Caged (Caged series Book 1)

by Destiny Hawkins

  “Who is Miss Shy?” Roy asked.

  “My counselor,” I answered.

  “Ah, Ok. Glad you have one of those. Lord knows after all you’ve been through you need someone to talk to,” he frowned up at Shannon.

  “Detective Roy?” I brought his attention back to me, “can I ask you why they sent you? It’s too much of a coincidence that the man that saved me back them is looking into my attack while so much is going on already?”

  “What do you mean? What’s going on?”

  I realized that I said too much already and bit my lip, “Nothing. I’m just going through a lot, and this isn’t even your jurisdiction. You had to come all the way from California for something other than this. And I know you didn’t leave last night to get here this morning in such a short amount of time. So, you had to have been here already.”

  “What’s going on, Roy?” Aunt Shannon sat down while holding my arm.

  Roy shook his head and sighed, “It’s about Arnold.”

  My eyes widened and I tried to sit up a little more, “What- what about him? Is he getting out of prison? Where -”

  “Rose, he never went to prison...”

  “What...”

  “What do you mean he never went to prison?” My aunt yelled.

  Roy wiped his forehead, “We’ve recently found out that someone took his place for all these years. Arnold has been free for a long time, and we think that maybe he might be here.”

  I stared at him for a second and then down at my hands. They think that he’s here, and I know that he is, but telling Roy about him could be dangerous. Arnold was never even sent to prison, which means that the police had some sort of hand in this, because he was there when Roy found me. Arnold is a really powerful man that has the cops on his side. If I tell on him now, he’ll just get away, and things could get worse for me, but what am I supposed to do about him? I don’t even know what Arnold is planning and I don’t think I could handle him on my own. He might even try to take me away again, and there’s no way I could ever go back to that again.

  My aunt rubbed my arm, “Baby are you okay?” She asked.

  I took a deep breath, “No...No I’m not,” I looked up at Roy, “So they only sent you two to investigate?”

  “There are other investigators trying to dig up any information on him that they had already, but most of it has been burned and thrown out.”

  “He has someone on the inside,” I said out loud.

  “Yeah, we are doing everything that we can, though. A few of us were sent out here because-”

  “Because of me,” I clenched my fist, “You guys think that he’s here because he wants me.”

  Roy nodded and then sighed, “He won’t get you though. And we aren’t even one hundred percent sure that he’s here, but if he is we’ll catch him.”

  “You caught him before, and he still got away....If he was out all that time, why do you think he’s coming for me now? I mean, he could have been taken me if he wanted to.”

  Roy looked back at Carter, who began answering my question, “Well, when you were a kid it was way too hot for him to come out. For a while we’ve kept an eye out because, back then, you were a very valuable piece of merchandise....”

  “After a while,” Roy started, “we didn’t feel the need to have to look after you anymore, and for all we knew, Arnold was locked up. Then recently, we have been raiding fights that were between thirteen and eighteen year old girls,” Roy shook his head, “Apparently, the age limit went up.”

  I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the thought of fighting again. I never want to go back to that.

  Shannon looked up at Roy, “You find that man and you make sure you put him away this time.”

  Roy and Carter nodded their heads, “Here’s my card, Rose,” Roy handed me his card and kissed me on my forehead, “I’ll get him this time.”

  “I hope so,” I gave a slight smile before they left out. I regretted not telling them about the black car and the text, but telling the police wouldn’t make any difference. Arnold has people on the inside that would help him by all means necessary. The only way to save myself from him was to fight back myself. I’m the only person I can trust right now, and I’m the only person that can get the job done. Arnold will eventually show himself to me, and when he does I’ll be ready. I’ll be ready to kill him.

  * * *

  I stayed out of school for a few days until I was able to walk on crutches without feeling too much pain. After being in the bed for so long I was actually excited to go to school.

