Anywhere But Home

{18} Convinced there is no way out, my world is turned upside down

Emily Roberts

''Christopher!'' I weakly yelled, as my eyes landed on him, finally readjusting from the lack of light. He didn't respond. I could barely see, but I noticed a bucket with water and a few wires standing in front of him. Jesus ...

''Christopher! Can you hear me?'' I shouted once again this time a little firmer, shifting on the chair trying to find a way to get lose. My feet and hands were tied up super tightly to the chair. My mouth was dry as the desert and my neck was hurting, probably from whatever the hell was in that syringe, they inject us in the car.

The shifting only resulted in me falling, hitting my head on the cold floor. ''Shit.'' I mumbled towards myself, trying to get up. Failed roundly.

The lights were suddenly turned on and I growled because my eyes were used to the darkness by now. ''Oh oh oh! What do you think you're doing?'' A voice, coming from behind me yelled. A hand aggressively grabbed my hair while the other one placed my chair on the right place again. ''If that was your pathetic attempt to escape, try harder next time.'' One of the guys that were standing closer to Chad in the house said holding my neck. ''Do you hear me?'' He said, moving now to my cheeks, making me face him. I clenched my teeth and stayed quiet.

He was about to hit me when I was saved by the most unlikely person. ''That's enough Josh.'' Chad said coming forward. There was a chair standing in front of me and Christopher and he took a sit there.

My eyes almost immediately shifted towards Chris who was standing next to me. Blood .. All over his naked bruised torso .. I could barely see his face, but from the side, he had a black eye and his lower lip was all busted. There were two cuts on each of his legs and one stab wound on his torso, that looked, from all the injuries, the most serious.

Monsters.

''What have you done to him?'' I asked pissed, immediately gaining their attention.

''Aren't you clever enough to figure it out for yourself?'' The guy that I now know is called Josh, said leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

''I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to him.'' I said looking straight at Chad. ''So resign yourself to your own insignificancy and shut up.'' I added.

He detached himself from the wall, looking infuriated by my words. ''Watch your f*****g mouth your little bitch.'' He said taking a few steps closer. Without taking his eyes from me, he asked. ''Why can't we get rid of her?''

''She might be useful when that mushroom over there decides to wake up from his sleeping beauty sleep.'' Chad said pointing towards Christopher.

''Well .. can we at least hit her ?'' Josh inquired know moving his gaze towards Chad. ''Because even hearing her breathing, annoys the living soul out of me.''

Chad sighed. ''You know that we don't hit on women. So if you don't have, go find a pair of balls and men up for f**k sake.'' He said sounding slightly annoyed. '' But for now, go find James and tell him to find a new SUV. People probably are looking for them by now and first thing police will do will be tracking down the car we used.''

Josh growled but obeyed.

''Why are you doing this ?'' I sighed. I'm exhausted.

''You know why.'' He said blankly staring at me.

''You had two years to go after that book. Why now?'' I asked, trying to comprehend the reason why this was happening all the sudden.

''Because it was time. It's time for your boyfriend over there to understand that he cannot mess with us. That we didn't have anything to do with his brother's accident. But he is so blind by  that vengeance of his, that he doesn't want to even listen.''

''Maybe he has his reasons.'' I said trying to straighten up my posture.

Chad looked at me and started laughing. ''What reasons?'' He asked and looked to the side shaking his head a little. ''This gang has never killed anyone before.''

Now it was my time to start laughing. ''Are you kidding me?'' I snapped incredulously. ''Oh yeah .. you guys aren't the killing type .. You're the torturing type. That makes everything okay.'' I concluded sarcastically.

''Sometimes you need to use exaggerated measures to accomplish something.'' He said leaning back on his chair.

''Call for help. He won't wake up.'' I informed. ''You stupid boneheads stabbed him on his appendix making it burst out. That can kill him!'' I added, fiercely looking at Chad. If I wasn't tied up, I would kick him where the sun doesn't shine.

