Even though he had hurt me deep down, I knew he just needed help. I’d always been the friend to ask lots of questions and try to help my friends out on their problems by talking about them. I never was the type to tell their secrets unless it meant they were hurting themselves in some way. Then of course I would have to tell on them so their parents could get them help. I can’t stand to see people going through pain.
If Hunter would just let out some of his past and talk about it instead of keeping it all in, he might change.
“Tell me about yourself. I told you some about me, now it’s your turn.” His voice broke my thoughts of him.
“Uh... I’m kind of a boring person,” I told him, letting out a nervous chuckle. Why am I nervous?
“Come on, the famous Cassandra Lowe has to have something interesting about her.”
I don’t even want to know how he found out my last name. “Well I like cats...”
“So you like—”
“Hunter! Get your head out of the gutter!”
Not even two seconds later, we were both in a fit of laughter. His laugh was something else. His eyes would almost close, and he would start hitting his hand on the steering wheel while the high-pitched laugh would flow out of his parted lips. He looked... different. Happy for once.
“So is it true, you like cats?” he asked, making me smile over at him.
“Yeah, cats.” I chuckled.
“Okay what else do you like other than cats?”
“Family,” I simply said, looking away from him and out the window.
I could feel the tears ready to fall. I just wanted my family back. I just wanted to know that Ben is okay. I just wanted someone to tell me that it will all okay, but I have a feeling that’s not going to happen.
“I’m sorry,” The man beside me whispered something I thought would never escape his lips.
How could he be sorry when he did it, when he could make it all better by letting me go? How? Because he isn’t.
Chapter 23
My eyes opened only to be met with plain white walls standing before me. I looked around in all directions, trying to find a door or some way out. Nothing. There was no way out. I stood to my feet, wondering where I could be. Am I in a basement? Maybe? No, can’t be. There would have to be a door or some way of getting out of here. Maybe I’m in some type of prison holding room. I know I couldn’t be in jail for I haven’t done anything wrong. What if the police found me and Hunter then I would be let free. I could go back to my normal life, but why would they have me in here? Am I dead? I thought to myself, is this heaven? Did I really die?
Suddenly, part of the wall opened up. Walking in was a man dressed in dark clothing. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt, dark jeans, and solid black boots. The only color that I could make out other than black on the young man near my age was a red liquid dripping from his hands. He started to walk towards me. I was tempted to run away, scared of what he might possibly do. But as he neared me, he walked right past me, striding to a plain wall not far from where I was currently standing. The only sound that could be heard was his heavy footsteps and the odd sound of the scarlet liquid dripping from his large hands. The red substance left a trail behind him, deep red dots spotting the pearly white floor where we both stand on.
Once he stood before the plain wall, he looked back at me with a devilish grin playing on his lips. He looked back to the wall and started to glide his hands across it like he was painting. It didn’t take long before words were formed, dripping in deep red. It’s when I read the wording I, then I knew that the red liquid was blood. The wall read in bold letters, “Ben is dead.”
My heart stopped and my hands began to sweat, my breathing turned rigid.
“No, this can’t be true,” I said to myself.
“No, it can’t be.” I cried, taking sharp breaths. The dark figure stared and walk towards me, and that’s when I started screaming at him.
“No! He’s not dead!” I screamed.
“Cassandra.” The raspy voice spoke.
“No! Get away from me!” I yelled, backing away from him.
“Cassie.” He sang my nickname and an evil grin played on his features.
“No!” I cried.
“Cassie, wake up!” he said, standing only five feet away.
“What?”
“Wake up, Cassie. It’s only a dream.” The white walls started to fade along with the dripping words and everything turned dark.
***
“Wake up, Cassandra,” I opened my eyes, breathing heavily.
I quickly sat up, grabbing onto the door handle.
“Cassandra? We’re boarding the plane now,” I heard a voice say.
I slowly turned my head to my left only to see the man that was dressed in all black in my horrible dream. I jumped back slightly, grabbing on to the place above my left breast where my heart is.
“Are you alright?” Hunter asked, concern written on his face.
“Uh, y-yeah. L-lets g-go,” I stammered, opening the car door.
He did the same with his as I walked around to the trunk of the car. He then popped the lid, raising it slowly.
“Here,” he said, handing me my suitcase. I take it from him, sitting it on the ground and pulling up the handle, so it would be easier to move. I was still shaken up about the whole Ben-is-dead dream.
It makes me wonder whether he really is dead. I quickly pushed the thought to the back of my mind when I felt the tears coming. He can’t be dead. That’s my little brother, he is supposed to live longer than me. I couldn’t imagine dying at a young age of eight. He’s never done anything wrong. Yes, he has not made his bed when he was supposed to and sure he has eaten the last cookie when it was really dad’, but when you really think about it, he’s an innocent to the world and I couldn’t imagine him dying.