  While I was out, I got emails and text messages from teachers and students, checking to see if I was okay. The whole team came by the other day, and we had a study session with chips and pizza in my living room. Cameron also came, but we didn’t talk much. He just told me that everyone is on the lookout for Jessie, and that he was glad that I was okay.

  Jessie had been hunted by the police ever since she stabbed me. She’s been on the news, and on posters stating that she was armed and dangerous. I figured that Detective Roy was behind that, because he wanted to catch Jessie more than anyone. I guess after talking with Miss Shy, he saw the seriousness in catching her. She told me that killing me wasn’t enough, which meant that she was planning something else, but what?

  My aunt dropped me off, and then made sure that I got into the school safely. I made my way to my locker, and tried to maneuver myself so that I could open it, but it wasn’t working out. I ended up dropping one of my crutches and was trying to figure out a way to get it without hurting my leg.

  “Here,” A girl will cherry and blonde colored curls picked up my crutch and handed it to me. I was taken in by her soft smile and ocean colored eyes, “Let me help you,” she stepped in front of my locker and put in the combination, then opened it for me.

  “Thank you,” I said still watching her.

  “Yeah...” She sighed.

  Abigale walked up and slapped her hand on my shoulder, “She’s alive,” Abigale chuckled, “Hey, Lorena.”

  “Hey,” Lorena said, “and sorry, I meant to check up on you, but I lost my phone a few days ago.”

  “That’s fine,” I turned away and tried to remind myself that she and I were no longer friends.

  I guess Abigale could feel the awkward tension, “Well it’s the thought that counts,” she gave Lorena a reassuring smile.

  “Well, I’ll see you in class,” Lorena said. She turned and walked away from me.

  “You good?” Abigale asked me.

  “Yeah, my leg feels fine,” I answered,

  “I’m not talking about your leg,” she said as she grabbed my books from my locker, “what’s been going on between you two?”

  “Nothing,” I sighed.

  “Right, nothing,” Abigale smiled. “Trouble in paradise?”

  I shook my head and went to class.

  * * *

  I sat in Miss Shy’s office like I’ve been doing for most of my school year here, and stared at her. We don’t talk much anymore, and I’m actually starting to believe that she’s tired of trying.

  “So, how are you?” Miss Shy asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Really? You were stabbed.”

  “Not the first time she’s done it,” I looked away, thinking back to the first time that she stabbed me.

  “You know, she told me about that,” Miss Shy sat back and I turned to her, “but at the time I didn’t know that she was talking about you.”

  I shook my head, “I just started to remember why she hated me so much. She’s been a problem since I got here.”

  “Jessie isn’t stable. I talked to Detective Roy, he’s doing everything he can to find her. He has the feeling that she’s still very close, since she’s apparently not done with you.”

  The door opened and coach walked in. He didn’t look too excited to see me, “Good afternoon, Rose.”

  “Hey coach, what’s up?”

  Mr. Clothorn looked to Miss Shy,
as if asking for help.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “It’s about wrestling,” Miss Shy sat up and folded her hands on her desk, “Me and Mr. Clothorn thinks that it would be best if you didn’t continue being a part of the team.”

  I knew that I needed a break, but it still hurt to hear the words, “Best for the team, or best for me? Because I helped that team more than any other member-”

  “We feel that,” Mr. Clothorn started, “It would be best for you. The season is almost over, your injured, and there’s too much going on for you right now.”

  “So, because I’m injured, you’re just going to kick me off the team?” I grabbed one of my crutches and struggled to stand up, “people get injured in wrestling all the time-”

  “Yes, but not stabbed,” Miss Shy said, “and that’s not all that we said. Rose, there is something going on with you that has everyone worried, and we all feel that you need less stress on your body and your mind.”

  “Not to mention that Jessie is still out there,” Mr. Clothorn said.

  I grabbed my other crutch and put it under my arm, “Whatever, I don’t even care.”

  “Rose, you can still participate in the group activities with the team, but even after your healed, you still can’t wrestle. It’s just too much for you right now. Bring your grades up, go talk to your friends, have fun.”

