Fallen Bast*rd

The Ride to Camber Sands - Ax 23 years old

Engines snarled against the early evening as the Fallen Sinners MC lined up alongside the Soulless Bastards just outside 'The Reach,' formerly 'Gallions Pub,' in East London. Stringer, tall and sharp-eyed, revved his Harley at the front and nodded to Cyn, the Soulless Bastards' road captain, who returned the gesture with a smirk.

A whistle cut through the noise, and the brothers rumbled into formation.

Behind them, Georgie's Harley-Davidson Softail gleamed metallic purple beneath the moonlight while Willa's metallic blue Softail shimmered beside her.

The air was thick with anticipation, exhaust, and the familiar thrum of family.

Behind them, patched members of both clubs rode in formation as the city gradually faded into winding roads and shadowy grasslands. The brothers spread out their bikes, devouring the tarmac while bantering through helmet comms, laughter and teasing bouncing from one rider to another.

Ax, even from three bikes back, couldn't help but let his eyes drift to Willa every time she shifted in her seat or laughed at something Georgie said.

Whenever she deliberately avoided looking over her shoulder, his jaw tightened; he knew exactly why, and he knew he deserved it.

There was one rule on this ride: never overtake the girls. This was their ride, a send-off, no more like a ritual, a roared blessing for the two girls about to leap headlong into something new—a life beyond clubhouses, motorcycles and the expectations that seemed to have followed them since birth.

Camber Sands

The moon was high, spilling silver light across the dunes, as their wheels hit the soft Camber Sands car park, just after ten pm.

Willa and Georgie were the first off their bikes, stretching as they removed their helmets, and the desert beach erupted into a chorus of cheers.

Smiling, they led the way toward the beach, now lit with an assortment of hanging lights, two fire pits, and a BBQ. Out of the darkness, their parents emerged, grinning like lunatics.

Surprise! The word hung in the salt air, chased by hugs that made their eyes sting with emotion. Even the hard-faced old-timers looked softer in the glow of lantern light, their pride tucked behind gruff nods.

Club members moved freely between fires and tables, reminiscing over past rides and ego stroking. Beer bottles clink. And laughter carries on the breeze. Georgie found herself talking with members she'd known her whole life.

At the same time, Willa laughed with several ol' ladies who insisted on taking photographs, with the young woman they'd all helped raise.

For a short time, Willa was able to forget all about Ax. Unfortunately, Ax didn't seem interested in forgetting about her, not even a little.

She spotted Ax loitering at the edge of the crowd, fidgeting with a lukewarm can of beer he was pretending to drink, while his gaze kept straying in Willa's direction as she laughed with Georgie and Dex.

The moment their eyes met, he grinned. Her gaze shifted as a club girl sidled up, draping herself over his arm. The move caught Ax by surprise, causing a delayed reaction, much too delayed for Willa's liking. Feeling hurt, Willa turned away from Ax and headed for the seclusion of the dunes.

By the time Ax found her, she was sitting on the sand, knees hugged to her chest as the wind whipped through her long curls.

"Hey Wills, can we talk?" Ax asked, his voice portraying more emotion than he was comfortable with. Ignoring him, she stared at her feet. "Thought you had company."

Swallowing, Ax crouched beside her. "I only wanna be with you," he said quietly. 'Ha, that's rich coming from Mr 'I'm no one's,' she thought. Scoffing, she lifted her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Go away, Ax. I heard you the other night. You called me a child with a pathetic crush. Which is funny, because you made the first move."

Sighing, Ax reached out, his fingertips brushing against her cheek. "I was angry; I didn't mean it." His heart hammered as he leaned closer, only to find Willa pulling back.

"Don't, Ax. You're just going to throw me away again when the shame of wanting me hits you in the morning."

Not sparing him a second look, Willa stood and walked and walked away; the further she got, the more his chest ached.

*

Elsewhere on the beach, Georgie finds Dex by the dunes. The faded glow of the party was behind them as they lay sprawled in the grass. Dex's calloused hands gently caressed Georgie's back as they kissed.

Pulling away, Dex stared up at the stars.

Georgie sat silently drinking in his presence. "Are you worried?" she asked, tracing a finger along his jaw.

"About you being miles away? Or that my outlaw baby sister is going with you, and that Ax can't deal?" Teased Dex, but she could see it; he was worried.

"It's not just Ax that can't deal." She whispered. "Willa, she has a brilliant mind, and she convinced herself that if she's his, she'll stop being Willa." Nodding, Dex turned to look at Georgie.

"What's wrong, Gie?" he asked, his tone soft. Shaking her head, she looked away. "She thinks you guys only see what we will be and not what we are now." Sighing, Georgie stood.

"I think maybe she's right. We've been prepped our whole lives, gone from club princess to ladies-in-waiting. You see everyone's expectant and disappointed faces when we do something even a little bit un-ol? lady-like." She said, remembering the whole skimming episode.

"I love you, Dex, and she, despite herself, loves Ax, and I love the thought of someday being your ol' lady"

"But," Dex interrupted, his tone harsher than he meant.

Turning to look at the sea, she wrapped herself in a hug. "But we, I, need more," she said, her eyes closing as a lone tear escaped.

"You can have more, Gie, no one's going to stop you."

"You can't promise that, Dex," she snapped, allowing her emotions to spiral. Irritated, he grabbed her arm, pulling her to face him.

"Say what you mean, Georgie. Because you know I've never tried to change you. If you want to go off to uni and mess around, then fine, we end this now!" Dex snapped.

Pulling her arm back, Georgie shot him a nasty glare. How very dare he. She thought, flipping him and striding away. f**k him.

*

Finding Willa down by the shoreline, boots abandoned and toes dipping in the cool surf. Approaching quietly, she wrapped her arms around Willa's waist and rested her head gently on Willa's shoulder.

Willa glanced back, flashing a mischievous grin. "Your brother's a d**k," she smiled.

Georgie snorts. "Yeah, yours too. Fancy fleeing?" she replied, gesturing towards their bikes.

Willa grinned wider. "Race you," she shot back, scooping up her boots and darting towards the Harleys.

Laughing, Georgie chased after her, sand kicking up behind them as their laughter mingled with the distant music and crashing waves.

Five minutes later, their Harleys roared to life and vanished into the night, the sound of their laughter and the thrum of engines trailing behind as the party faded into the distance.