Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Bree wanted to confront Cat, to see if she’d admit to cutting the electricity to the club. But as soon as she walked out into the parking lot, she could tell that wasn’t going to happen.

Reflection from the lights of a police car radiated off of every surface, including the bus, filling their fields of vision with red and blue. “I didn’t do anything!” she heard a familiar voice screaming, but the fact that Cat was in handcuffs and being escorted to the back seat of the police car made Bree think otherwise. Especially since she already had a good idea that it was Cat who had done the damage to the club.

“That’s the owner,” Shawna, who had been in the process of walking them out, said from behind Bree. “His name is Walt Folk. He doesn’t look very happy.”

A middle-aged man with his arms crossed stood shaking his head, talking to another police officer. Bree wondered if they had caught Cat red-handed or if she’d been in the process of getting away when they’d apprehended her. Either way, there was no way she was going to get out of this.

She’d have to call Zelda as soon as she got a chance and ask her what she thought she should do. Ultimately, the recording label would be the ones to hire Shawna to replace Cat, but she had a good idea everything would go as she’d expected before she’d told Cat she didn’t want her playing with them right before the show even began, especially now. If Cat’s behavior was any sign of her mental state, she was probably on drugs right now.

“Thank you for all of your help tonight,” Bree said to Shawna, giving her a hug as they stood outside of the bus. Cat was in the backseat of the car now, so they could no longer hear her screaming, but a glance in her direction showed she was still acting erratically.

“You’re so welcome. Thank you for asking me,” Shawna said, hugging her back.

“I’ll give you a call in the next few days, after I speak to our manager and the record label,” Bree told her.

“Sounds good. Thanks so much!” Shawna waved as Bree took Trent’s hand and headed up the steps to the bus. The rest of her bandmates were either already on or followed them, save Zach. He stayed behind and spoke to Shawna for a few seconds, both of them smiling at each other, and before he left, he hugged her, giving her a peck on the cheek.

When Zach came in and sat down, Bree couldn’t help but smile at him, even though she didn’t say anything. It was hard to read his expression in the dark bus, which was only illuminated by the revolving blue and red lights.

The bus pulled out of the parking lot. Bree settled against Trent, thinking it had been a great night, despite the obstacles they’d had to overcome. It was becoming more and more clear that Cat wasn’t stable, whether because of her drug use or otherwise, and Bree felt like she’d made the right decision in letting the keyboardist go. She just wished she’d seen this side of her before she’d given her a spot in the band. She could’ve saved them all a lot of drama.

About twenty minutes after they left the club, Bree slid over by Zach and asked, “So… are you still thinking about quitting the band?”

“Are you still thinking about hiring Shawna to take Cat’s place?” he asked, a huge grin on his handsome face.

“I would love to hire Shawna to take Cat’s place,” Bree replied, smiling back at him.

“Then, no, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good,” Bree said, patting him on the leg. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

“She’s pretty special,” Zach said with a wistful sigh.

“I agree.” Shawna seemed like the real deal--talented, sweet, and not at all erratic like Cat.

“I think we need to be careful of Cat, though. She seems like she might not be done with her unpredictable behavior.”

“What do you mean?” Bree asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

“I think she’ll be in jail for the rest of the night,” Bree noted. “Especially if she has drugs in her system.”

“True. But if she doesn’t, and she makes bail…. I’m just saying, be careful.”

Bree didn’t like the sound of that, but she was also pretty sure that Cat wouldn’t be released that night, even if she wasn’t on drugs. Maybe they all did need to be worried about Cat once they got back home, but she was confident she wouldn’t be getting out that night. Cat didn't even know where Bree lived. Since she wasn’t on the lease, it would be hard for her to track. She refused to let the other woman worry her anymore. She’d already taken enough of a toll on Bree’s emotions.

Bree moved back over by Trent. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. “Are you okay?” he asked, next to her ear.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, forcing a smile. Something about Zach’s warning stayed with her, even though she wanted to push it away. If Cat really was dangerous, she wouldn’t hesitate to come after Bree. Hopefully, she’d spend the night in jail and then get some help for her problems without doing any of her former bandmates anymore harm.

***

The band decided to stop at a restaurant and get a late-dinner/early-breakfast on their way back to the hotel. Bree devoured a huge stack of pancakes. She was so hungry from all the drama, she could’ve eaten even more. The bandmates laughed and enjoyed each other’s company for the first time in as long as she could remember. She hadn’t noticed before how much drama surrounded Cat whenever she was with them, but now that she was out of the picture, everyone else seemed to breathe easier. It was like an invisible weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

By the time they got back to the hotel, it was past two o’clock in the morning. Bree and Trent took a shower together, and then collapsed side by side in bed, intertwined in each other’s arms. The smile on Bree’s face was genuine. She felt as if she was on the top of the world. Everything was coming together again, and she couldn’t wait to see what her band could do with Shawna playing alongside them instead of Cat.

She’d been asleep for an hour or so when the strong stench of smoke awoke her, followed closely by the blaring noise of a smoke alarm.

Bree opened her eyes, confused as to where she was and what all of the noise was about. Trent was awake, too. “Bree! Throw on some clothes!” he shouted, getting dressed himself. “The hotel is on fire.”

She could hardly believe what she was hearing, but her body reacted without her mind fully registering, throwing on shorts and a T-shirt that were near her bed. She slid her feet into some shoes as well. After only a few seconds, it seemed like the room was filling with smoke.

Trent went over to the window. It was the kind that wouldn't open. “Son of a bitch,” he said. “We’re going to have to go out the door, Bree.”

The blare of sirens from the streets outside let Bree know that help was on the way, but her eyes were stinging, and her lungs were burning. She didn’t think they’d have time to wait for the emergency vehicles and firefighters to arrive. The fire had to be nearby.

Trent ran into the bathroom and wet some towels. He handed one to Bree. “Put this over your face. I’m going to see how hot the door is.” He wrapped another wet towel around his hand and placed it on the door handle. Trent pulled his hand back immediately. “It’s blazing hot,” he said. “The fire seems to be right outside our door.”

“What do we do?” Bree asked, before she started coughing.

“Bree!” she heard her name from the hallway, along with what sounded like a fire extinguisher.

“It’s Zach,” she said to Trent.

“Hurry! I can’t keep it back long!” Zach shouted.

“We have to go now,” Trent told her.

Bree nodded, her eyes filled with tears, either from the smoke or fear--or both. Trent reached for the door handle again, pulling it open, and Bree looked out into a wall of flames, Zach standing there, shooting foam into the area around their door. Behind him, the hall was mostly clear, but they’d have to get through a wall of flames first.

Before she realized what was happening, Trent picked her up and ran through the fire. Bree screamed, afraid they’d both ignite. The fire licked at her bare skin, her legs, arms, and hands feeling as if they were already ablaze. Zach emptied the extinguisher as they crossed out of the curtain of fire, and then hurried down the hallway to the stairs. Bree wanted Trent to put her down, but she knew he was operating on adrenaline now. They burst through the stairs that ultimately led down to the ground level, joining in with the crowd of people in their bathrobes and pajamas. Already, the pain from her burns was so intense, she had no idea how Trent was continuing to move if he had been burned half as badly.

Smoke began to pour in through the door where they’d entered the stairwell as the fire threatened to chase them down the stairs. Trent and Zach kept running, longing for fresh air and relief from their burns. All Bree could do was pray they all made it out alive.