Hand of Blood

Matt's point of view.

I slammed my head forward onto the wooden floor, a loud groan flowing from my lips. The amount of times everyone reveled in bringing up that story drove me insane. Yeah, it was okay to mention the day after it happened, maybe even a week, but now it just seemed stupid. I was just a kid back then, really.

"Aww, do you remember his face though?" Kayla cooed as I slowly rose back up to my seating position on the floor, glaring over at her. She grinned happily over at me from the comfort of Padge's lap, who wasn't particularly happy to say the least. He was only bothering to socialize tonight for his girl. He was a true bloody gent, that one.

"The pure terror? How the hell could I forget," Moose snorted, leaning back on his arms, from a little across the room. I rolled my eyes and pulled myself to my feet, completely bored with the 'reminiscing' of our 'finest times in Bridgend.' Sure, it had been a laugh for the past few hours, but we weren't talking about the finest times anymore. For the past twenty minutes it had been my finest fuck ups. They weren't so amusing without some alcohol in my system.

"Hey, Tuck, where are you off to?" Jay said with a grin, flicking a pretzel at me from his location on the sofa. My eyes fell down to the snack at my feet before I felt a sudden onslaught of a dozen more being thrown in my direction.

I sighed inwardly before looking back at him blankly. "Mature, Jason," I said lowly to my still not quite sober friend, before the next comment tumbled from the tip of my tongue effortlessly. "Almost as mature as the time you thought throwing all of that girl's knickers out the window and onto the street would be funny, huh?" I said with a knowing smirk, making his expression drop instantly. Before I left, I might as well turn the tables. "Didn't like her retaliation much, did ya, Jay. What was it she decided to come back at you with again...?"

"Oh my god!" Kayla exclaimed suddenly, a huge smile on her face. "Was that the one who left you naked in the street? Fuck, that was funny, Jay," she giggled as she leaned back onto Padge, who was even allowing himself a small chuckle. I scoffed in amusement at Jay's gaping expression.

"You were so whipped with her," Moose threw into the conversation, between his laughter. "I still don't know how you ended up in that state. And it was fucking ages before we found you taped to that fence."

Jay scowled around the group. "How many times do I have to say I was wasted?! I didn't have a clue what was happening!" He defended hotly, his face going a little red from how worked up he was getting. There was definitely still some JD in his system.

"Bit of a light weight then, aren't you Jay? Think you'd learn to quit while your ahead if you can't handle your drink," I chimed as I sauntered over to the door. It seemed Jay's little temper tantrum reached it's peak, the whole plastic bowl full of pretzels being hurled in my direction. I rolled my eyes as I stepped around them, reaching for the door.

"Hey, Mattie, where do you think you're off to?" Kayla said suddenly, her eyes watching me suspiciously. I glanced back, my eyes briefly running over each of my friends in turn, somewhat oblivious to me as they continued on in their own conversation. I just didn't feel right, tonight. I didn't feel comfortable.

I shrugged briefly, not making eye contact with Kayla. "I'm a bit tired," I started quietly. "Think I'll turn in."

Kayla pouted lightly at me, a mixture of disapproving and sympathy in the expression. An odd mix, really, but I knew which each was for. "Okay, honey. Sleep well," she cooed motherly after a moment, smiling up at me. I inclined my head as I turned to head out of the door.

"What?! If Matt gets to escape, I do too," Jay complained as he started climbing across the sofa toward the door once he noticed I was leaving. He had obviously realised that he was now the one in the firing line and trying to avoid it too.

"Oh no, Jason. You have no excuse," Moose started pointedly with a large grin on his face. I smiled a little at the fact even Moose was being excepting for me to have some time to myself, even though he knew I was about to go against Kayla's original wishes. She'd never realise in the morning...

"Yeah, Jay, get your ass back here," Kayla started, a mischievous tone in her voice and catching my attention momentarily. "Or I might just have to tell the next girl you bring home how tiny you-"

"It was fucking cold out there!" Jay boomed suddenly, fully turning his attention onto Kayla who was once more giggling in amusement, at Jay's expense. I shook my head slowly, a hint of a smile still on my lips as I slipped out of the room. Much like my own incident of a little awkward bar 'fight' I'd rather not remember, Jay had his own embarrassing stories he'd like to be forgotten. Though I must admit, his were a little worse for his pride.

I made my way upstairs slowly, trudging through the darkness up into the single room I had claimed as my own. As I wandered into the space that was now pretty much empty of all personal belongings, I flicked on the small light that was resting on my bedside table, allowing a low light to illuminate the room to me. My gaze fell onto my phone that was sitting turned off beside the lamp, deciding to unplug the charger which was currently reviving it and stick it in my last bag before I forgot it. That wouldn't be a good start to the tour. Without a charger, all of my communication would go out the window.

