❛ What's happened to Scarlett? ❜

chapter thirty six.

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

       A SMALL BREEZE wisps against Scarlett's cheeks, the gentle contact causing her eyelids to fly open. Her eyes fly around her surroundings quickly, trying to see something, but wherever she is, the place is too dark for her to even see the ground she's knelt on. While quiet shaky breaths pass her lips and her head bangs painfully, she finally realises what sort of position her body is in. Her arms are hung above her head, her wrists joined with a metal chain which is then linked to the ceiling. She's up on her knees, as the rough concrete digs into her skin, and the chains around her wrists are lifting her ever so slightly so she's unable to relax her body weight comfortably. She shakes her hands in an attempt to loosen something, but nothing budges and she curses quietly, panic settling in.

The longer she squints through the pitch black that's swallowing her, the more she starts to become acclimatised to the darkness. Her eyes adjust slowly and she begins to look around desperately, causing her to come to the conclusion that she's shoved down in a basement that stinks of piss and bile. A tiny barred window on the far wall to her right is boarded up, but a small gust of wind manages to sneak in every now and again. And through the tiny gaps in the wood, sunlight manages to push itself through, letting her know that it's now daytime. That's when she starts to remember and realise how she's ended up in this position.

The man in the park.

The familiar porn studio.

Georgie Caruso

Robert Miller.

The glass ornament; presumably reason for the agonising headache.

Her breath hitches and her eyes widen when her gaze lands on it. Directly opposite her, stands a large metal door that's strong enough to protect a bank safe. The nail scratches engraved into the bottom of the door cause Scarlett to let out a small sob as she remembers her last time in her family's basement. It was the last night before she took Jamie and ran.

She had just returned home after a Club party, tired and slightly tipsy but not drunk enough to forget to tiptoe through her home. As she sneaked through her silent house, she glanced momentarily at Jamie's bedroom door, thankful that it was closed and all the lights were off. Meaning that her father had left him alone whilst she was gone.

Then she heard it, her father's booming voice that shook the house like an earthquake. He called her name from his normal position on his rotting armchair. It had been too dark for her to even notice him, and her eyes were blurry from the small amount of alcohol. But, she immediately sobered up after hearing his voice, and the furious tone behind it.

She slowly turned on her heel to face him, not missing out of the corner of her eye how Jamie's night light clicked on after her father's loud yell, and she began to pray that he stayed inside his room.

After a few punches and kicks, like usual, Scarlett believed that would be it. That she would finally be able to retreat to her room. But, this night, he didn't stop after a couple of beatings, and her father dragged her down the basement stairs like she was some sort of rag doll before throwing her carelessly to the concrete floor as his hands drifted down to unloop the belt wrapped around his waist..

That night was the first and only night that Robert Miller raped his daughter, and it was the very next day when Scarlett ran away. Now, she wishes she'd stayed away forever.

Scarlett shakes at the chains holding her arms above her head, before she attempts to stand up, but her legs are so shaky and weak that she can't hold her own weight. It's only after her failed attempts, that she finally notices that she's still in her dress from the wrap party, but the bottom of the dress is pushed up over her ass, though she can't figure out if it was forceful or accidental.

A sob cracks through her throat once more, and she uses all of her strength to tug on the chains one last time, rattling the floor boards above her head. As dust falls down from the boards, landing in her hair and clouding her vision for a moment, she hears as heavy footsteps stamp across the floor above her. Whoever's there is obviously angered by her attempts at freedom, and just from hearing the loud footsteps, Scarlett immediately recognised it to be her father, causing her to sob once more as she dreads what's to come.

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

AT THE CLUBHOUSE, Camille bursts through the door so quickly it would've gone flying off it's hinges if it wasn't for Luke who manages to catch it before he cracks against the wall and damages the plaster further. With terrified tears streaking her face and her hair thrown up in a messy bun, Camille's head snaps around the room as she searches for a certain biker. Behind her, Luke copies her movements with just as much urgency, and he bends down to ask a prospect where Jax Teller is.

That's when Gemma steps out into the middle of the room, her brows furrowing deeply as she inspects Camille's state. Usually the woman acted about her appearance, always having her hair laid beautifully, but not today. Today she looks like she's been rung through the mill.

"What's up, baby?" Gemma grabs Cami's shoulders gently, "What's happened?"

Camille grinds her jaw, "Where's your son?"

"What—"

"Babe," Luke calls, standing up straight once he concludes his conversation with another member. Camille quickly turns to face him before he says, "He's in his dorm room."

