Strings (42 page)

             
‘I didn't and you know it!’

             
‘Shut up now!’ Amber screamed.

             
‘It's true. He always wants me. He tells me he loves me every day. I share his life, his bed, his money and he can't keep his hands off me. The sex we have is electric. I will never give him up. He is mine. He will never leave me, for you or anyone,’ Melissa bragged smugly because it was true, and she could say it without any doubt.

             
Amber slammed on the brakes, jolting them both forward. Melissa may as well have ripped her heart out of her chest and stamped on it. But the worst thing for Amber was that she knew it was true. The memory of that night came flooding back, but again she shook the thought away and replaced it again with her perfect image.

‘Shut up,
shut up!’

             
There were no lights around, and it seemed as though they were in the middle of nowhere. Amber gave another ear-splitting scream as she punched Melissa, knocking her head into the window and dazing her for a few seconds. But Amber was coming at her again, the blade glinting in the moonlight before she slashed downwards. Melissa shrieked as it ripped at her cheek. Amber grabbed her hair, lifting her upwards and then slammed her head down against the window again.

             
Melissa had to get out, so using all her strength she managed to push Amber backwards, giving her a few seconds to find the door handle. But it was locked. Amber grabbed her hair again and pulled her back. Blood dripped down Melissa’s face and onto her clothes. She felt sick with pain and the fear of what damage had been done to her face, let alone her boyfriend.

             
‘I want you dead,’ Amber whispered in her ear but at that moment, Melissa flicked her head backwards, smashing it into Amber’s face and making her lose her grip. She scrambled into the back seat, yelping. Amber jumped forward again, flipping Melissa over. Raising her hand again, she brought the blade down and ripped at Melissa’s cheek a second time.

One of Luke's guitars was on the back seat.
She noticed that it was the same one that had started off the whole feud with Amber. The one she had almost smashed at Ruby’s when she first met Luke. The strings dug into her and it felt like her back was being ripped open as Amber pushed her down onto it.

             
Melissa grabbed at Amber’s arms, and finding the wrist with Luke's cuff, she gripped it. The cuff tore from her wrist and Melissa held on to it as if her life depended on it. ‘Amber, stop this,’ Melissa sobbed. ‘Please …’ she was sure this was it, and she was going to die.

             
‘Not so pretty any more lady, and it’s your fault he’s gone, too,’ Amber hissed, just inches from her face.

He was dead becau
se of Melissa. It wasn’t
her
fault. 

             
‘You ki-killed him?’ Melissa stuttered, tears stinging her eyes.

             
‘I have him now, back in our special place where I first met him.’ She rolled Melissa over, grabbing her hair, lifting her head up, and smashing it down on the guitar. Then she smashed it down again, but this time holding her face down so the metal strings and bridge cut into her cheek again. Amber sat on Melissa’s back, her weight pinning her down. Grabbing her round the throat, she ripped the locket from her neck and threw it over her shoulder. Then she grabbed her neck, squeezing so hard, Melissa couldn't move or scream. Amber’s grip was like a vice. Blood ran down the neck of the guitar pooling round the letters that spelt out ‘Eagles’. This was going to be her last memory, Melissa thought as her body went limp.

             
‘Say hello to that other little bitch who got in my way … I win!’ Amber breathed in her ear as it all went black.

Hospital
(5)

October 15
th
2014

‘That's it. The next thing I remember was waking up here,’ Melissa said
, relieved to be finally done with the story, and realising she didn't know how she had got to the hospital.

             
Inspector Fox explained that a farmer had found her. Melissa didn't even know what time it was that Amber had dragged her from their flat, but they had looked at CCTV and seen them leave around 3.30. Melissa had been dumped like a piece of rubbish in his field.

             
‘The farmer had found her around 7.00. He was an elderly man and was so shocked that he nearly had a heart attack. He thought you were dead. Then he turned you over and knew immediately who you were. His grandson has pictures of you on his wall.’

             
Melissa asked if he was OK, and said she wanted to send him a message thanking him for finding her. The inspector assured her he was fine.

             
‘What happens now?’

             
Fox explained that they would take all the information back to the station and continue from there. Searches had already started, and they would be in touch when they had any updates. Before he left, Melissa asked if her locket had been found. She felt naked without it. He shook his head, but promised that if it turned up he would make sure she got it back.

Inspector Fox was a very busy man as Megan May's stabbing was now also part of the investigation. It was obviously connected somehow
, but there didn’t seem to be a logical explanation. Megan held no threat to Amber, so it was a mystery. But Fox felt sure it meant that there was something that hadn’t been uncovered yet, or that someone wasn’t telling the whole truth.

             
Dale got up and silently left the room. Beth followed him and tried to comfort him. But he gently pushed her away.

             
‘Don't. I’m barely holding it together.’ He punched the wall, nearly breaking his hand. 

             
‘He’s coming back, I know he is.’ Beth said, taking his hand and kissing it. She was trying to keep some hope alive, but it was hard when all the facts and details pointed to the worst case scenario.

             
Melissa finally got the all clear from her doctor to go home. He lectured her about resting and Liz had told her that she didn't need the dressing on her face any more. The stitches were enough, but the truth was that Melissa felt better covering them up for now.

             
‘Thank you for looking after me,’ Melissa said and hugged her tightly. She was sad to say goodbye to Liz and it seemed that Liz was sad to see Melissa go too.