After switching on the phone and setting it back down on the table, I crouched down and reached underneath the small wooden surface to a shelf underneath, my hand wandering to the very back of the space against the wall. I sighed inwardly to myself as my fingers wrapped around the cool glass bottle, it somehow comforting to me as I removed it from it's semi-hiding place. It was the last bottle of Jagermeister in the house.

I stood back up straight as I unscrewed the cap, bringing the bottle to my lips as I sat back heavily onto my bed. I took a long drink of the spiced liquor before letting the bottle rest in my lap, my eyes falling to rest on the sheets underneath me.

I ran my fingers through my hair irritably, my eyes closing softly. "Fuck," I breathed to myself almost bitterly, realising what it was that I was doing. I was following in Jay's footsteps after all, but I don't think just one bottle of Jager would cut it. Enough to get me a little lower, perhaps, not enough to forget and get a good nights sleep. None the less, I took another shot from the bottle, before setting it down on the table beside the small lamp and my phone.

I turned back and sat aimlessly in the center of my bed, while my eyes roamed the room. My guitar was still sitting in the corner of the room on it's stand, considering I had refused to let it be put in the bus just yet. You never quite know when the mood takes you. I scoffed to myself at the thought, before clambering forward across my duvet and reaching over to it, tugging it from the stand and back with me. No time like the present, I guessed.

Without putting much thought over it, Curses had started flowing from my fingertips at a slow, steady rhythm. I smiled sadly at my own pathetic state of mind, as I calmly plucked out the intro tune. Since when had I turned into such a bloody sap, huh? Since when did I want nothing more than to not leave this hell of a town. Since five weeks ago? Really? Tough break for me, then.

The sound of my phone vibrating both against the wooden table and the glass bottle startled me, my finger skipping a fret. I scowled a little at the missed note, considering it was one of my pet hates. Once you skip a note, you've fucked up the song. It just doesn't sound right after that, and I really wasn't in the mood to start again, considering it was almost an accident I was playing it to start with. Too much effort.

My frown remained on my face as I shuffled back across the bed, swinging my legs over the edge and placing my guitar out across the sheets behind me. I rested my elbows on my knees as I picked up my phone and absently started flicking through it, finding a text telling me I had a voice mail. I paused for a second as I recalled just how much I had grown to hate those things, before calling the service. I had already suspected who it was from.

I sat up a little straighter as the number that met my ears wasn't the one I expected. It wasn't my mothers, but Brianne's. I glanced across to the clock hanging on the wall at the bottom of my bed, confirming my estimation that it was pretty late. It had gone 11, to be more precise. Unless she had called a lot earlier, this was a weird time of night to be phoning. Hell, she never usually called at all.

My anticipation didn't last long, but was quickly clouded over by complete confusion. The message sounded like some kind of growl, or shout, which was half cut off, followed by a crash before the line went dead. I blinked a couple of times as I took the phone away from my ear, looking down at the device blankly. That was Brianne's number, wasn't it?

I quickly called the number again, listening much more closely this time as the number was read out. It was definitely Brianne's. I knew that, because her phone used to be Moose's anyway. I just had that number memorised by heart.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried slightly by the odd message. I didn't have a clue in hell what it was, or what it meant, but there had to be a reason for it, right? I had learnt from experience the only time Bri calls is when it's urgent. The fact that I didn't understand it in the slightest, somehow was all I needed to know to tell me I had to find out what it meant.

I stood up and slid my phone into my back pocket, wandering over to the duffel bag in the corner of my room and picking up the hoodie that was laying over it. I pulled it over my head and stole a quick glance around the room, half wondering if I should grab some gloves too. It was a freezing night, I knew that much. After a moment I decided that I probably should have more important things to worry about than whether I should be dressed properly, and shook my head at myself roughly. I needed to sort out my priorities, one of these days. Still scowling to myself, I quickly tugged on my trainers sitting beside the door, switched off the lamp and headed out into the hall.

When I reached the front door downstairs, I paused for a second and looked over the closed door leading to the practice room. Priorities. Should I tell the guys I'm going out for a bit? I frowned a little as I thought over how the conversation would go in my head. They would ask why. I would say that I'm going to see Brianne. They'd ask why I don't just call her back. They would make a good point. Hell, why wasn't I just calling her back?

I blinked a couple of times as I realised I was arguing with myself. That meant I was more worried than I originally thought, which was why I should just go to her house myself. But it would be quicker to call. Maybe I should ask Kayla what she thinks...

God damn it, Tuck, just get out the bloody door!

+

I shivered slightly as I wandered down the almost pitch black street, hands dug deep in the jacket pockets while my breath floated in the air in front of my face. I should have voted for the gloves. It was beyond freezing, but what was I expecting at such a stupid hour of night.

