Under a Thunder Moon by Jack Batcher

footsteps.
     
                 
                  “Good news Alyssa,” Jim said, “Trailer Park is here. I thought you would like to know that he was stupid enough to show up. I don’t think either one of you has a fuckin’ clue about the graveness of the situation you’re in, but you’re beginning to realize it now aren’t you baby?”
     
                  Jim went over to the same counter that Mike had gone to before. Alyssa’s eyes grew wide, and her heart began to pound when Jim turned around holding a knife. It was a long curved serrated blade. Alyssa struggled against the ropes as Jim headed towards her.
     
                  “I am going to pull the tape away from your mouth Alyssa, but if you scream… I will cut your fuckin’ throat… savvy?”
     
                  Alyssa nodded in agreement. Her face clenched as Jim yanked the duct tape off. It felt like her lips came off with it. Alyssa choked down the scream she wanted to let out, as well as the urge to start arguing with Jim about what he was doing. She could sense he was on the edge, and one wrong word from her could quickly push him over.
     
                  “We are going to have a talk Alyssa,” Jim said slipping the knife under her shirt. “We are going to talk about how badly you fucked up.” Then with one quick jerk of the blade, Jim cut open her shirt.
     
                  “Jim please stop,” Alyssa said, “What are you doing? Please Jim…”
    “Shut the fuck up bitch until I say you can talk.”
     
                  With a few other quick cuts, Jim sliced off her jeans. Then he cut the flimsy pink g-string off. Alyssa was naked and vulnerable on the table. Alyssa sobbed and begged Jim to stop. He ignored her cries. Then went over to the bench and got a pair of wire cutters. Jim placed the wire cutter around Alyssa’s little finger on her right hand.
     
                  “We are going to start here, and you better think about your answers bitch or I will take you apart one piece at a fuckin’ time.”
                  “Please Jim no… You don’t have to do this.”
                  “Shut the fuck up bitch! Let me ask you this Alyssa… did you think you were going to betray me and get away with it?”
                  “No Jim I didn’t think…”
     
                  “You didn’t think what Alyssa? You would get caught? I would find out? Yeah that’s right Alyssa you didn’t fuckin’ think. You didn’t think about who you were messin’ around on.” Jim snipped off her little finger.
     
                  A loud rumble filled the cabin of The Bitter End as the boat’s engine started up.  
     
     
     
     
     
    24
                  Mike slowly drove The Bitter End away from the docks, and headed out into The Great South Bay. Trailer Park was recovering. He was curled up in a ball on the deck. Tyler followed everyone on The Bitter End in the Sea Howler .
     
                  The water was choppy with the approaching storm.  The boats jumped and splashed down hard as they headed out into the ocean. They were cruising full throttle, which is the only way The Howlers do anything. They throw it all up in the air and give it all to chance, while leaving a wake of destruction behind them.
     
                  Mike let go of the wheel without losing speed to turn away from the wind and spark a joint. The boat nearly flipped, but Mike caught the wheel in time to spin the boat into a full 360, while circling around Tyler on The Sea Howler .
     
                 
     
                  Paul felt the electric surge of adrenalin begin to move within him. He thought if he was going to make a move to get out of this mess, now would be the time to make that move. Mike had his back to him. Paul pulled out his pocket knife. He