  “You just took away what I thought was fun,” I left the room and stopped in the hallway, where I saw Lorena walking in my direction.

  “Hey,” Lorena said shyly.

  “Sup,” I started to feel better already.

  “Are you okay?”

  “If someone asks me that one more time, I’m going to beat them with my crutch,” I smiled slightly. Lorena’s giggle twisted my stomach in knots.

  “I missed you,” Lorena said, “us, hanging out together,” she looked at me as if waiting on me to say it back, but I couldn’t.

  “Look, Lorena, I’m tired of hurting you-”

  “Then don’t. Tell me why we can’t be friends anymore. What happened?”

  I shook my head. “Not right now, please.” I tried to crutch my way away from her, but I was too slow.

  “Then later, tell me why-”

  “Why is it even so important for us to be friends? You’re acting like we dated and I broke up with you or something. We weren’t even that close.”

  “Then why’d you tell me about California?”

  “I don’t know, but I shouldn’t have,” I looked back at her, “I guess that was a mistake.”

  “It wasn’t,” Lorena said shaking her head, “you trusted me.”

  “Yes it was. Stop trying to figure me out Lorena. You won’t get anything,” I started walking away from her again, and the entire time, I kept telling myself that this is what was best. This is what’s best for her....as long as she was safe.

  Chapter 31

  I didn’t see Lorena for the rest of the day, and I’m glad that I didn’t. Whenever I’m around her, I feel like giving in, but I know that I would only be putting her in danger.

  I sat in my room and looked over at my parent’s picture, and wondered that if my father were in a position like mine, would he do the same thing to my mother? Would he block her out and leave her if he knew that it would keep her safe? I wish that he was here so that I could ask him, because my only memory of him was when he was with my mother. My parents never had to go through the same things that I did, so I could only hope that this was something that my dad would do.

  I laid back in my bed, while still looking at my parent’s picture. They loved each other so much. I wonder if that’s what I feel.

  Hours after I had fallen asleep, my phone began to ring. I reached for my phone on the dresser and saw that it was one O’clock in the morning.

  “What the hell?” The caller ID said that it was Lorena that was calling me. I watched my phone ring a few times and then decided to answer it, “Lorena, what is it?” When no one answered I sat up and held the phone to my ear, “Lorena....” I sat there waiting for a response, but all I heard was someone breathing softly and then a giggle. That’s when I remembered that Lorena said she lost her phone. “Who is this?”

  There was a sigh on the other side. “Who else would it be?” Jessie sounded like her usual self.

  “What do you want?” I gripped my cell phone tighter and flipped my legs over the side of the bed. “And what are you doing with Lorena’s phone?”

  “Well, I told you that killing you wasn’t enough right? It’s an eye for an eye, Rose. You take mine and I take yours, right?”

  “Where is she?” I was out of the bed now and throwing on my running shoes.

  “In her room sound asleep. Waiting for me to cut her throat, or strangle her to death.”

  “Don’t fucking touch her, Jessie,” I left my room and ran to the door.

  “Come and stop me,” she laughed before hanging up.

  I dropped my phone and ran out of the house, leaving the front door open. It didn’t come to mind to call the police until I was halfway to Lorena’s apartment. Hopefully, someone will hear my constant pounding on Jessie’s face and call them for me.

  When I got to the apartments, I ran straight in and up to Lorena’s door. I grabbed the door knob and panicked when I noticed that it was locked, “Lorena!” I started pounding on the door and regretted leaving my phone behind, “Lorena!” I was just about to shoulder the door when it opened and a sleepy Lorena stood there untouched and okay in the doorway. Her eyes were bloodshot red and her hair was a little messy, but she was fine.

  “Rose,” She wiped her eyes, “what is it?”

  I pushed passed her and walked into the apartment, then I searched every room and every closet.

  “Rose, what are you doing?!”