I removed my hands from my pockets for second to tug the hood up over my head, cursing under my breath as my foot fell into another puddle of water while I wasn't paying attention to the path. I glared down, shaking my now soaked foot a little before starting back off at my hurried pace. The fact it had been raining wasn't helping the cold front, and I couldn't help but wonder why I had decided to walk all the way here anyway. It had taken me a good fifteen minutes at least. My spur of the moment actions always seemed to backfire on me.

A few minutes later I turned into the front garden gate outside of Brianne's house, my head still bowed to the ground from trying to huddle myself together for warmth. I quickly shuffled up to the door, glancing up at the dark wood in front of me as I stopped on the front step. I was about to bring my hand up to knock on the door, but caught myself pausing, a thought suddenly crossing my mind in that moment. The cold, odd moment I had found myself in, but somehow never happening in a million years.

I bit the inside of my cheek as I glanced over my shoulder into the silent darkness, light raindrops starting to fall once again, only just visible in the streams of light from the street lamps. I smiled weakly at myself, shaking my head slowly as I turned back to the door, watching my warm breath cloud the icy air. I was really taken with this girl, wasn't I? How the hell else did I end up outside her door, nearing midnight and in the rain. I honestly could never say I pictured myself doing this for another person before. Maybe it was because there was something about Brianne that needed to be protected which brought out this side of me. Maybe I just cared a little too much.

I sighed lightly to myself, before knocking confidently on the door. My gaze wandered as I stood idly, waiting for someone to come to let me in. My eyes widened slightly as I realised it would be pretty bad if Spencer opened the door right about now. He didn't seem that fond of me.

After a minute or so, I have to admit I was a little confused for the lack of response. I frowned, puzzled, as I took a step back from the house for a second, my gaze wandering the windows. I tilted my head as I noted all the ones upstairs were out, and there was a very dull light coming from the lounge. At any rate, someone had to be downstairs then.

I stepped back up to the door and knocked again, leaning towards the frame a little and listening out for any sounds beyond. I was pretty sure the room was silent, but I was feeling much too stubborn to turn back now. I think tonight, more than ever, I had realised how much Brianne meant to me. I suddenly felt like showing it.

Knocking once more, I stepped closer to the door and pressed my ear against the wooden panels, frowning as I listened. I jumped back as I felt it move beneath my weight, the handle dipping beneath my fingers that were resting on it. I looked straight forward, half expecting it to open all the way and to be met with the tired expression of one member of the Taylor household. My eyes fell back down to the door handle with a hint of confusion, as I realised it wasn't moving from the inside. I had pushed it open.

Curiously, I moved up against the door again, lightly leaning into it and allowing it to gently move back on it's hinges enough to create room for me to slide through. It had only been closed lightly. It wasn't locked. Now that was odd.

Somewhat cautiously now, I stepped into the room and softly closed the door behind me, glancing around into the darkness. The house was deadly silent, and it was slightly disturbing. Unnerving, almost. I took a few more timid steps into the hall, glancing sideways into the living room where I knew the only light was coming from.

There were candles flicking against the carpet beside a pile of broken objects, the flames tiny yet already creating a slightly stale edge to the air. There was another scent catching my nose, too, almost metallic in a way. It's producer captured my gaze that had been drawn in by the single light in the room. There was a trail of red on the carpet, leading right towards me. I followed it with my eyes, turning behind me to realise it was leading straight out of the door.

I swallowed slightly as goosebumps crept across my arms, completely bound by confusion. This seemed much to far like a creepy horror movie or psycho-thriller for my liking. I glanced behind me, almost paranoid by the thought, before my eyes explored the room before me again, doing a double take over the mass of shattered glass and melting wax on the floor. I frowned slightly as I was almost certain I could pick out a familiar pile of damaged black plastic amongst them. Moose's old phone.

I turned fully into the room, taking a couple more steps as my eyes critically searched the open space on alert. My leg ceased movement in mid-step as the blood in my veins ran cold, my eyes setting firmly the now more visible floor. It was much more heavily stained with blood than the hall had been, or at least the bright, cream carpet made it seem that way. It seemed almost drenched with the darkening liquid, tinted deep red at the edges as it dried, and almost nauseating to witness. It had been there a while.

Despite all the seemingly far fetched, horror movie-like scenes that I had running through my head since I had entered the house, none of them even came close to what I saw next, or quite prepared me for it either. In truth, nothing in this world could have prepared me for it. Yet another step was all it took before the cause of all the devastation was within my eye line, and it hit me harder than anything I had felt before.

I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.

"Brianne."

The word didn't even fall from my lips as a sound, but instead caught in my throat and became a sharp exhale of air, not even worthy of a whisper. I was frozen to the spot, stunned into immobility. My lost, grey eyes were watching but not quite seeing. They were failing me, they had to be. They were lying to me.