After my concerned thought about my younger brother, I finally looked up to see where I was. I was expecting us to arrive at an airport, instead a large open field sat in front of me. The only thing that told me we’re in the right place and Hunter didn’t just stop here to kill me is that twenty feet away lays what seems to be a landing or takeoff strip. At one end of the paved road, a small engine plane was parked right in the middle.
“Well don’t just stand there, come on.” Hunter beckoned me as he stalked off towards the plane. My hand clutched the handle of my suitcase, and my feet followed him closely from behind. I would’ve made a run for it but I was almost positive I would have failed due to the fact there was literally nothing except field and more field. Hunter could easily get in his SUV and chase after me.
“Hunter! There you are. I’ve been waiting here for hours. What the hell took so long?” A man with a darker skin and built body asked.
“Sorry, Mikey, I had a bit of trouble getting her here.” Hunter pointed towards my direction, and my eyes rolled as we continued closer towards the plane.
“Well let’s not waste any more time.” With that said, we got aboard the small plane and buckled in. There are only four seats so all the luggage goes inside a small compartment at the back of the plane.
Chapter 24
I decided to speak once we’re up in the air. “Hunter,” I whispered, slightly turning to face him.
He slowly turned his head to look me in the eyes and said, “Yes, Cassandra?” I took a deep breath, preparing for the worst of what he could reply with.
“Is Ben still... alive?” I asked, giving him my best puppy dog eyes, hoping to make him feel bad and tell me where on earth my little brother is.
“I don’t know.”
What killed me the most about those three words was how serious he sounded when he uttered them. He truly didn’t know.
“H-how could you not know? Did you even know the men that you sent him off with?” I asked, raising my voice slightly.
He looked like he was taken aback by my little outburst. He gave me a stern look.
“Yes, I know them and I also know what they’re capable
of so to answer your question more clearly, I have no idea if the little shit is alive!” he yell-whispered.
I could already feel the tears coming now that my little brother was more than likely not alive. It broke my heart to even think such a thought, but deep inside I knew it may be true. I spent the rest of the plane ride ignoring Hunter and looking out the window. I never attempted talking to him—I now liked to call him devil with curls—anymore, and he never tried to talk to me either. I was glad of it, to be completely honest. I still couldn’t believe that jerk sent my little brother off with men that he knows can do very bad things to him and then tell me that he didn’t even know if he’s alive or not; and he even had the nerve to call him a little shit. Like, I feel bad enough as it is, why make it worse? I just decided to go to sleep, hoping to sleep through the rest of the flight.
* * *
“Wake up, we’re here,” I heard an annoyed voice said.
Oh it must be Hunter’s, I thought. I opened my eyes and sure enough they’re met with the devil himself.
“Get up, we’re leaving,” I did as I was told, unbuckling my seatbelt.
“How are we getting to your place?” I asked, looking around a field quit like the one where we boarded the plane.
“One of my close friends are coming to pick us up,” He replied, not even looking my way.
“Oh,” I simply said.
We waited for about ten minutes before a big black car with tinted windows pulled up beside us.
“Lane!” Hunter mused as the so called Lane rolled down his window. He was very attractive, if I do say so myself.
“Hunter! And who’s this pretty little lady?” Lane asked, looking up and down at me.
I wanted to gouge his eyes out even though he is pretty damn hot.
“This is Cassie. She’ll be working at the warehouse with us,” he said evilly, grinning at me.
What did he mean by warehouse? I’m not working at some dirty warehouse.
“Oh I see, well she should fit in just fine.” He smirked.
Lane got out and helped with the bags, putting them in the trunk of the SUV, while I sat in the car still wondering about that warehouse. Seconds later, Lane and Hunter jumped in the car and we drove off.
I didn’t speak a word the whole time. I was a bit tired even though I did sleep pretty much the entire plane ride. Lane drove for probably an hour before we pulled up at the warehouse. There were at least a hundred cars parked outside. What in the world could be going on in there for that many cars to be out here?
Hunter took my hand and led me towards the door, while Lane followed close behind, smiling at me. It was kind of weird. I really just wanted to make a run for it but my curiosity got the best of me. As we neared the building door, music could be heard and the smell of alcohol wafted in the air. I scrunched my nose up in disgust at the strong smell.
As Hunter opened the door for me, I said a quiet thank you and went through. Once I was in the building and I have taken in my surroundings, I could already feel the tears and the need to vomit at the scene playing in front of me.
Chapter 25
Ben
I could feel the blood pumping through my veins as I was running towards the fence.
I took in sharp breaths as I run as fast as my legs would take me. I had to get to out of this field. I must get back to Mom, Dad, and Cassandra. I couldn’t let these men catch me or I’m done. I picked up my speed as I heard my name being cursed in the cold night air. I started to see a light coming from behind me and began to panic. They're going to find me, I know they are. But I just couldn’t let them. I turned my head around just enough to see where the light was coming from. Logan, I think his name is, had a flashlight and was scanning the field with it.
“Come on, kid, I don’t have all day!” he yelled, anger laced in his words.
