Rebel Soul (10 page)

They smoked their joint then headed back the way they had come.

“Wait a minute, there’s two tunnels, and I don't remember that from before." Emily exclaimed.

"No me either, which one do you think we should take?"

"I don't know, I'm sure they all lead out. But how long it would take us is the question?"

"Possibly days,” Billy looked at her and laughed.

"Not funny,” she said.

"You wouldn't want to be lost with me for day's?" he hugged her, "come on let's go this way."

After walking for what seemed like miles Emily stopped, "This ant right, Billy we went the wrong way."

"Yeah I know, but let’s go a little further, before turning back,"

"Why Billy, your torch is starting to fade."

"Here give me that blanket I will make another one." The room went black for a minute before Billy lit his lighter then handed it to Emily as he tore a piece off the blanket. The new torch now made and lite they ventured forward and walked a while longer before coming to a dead end.

"What a dead end, no way." Emily exclaimed as she saw Billy looking over head at something.

"What are you looking at" she ask.

"Look right up there, it looks like a trap door. Let’s see if we can get it open, climb on my shoulders." Emily climbed on Billy’s shoulders and pushed,

“It feels stuck" She told him.

"Push a little harder it probably hasn't been open in years." After giving it a couple more shoves, the door gave and opened, Emily peered out "Oh my God" she exclaimed.

"What" Billy ask

"We are in my family cemetery."

"We are were" Billy ask.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Wed 20th June

Emily had spent the day helping her mom clean and waiting on a call about a job. The call hadn't come yet, giving up she had text Billy and he was already waiting on her by the cave. The problem was, her brothers had went down the path an hour earlier and hadn’t returned yet. So she set down on the porch waiting for them to come back. Deciding to read while she waited, she opened the book in her hand, when she heard it, the gun shot coming from the area off the path. Pop like a fire cracker, it send chills up her arms. The fear taking her breath away. She quickly through the book to the ground running toward the path as her brothers came out of the woods screaming. She felt her heart drop, the screaming ringing in her ears as she watched them carrying Joe,

"They shot him," Josh yelled. "Joe he's been shot" Ricky and Josh laid Joe on the ground in front of the house, they were covered in blood. He was bleeding from his chest, gasping for air, a horrible sound coming from his throat. She was horrified, the terrible thing that had just happen.

"Joe, Joe, don't die Joe,” Emily screamed "What happened, what happened, what happened?” she repeated unable to stop herself.

She watched as her Mom ran out of the house, and fell to the ground at Joe’s side, “No, No, No, My baby boy,” She heard her Mom crying over and over as she picked Joes head up and cradled it in her lap hugging him, and rocked him like a baby crying. The blood covering her arms and dress. Her Mom wasn’t about to let him go and the EMT's had to pry her away from him as she screamed and cried reaching for him. It didn't look good, they told them as they loaded him into the ambulance, but they were trying to save his life. Emily didn’t know who had made the 911 call, she was in shock and stiffly frozen.

Emily stood at the back of the ambulance and watched as the paramedic inserted IV's into Joe’s arms and put him on a machine that showed his heart rate, she could see even with her little knowledge in the medical world that he would probably die. Oh my God, Emily thought, he’s going to die. My brother is going to die. What will I do without him, my brother, my buddy, my friend?

The family quickly loaded into Ricky’s van and headed toward the hospital. Only stopping for a minute at the barn to let their Dad know what had happened. The ride felt like the longest ride she had ever been on. Emily had never heard her brothers cry before. They were all crying now, and her Mom was praying loudly "Please God let him live” over and over again. Emily could feel an emptiness inside, like a massive dark hole, that couldn’t be filled. Her Dad was following behind them in his truck. Emily wished she had gotten out and rode with him. This was unbearable.

They pulled into the parking lot, hastily jumped out of the van and was inside the ER in record time. Everyone was getting angry as they waited for news, they each took turns talking to the receptionist, who said she didn’t know anything as of yet.

Josh screamed at her, “Well get off your ass and go find something out.” Emily watched as the receptionist slowly stood up and left the room. It wasn’t long before security was setting with them. Then doctor came out and talked to them. He told them Joe was already prepped for surgery but it looked grim, the bullet had entered his left lung very close to his heart and he had lost a lot of blood. Emily was numb at that point. Like she had no feeling anywhere.

