“What the hell was that?” he yelled, turning to look at me.
I quickly turned away from him and just looked out of the window. He started to pull out of the gas station’s parking lot.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked through gritted teeth.
I didn’t say anything.
“I asked you a question!” He snapped, gripping my jaw and turning my face to look at him.
I could feel the tears coming but I held them back by closing my eyes tightly.
“Who. Were. You. Talking. To.” He repeated, pausing between each word.
“M-my mom,” I croaked out.
He now held my jaw even tighter with his large hand.
“Don’t ever do that again,” he told me and slapped my face.
The impact of the hit caused my face to fly towards the passenger’s window. I let the tears pour freely, not caring who saw me. I stayed quiet, not daring to say anything, afraid of pissing him off even more.
I started thinking about life. What’s going to happen to me and Ben? Was Hunter going to kill us? Would we ever get to see our family again? Will life ever be the same? So many questions were filling my mind that I didn’t even notice that the car stopped, and smoke was coming out from under the hood.
“Shit!” Hunter cursed, his hands hitting the steering wheel.
Stupid car,”" Hunter said under his breath, getting out of the car and opening the hood.
“We’re getting out of here,” I said, turning to Ben. He smiled and nodded his head.
“Do you think you could run with the crutches?”
He thought for a minute. “Yeah, I think I can,” he said, grabbing his crutches.
I looked back to the hood, making sure Hunter was busy before we would get out.
“I have an idea,” I said, reaching over to the driver’s side to pop the trunk. “Okay, we’re going to go out through the trunk so he doesn’t see us.” Ben nodded and started to slowly crawl over the back seat.
It was a little difficult since his leg was still sore. After a few minutes we were both out of the car and running towards the highway which was just a few yards away. Cars were passing by so fast it was almost impossible to catch one’s attention. We waved our hands in all different directions, hoping for one to see us and stop.
“Help!” we both yelled.
Some people would just look at us like we were crazy and others would just laugh.
“Help us please!” Ben cried.
“It’s okay, Ben, we’ll get someone’s attention,” I said, not looking away from the road. “I promise, buddy. You know I don’t break my promises, right?” I asked, still waving my hands in the air, but there was no reply.
I turned around, and I could already feel the tears building up from the sight in front of me. Hunter had a gun pointed to Ben’s head.
Chapter 16
It felt as if my heart had fallen out as the scene in front of me was playing. Hunter had a gun pointed to Ben’s head. My brother’s head. My little brothers head! Why him? He did nothing wrong. He only followed me. There is no need for this, for Hunter to hold a pistol to Ben’s head.
I stood there frozen, with tears falling, as Hunter held Ben tightly behind the car. I’m guessing he did that so nobody could see what he was doing. If only someone could.
“H-Hunter, p-please l-let B-Ben g-go,” I croaked out, slowly walking towards the crazy man that was holding my brother.
A raspy laugh left Hunter’s cruel lips. “You really think I’m just going to let him go after that little stunt you just pulled?” he asked, smirking at me.
“Please.” I cried.
“He didn’t do anything. He’s only a child, Hunter!” I yelled, anger boiling through my veins.
“Well since you put it that way,” he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.
Silence filled the air. Only the sound of passing cars behind me could be heard.
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal,” he said. I walked even closer to him ’til I was only three feet away from him.
“And that is?” I asked, wiping the tears that had fallen.
“I’ll let Ben go like for good,” he told me, making a smile creep its way on my lips.
“Really?” I asked, excited to know that Ben would get to be let free. At least one of us can get away from this horrible person.
“Yes really, but under one condition,” he said, smirking once again.
“And what might that be?”
“You must stay with me and do whatever I say.” His words stung. I would have to follow and do as Hunter says for an unlimited amount of time, but if it would mean Ben would be free then so be it.
“Fine. Now let my brother go,” I said, reaching for Ben’s arm that was outstretched towards me.
“Patience, Cassandra,” he said, smiling evilly at me.
Hunter pulled out his phone from his back pocket while still holding onto Ben tightly. He tapped the touch screen a few times before putting it to his ear.
“We’re ready for you. Yes now. Okay, see you in a few,” he said into the speaker of the phone before ending the call.
“Who was that?” I asked, looking at him suspiciously.
“That’s for me to know,” he said, opening the back seat door.
“And for you to never find out,” he finished and closed the door.
“But—”
“No buts,” he simply said before grabbing my arm and putting me in the backseat as well.
We waited for probably fifteen minutes before a big black SUV pulled up beside us. Two men got out of the vehicle. They look about the same age as Hunter. I’m guessing about twenty or so. One of the men had blonde hair and brown roots, you could tell he dyed it. The other man had brown hair and bluish green eyes. They both were wearing all black clothing similar to Hunter’s outfit.
“Where is the boy?” The brown-headed man asked.
“In the backseat,” Hunter replied, opening the door near Ben.
Both men looked carefully at Ben then look in my direction smiling.
“What happen to his leg?” The blonde asked, not looking away from Ben's wrapped up leg.
