Page 12 of Ravaged From Fate

She shakes her head. “Well, you should if you are to settle here, Caspian. Those guys you just beat up are part of a local gang, known for drugs and being a nuisance. It’s not good to get on their bad side.”

“Too late for that,” I reply. “And I don’t care about them. I can handle my own problems.”

“Really?”

I look at her. Elsa’s eyes are full of concern. And something else. Curiosity?

As a rockstar, I’ve had to speak to hundreds of people in my life. Managers, producers, fans, promoters. But none of those conversations have felt real, instead they’ve been more like transactions between two business parties. What can I – with my musical talent – do for them? What’s good for me? What can either one of us get out of this?

This conversation with Elsa feels like the first honest and real conversation I’ve had with someone for years who isn’t a part of Ravaged. She doesn’t have a clue about who I am and who I’ve been. My money or my fame. To her, I’m some dude who got involved in a fight to stop her from being harassed. And she’s genuinely interested in me. It makes a funny feeling form in the pit of my stomach.

“Well, maybe you should put your fighting skills to some good use and join the local boxing gym,” Elsa suggests.

“There’s a gym in town?”

“Yes. It’s easy to find, as it’s the only one. It’s at the end of this main street, you can’t miss it. If you do decide to go, tell the big Samoan guy there that I sent you. He owns the place.”

“Thank you for that information.”

“No problem.”

And then she smiles. A genuine, heart-warming smile at me.

The pain melts away, and I find myself reaching out to take her hand. I look her dead square in the eyes.

“Thank you, Elsa. For helping me tonight.”

My words are sincere, and she knows that.

She’s at a loss for words. We both stare at each other, frozen in place with my hands gripping hers. Our faces are close.

Tension bubbles.

It’s too much for me to handle. I’ve not experienced anything like this, especially not with a stranger.

I’m the first to break whatever it is going on between us.

“I’ve got to get out of here,” I announce.

“You’ve got to rest,” she replies. “Take your time. Spend the night here.”

I let go of her hand.

“Rest is for the wicked. I’m going home. Bye, Elsa. It was good to meet you.”

I managed to raise myself to my unsteady feet. I start to shuffle towards the door.

Elsa manages to stop me before I go with her voice.

“What’s your last name?”

I turn around to her. “Caspian,” I say. “Caspian Pierce.”

My mother’s last name.

“Thank you for what you did back there in the bar, Caspian Pierce,” Elsa says. “Without you, I don’t know what might’ve happened. You can come and see me any time, especially in the morning if you’re still feeling the pain. I’ll do my best for you. Repayment for defending my honor…”

I don’t say a word.