She looked at the sadness on her Dads face as he filled out paperwork as he set at a desk, the lady behind it pounding questions at him about payment and insurance, like that matters right now she wanted to shout.

The sheriff’s detectives soon arrived. Emily listened as Josh described the events that had lead up to the shooting. She had been so wrapped up in Joe’s condition she didn’t even think about how it had happened.

"We were down by the creek, when the Johnson boy's showed up. They accused our Dad of killing Andy Johnson’s dog. We got into a heated argument, some words were exchanged and things got out of hand, fists were thrown, that’s when I heard the gun shot and I turned around to see the riffle in Jr Johnson’s hand. It was him that shot my brother Joe I know it was." Josh told him as he wiped tears from his eyes.

The deputy, looked at him, I’m sorry but we have to ask these questions now”

Josh nodded his head “I understand”

The deputy continued as he wrote everything on a piece of paper, "Which of the boys were there?" He ask and looked at Josh.

"They all were, except the two older ones" Josh answered and glanced at Emily.

What Billy was there Emily though this totally confused her? Billy was there, she thought again shaking her head no. No way, he was supposed to be waiting at the cave to see her. That angered her, she couldn't believe Billy would be a part of shooting one of her brothers. Her heart was shattered to pieces, Joe her closest brother, laying on a surgery table his body exposed to all, fighting for his life. This had to be a dream. She set back, stunned beyond believe, and held her head in her hands as she cried. Her Mom wrapped her arms around her and they both cried together.

The detectives spoke with all the boys, they each told virtually the same story. Emily knew though there had to be more to it. There had probably been some accusations through around about their pot patches. But both families would leave that out, when speaking with the police. She knew this dispute was more about pot then the missing dog, and possibly about her, the thought slipped into her mind. Oh no did I cause this? She closed her eyes, was she the reason her brother might die today.

A nurse eventually came out and moved the family to a waiting room on the second floor. Emily and Josh both paced, back and forth, on the old, red, well-worn carpet. The rest of the family, just set, and stared, all was speechless at what had happened. Emily could feel the tension in the room and she knew this time it wasn't aimed at her. She was angry to, not just angry, but furious. She wanted to hit something or somebody, and had to hold back to keep from doing so. Every time she paced by the garbage can she wanted to kick it. Josh did and she watched as the security guard started to stand but he lower his self-back in the chair as Josh picked the can back up. Emily couldn’t understand why the guard was still with them and felt like knocking his head off, but she didn’t know why, she wanted to, she was just angry, at everyone, including herself.

A patient advocate walked into the room and politely offered them some coffee. Everyone accepted it and she soon returned with a tray. They all quietly fixed a cup, then Emily and Josh returned to pacing, their cups in their hands. She could feel the hot coffee sloshing onto her hand as she paced.

Hours later, Emily and Josh still pacing, the rest of the family still staring into space. The doctor stepped into the room, Emily knew by the expression on his face the news wasn't good. Her Mom stood walking toward the doctor her arms out to him and begin crying before the Doctor uttered a word.

"I'm sorry, he didn't make it" Judy fell to the ground, as Emily felt her own knee's buckle, and Josh reached to steady her. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried tears on his shoulder. Emily wanted to scream but no sound was coming out, she felt like she couldn’t breathe and the room was going black, and she screamed inside, trying to keep herself from passing out. The shock was so overwhelming.

They all set in the waiting room for a while as if the news they had heard was untrue and the doctor would soon return telling them it was all a horrible mistake, but he didn’t.

Emily felt an emptiness inside her as if a part of her had just been removed and in a way it had. Joe had been her best friend all her life, now he was gone taken from her by a Johnson. How could she have ever thought she could make a life with one of those salvages? How could she have lower to that level? She laughed at her foolishness.

“Let’s go kids” Jack finally stood up and said, and they walked slowly to the elevator, then to the parking lot quietly, no one spoke and no more tears left to cry.

Emily rode with her brothers while her Mom rode with her Dad. She knew her Mom was most likely crying, she ached for her, Joe had been her baby boy, and had always made her Mom light up with a smile like no one else could.

As they headed home, Emily noticed Josh glance over at her several times as he sat beside her.

"Don't worry, I know now, that all Johnsons are salvages," she told him angrily.

