The thoughts that ran through my head sent chills running through my spine, and my heart broke at the thought of her being alone. Nobody to protect her, and nobody to coach her next move.

I just wanted to be there for her.