''Medicine student?'' He asked intrigued. He didn't even pain attention on the fact that I called him bonehead.

''Yes.'' I confirmed. ''Whoever, that's common sense. Your torture techniques need to be improved.'' I said feeling the rage building up inside of me.

''Watch it.'' He warned, getting up from the chair walking slowly towards me. ''I know I said I don't hit on women, whoever I don't have any problem on putting tape on your mouth so you can shut up for once!'' He said raising his voice, only a few inches away from my face.

''You know what I don't understand?'' I inquired in a challenging tone, taking advantage of the fact that he was so close to me.

''What?'' He asked, clenching on his teeth.

''How Tori was even able to fake date you.''

Before I could say anything more, his hand made contact with my face.

He took a step back, giving us some space. I know I was pushing the line, but I never thought he would react like this.

''Don't talk about what you don't know.'' He mumbled, visually hurt by what I said. ''She was the biggest disappoint of my life.'' He added, turning his back around.

''She made me feel loved and cherished. Made me feel that I could escape this life.'' He stated with his arms in the air. He turned around with a bitter smile on his face. ''You girls are all the same. Get a guy to like you, get what you want from him and then you leave.'' He added. ''But I guess, there is some sort of poetic justice in this. I guy like me was not made to have a happy ending.''

''If we weren't in this position because of you, I would actually feel sorry for you.'' I informed.

''I don't need your pity.'' He said, crossing his arms.

''Good. Then let us go.''

''No.''

''You're hurting Christopher, not because he has the bible, but because you blame him for what he made Tori do to you.'' I said as the realization hits me.

He stayed quiet.

I cleared my voice. ''Do you think that Tori would have wanted this ?''

''Why do I care? She never liked me!'' He yelled, kicking the chair with his feet. ''I was just I toy in her hands! And all because of him!'' He added, pointing towards Christopher.

He really liked her ... Oh my god

''Chad ..'' I voice coming from the door said but was ignored by him. ''Chad!''

''What?!'' He asked brutally.

''Police!'' This guy said coming in the room, handing a knife to Chad. Oh my god! ''Police just walked past the gate. They're gonna be here in less than two minutes! We have to go now!''

''How did they found us?'' He inquired in disbelief. The other guy just shrugged. 

Chad walked closer to me and cut off the rope around my hands. Does this mean I'm going with them? God no ...

''Go help him. Don't let him die or I'll come after you next.'' He said in a harsh tone into my ear, sending shivers throughout my spine.

He tossed the knife to the ground and stormed off the building with his other henchmen.

I grabbed the knife from the ground and run towards Christopher and cut off the rope out of his hands and feet. His body was so heavy that almost fell on top of me. I placed one of his arms around my shoulders and transfer his body towards the ground. The wound wasn't bleeding as much as before, but it was starting to get black around the edges, which means than an infection was maybe about to start. I don't know what to do ... I don't have alcohol, I don't even know if alcohol would do any good ...

I placed my ear close to his mouth. He was still breathing. The cuts on his legs were superficial and with a few stitches, he is good as new.

Where's the police? Shouldn't they be here by now? Come on!

I grabbed his hand. ''Chris. Please open your eyes.'' I whispered. I'm not a prayer's person, but right now I'm praying to every god that I know. I just can't bear seeing someone else die in front of me .. I just can bear lose him too ...

''Police!'' A couple of men and women from SWAT walked in. I was took by surprise and jumped. When they figure that I was holding his hand, they lowered the guys. ''Clear!'' They said and went on checking other rooms. A detective came along and walked towards me.

''Are you hurt?'' Do I look hurt? He is hurt!

''No!'' I sighed ... ''Please call an ambulance! He was been stabbed on his appendix!'' I said this time a little louder.

''Jones!'' He shouted, towards the uniform guy standing by the door. ''Tell dispatch to send an ambulance! And I want that here in less than five minutes!'' He added in a commanding tone.

I tried to hold back the tears from falling. Come on Christopher! Don't you die on me!