by Nicole Adams
“So, can we go get food? I think there's a diner real close.” I charm.
“You'll stay in the car. I'll get the food.” he says sternly, before dragging me out to the car. He pushes me in the passenger seat before handcuffing one hand to the door.
“In case you get any ideas.” He sneers into my ear, before slamming the door and going round to his side. He jumps in with a psychotic smile, placing a hand on my knee. “You ready, honey?” He smiles, like a 1950s commercial husband would. I nod with a small smile before he pulls away from the house. Gilly was right, this guy is as delusional as they come.
“It's lucky we're so close. I feel sick, I'm so hungry.” I clutch my stomach to emphasize my words. I see the diner coming up ahead and point towards it.
“What do you want?” he asks. I don't want him to know that I've been here before. I bite my bottom lip and think.
“Surprise me?” I ask plastering my face with sincerity. He nods with a big smile, liking my answer. He pulls into the lot and he parks well away from other cars.
“Stay here, no funny business. You won't like what I'm capable of.” I gulp, before nodding and he leaves, locking the doors. Shit. This may be the only chance I have.
I wriggle my wrist, trying to break free from the cuff. It’s on too tight and I can’t slip through. I close my eyes and breathe deeply. I pull out the receipt from my pocket and look around for a pen. With time, and places running out, I find one in the glove compartment. I breathe a sigh of relief. I write ‘HELP KIDNAPPED CALL POLICE’ across the back, before looking around for passersby.
A man with a young child walk past. I shake and bang the car, trying to get his attention, but he doesn’t see me. I glance briefly over my shoulder to make sure Cole isn’t there, I’m just out of sight of the diner windows.
When a young couple walk past, I try again, shouting for help, shaking and banging the car. The woman approaches, hesitantly as a tear of relief slips from my eye. I mouth ‘please’ multiple times and hold up the receipt. Her eyes widen and she pulls out her cell phone and nods. She gestures for her partner to look, he sees and tries the handle of the door. I shake my head. I mouth ‘he’s inside.’ Then hold a finger to my lips. They both nod, fear painted across their faces as they move down the parking lot, keeping me in their sights. I breathe deeply and wipe the tears from my eyes. I can do this.
Before I can take another deep breath, Cole is headed back for the car. Did he see?
“She said it will take about 10 minutes, so I wanted to check on you. Are you okay?” he asks lifting my chin and wiping a tear away.
“Just don’t feel well. That’s all.” I smile. He leans in and plants his lips on mine. I cringe but stay still, the bile rising in my throat. I pull back, his jaw clenches. “I’m sorry. I probably have morning breath.” I lie, hoping he will buy it. His face softens.
“I don’t mind, baby.” He leans in, this time kissing my cheek, before leaving the car and heading back inside. I look around, hoping the police are on their way, when I see a familiar figure, walking towards the back of the diner.
“Mrs Lawrence!” I shout, shaking the car, waving to get her attention. She doesn’t see me, but the man from the couple does, running to her and pointing to the car. I cry with relief, the tears, pouring down my cheeks. She sees me and runs to the car, pulling the handle. The man pulls her away, saying Iit isn’t safe.’ As they head back towards the diner and she’s pulling out her phone. I close my eyes, letting the tears warm my cheeks. They are coming for me.
“YOU STUPID BITCH!” Cole shouts as he dives across the car, slamming my head into the dashboard, over and over again. He saw. My vision starts to blur as my head heats with the impacts. The hits stop momentarily before my handcuff is removed. Suddenly, my door is wrenched open and he drags me out, kicking me in the ribs and punching me in the face. “You’ve ruined everything!” he spits out, frothing at the mouth.
“I’m sorry!” I shout, as he pulls my face to his by my hair. My vision so blurred I can only make out his silhouette.
“Let her go, you piece of shit!” I hear Mrs. Lawrence shout.
“This is none of your business lady!” he yells before trying to shove me back in the car. I struggle, hoping I can stay awake a little longer to fight.
“That girl is my business. They’re coming for you!” she shouts back. “They know she’s here!” she shouts, taking another step towards us.
He pulls out a knife from his pocket and prods it into my ribs. “Come closer, and I’ll make sure she is no longer breathing.” He growls. Mrs. Lawrence stills, eyes wide and her hands raised in submission. I fall still, sobbing silently. Where the hell are the police? My luck has run out. He shoves me back in the car by my neck, slamming the door and running to the driver’s side. “If you follow us. I’ll kill her.” He warns, as he gets in the car and pulls out of the space.
It’s over. He’s going to kill me. The darkness is pulling me as the pain radiates throughout my body. I try to pry open my eyes, but I am met with darkness. I roll in a protective ball, feeling my consciousness fading. The car stops as the sound of glass shattering fills the car.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I hear, before I slip into the abyss.
