Her Broken Rainbow

Tornado

“You’re gonna see me coming by the selfish things that you did

I’m gonna leave you guessing how this funnel is gonna hit

I’m a tornado, looking for a man to break”

~Tornado 

Little Big Town

3 hours later I’m sitting with Sky in the kitchen, there’s still some crime scene officials going through the house, collecting what looks like it could be evidence. Sky told me that what he found in my room was a neighborhood cat slaughtered and scattered across my bed. We assume that’s the blood he used to write the message on Shyne’s wall. I had run out and called her from the kitchen only to find out she stayed at Anthony’s and was completely fine. Mom however was taken to the hospital to have tests done to see what it was he used to knock her out. Mom was doing the dishes when she felt a prick feeling at her neck and everything went black. Next thing she remembered was us waking her up. Officer Ron took our statements and was speaking with other officers out of hearing distance while I sat curled up and huddled into Sky. This wasn’t what I was expecting. I had a wonderful week with happy memories and positive vibes that were completely shattered within minutes of arriving home. 

“It’s going to be alright Rae, I promise you my men are on it.” Officer Thomas comes to stand in front of us, his attempt to console and comfort falling on def ears. I don’t care what they’re going to do. I don’t care about that. I care that he’s out there right now and until they find him I‘m not safe. Nothing in this world will keep this psychotic man from getting what he wants. My heart in his hands, literally. What is it about people that gives them these monstrous thoughts? What causes them to become so withdrawn from life, so attached and consumed by one subject, it destroys them?  I sit here and question what goes through someone’s mind when they begin to justify murder and brutality as answers to problems that they created themselves. How can an obsession become so powerful? When does it change from attraction to attachment? Sky handles any questions or statements directed at us as I’ve all but shut down. I can’t handle the idea of him getting his hands on me. I’m terrified and there’s nothing I can do about it. 

“Skylar, I have trucks out front ready to move out at your order.” A man in a black polo and black slacks comes walking into the kitchen. 

“Good. Give us a minute to pack a few bags and we’ll be out front.” Sky replied and stood, drawing me to my feet. “Baby girl, let’s go pack you a bag, they gave us the green light to only grab a few things from the closet. They have the scene covered so you can’t see anything. We’ll grab your mom some stuff as well. Do you need anything from Shyne’s room for now?” 

I shrug and send a text to Shyne asking her if she wants anything from her room. She sends back a quick no. “She said no. I’ll get mom some stuff.” Without another word he steers me up to my room. As we enter there’s a tarp thrown over my bed covering what was probably a disaster of a dead cat and guts everywhere. I grab a travel duffel from my closet and stuff in underwear and bras. I grab a week's worth of jeans and simple shirts and a couple pairs of shoes. I already have the clothes in my suitcase so a few other things was all that was needed. Skylar is instructing another man in black to take my bags back down to their truck. We gather about two bags full of my mothers clothes and head down to the foyer. Officer Thomas is talking with a detective and another officer. 

“Um, Ron, may I have a word please?” I try to be as polite as possible. 

“Of course, gentleman, please excuse me.” He takes my arm and pulls me away from them and out of ear shot. 

“Thank you again for everything you're doing, we appreciate the care you’re taking in all of this. I don’t know what my family would do without you.” I hugged Officer Thomas as tightly as I could. I pulled back and continued. “I just wanted to let you know I’m going to Alaria’s place for a few days. It’s better if I stay with someone, my friends have more ability and security then I do so it’s the only choice I have. I was hoping you would be willing to lock the doors before you leave, my mom can stop by the station tomorrow and grab the keys.” 

“Of course I can Raenn. You know I can handle everything here. You just get some rest and try not to worry yourself. We will catch him and lock him away for good. I promise you he won't get to you again.” Ron has been around for so many years, it’s nice to have someone you can really trust to protect you in a time like this. I hug him one last time before I feel Sky’s hand directing me towards the trucks his dad sent. With him in the back holding me, we leave in the direction of the hospital for my mother. 