It took a moment before my feet moved, slowly and heavily padding closer to the lifeless body that had fully entered my range of sight from tucked behind the sofa. It was almost mechanical how it all occurred. I somehow didn't process the action at all, I simply did it. I couldn't feel a thing, I simply watched helplessly as it panned out before me, still not believing it. Never believing it.

I fell down to my knees by her side the moment I reached it, my eyes transfixed on her face at a complete loss, yet even my confusion couldn't stop the tears stinging the back of my eyes, or my jaw from shaking. It didn't stop my body from feeling heavy and unresponsive, my senses dying and heightening all at once.

This wasn't happening. It was just some nightmare I hadn't noticed I had fallen into, when I hadn't realised I had closed my eyes. It was made just to hurt me. It wasn't real.

My eyes darted over her form, senselessly imprinting everything to memory. She was laying on her side, back pressed against the bottom of the sofa. Her arms were sprawled out before her, in the small space that separated us. The pale skin was covered in deep slashes, and stained with sinister patterns of crimson. Eyes lightly closed, body relaxed, expression serene. Peaceful in her own home. I couldn't help but think that was a first. Was she happy, now?

I leaned down slowly, moving closer to Brianne while my shaking hand slowly extended towards her, still not quite my own conscious movement. It was almost a reflex action. Something I should do. Something I had been taught to.

I gently pressed two fingers to the pulse point on her neck, waiting patiently for the beat to vibrate through my fingertips. I swallowed hard as they lowered slightly, looking for the spot I seemed to be missing. Searching for a sign. A shiver ran down my spine as I felt the weak pulse hit the sensitive pad of skin. It seemed to snap me back to my senses, much needed oxygen suddenly filling my lungs in deep, relieved breaths. She was okay. No, she was far from it. But she was alive.

I moved my hands back to the bottom of my hoodie, tugging it over my head and moving to wrap it over Brianne's still, cold body as I snapped back into the real world. I had to start thinking as I normally would. I was her only hope, now, and I had to make it count. I tried to make the words of comfort flow from my lips, but they never made it out. It was replaced instead by the tears that were starting to choke me. I had to get her out of here. I had to keep her safe.

I sat back on my legs, tugging my phone from my back pocket, seeing no other possible way around this. I needed help, one way or another. Whether this person would understand or not, they'd have to catch up quickly.

"Hello? Mattie, Hun, what are you calling me for you weirdo," Kayla answered with a chuckle in her voice. I couldn't respond right away. There was almost something holding me back. Maybe it was her blissful ignorance.

"Drive over to Brianne's place, now," I spoke simply. I was surprised how clear my voice was, yet cold. Ice cold.

Her voice wavered in confusion for a second, "W-what?" She asked, clearly puzzled.

"You're the only one who knows where she lives," I pushed firmly. "Get someones car, or the fucking bus, and get over here right now," I said sternly, my band mates voices flowing through the receiver during Kayla's silence.

"You're at Brianne's?" She asked after a moment, half to herself before her voice turned slightly more urgent. "Wait, what the hells happened? You sound... Too calm."

"Kayla," I sighed, a hint of warning in my tone. I rubbed my eyes lightly before looking back down at Brianne. I almost dropped the phone as I did so, that wave of true emotion hitting me for first time. This was really happening.

And in that moment I was 15 again. I was desperately clutching onto the phone that wanted to fall from my grasp. I wanted it to shatter, to tell me it wasn't true. To tell me it was all a joke; a sick and twisted one, but a joke none the less. It was all just an elaborate plan, made to shake me to my core and break me down for fun. But it was happening all over again.

"Matt, you're fucking scaring me."

I heard the voices in the background cut out suddenly, at the hurt in Kayla's tone. She knew something was wrong. Ironically, I had only just managed to work that out too.

"Kay, please," I whispered after a moment, my voice cracking as I did so. I needed to stay calm, but I wasn't certain I could. I wasn't sure I could stop the panic slowly setting in. This wasn't like all those times before. This was serious. It was happening again. "Help me," I choked, unable to control myself.

I almost heard the breath catch in Kayla's throat before she could reply. "It's okay, Matt. I'm leaving," she said firmly. "Just... Just hold on."

I dropped the phone carelessly to the floor the moment the line fell dead, not even bothering to hang up myself. Just hold on. That's all I had to do. It sounded so easy, but I wasn't the one who needed the strength.

I shuffled closer to Brianne, slowly leaning over her and wrapping my arms around her body. Fighting with my tears and cries that were growing in my voice box, I gently brought her into my chest, holding her against me in an attempt to shield her from the world. I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I set my head against hers, eyes critically scanning that same soft expression.

"Hold on," I spoke in a hoarse whisper, burying my face into her hair and inhaling deeply, clutching desperatly for some recognition. But it wasn't Brianne in my arms anymore. It something else. Something tainted. "Just hold on."