Chapter 18
Charlie
“She’s here! She’s at the diner!” my mother shouts down the phone to me. “Hurry Charlie! The Police are on their- oh no!” she screams.
“You stupid bitch!” is yelled in the background.
“Mom! What’s happening?” I yell, Henry’s looks at me concerned, my foot already on the gas. We are about 5 minutes away, less if I step on it. He pulls out his phone, presumably calling his Dad.
“Let her go, you piece of shit!” my Mom shouts. My heart pounds in my chest, knowing my Mother and my girlfriend are in the presences of this psychopath. The charges Wallace told us last night swimming through my head. He’s not going to give her up willingly.
This is none of your business lady!” he yells back.
“That girl is my business. They’re coming for you!” she shouts back. “they know she is here!” she yells. The pride I feel for my Mother, fills me and gives me strength. Henry is muttering down the phone in the background as I concentrate on my Mother.
“Come closer, and I’ll make sure she is no longer breathing.” He growls out. My jaw clenches as I speed towards the diner. One more block. “If you follow us, I’ll kill her.”
“Charlie, I can’t stop him. He’s got a knife. She’s… in bad shape. He’s got her in the car.” Henry’s face is white, and he looks like he’s going to puke. “I’m sorry Charlie.” She whimpers. My knuckles turn white against the steering wheel.
“Mom, it’s okay, we’re here!” I shout as I pull the car to the curb just in front of the diner, diving out before the car has even stopped.
“That’s him about to pull out!” she yells down the phone as a car approaches the junction. I sprint towards it. I have to make it.
“Stand back!” Henry shouts as he overtakes me with a crowbar, slamming it against the window, shattering it. I jump into action, diving though the window and pulling the keys out of the ignition. I glance at Faye, to see her covered in blood, curled in a ball, face swollen beyond recognition. Her chest rises shallowly, telling me she is barely alive.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I growl, as I grip him by the throat and drag him out through the window. My rage fuels me as I slam him to the ground, pounding my fists into him. Sirens sound in the distance. Take your time. I think to myself.
“Charlie, Stop!” my mother shouts. I stop mid swing to glance her. Her face is drained of colour as she looks at Faye in Henry’s arms. Cole spurts out a laugh.
“She’s a fighter. I like a fighter.” He sneers, blood coating his teeth. I raise my fist but it’s caught before I can make contact with his jaw.
“We got him, Son.” Wallace says as he and another officer pull me off him. Another officer hoists him u
p before escorting him to the cruiser.
“I’ll be back for her.” He says proudly. I twist out of the Officers’ grasp and grip him by the throat.
“Today you were lucky. You come near her again, I will kill you.” I grit out, before Wallace pulls me away and he’s shoved in the back of the car.
“He won’t be coming out anytime soon.” Wallace assures me, as I make my way towards Faye. Henry is sat on the curb, cuddling her close to his chest, tears streaming down his face. A ball of panic forms in the pit of my stomach and I fall to my knees. My mother runs to me, crouching down in front of me, saying something, but I can’t hear a word. Were we too late?
Chapter 19
Faye
“Welcome back, Faye.” A voice booms in my ears. I jump to cover them, squeezing my eyes closed. “Ah. No problem. I will get you something for the headache. Other than that, how are you feeling?” he whispers, flipping a page on the flipchart before, scanning my face for a response. I look at him confused. Why am I at the hospital?
“My ribs are a little sore, but fine other than that.” My voice shaky and my throat feels dryer than the Sahara.
“That’s good.” He nods, making notes in the chart.
“Umm, what happened? Why am I here?” I ask, confusion in my voice. He gives me a pitying look. I hate it when people do that. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, I want you to tell me straight.
“You were kidnapped.” He starts. Oh yeah, images start to plague me. “It appears, when you tried to escape, he assaulted you. You have a lot of bruising to your body and face, and you had to have surgery to stop the internal bleeding.” My eyes bug out of my head. WHAT?!
“How l-long have I been here?” I stammer, my vocal chords scratching together.
“About a week.” He answers, not taking his eyes off the flipchart. My eyebrows shoot up my forehead, but I cringe back in pain. I have been unconscious for a week?! “Your family have just stepped out for me to examine you. Would you like to see them?”
“Yes. Yes please.” I reply. He nods in response before heading for the door, leaving the flipchart in the little clear cubby. Shifting in bed, I try to sit up a little straighter.
“Oh, honey!” my mother shouts as she storms the room. Eyes scanning me. “Let me help you with that.” She forces a smile on her tired face, helping to scoot me up the bed. She pulls me in to a gentle but tight hug. Henry and Dad come in soon after. “You scared us to death. I swear, your father and I have aged at least 50 years this past week!” her voice rising in pitch. She drops her gaze. “When we saw Henry and Charlie after they found you, we thought…” she trails off, slyly trying to wipe a tear from her eye. I take her hand in mine and squeeze, looking to Henry or Dad for support, but their eyes are just as glassy.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t really remember much after arriving at the diner.” I try to reassure her, “Which is probably a good thing,” I mumble, by the looks on their faces.