When we arrive she's already signing the release paperwork. "Did you make sure Shy is good at Anthony's?" She asks me. 

"Yeah I made sure. She said she didn't need anything from the house and she had enough clothes at his place anyway. It'll only be until after the clean up crew goes through." I say. We load into the suv in silence and continue on to Alaria’s house. Her parents have already agreed to let my mom and I stay for a few days. They're hardly home anyway with the amount of conferences they have a month. We pull in and Alaria is already on the front porch waiting for us to get out. 

"Oh Raenn! I'm so glad you're safe and your momma too. I went mad with worry when Sky called to tell us you needed somewhere to stay." She ushers us inside, taking my mom's coat to hang. 

“Thank you so much for opening your home to us. Please tell your mother I appreciate everything.” My mother hugs Ria. 

"Oh no Miss Jo, it’s our pleasure to help out. If there’s anything you need feel free to ask. I have guest rooms made up for you guys, follow me and I’ll show you to them.” She leads us up the stairs and down the hall to a room for my mother and then further down the hall to the end, a room with large doors. “You can stay in this room, Raenn. I kept it far enough away from your mom’s in case, you know. But it was originally my room before I changed to a better view.” She grins. 

I roll my eyes, smiling at her spoiled attitude. “Thanks again Ri-ri. I appreciate your help. I’m sorry to have to bring you guys into this.” It makes me nervous because he knows all of my friends and can easily track me here if he wanted to. It just puts them at risk as well. I can’t let anyone else get hurt because some crazy bastard has me in his sights. 

“Alright, you get some sleep and we will have breakfast tomorrow morning before a full spa day.” Ria said. I nod and thank her one more time before closing the door behind her. Sky has already walked off to the bathroom, the sounds of the shower running coming from that direction. I open one of my bags and take out a pair of shorts and a tank, following after him. He’s already naked and under the water when I strip down and step in. his hands come up and pull me under the water, switching our positions. With hands in my hair, he tilts my head back letting the water run down my forehead and hair. I lay my hands on his chest feeling his muscle flex beneath. I feel him grab my hips and pull me up to his level, my legs wrapping around his waist and my head resting on his shoulder. He wraps his arms around me and walks us both under the water. 

“You can breathe now baby girl. You are safe and sound. No one’s going to get to you, or they’d have me, they'll have to go through first.” I can’t help the tears that spill out, mixing in with the water. We stay like that for a few minutes before he lets me down and begins to wash my hair. I wash his chest and torso at the same time. It’s cute, we’re like a couple that’s been together for a long time. A type of synchronicity that’s hard to find. Once done we dry off and dress in our night wear. It’s weirdly intimate standing there brushing my teeth with him. It’s domesticated and yet somehow something I didn’t even know I needed. We pad out and to the bed, climbing in he turns the side lamp off and snuggles close, the big spoon to my little spoon. The view from this side of the house is still beautiful and I can’t help but be transfixed as I lay here wrapped in the arms of a man I’ve fallen head over heels in love with. Plagued by the ghosts of my childhood. As much as I want to enjoy this moment and revel in the beauty of it, it's all for nothing when I'm being stalked like prey by a psychotic boy with a disturbing obsession. 

I suddenly feel dirty, slimy. Almost like something has tainted my soul. I turn to Sky and place my hand on his cheek. "Sky, I need you to make me feel better. Feel cleaner. I need you to fight away this disgusting feeling I have. Please." I need to feel the love he has inside. I need something pure and good to envelope me in itself and never let me go. I need the only thing my body craves now. I need Sky. Only he can fix how I feel. Only he can keep the nightmares away and shelter me from the pain. Only he can heal me. He hovers over me and kisses me passionately. Showing me that he will scare my demons away. His hand quiets my thoughts as it trails down to my shorts and further under the fabric. He's my serenity.