             
‘It was a pleasure. I really hope you find him safe and well. When you do, I want to be on the front row at his next gig.’ Melissa promised her she would be their special guest and treated like a VIP.

             
She made one last stop before leaving. She couldn't leave without checking on Megan, who was still in a bad way and yet to wake up. Toby was still there, guarding her like a hound from hell, but was pleased Melissa was getting out. Melissa blamed herself for all of it.

‘I bet you wish he’d never met me.’ she said and gave Megan’s hand a little squeeze.

              Toby gave her one of his bear hugs and assured her it would have happened whoever Luke had met. ‘Melissa, we all love you. Don't blame yourself,’ he said and kissed her cheek.

             
‘Love you too. I'm so sorry about Megan, but she will be fine.’ Toby nodded and sat back down at his girlfriend’s side. Melissa could see the anger and worry back on his face. She was full of anger herself. This sweet, innocent girl, who lay there pale and motionless, didn't deserve this. Amber had stabbed her, and they all knew it. The question was, why? It made no sense, Melissa thought as she left the room, and headed home.

             
The entrance doors opened and Melissa stepped out into a sea of lenses and shouts.

             
‘Where’s Luke?’

             
‘Is he dead, Melissa?’

             
‘Did you kill him in a jealous rage?’ 

             
She kept walking, head down, her parents and friends at her side. But they couldn’t get to the car. They should have called Ray who could have arranged some security, but she had just wanted to go, and hadn’t thought about it.

             
Jean screamed at them to leave her alone. Melissa’s mind went blank, and she didn’t know whether to just get to her dad’s car, or run back inside. Her legs were frozen to the spot. She was surrounded by a flock of vultures, tearing the last bit of her away. Her sobs turned to screams as she sank to her knees in the middle of the chaos, her hands over her face, giving up...

             
‘Get up,’ Beth ordered in her ear. Melissa shook her head. ‘I said get up,’ she said again, grabbing her arm and trying to yank her back to her feet. Beth wasn’t going to let them win or let Melissa give up when she had so much to fight for. The pushing was getting out of control, and Beth almost lost her footing but Dale steadied her, cursing the crowd. He wrestled a camera from someone’s hand in the chaos. If Beth fell, it could hurt the baby, and only he knew about it. He had to protect her, but he had to help Melissa too. He couldn’t do both.

             
Toby must have heard the cries, because suddenly he was storming through the doors, pushing aside anyone in his path.

‘Leave her the fuck alone, you pieces of scum,’ he roared as he scooped up his friend
and cradled her in his arms, carrying her through the crowd and finally placing her in her dad’s car.

             
‘Thanks, Tobes,’ she said through sobs.

             
‘No problem. Now go home. Me and Megs will see you very soon.’ He patted Dale on the shoulder and kissed Beth as he shut the door. Then he turned to the swarm of photographers and walked straight through them, pushing and shoving them out of the way. They were lucky that was all they got. But he had someone much more important to take care of, and getting arrested for assault was not going to help.  

             
Dale stuck his finger up as the car drove away. But the press now had their story. It had been almost a week since one of the most famous musicians in the world had last been seen. Melissa’s public breakdown just added to the drama.

             
‘Jesus, I think the kid might be dead. Shit, this is one hell of a story,’ Jimmy said, straightening his black beanie and turning to his colleagues. His new camera, paid for by Tom, hung around his neck. 

             
They were excited yet shocked. The rumours now had some substance and they all needed to get the exclusive on it. The chase was on.

*****

Toby returned to Megan’s side and sat watching her motionless face, taking in every part of it. He was heartbroken, and angry with himself that he hadn’t gone with her to get supplies for the group. Had he done so, this would never have happened. He could have stopped the attacker or taken the blow himself. It would be a tragedy if, having found the girl of his dreams, he lost her like this.

             
‘Son, I’m here now.’ Jayne Maxwell, Toby’s mum, had arrived. She hadn’t even met Megan properly but whenever she spoke to her son lately he seemed happy, which told her everything she needed to know. He looked tired, Jayne thought, and she told him to relax and close his eyes for a while. She promised him she wouldn’t let anyone near Megan, and he knew she wouldn’t because Mrs Maxwell was not a woman you messed with. He nodded and went for a cigarette before returning and finally dropping off to sleep, for a while at least. He was leaning back in his chair, still holding Megan’s hand.

             
The minutes ticked by as Toby slept and Jayne read her book, occasionally sending a text message to update the rest of the family on the situation. Toby’s family was large and if they all turned to see him, there would be a queue outside his door to the end of the corridor. Jayne was the head of the family, and she was in control of the situation. She took no nonsense from anyone. The vultures outside had just been introduced to Mrs Maxwell and their ears were still ringing from her foghorn-like voice. One reporter’s arm still hurt after she had swung her bag at it because he was in her way.

             
The flames of red hair lay wildly around the girl’s pale face. Such a sweet and kind looking face, Jayne thought, and smiled at her son’s choice. But she then frowned at the awful after-effects the attack had caused. Toby had always wanted kids, but he wouldn’t be having them with this girl. Jayne leaned forward, staring at her. She could have sworn she moved a little and edged closer and stroked her face.

             
‘Megan,’

             
A few seconds passed before Megan slowly turned her head towards Jayne. ‘Toby,’ she murmured. Her eyes opened but she couldn’t focus at first and looked around, feeling a sense of panic because she couldn’t think straight and she didn’t know where she was. The last thing she remembered was arriving at Luke’s house.