“I shot him,” Hunter said, scratching the back of his neck
“Why?” the other man now asked.
“That doesn’t matter—”
“For no reason,” I said, now being the one smirking.
Hunter just gave me his best death glare. I looked away from his deadly stare and turned my attention back to the men.
“Okay,” they said, looking away from Ben’s bandaged leg.
“We’ll take him from here,” The brown-headed guy said, making me turn my full attention to him.
“W-what?” I asked, starting to get worried.
“Shut up, Cassie,” Hunter hissed.
“I can speak if I want, and don’t call me Cassie!” I yelled, staring right at Hunter.
“Did you already forget our little deal, Cassie?” It’s Cassandra, I think to myself, bastard.
“You know the deal about how you have to do whatever I say?” he said, letting that all too familiar smirk play on his hard features.
I keep quiet after that. He was right, I did agree to that stupid deal not even an hour ago.
“That’s what I thought,” he told me, turning back around to face the men.
“Come on, kid,” the blonde said, grabbing on to Ben’s arm and pulling him out of the car.
“Where are you taking him? I thought you said you were letting him free,” I asked, frightened at what he might reply with.
“One, that doesn’t matter, and two, I lied,” he said, laughing evilly once again.
“W-what? No, you can’t!” It was too late, though, Ben was already dragged out of the car.
“Cassie!” Ben cried.
“Ben!” I yelled as the door was shut and locked.
I tried to open it to save Ben, but it was too late. He was pushed into the SUV. I screamed his name, banging on the wind
ow for them to bring him back, but it was no use. He was gone. Ben was gone.
Chapter 17
“You monster! I hate you!” I yelled as Hunter shut his door.
“You liar! You’re a liar!” I cried, he just looked at me through the mirror above the dash.
“Shut the hell up, Cassie, before I send you off with some man.”
“Well he probably would be a heck of a lot better a man than you!” I spat back.
“No, no he wouldn’t, because what all men like him would want to do is just hurt you in ways you would never forget.” His words caught me off guard, knowing exactly what he meant.
“Well isn’t that what all of you want to do? Hurt me?” I yelled, no longer having any room for tears. Only range could be seen on my soft features.
“No... No, Cassandra, I don’t.”
What scared me the most was how serious he was while he said those few simple words that I should be grateful for hearing, but really they only scare me even more.
There’s not one man on this earth who doesn’t think about sex and banging a girl so why was he saying that? Because he’s a liar. He even admitted it, he’s lying.
“You probably think I’m lying, don’t you?” he said it like he was reading my thoughts.
“Yes,” I honestly said.
“Well I’m not, Cassandra. I’m not, I promise.” He almost sounded believable, but I wasn’t going to believe that sorry bastard.
“I know you don’t believe me, I understand. I probably wouldn’t either if I was in your place but you just have to believe in that one thing, okay?” He asked me, still looking at me through the mirror.
“No,” I simply said. “I can’t. You gave me no reason so why should I?”
“Because it’s the truth, Cassandra. If you don’t believe me then believe this. When I was fourteen I saw my mother go through something I hope no women will ever have to endure. I’m not going to do what that man did to my mother to you. Okay?” He looked like he was on the verge of tears, but I know him enough to know he wouldn’t let one tear fall from those cruel cold eyes of his.
I didn’t say anything and just looked back out the window, letting the tears fall for so many reasons. Ben, will I ever see him again? Will I ever see my family again? Will Hunter ever let me go? I didn’t know the answer to any of those questions I had for myself, and that is one of the thing that scared me the most about life. Not knowing what’s going to happen.
Life is like a horror movie. You’re sitting on the edge of your seat, seeking to know what’s going to happen next. You’re a little afraid but also excited to know what’s going to happen, but it really doesn’t matter because every great horror film has an end as well as every life has its end. But what’s important is making that end worth living for, same as the horror film. Its end needs to be just as good its beginning.
* * *
I woke up to the sound of someone calling my name. I slowly opened my eyes to be met with Hunter hovering above me. I jumped back at the sight.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, trying to sound soothing.
“Yeah, right,” I said under my breath.
“Come on, we’re here.”
I looked up at him. “Where?”
“At the hotel where we’ll be staying for the night,” he told me as he got off of me and opened the car door, letting me out.
I looked up at the big sign that was lit up by lights, the sign reading “Super 8.”
“Oh real fancy. You’ve outdone yourself, Hunter,” I said sarcastically.
“Really funny. Now come on and be quiet, it’s late.”
I followed him into the lobby of the no-star motel only to see a young man asleep behind a desk with drool dripping from his parted mouth.
I cringe at the sight. Hunter then walked us over to the elevators. Wow, they can actually afford elevators! I’m shocked because obviously they can’t afford maids for there is about an inch of dirt covering the floor. Hunter pushed the number 3 button, and before long we’re out of the dirt-infested elevator and Hunter was sticking the key in the lock. I had no idea when he got the key. He probably stole it.
