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9: Hard Knox 1:04 AM, Friday Rain pelted on the rooftop of a shadowy SUV as it ascended a slippery dirt road. Tears streaked through Flea’s window, through his view of eerie deciduous trees. He pulled his bare arms into the sleeves of his T-shirt and hugged them to his chest. He sighed. Warm air breathed by his left side, tickling his ear. "Hey, buddy," a whisper accompanied the breath. "You awake?" Glancing over his shoulder, Flea’s eyes met with his friend’s. The moonlight illuminated Anthony’s face, spotlighting the injuries there. Left cheekbone swollen and purple, right temple gray. A crusted crimson stripe ran across his chin. Flea winced. His eyes watered. He took a deep breath before whispering, "Yeah, I’m awake. How’s the view back there?" Anthony cracked a smile. Nodding his head toward the window, he said, "Probably better than yours. I have a bigger window." The two chuckled quietly, then fell into silence. Flea swallowed hard. His eyes grew wide as he voiced, "Anthony? We were really worried about you, buddy." "I know." Anthony pursed his lips and smiled. Rapping a fist to his chest, he added, "I felt your pain. Right here. And though it hurt like hell, it was really beautiful, man. And it helped me through." "You were losing air," Flea breathed, and raised his eyebrows. Slowly, Anthony nodded. He looked Flea in the eye. "You felt that too." "Yeah." Anthony grimaced. "But we got through that. And we’ll get past this too. It’ll all be okay." The SUV turned left, onto a packed dirt road. The wheels sloshed through tire treads embossed into the mud. Glancing out the window, Flea saw a sign. Chipping white paint covered the wooden surface, the words "Hard Knox Trailer Park" hand-painted in blue. Mobile homes lined either side of the SUV. As the vehicle bumped down the road, the trailers became few and far between. The SUV rolled to a stop in front of the one the furthest away from the entrance. Water rippled down its shady panels. An awning over the front door sheltered a square concrete porch and the steps leading to it. The door beside Flea opened. Rapid waterfire shot at him, drenching his T-shirt with seconds’ exposure. "Out of the car," Lloyd’s voice huffed from behind the door. As Flea set a foot down in the mud, a whisper swept through his left ear. "I’m with you buddy, all the way." Lloyd stood in front of the car with Chad and Flea before him. Rain poured over their heads, down their shoulders, legs, and onto the ground. Across from them, John hung his head and stooped beside Anthony, before Josh. Josh’s hands went to his pockets. They patted at them frantically. His eyes widened and gazed at Lloyd. His mouth dropped oven. "I can’t, I can’t find my gun." "But I can." A shadow stepped behind Josh, one considerably shorter but just as lean. Shocks of moonlight glinted off the glasses of the stranger... And off the gun he held to Josh’s midsection. "Lloyd!" Josh whimpered, and Lloyd’s hands dropped to his side. The figure shifted his gun to point at Lloyd. "I so wouldn’t do that. That might piss me off." As the newcomer trained his gun at Lloyd, Josh lunged at him. A shot fired into the mud, and Josh slugged his opponent in the gut. A grunt escaped the stranger’s lips. Lloyd’s hands dropped to his sides again and patted down empty pockets. "I don’t think so," a voice behind Lloyd chuckled. Flea turned and found Adam Gaynor holding the gun to the ground. Glancing back at the sight of the brawl, Flea saw a taller, muscular shadow of an individual holding Josh’s arms behind his back. The shorter figure was rubbing his side and aiming Josh’s gun at Lloyd. "What do you want?" Josh whined, arching his back as the individual behind him tightened his grasp on Josh’s arms. The two figures stepped forward, pushing Josh along with them. They walked into a ray from the moon. Light spilled over their features, revealing their identities. Scott Stapp held the goon; Paul Doucette held the gun. "We just want you to let our friends go," Scott replied. Lloyd’s face sunk. He closed his eyes and sighed. Then he looked at each of the Chili Peppers. "Fellahs," his voice was barely audible over the rain, "there’s a reason why we kidnapped you. Hear me out?" Anthony exchanged glances with Flea and Chad across the way before crossing his soaking sore arms over his chest. "We’re listening." Lloyd sighed. "I, I need your help." Pointing to the house, he continued. "My wife’s inside, dying because of a brain tumour. All she ever wanted in this life was to hear her favourite band play. And that’s you guys." Paul lowered his gun as Lloyd spoke. Scott loosened his grip on Josh’s arms and let go. Josh wandered to Lloyd’s side. Lloyd laughed. "I know, can you believe it? Of all the f***ing bands out there, she adores YOU punks." He shook his head, his smile faded. "Anyway, it would mean a lot to her if you would play for her. She..." "We’ll do it," John’s voice broke in, clear and bold over the pelting rain. All eyes fell on him as he looked at Lloyd, then lowered his head again. Anthony looked from Chad to Flea before turning to Lloyd. "Yeah," he said, "we’ll play for her." Lloyd’s almost friendly expression clouded over with a scowl. "All right. Let’s get out of this rain." He ascended his porch steps, Flea, Chad, and Anthony following him. John scuffled into the house in front of Josh. Scott, Adam, and Paul stood in the rain, staring at each other. "Is it just me," Paul raised his voice over the splashing rain, "or is this REALLY weird?" Scott nodded, and Adam shrugged. "Hey," Adam replied. "There’s nothing to worry about now. Let’s just go in, get warmed up and dry, and enjoy the free concert." Scott’s arms hugged his torso as he shook his head. "I don’t know about that, Adam. How come that guy didn’t look so happy about having the Chili Peppers play when he says that’s why he kidnapped them?" Silence. "Let’s just go in," Adam pleaded. And they did. |