FicWad

Gerard opened his eyes as he resurfaced from his lucid sleep. His cheek was rested against the worn, soft surface of the backseat. He sat up, swiping his messy hair back carelessly with one hand, opening the passenger door and sliding his body out, into the afternoon light, careful to remember to pick up his gun. He lit another cigarette; leaning against the metal surface of the Honda as he composed himself, surprised at how quickly the anger he had felt had disappeared.
He opened the trunk once he’d snuffed his cigarette out on the patch of soil next to the hedge. Lauren was asleep; again, her eyes fluttered open when the sun hit them, however. ‘’Enjoy your sleep?’’ Gerard laughed – then his eyes widened.
Lauren stayed impassive, ‘’Can we go now?’’ she didn’t like being curled up in the trunk. Her back was sore from where a plastic fixture had dug into her soft skin.
‘’Yeah, guess this is the final push before we get there.’’,
‘’Why Maryland?’’ she rose up, blinking at the sudden rays of sunlight.
‘’My brother lives there. I want to see him.’’.

The rest of the car ride was much like the other moments during which the two were in the car. The gun was still pointed towards Lauren, and Gerard was still talking, more so than his victim, who was still trying to take her mind off of the weapon – trying to think of what Gerard’s brother would be like.
Would he be the same as him?
What would happen when they got there – would he finally kill her?
The highway soon melted into a normal-looking suburb of trimmed lawns, and white picket fences. It looked like a painting, like little blobs of paint should be running amok on the emerald green blades of grass, and a lemonade stand stood on the grey slate pavement. Gerard’s brother must have been the family type to live around there.
‘’Turn off down this street, and head on up to number sixty-two.’’ Gerard advised, and Lauren steered the car down the street he’d pointed out, and peered out at the houses, trying to make out the numbers on the doors of the houses. ‘’There! Stop!’’ Gerard yelled, and Lauren jumped, emergency-stopping the Honda.
‘’Here?’’ she leaned over the steering wheel; the house was large, and a water fountain was placed in the middle of the very wide driveway.
‘’Yeah, turn in the drive.’’ Gerard sat up, and as Lauren navigated the car up the drive, she caught sight of a skinny young man walking out onto the veranda of the large home. His eyes were wide and surprised, his hair was brown, and slicked back – his slim frame covered with a plain white shirt, and a powder blue tie.
‘’Gerard – what are you doing here?’’ the man snarled once the two had gotten out of the Honda. Gerard pulled Lauren to him, holding the gun to her side;
‘’Just here to visit my brother. You don’t wanna see me?’’ Gerard’s eyes darkened, and the younger man nodded,
‘’Okay, okay – come in. Just be quick, we don’t want anyone calling the police…do we?’’ the man hurried them inside, taking a look down the length of the street to make sure that no one was gawping at the convicted killer from across the pavement.
‘’Mikey, how are things?’’ Gerard asked with a friendly smile. Lauren looked up at him, amazed at how he could turn off his menacing behavior as though it was controlled by the flick of a switch.
‘’Good…listen, Gerard, we have to be civil here…and I want you to tell me who this girl is....’’ Mikey spoke softly, as though trying to negotiate the situation.
‘’You didn’t ask how I was.’’ Gerard growled,
‘’Sorry…h-how are you?’’ Mikey stammered.
‘’Well, I’m the best that I’ve been in a while. Thank you for asking. And this gal here? She’s my partner in crime, Mikes. She drove me here from the diner that she worked in.’’ Gerard explained as though it was the most natural thing in the world to kidnap a woman and force her to transport him across the country.
‘’I’m Lauren...hello Mikey…’’ she held out her hand, wincing a little as she caught sight of the gun, shaking slightly. Was Gerard afraid of Mikey? Or just afraid that he would give his own brother right back to the authorities?
‘’Hi – I’m Mikey. Gerard’s younger brother.’’ Mikey shook her hand firmly, giving her a look that bled sympathy.
‘’Mikey, I think I need some clothes. So does Lauren, come to think of it. We’ve been on the road for the last twenty-four hours or so. Could I borrow some clothes?’’,
‘’Sure, Gerard – let me just take you upstairs.’’,
‘’How are the wife and kids, Mikes?’’ Gerard pressed.
‘’I got a divorce, Gerard. She lives with the kids back in Jersey, now. I work as a doctor in the local practice. I live alone.’’ Mikey explained.
‘’Shame. You have a nice home, though.’’,
‘’Thank you. Here, there are some clothes in here that Lauren can have in the guest bedroom.’’ Mikey placed a hand on Lauren’s back, pushing her gently into the sparsely decorated room. Gerard stood in the doorway,
‘’Come on, little brother. Show me what clothes you have for me.’’ He lifted the gun slightly,
‘’Take any clothes you want. Let me talk to Lauren for a minute.’’ Mikey pressed,
‘’Fine. You better not do anything stupid. Either of you.’’ Gerard snapped turning and quickly walking into Mikey’s bedroom.

‘’What do you know about my brother?’’ Mikey asked furtively. Lauren stared up at him, amazed at how normal Mikey was compared to Gerard. No cold, lifeless eyes of sadistic smirks – just concern and fear.
‘’I heard about the women he killed on the radio…and he killed some people I worked with....’’,
‘’So you haven’t helped him kill anyone?’’,
‘’God, no! He forced me to drive him! I thought he would take my Honda, but he made me drive him here.’’ Lauren answered, her eyes glinting as the anger simmered inside of her. Anger at her own self, mostly – for even talking to Gerard back at the diner. She should have kept her mouth shut – but then she could have died on the cold tiled floor, just like most of the other patrons and workers of the diner.
‘’You stay here and get dressed, and I’ll try and talk to him. Make him see sense.’’ Mikey laid his hands on her shoulders, giving them a comforting squeeze, ‘’I’ll try and get you out of this.’’ He promised. When he left, Lauren pulled on the clothes, feeling hot, wet tears slide down her cheeks, and wiping them away impatiently, listening out for the two brothers’ voices. She could hear Mikey’s hushed, soothing voice – and then Gerard began yelling, almost screaming. When a gunshot was fired, she ran into Mikey’s bedroom as fast as her legs would take her.