After the door was unlocked and opened, we walk in only to find that the room was even dirtier than the rest of the hotel areas that we had seen so far. I would hate to see what the bathroom looks like. After looking at the nasty, hairy floor, my eyes landed on the one single-sized bed placed in the middle of the room. Only one thing was going through my mind. Hell no.
Chapter 18
I stood in the middle of the room, staring at the bed then looking around hoping to find some kind of small couch or even a chair, anything. Anything would be better than sharing a bed with that cruel man who sent my little brother off to God knows where.
“Well don’t just stand there,” Hunter said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Uh... Yeah.” I breathed out, walking over to the bed and sitting down as far away from the curly one as I could.
“Don’t be so distant,” He commented, scooting closer till his thigh was touching mine.
I stood up as soon as I felt the contact.
“I-I’m going to take a shower,” I said, and ran off to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
The bathroom wasn’t terribly dirty but you could still see hair all over the floor and counter. I quickly stripped and turned the shower, getting in the steaming hot water which relaxes my muscles. When I had washed my hair with some shampoo, I grabbed the bar of soap and started cleaning myself. After rinsing off, I got out and grabbed a towel from under the sink and began to dry my body. I quickly realize that I hadn’t brought any clothes in the bathroom with me. I wasn’t about to put on my old ones. I could go out there in my towel and run to get them, hoping Hunter doesn’t see, or I could ask him to bring me some.
I was too afraid to run out there for he would probably try and pull down the fabric which covered my body so I decided that I would just ask him to bring me some clothes. I slowly unlocked the door and cracked it open, just enough so I could see he that he was sprawling on the bed, looking up at the ceiling.
“H-Hunter...” I trailed off in a quiet voice. He rose from the bed, looking at me through the crack in the door.
“Yes, Cassie,” he said, smirking. God I hate when he calls me that.
“Uh, c-could you bring me some clothes?” I stuttered like an idiot.
He got off the bed. “Sure thing, love.” I watch as he walked over to my suitcase that I had packed earlier.
He unzipped it, digging through, and after about three minutes of him just looking through my clothes, he walked over to the door.
“Here,”” he said, looking me straight in the eyes until his green pools diverted their attention downward.
I snatched my clothes from him and tried shutting the door only for it to be caught. I looked up to see Hunter’s foot in the way of the door.
“Move please,” I whispered, not looking away from his black shoe.
“Don’t be too long, baby.” His words angered me. I wasn’t his “baby” or “love.”
He moved his foot out of the way. I quickly shut the door, locking it then dropping the towel. I picked up the bra and panties he had picked out for me. They were my black lacy ones with open sides. The bra was solid jet black except that the thin straps had little jewels. I quickly put them on, not being able to do anything about them. I should have known that he would pick them. I slipped the shorts on. I see he had found it buried deep down in my suitcase.
I put the sweat shirt on then walked back out to see that the overhead light was off, the only light being the lamp on the nightstand. Hunter had his back on me. I walked over to the bed slowly, getting in and moving as far away from him as I could get. As much as I hate that I had to sleep with him, I knew there was nowhere else I could go. I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, not really thinking about anything. I felt the bed move and saw Hunter was up. He walked over to his jacket, pulling out a p
ack of cigarettes. He laid them down on the nightstand beside me and lifted his shirt over his head. I couldn’t help but look. He has tattoos running up his neck. I spotted the “I'm sorry” one on his collarbone.
“Like what you see?” Hunter asked, looking down at me, smirking again.
“Uh...” I didn’t know what to say so I just looked away and kept my eyes on the ceiling.
A few seconds later I felt the bed dip down. I looked at Hunter from the corner of my eye to see he was lighting a cigarette.
“You want one or something?” he asked, looking over at me.
“N-no. No,” I said quickly.
“Goody goody.” He laughed under his breath.
“Yes, yes I am,” I proudly admitted. I wasn’t ashamed of being a goody goody.
It was silent for probably ten minutes before I decided to ask a brave question for me.
“Hunter.”
“Yes?” he replied, turning his body so he was facing me.
“Um, w-what does your tattoo mean?” I asked shyly, hoping not to anger him.
“Which one? I have a few.” He laughed.
“The one that says I’m sorry.” His face went hard and he stopped moving.
“It’s kind of my way of saying sorry for things I’ve done,” he told me, looking away.
“Is there one thing in particular?” I bravely pushed further.
“Sort of,” He said simply.
“I got it after I killed my father.”
“Why did you k-kill your father?” I stuttered, now regretting sharing a bed with him.
“Reasons. Now go to sleep,” he bluntly snapped.
I did what I was told and turn on my side with my back facing him.
Chapter 19
I woke from a sharp pain running through my wrist. I tried moving them only to realize that I was getting nowhere. I looked up only to see that my wrists were handcuffed to the headboard. I tried to pull my hands towards me, hoping to get out of them but it only made the pain worse. I couldn’t believe Hunter cuffed me to the bed. I turned around enough to see over my shoulder only to find that no one was there.
Psycho Sitter: Mystery/Thriller Page 5