  “Where is she?” I stopped in front of her and held her arms.

  “Who? What are you talking about-?”

  “Where is she? Jessie!” My nails dug into her arms.

  “She’s not here- Ouch, Rose! Let go!” She ripped away from me and rubbed her arms, “now calm down. Whatever you’re freaked out about, she was probably just trying to scare you!”

  I looked around myself again just to make sure there were no sneak attacks, then went to sit down on the couch. I buried my face in my hands to calm down the shaking.

  Lorena turned the living room light on and sat down next to me, with a cold glass of water. “It’s cold as hell outside and your sweating bullets. What the hell did she say to you?”

  I gave a deep sigh and took the glass of water, “She called me on your phone.”

  Lorena frowned. “She must have stolen it from me,” She took a deep breath, “but when I lost it, I lost it here. I know that because I remember coming in the house with it,” She stood up and looked around as if looking for Jessie.

  “She’s not here, I checked. She really was just trying to scare me,” I stood up, ready to head home.

  “She used me to scare you,” she turned towards me, “and you ran all the way here.”

  “Not tonight, Lorena...”

  “What exactly did Jessie say to you?”

  I sighed again, “Killing me wasn’t enough. She made it seem like she was here- about to hurt you.”

  “And you ran here,” Lorena frowned.

  “What are you getting at?” I asked getting frustrated.

  “Rose, who is with your aunt?”

  My heart picked back up to panic mode and if it weren’t for the adrenaline I might have just fainted, “I gotta go,” I rushed passed her and out of the door. Jessie set this whole thing up just to get to my aunt, and I left the door wide open for her.

  “Wait!” Lorena came running behind me in her pajamas, house shoes, and keys in hand.

  “You can’t come!”

  “And you can’t go running anymore. Your leg!”

  I stopped and looked down at my bloody pants. I was bleeding out where I was stabbed, but only cared for a second when I
thought of my Aunt bleeding to death. I guessed the pain killers I took before I went to bed kicked in hard, combined with my extremely high adrenalin rush.

  “Okay, come on,” we both ran to the car and jumped in. As she pulled out, I was going to tell her to call the police, but neither of us had phones. “Drive fast.”

  On the way back home, I could finally feel the pain in my leg again, and it hurt like hell. We pulled up in the driveway and jumped out of the car, Lorena a little faster than me. I was burned out and bleeding a little more than I should.

  The door was still open and we both ran inside. Lorena picked up my phone and dialed 911 while I ran to the back to check on Shannon.

  “Shannon!?” I called as I limped down the hall, “Aunt Shan-”

  I opened the door and almost fell to my knees when I saw my aunt laid out on the side of her bed. “Shannon!” I ran to her and rolled her onto her side, “Aunt Shannon? Aunt-Auntie? Auntie?” I started to cry.

  A grungy moan escaped her throat and stopped me from freaking out, “Rose?”

  “Oh, thank god,” I took a deep breath. “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”

  “My head,” She groaned.

  “So, you’re okay?” I asked feeling her head for blood.

  “Rose-”

  An arm wrapped around my neck and I was yanked backwards. The pain in my leg lit up like fire when I tried to catch my balance, “Ah!” I yelled. I couldn’t get flat on my feet because I was being pulled backwards, and was starting to feel drained.

  “Rose?” I heard Lorena call from the living room.

  I was yanked back hard again, and fell down to the hardwood floor. As soon as I was freed, I tried to get up as quickly as I could and face my attacker. As I thought, it was Jessie.

  “Rose?” Lorena stepped into the room, but then ducked out when Jessie fired two shots at her. Not even thinking twice, I ran at Jessie and grabbed her arm then I slammed it against the edge of the dresser and another shot went off. The gun fell to the floor and slid under the bed, then Jessie threw two blows to my face with her free hand.

  I took the hits and then threw one back at her, but I missed. She dodged it without a problem, just like she dodged the next, and the one after that, but when she started throwing them back she landed every punch.