Chapter 2 Shards and crimson

"Look, Rey, I have heard enough of what you have to say. You just...need to snap out of your past," Mr. Davies said, his voice lacking conviction, ignoring the ding-dong of the door bell.

"Father, I can not always do as you say! I have lived by your rules my entire life and I would not be going back to that life anytime soon," His words lashed out, his breathe labored.

"Rey, you can not-" ding-dong! The door bell beeped again, interrupting the raising tension.

"And who is it so late in the evening?" Mr. Davies muttered, walking towards the door, leaving Rey in the mess of his bleeding fist and broken glasses.

"Rey, Darling," Mrs. Davies called softly. Rey turned to see her wiping away tears as she descended the stairs. She walked towards him at the Dinning table, her eyes pleading.

"Rey, you should let yourself remember your Dad. It's harmless. We're your parents, and we care more than you can ever know."

"Look at your hands. Gosh! It's a mess full of blood." She said, slowing pulling tiny pieces of the glass out of Rey's blood-bathed fist, as he flinched.

Reynaldo looked at her tear-filled eyes and sighed, feeling the weight of their expectations. He reluctantly nodded as she leaned forward, hugging him.

"I would help you find one myself, if you are unable to keep up with the search." She whispered into his ears, her words like salt to his wounds.

He pulled away from her, almost in a jerk.

"Rey!" Mrs. Davies called out in shock.

His eyes had a distant look, stepping further away from her before he went reeling towards the door, walking past his dad who had being with a deliveryman by the door.

"Reynaldo...Can you just listen?" Mr. Davies voice trailed behind him as he slammed the door shut.

"Rey!" The door hummed close.

"Oops! He's gone, I guess."

"He's got a temper I must say." Mrs. Davies commented, shrugging her shoulders and raising her brows. She sank into the couches, as she watched the silhouette of her son move towards the parking lot through the glass walls of the building.

"Do you think he'd come back?" Tears were streaming her eyes as she looked at Mr. Davies, questioningly.

"Don't worry much, he'd come around. He just needed to hear the truth and the truth sucks." Mr. Davies said, lightly patting her shoulders.

"He didn't even let me dress his wounds."

"Listen to me...it's okay, Honey." He looked at her reassuringly before looking back to the broken bits on the floor.

"My goodness! What exactly happened here?" Sabrina's eyes widened in shock, catching the sight of blood smeared on the marble floor.

"Can someone tell me?" She asked again, watching her mother's eyes lower in sadness.

"It was Rey." Mrs. Davies said, sobbing.

"Rey? Again? Why can't you let him be, Dad?"

"I guess we pushed him too far," Mrs. Davies said.

"We didn't do anything wrong. If we don't get him to face the truth, he'd never move on," Mr. Davies protested.

"And what truth is this? What truth makes you so blind to see your son's pain, Dad?" Sabrina retorted.

"He doesn't want to let go of his past, Vanessa. He has to grow up!"

"Are you sure you're genuinely concerned about him or you just want him to get married for the sake of your legacy?" Sabrina rose an eyebrow, tilting her head.

"What are you saying, Sabrina? Why would I do that?"

"OH! Dad, please spare this fake concern. I know you better. I would call the cleaner on my way out to take out that mess," She said, going towards the door, then paused remembering something.

"By the way, did you receive any package in my name?" She asked, gesturing to her parents.

"Yeah, I think there's a package for you, Sabrina," Mr. Davies said.

"It's near the door, over there." He pointed out.

"Alright, thanks!"

****

Rey dropped into the driver's seat of his Rolls Royce, gasping and gulping down as he tried to calm his racing heart. He had lost it back here.

The argument replayed in his mind and the ache of the past seven years felt as fresh as

ever. Why couldn't he grieve in his own time?

The engine's hum offered him some solace, and soon Rey found himself driving towards Juniper street. He turned on his phone's jukebox, letting Jordan's Kehlani fill the car.

Pulling up to Flux, a classy bar, he turned off the car's engine and stepped out. The music, the smell of alcohol and high laughter came welcoming his ears as he pulled the door open.

"Hey Rey, what's good, Man?" A Blonde bartender with arms full of snake-skin tattoos

greeted Rey, scanning him seductively.

"I've been good," Rey said with a smirk.

"You've been all over the TV screens in California, uhh?" She smiled, mixing a drink for him, as the music chimed softly in the background.

"It's just work, honey, you know, my dad's company." He laughed, taking the drink.

"Those eyes could make a woman quiver, man! You're a TV gold, Rey."

"Flatterer," He said, downing the drink.

"That was a quick one." The Blondie said.

"Another shot, honey. Make it stronger."

"Hope you good?"

"Yeah...I think I am." He replied, distantly.

"Hey, baby!" A voice called from a table at the end of the room.

"Yes, Charlie!"

"Three more benches," The voice said, hoarsely.

"Sorry, Rey. I'd have to leave so soon. Anyways, enjoy the night." The blondie said.

"Alright." Rey signaled with a raised hand, slightly.

After a few more shots, he came out of the bar, a little tipsy in the haze of alcohol and plunged into the driver's seat. In a few minutes, the car was swiftly speeding up over average on a deserted street a few miles away from Rey's modern villa. The car swerved a little side wards and he stiffened his hold on the gears.

The moon light glowed on the smooth surface of the vehicle as he pulled out his phone. Swiping through his contacts, He had dialed his cook's number, in his subconscious state.

"Hello, Sir," Mia's voice came through the speakers of the phone.

"Mia." His voice rose deeply from the throat.

"Good evening, Mr. Reynaldo, is there any way I can help you?" She asked, but there was no response.

"Hello?" She repeated, yet the silence welcomed her.

She didn't want to confirm the doubt bubbling on her mind. But the sharp sound eluding the

phone affirmed her doubts.

What on earth had happened to Rey?