Instantly, Camille is pushing away from Gemma and marching down the hallway, knowing exactly which room belongs to Jackson. As she leaves Luke behind to explain the situation to Gemma, her first bangs against the wood of the dorm room door. It rattles as she tries the door handle, only for it to be locked. After a few moments, Jax pulls open the door with squinting tired eyes and a bare torso as he frowns at Cami in complete confusion. There was no reason for her to banging down his door so early in the morning.

"Jones?" He croaks, running a hand through his hair to flatten the fly always.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Camille pushes at his chest harshly, shoving him further back into his room.

Slowly, Jax begins to wake up, his head shaking as he struggles to catch onto the meaning of her words, "What? What did I do to who?" His head tilts when he finally notices Cami's appearance and her tear stained cheeks, "Wait, Camille, what's happened? Are you okay?"

She ignores his inquiries about her and continues to push the previous topic, "Scarlett. What did you do to her?"

Jax's face pulls up and his brows crease, "What? I didn't do anything to her," He steps closer to Cami, his eyes now holding much more than confusion as his mind starts to worry about Scarlett, "What are you talking about? What's happened to Scarlett?"

That's when Cami realises that Jax has absolutely no clue what she's referring to and slowly her shoulders drop and her eyelids flutter closed as she exhales.

"Jones," Jax demands, "What's happened to her?"

Camille's hands lift to hide her face as she shakes her head while she mumbles to herself, "Who the fuck else would. . ."

Jax takes another step towards her, his back straightening and eyes becoming full of desperation as he starts to realise that something's not right, "Would what? What's happened to Scarlett? Where is she? Jones!" He shouts, quickly becoming agitated with Camille's long anxious silence.

"I don't know!" Camille yells back in response and her hands drop from her face to reveal more tears streaming down and dropping from her chin to the floor, "She's not at home. Hasn't been since before she left for the wrap party last night. And— and I got a call this morning, from a number who'd been calling me all night, but I'd been too drunk and tired to pick up then," She sniffs, "Jax, it was Jamie, on a burner phone."

"What. . ." Jax fumbles for what to say, not entirely sure of what that means, "Don't tell me she's gone back to the city."

"No," Camille shakes her head, and he lets out a small sigh of relief, "Jamie said that— he said— he said that last night Scarlett had called him. He said she seemed off. Then, apparently, something happened to— to her."

Jax's jaw clenches, and he nods at her to continue even though he's not sure he wants to hear what's next, "Keep going."

"Jamie heard someone speak to her, a man. Then Scarlett said that Jamie should call me if Scar didn't  call him back this morning. Obviously Jamie was freaked out and immediately called me last night. I have no fucking clue how he got my number, but I'm glad he did," Cami wipes at her cheeks, "Jax, something's happened to Scarlett and I have no clue where she is. I came here 'cause I thought you might of fucked her up last night. Obviously not."

With his heart now pounding against his chest and his head banging with concern, Jax turns around and snatches his phone from his bed, going to call Scarlett and pray that she picks up and tells him that she's somewhere safe.

"I've already tried that," Cami stops him, "A woman answered it. She found the phone on a park bench in Charming park really early this morning. She returned it to the house just before I left. Jax," She calls, snapping his eyes from the ground up to her face, "Where the fuck could she be?"

In a hurry, Jax grabs a white t-shirt from his dresser and throws it on before slipping his arms through his kutte, "Get the boys together in the Chapel," He demands, not even bothering to look at Camille once more as she leaves to complete his order.

For the first time probably forever, Camille quickly works to follows Jax's orders. She closes his dorm door behind her, and only then does she hear something be thrown across the room inside before it breaks against a wall. She sighs heavily, knowing the thought of Scarlett being unsafe will already be sending the biker crazy. Cami rushes back into the main room of the Clubhouse, only to find all of the Club members already piling into the Chapel. Once his eyes land on his girlfriend, Luke moves towards her, both of his hand landing on her biceps whilst his thumbs caress her skin.

His head tilts as he studies her face and his heart shatters at the sight of her red teary eyes, "You gonna be okay while we're all in there?"

Her brows furrow in confusion, "What are you talking about? I'm joining."

"Cami," Luke sighs, taking a quick glance at the full Chapel before looking back at her sympathetically, "Usually women aren't allowed—"

"She's allowed this time, Caddal," Jax nods as he passes the couple, hardly sparing them a glance before he too has entered the Chapel.

As soon as he steps a foot over the threshold into the room, every head turns in his direction, each of the men looking just as concerned. While Cami and Luke enter, Jax runs an anxious hand over his face as he rounds the table and takes his usual seat next to Clay.

"What the hell has happened, Jackie?" Chibs is the first to speak up, leaning forward on the table, desperate for some sort of information that can hopefully calm his own nerves.