"You can help us get them back, Emily. You can lead us to Billy." Josh looked very serious, this worried her.

"You mean set him up, don't you Josh?" she spat at him.

"Yes, that’s exactly what I mean." He looked at her point blankly. Emily knew he had revenge on his mind, she had revenge on hers to but she still had love in her heart for Billy, even though she knew, she would now end their relationship.

"Why Josh? Was Billy the one who shoot Joe?" She was angry and confused.

"No it wasn't him with the gun." Josh shook his head no.

"Are you sure, he was even there?" She questioned him.

"They were all their Emily, I'm sure of it," Josh told her. Emily noticed Ricky glance at her in his rear view mirror.

"Ricky," Emily stated, "Did you see Billy, there?"

"I can't be sure Emily, it all happened so fast." Ricky answered her.

"Well is anybody in this dam van sure?" She ask "Was Billy there or not?" She demanded. No one answered her. They rode the rest of the way home without speaking.

Emily jumped out of the van, before Ricky had in park and ran to her room falling on her bed. She could hear Josh outside yelling and hitting the side of the house. Ricky and Dan was shouting at him to stop. Her phone vibrated, it was Billy. I’m sorry Emily. She ignored him and didn’t text back. Fuck you she said. Then it vibrated again Meet me at the cave. Fuck you she shouted and turned her phone off. She saw the blue stuffed dog, looking at her with its big sad eyes and picked it up the anger inside her, had hit its breaking point. She punched, and punched it again, punching, punching till she dropped it to the floor, and she started stomping it and kicking it, till she couldn’t kick anymore. Aw-w-w-w-w-w she screamed loudly, but the pain wouldn’t go away, she threw herself on the bed and beat it with her fist, over and over. She couldn’t stop. She felt like she had gone over the edge into some other world. Aw-w-w-w-w- she screamed again, as Josh ran into her room and held her as she beat him in the back.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Fri 22nd June

Emily was wearing a knee length black dress as they made the long walk from her house to the family cemetery. In front of her she could see her remaining three brothers, a friend of Joes and two of their first cousins carrying the cherry wood casket, from the house, down the path past the shine cellar, the pond and into the cemetery. Wake me up, wake up Emily, she continued to say in her mind. She felt like she was walking around in a daze. Wake up, she thought again. This can’t be real.

The viewing of Joe’s lifeless body had been held the night before at the funeral home in Chestnut. Joe looks good, everyone kept saying. Shout up she wanted to yell and scream at them, how could, anyone dead look good. Are you crazy, but she held her, tongue not wanting to make a spectacle of herself. Her family had been through enough.

The funeral would be held at the graveside, in just a few minutes, and her brother Joe would be gone forever. She would never see his crooked smile again. She wanted to bring him back to life, could she? The thought crossed her mind, it happened in the Bible. Jesus bring him back please, she prayed in her mind, for at least the hundredth time. She thought she might be going crazy and didn’t know if she could get through this, but she pushed herself forward.

The house had been crowded with family and friends since the shooting and Emily had shared a room with one of her cousins. She hoped they would all leave soon, so she could grief silently, away from everyone’s eyes. She had endured days of hearing words like I'm sorry for your lose and Oh Emily we all know how close you and Joe were. Were, Emily hated that word. She knew everyone meant well and had been a great help and comfort to her Mom, but it was time for them to all leave. Leave now, she wanted to shout, now so her family could carry on with their lives. She didn't know how, she would carry on with her life, she imagined she would always be looking for Joe at the breakfast table, the dinner table, in the fields, at the pond fishing and everywhere else in her life.

She thought about Billy and wondered how much of this she was responsible for. How would she ever forgive herself? She would confront Billy soon. He had been texting her continually and she had ignored him. She would not confront Billy as Josh wanted it but in her on way, and then she would end it with him. Once and for all. But she wouldn't lead Josh to him, there was no way she would lead Billy to his death.

They made it to the cemetery and the boys set the casket down, then the funeral director opened it. Emily hated the way Joe’s lifeless body had been put on display. Her brother and her friend put on display for the world to see, dead in a box, lifeless. The anger churned inside her. She wanted to slam it shut and tell everyone to leave. Emily looked out over the crowd, his friends, her friends, family friends, her family all there, crying, all crying.

