We pull off the interstate, and end up on the dark back roads. As we get closer to the dot on the screen, Marney slows down. And it's then I see the thick black tire marks veering across the road.
Marney pulls over, and I throw the door open. I instantly smell burning rubber mixed with the petrol. The tire tracks lead off the road and into the ripped up undergrowth in front of me. I run straight down the embankment, and there, in the tree line is the limo, on its roof.
"Jude!" I scream, but Marney is there behind me, covering my mouth with his hand.
"Tom might be in there. Stay here and keep an eye on the girl.”
I ignore him and push away, pulling the gun from the waist of my jeans as I move toward the car. The windows are smashed out. The only sound is the slow tick of the engine as it settles and cools. If Jude were alive, there would be some noise, right?
I crouch down, pull out my phone, and turn on the flashlight, shining it into the dark interior of the limo. I'm scared to look, scared I might find Jude's lifeless eyes staring back at me.
Rio’s body lies on the upside turned roof, his neck snapped. I shine the light to the front. The driver is dead, but I don't see anyone else. Jude is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Tom.
I straighten and glance back at Marney. He opens his mouth to say something, but then I hear something in the woods.
Before Marney can stop me, I take off running in the direction of the sound. It's Jude, I know it is. The farther I run, the more distinguished the noise becomes; shouting and the sound of fists hitting flesh. Shoving through the thick undergrowth, I stumble into the edge of a small clearing. The two figures rain blows down on each other. I can't tell who is who in the dim light, can't see who has the upper hand.
I raise my gun, ready to shoot, but I can't. I can't risk hitting Jude.
I tuck behind the nearest tree, hiding myself from sight. The thud of punches being traded stops, and I glance around the tree. Someone is on their knees with a gun pointed at their head and terror wraps around me. If that’s Jude... I need one of them to say something so I know.
"I've waited for this for so long, and I must say, it has been well worth the wait," Tom says.
Jude is the one on his knees.
"You are so weak, Jude. Your father would be disgusted."
On a shaky breath, I lift the gun. My hands shake and I can't get a good shot because Tom's circling Jude, toying with him.
"I'm going to kill you. Then I'm going to go find that whore of yours and fuck her again and again."
I close my eyes for a second and block out everything as I try to slow my heart rate. I hear Jude's voice in my head telling me to breathe in and out, to set my stance. Tom is at least fifty yards away from me. That's twice the distance of any shot I've made at home, but I can't miss. I can't.
Staring down the site, I aim at the shadowy figure trying to kill the man I love. I inhale, pause, and squeeze the trigger. The gun explodes in my grasp, and I can barely bring myself to look. If I fail, we're both dead.
Jude
There's a loud bang, and I wait for the pain, for the state of nothingness. And then Tom falls forward, warm blood oozing onto my chest as his heavy body crushing me to the ground.
Footsteps come from the woods. Jude!" Tor screams.
I shove Tom’s body off of me. Trying to shake off the state of confusion I'm in.
Tor drops to her knees when she reaches me, crying and shaking, with a gun in her hand. She throws her arms around me.
"I'm fine, doll." I rub my hand along her back, staring over her shoulder at Joe's lifeless body. “You shot him?”
"He was going to kill you."
I take the gun from her and lay it on the ground beside me, then kiss her forehead.
This was the moment I lived for, and it's over, but nothing's changed. I always thought that I would feel justification, a sense of righteousness, but I feel nothing. What Tom did is a debt that not even death can pay. I push to my feet, bringing Tor with me. “We need to go,” I say, grabbing her hand and leading her back through the woods.
Dawn breaks as we climb up the ravine. As soon as we reach the top, my heart stops. "Fuck," I mumble and drop Tor's hand.