"It's Scarlett," Jax manages to get out.

"Well, we know that," Tig nods, nothing but worry etching onto his face, "What's happened to her?"

"I don't know what exactly," Jax bites at his bottom lip and his gaze flows to Cami, who's now positioned on Luke's lap in his usual chair. Then he looks over to Opie, who's brows are creased as he waits for Jax to continue, "She's missing, and I need us boys to work together and find her. Quickly," He explains, his eyes flickering with an unusual amount of urgency.

Clay shuffles in his chair, dragging the member's attention over to him. One of his elbows rests on an arm of his chair while that hand rubs at his temple, "You sure she's missing? There's always a large chance she's ran away again."

Jax's jaw clenches as his head turns to look at his step father, "You know damn well she wouldn't. Not without telling Jones first," He motions to the only woman in the room who nods in agreement, "Something's wrong, Clay. And I am not gonna let you sit there and not let us do anything about it."

"Clay," Cami calls, "Her cellphone was found on a park bench this morning, she hasn't been home and no one has seen her since the wrap party last night. She's missing. I know it."

"Maybe she ended up in a man's bed," Clay suggests, eyes moving to Jax, "You always used to say she was a whore."

At his words, Jax's fist slams down on the wooden table before he raises a finger to point furiously at Clay, "Watch your mouth, old man." He snarls. Even with Clay being his step father and the Club President, there was no way Jax was going to let him speak about Scarlett that way, especially when she's not able to defend herself.

"Clay," Camille drags his attention back to her and cuts the tension between the two men. She raises from her boyfriend's lap, leaning forward to glare at the Club's President, "I will not let you, any of you—" She looks over the rest of the men huddled in the room, "—sit around and do fuck all while my best friend is missing. I've already lost one friend this year, I'm not prepared to lose another one because of this fucking Club, " She snaps, and Luke's hand snakes up to her waist but she slaps him away before pointing at Clay, "Fucking listen to your V.P and do something." Her lip quivers as she turns and removes herself from the room, leaving the door to swing closed behind her.

"And that's why we don't have women in the Chapel," Clay mumbles.

Jax's head tilts daringly, "Now it's not a time for fucking jokes, Clay. If you're not willing to help, I'll go look myself. Either way, I'm finding Scarlett," Jax pushes away from the table, scraping his seat back against the wooden floor boards. His furious eyes fall on the rest of the men crowded around the table, "Are any of you willing to help?"

Chibs sighs, "I've always said that if Scarlett's ever in trouble, then I'll be the first to help," He nods as his eyes lift to meet Jax's pleading pupils, "Now ain't no different." Chibs raises from his seat too.

"None of you can deny that Scarlett's changed this place since her return. She's like a sister to you all," Opie speaks up, standing up, "We all need to work together to get our girl back. So, for once, don't be useless sack of shits and get up."

"Thank you, Ope," Jax releases a shaky breath.

Opie nods at him from the other end of the table, "Anytime, brother."

Before any of the other man in the room have a chance to speak or raise from their chairs, the double doors are thrown open by Camille and this time she's joined by Lyla. The blonde woman seems disheveled and tears stain her cheeks too.

"It's Georgie Caruso," Cami breaths.

The man's name causes Jax's fist to curl and his brows to furrow. He moves around the table once more, coming to stop in front of the two woman, "What are you talking about?" He questions intensely.

Lyla brushes some of her hair from her face as she looks up to meet Jax's gaze, "He came by Luann's studio this morning to taunt her. I listened in on them talking, wanting to make sure he didn't hurt Luann. I heard him mention Scarlett. I—"

"What did he say about her?" Jax urges.

"Scarlett had been at his studio last night after she left the party. Then he said something about a Robert, I think it was?" Lyla shrugs. Listening to her words, Jax's back straightens and his head turns to look at Chibs, who seems even more concerned than before.

"Her father, Robert Miller," Chibs informs the group, "Former member of the Club. Complete cockhead, if you ask me."

Next, surprisingly, it's Clay who decides to speak, "Loved his alcohol and drugs a little too much. We got rid of him a few years after Scarlett was born and since then he hasn't liked us much."

"Jax," Cami calls.

His head turns to look at her, "What?"

"I know where her parents live," She explains, "We can go see if he knows anything."

He nods slowly, his mind working rapidly to devise a plan, "I think it's best that we speak to Georgie Caruso first," His eyes move to flick between Chibs and Opie before he raises his brows, "You boys up for a little interrogation?"

Chibs nods firmly, "Always, Jackie."

Opie hums, "Lead the way, man."

. . .

took a while for me to finish this chapter so apologies

word count
2931
not proof read at all