As she went to turn around she noticed the spot where the trap door was, hidden from view, but she knew where it was. No one would find it if they didn't already know about it, and she saw him, Billy watching, hiding behind the large rose bushes. He waved and her eye’s locked with his. She thought she felt him in her soul as if he could read her thoughts. How dare he, come to my brother’s funeral and gloat over what his brother had done to hers. She thought about killing him herself, or telling Josh he was there. Then decided against it, no I will remain calm and handle this later on my own.

Pastor Jones began his message with forgiveness and Gods love for them all. How God had called Joe home, because it was his time. Emily half listened, her mind wondering back to when her and Joe had been kids catching lightening bugs in the back yard. How Joe couldn't hurt a fly and would let the lightning bugs go so they wouldn't die.

How could anybody kill him she thought, he was so gentle. She tried to hold back the tears, but they dribbled down her nose and cheeks anyway.

They played some music, four songs, (Free Bird, Thank You Lord, Angle, and Knocking on Heavens Door by Guns and Roses,) all songs Joe had loved. Emily had picked the songs and cried through all four, then walked by the casket one more time. One more time to see Joe, before he was buried in the ground to be gone forever. “Good-By Joe, I love you.” she said as her legs trembled under her as if she couldn’t stand any longer, Josh wrapped his arm around her shoulder, giving her support to stand.

The under taker then ask them all to leave telling them they could return later. Emily knew it was because they didn't want the family to see him lowered into the ground and buried. She glanced over toward the trap door and Billy was gone. He better be she thought if he wants to live to see another day.

Emily walked back down the hill toward her house with Josh at her side. "You think everyone will leave now?" she ask Josh.

"No I think, the cousins are staying a few more days."

"Shit, I think I will sleep outside," she said, causing her and Josh both to laugh.

"Have you thought about what I said the other day about sitting Billy up?"

"Haven't they already arrested Jr?" She didn’t want Billy hurt, she still loved him. She just wanted the relationship to end. If anybody kills him it will be me she thought.

Josh shook his head, "Yes, but I can't help but to want them all dead."

"I know Josh, but we can't just go around killing all the Johnsons, we have to get through this another way, Jr is the one who pulled the trigger. I want blood also but we have to be realistic and let the law handle it or we will be the ones sitting behind bars in prison.”

"Well little Sis, I promise you this ant over.” He said and hugged her. She knew in her heart he was right and it wasn't over. She hoped no one else had to die, but knew the hatred between the two families ran deep and had for a long time. Emily had heard many stories over the years, but was sure she hadn't heard them all. The Johnsons and the Cantons were sure to kill each other someday, and it could divide the whole county.

"Have you got any of that shine left you stole from me?" Josh ask her with a grin on his face, as they approached the shine cellar.

Emily grinned back, "Maybe, why?"

"Well seeing that you broke all you didn't take," he put his arm around her, "I'm out of shine."

"I’d have thought you would have made some more by now."

"Oh well, I am working on that."

"Well then maybe I will share my last jar with you." She laughed and kissed him on the check.

He laughed "Ok so you will share the shine you stole from me. Go get it and I will meet you in the cellar."

Emily ran to her bedroom then changed into some cutoffs and a tee shirt. Grabbed the jar of moonshine and ran back out the door. The house was full and she was happy no one had approached her, she couldn’t take another hug from them.

Emily reached the cellar and opened the door as Josh was clearly trying to hide something, he jumped.

"What was that Josh a gun?" Emily ask.

"Yeah, um, I keep it down here just in case I need it." Emily accepted his answer although, something itched in the back of her mind. She opened the jar, took a drink and handed it to Josh.

"You got a joint," she ask.

"When did you start smoking? Billy Johnson has been a bad influence on you, little sis," Josh said as he lit a joint.

* * *

    Billy had been exploring the tunnels in the cave, he wanted to know where they lead, and felt like he needed to do something to keep his mind sane. He walked out of the cave and send Emily another text, for the umpteenth time. She hadn’t answered any of them, this whole ordeal was unbelievable.

     He had been at the cave waiting on her when he heard the gunshot and ran toward it. He saw his brothers running down the creek bed toward home and caught up with them. Jr told him it was an accident. Billy believed him.

He so loved Emily, she was awesome. He enjoyed every minute he spent with her, and now after the death of her brother, her favorite brother, he hoped she wouldn’t blame him. He would fight for her love. He couldn’t just let her go and forget her. That was out of the question.