I began to panic even more as his voice was dangerously close to where I was at. I quickly started running faster towards the fence. They couldn’t catch me. I didn’t know what they would do
to me this time. I had to get back to Cassandra and protect her from that psycho man. I couldn’t let him hurt her anymore. I was all she had.
I continue to run even though my legs felt like they’re on fire from the bullet Hunter shot into my leg. Nate tried to get it out but I was pretty sure he just made it worse. All he did was take a knife and dug it in my leg. I thought I might die. I actually prayed to God that he would just end it now, but I guess he had better plans in mind for I’m still somehow alive. I was very thankful when I passed out while he tried to fish the bullet out of my thigh. But when I woke up, it was still there and my leg was on fire similar to the pain I’m feeling now.
I still pushed forward even though the pain was almost unbearable. I knew I had to get back to Cassie.
“Come out, come out,” I heard a devilish voice sing.
I stopped dead in my tracks, not moving a muscle. I heard the sound of footsteps making their way closer to me, I didn’t see the flashlight though. He must have turned it off. I quietly jogged over to a nearby tree and hid behind it.
“Come on, Logan. Let’s just go back. He’s obviously not going to come out.” I heard Nate try to convince Logan to go back to the warehouse.
“Oh, shut the hell up! We’re going to find him,” He yelled at his friend.
My breathing began to quicken at the thought of them not leaving till I’m back in their arms. I sank down to the ground, trying to make myself invisible as much as possible, praying to God they don’t find my hiding spot. The footsteps started to fade away, giving me hope that they’re just going to go look somewhere else. I looked around the big tree where I was currently hiding behind, trying to see if I there was any sign of them. Once the coast was clear, I stood up from my sitting position and took off running towards the fence that’s only fifteen feet away.
When I was only few feet away, I felt a pair of strong arms grabbed me by the waist. I started screaming but there’s no hope. We’re out in the middle of nowhere. I felt tears began to fall as the strong arms started to carry me back to the warehouse.
“You’re going to regret running from us kid.” Logan snarled and threw me over his shoulder.
* * *
I felt my body hit the floor as Logan threw me down. I hit the concrete flooring hard, making me cry out in pain.
Logan got down to my level. “Now which weapon should I use?” Logan smiled evilly as he pulled out a gun and a pocket knife.
I shook my head at him as tears filled my blue eyes. He put his hand on my thigh, pushing on the bullet wound, making me wince in pain.
“Oh, does that hurt?” he asked, knowing that in fact that it did hurt.
“Y-yes,” I croaked out.
“Well too bad!” he yelled in my face.
He held his knife in front of my face and slowly started to dig into my now throbbing thigh. I screamed in pain, letting the tears flow. He just laughed evilly at the pain I was going through. He raised the knife up before jamming it back into my leg. I screamed so loud I thought my lungs might burst.
Blood began to pour out of the wound as he took the now crimson red object out of my thigh. Blood started to surround the spot where I was sitting, and I started to feel light headed at the loss of blood; but I managed to get out a couple of last words before I entered a world of darkness. “You monster! I hope you die!” And those were my last words before I slowly started to slip away from the cruel world.
Chapter 26
Cassandra
My heart stopped at the scene in front of me. It was not what you would expect to see in a warehouse’.
I didn’t know why I was here or my purpose here, but I sure didn’t want to find out. I felt someone’s breath fanned my neck before the warm air reached my ear, whispering, “Welcome home, baby girl.” Hunter’s deep voice growled in my ear.
This was no home, it wasn’t even close to being one. There’s no way I could stay here. The dim lighting and blaring music
was enough to give anyone a headache.
Hunter pushed me forward into the mess of people. Some were sitting down at tables as girls gave the men lap dances, while others were on some kind of stage moving their bodies in sexual ways to hopefully turn on the men gazing at the view of their bodies that weren’t very clothed. I cringed in disgust at the sight, but that wasn’t what made me want to shed the tears I’d been trying to hold in. In the past few hours I could hear the sound of cries in the far-right corner of the place.
I followed the cries. Hunter was following close behind along with Lane. After pushing through drunken men and half naked girls, I was finally standing before where the cries were coming from. People gathered, surrounding the large metal cage that sits in the corner, as a girl no older than me sat in the farthest corner of the cage, curled up with no clothes on. She was trying her best to cover her body as men whistled and laughed at her. A man stood up on the metal cage, stepped over the gate part, and walked over to the young girl. Once he was standing before her, he turned to the drunken crowd.
“As I stand before you, my customers and baby girls, I would like to show all the baby girls what happens when you upset or anger our lovely customers we have here at Warehouse 17.” He turned to the young shivering girl.
“What is your name dear?”
“M-Mia.” She stuttered, looking down at the ground.
“Now, Mia, do you know what you have done?”
“N-no! I’ve done nothing!” She finally raised her voice, looking up at the man standing before her.
Psycho Sitter: Mystery/Thriller Page 7