She had seen him watching at the funeral, he felt the hatred steaming from her eyes as she looked his way, and wanted to run to her. Hold her and kiss all the tears away. Even though he had not been inside her body, he felt like he had made love to her many times. He felt like the two of them were becoming as one. His soul mate he thought forever, and right now he knew his heart and soul was in her hands, and she could take away his heart and smash it into a million pieces. He set down by the cave and text her again. “Answer me” he whispered “Please.”

* * *

Later that evening Emily filling bold from the shine she had drank earlier, decided it was time to confront Billy. She returned to the cellar looking for the gun she had seen Josh hide. It wasn’t hard for her to find, she took it then grabbed a flashlight on her way out. She had decided to go through the trap door and into the cave from the tunnel so no one would follow her into the woods. She knew Billy would show up hoping to see her. He had send a text after the funeral telling her he would be there, at five pm sharp and would wait till the end of time if he had to.

She walked through the cemetery stopping at Joe's grave. Still in unbelief at all that had happened. She noticed a joint someone had left on his grave, she picked it up and lite it.

"You don't mind do you Joe," she spoke out loud. “Sure you don’t, you would have done anything for me” She smoked part of it then laid the other half on his grave and headed toward the entrance of the tunnel, turned on the flash light and climbed in.

It was dark even with the flashlight, but she easily found her way through it, to the front of the cave. The jar of peach shine she had been drinking with Billy the last time they were there together still sit by the entrance. She took the lid off and took a drink, then climbed through the bushes to the outside, taking the shine with her. This is going to be hard breaking it off with Billy, she squeezed the tears back. I guess I need to get drunk. She set down and took another drink. Ironic Emily thought, how much everything has changed in just a few weeks.

   She looked up just as Billy walked through the bushes, he seemed surprised to see her and ran toward her.

"Hey, are you ok? I’m so sorry about Joe.” He reached to pull her into his arms and she angrily pulled away pushing him with all her might. Emily had drink enough to be feeling the effects of the alcohol. She was confused about her feelings. The anger burned inside her but seeing him and hearing his voice, had softened her somewhat, but she wasn't having any of it. She was breaking it off, ending it right here and now.

“Enough Billy” she shouted “I’ve had enough of this, we have to end this now, I’m through.” She saw the hurt cross his face.

"Emily, why, I had nothing to do with Joe's death? I'm so sorry about that, I just want to hold you in my arms and comfort you." He looked so wounded, she wanted to comfort him, but she held strong.

"I'm serious Billy, and I know you were there, when Joe was killed." She shouted.

"What, no Emily, I was here waiting on you. I don't want to lose you, we can leave Chestnut, today if you want."

The words stung her, the words she had wanted to hear, before today. She almost grabbed him, she wanted to hold him in her arms and say yes, yes, let’s leave right now, today. But she wasn't going to, her mind was made up. Emily had already lost one brother and had gained back Josh's respect. She was not about to get Billy killed or another one of her brothers. She had to be strong and end it.

"Blood is thicker than water Billy.” She said as she pulled out the gun. It felt light in her hands, as she held it steady, and pointed it at him.

"I'm a good aim Billy, you know that." She had only ever used a riffle, this was a hand gun and it fit perfectly in her hand. She never intended on killing Billy, but this relationship had to end today. 

Her heart urged her, to stay with him, but the power of the gun and liquor was giving her the strength to break it off. "This is the end for us Billy Johnson. Joe was the closest brother I had, we played together, everyday growing up. We ate together almost every night, and your brother killed him. Your brother." She cried the tears were coming now, streaming down her face hard, she could taste them in her mouth, but Billy wasn’t budging, not even backing up.

"Emily put the gun down before it goes off, I know your upset, and I know how close you were to Joe."

"No you don't, you could never know or understand, the closeness I have with any of my brothers.” She held the gun steady, and pointed straight at his head. She knew he was scared, he had seen her shoot. He had to be scared.

"I seen you two together almost every day of my life. I know, and I'm sorry but it was an accident." He was remaining calm, so different from her angry shouting.

"So you was there" Emily stiffened.

"No, no Emily I wasn't. I was here sitting right where you are standing now, when I heard the gun shot."