“Definitely,” Henry mutters, darkness encasing his eyes.
“Where’s Charlie?” I ask, my Dad looks guilty.
“He isn’t going to be happy with me. I sent him home about 30 minutes ago. He hasn’t left in days and he looked tired and was starting to stink.” He scrunches his nose. “Henry, you had better let him know.”
“Already did.” Henry replies, wiggling his phone in the air.
“He stayed here?” I ask, my vision blurring around the edges.
“It took us three days to make him leave the first time.” Henry replies. “He wasn’t even meant to see you because it was family only, but he needed to see you. We both did.” He lets out a long exhale. “We thought you were dead.” Dipping his chin to his chest. Dad places a hand on his shoulder for support. Dead? It was that bad?
“I’m sorry I scared you. I’m sorry I got myself into that situation. We were still at the house, but it was just me and Gilly… Gilly! Is she okay?” I panic, moving to get out of bed.
“She’s fine, just a little concussed. She said she will be coming in about an hour. She isn’t allowed to drive yet so her Mom is bringing her when she finishes work,” Mom says, combing my hair with her fingers back out of my face. I relax into my pillows a little, relieved, when the door bursts open and an out of breathe, soggy haired Charlie fills the doorframe.
“Hi.” I say shyly. He stands there, staring, frozen to the spot.
My Mom taps my hand and gestures to Dad and Henry to leave. “We’re going to go get some coffee. Would you like anything?”
“I’m starving.” I admit, as my stomach growls in response.
“I’ll see what the doctor says you can have.” She winks before pulling Charlie into the room and pushing the boys out and closing the door behind her.
“Are you okay?” I ask, after a few minutes. He is still frozen. He quickly jolts covering the space between us in a few steps, cupping my cheeks in I his warm hands. I melt into the feeling.
“I thought…” he starts, his eyes sweeping over my face, red and bloodshot from lack of sleep. I frown at the thought. I cup his cheek in my hand, caressing it with my thumb.
“I know, I’m okay,” I say, resting my forehead against his. “Come sit with me.” I shuffle over to make some room. He eyes me wearily for a second before giving in, wrapping his arms around me pulling me into his chest.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there,” he mutters into my hair. I grimace at the thought of the state it must be in. I turn to face him.
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault. It’s over now. You found me. Did they catch him?” he looks a little confused.
“Yeah, they got him. He won’t be coming out for a long time.” His jaw ticks in frustration, his embrace a little tighter.
“What happened to your hands?” I asked, gently rubbing my thumbs over the healing scabs.
He looks at me with a cocked eyebrow. “You think I was going to let him get away unscathed?” His face drops, his eyes examining his shoes. “When I saw you. What he did to you. I lost it.” I pull his hands to my lips, placing gently kisses across his knuckles. He lets out a small smile from the harsh mask he has on.
“Do they know who he was working with? He kept saying he was waiting for someone.” He nods against my head, kissing it.
“Sam. Though I think she thought he was a normal guy and they were pranking you. Or that’s what I hope was the case. He said, in the police interview, she was going to lend him her car, he was going to use that to leave the state. Apparently, she knew about the kidnapping, but she thought it was just to scare you.” I ponder the thought. She has always been a grade A A-hole but to help a lunatic kidnap me? “How are you feeling?” he says, lifting my chin with his finger.
“A little sore, but ill be okay.”
“Good. Because I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” He pulls me closer and kisses my cheek. Chills sweep up my spine, filling me with the calm that only Charlie gives me.
“Aren’t you finding me a little hard work?” I laugh half-heartedly.
“You are definitely worth it. Just promise me, no more hospital visits.” He deadpans.
I giggle. “I can’t promise that. You know how clumsy I am.” He chuckles, a hearty grin spreading across his face, warming my heart. “There you are. I thought this serious Charlie was here to stay for a minute.” I say, running my fingers across his cheeks. His smile grows as we lose time as we seek solace is each-others embrace, when a knock at the door jolts us. He rests his head against mine with a deep sigh.
“I don’t want to share you yet, but I had better let them in.” he says riding to his feet. I pull him back quickly, pressing my lips to his desperately. “God, I missed you.” He strokes my cheek before pulling away, hesitantly.
“I love you.” I say pulling him back to me, pressing another chaste kiss to his lips.
“I love you too. Just, don’t leave me again,” he whispers.
“Never. It’s you and me. Always.” Resting my forehead to his chest.
>
“You and me.” he whispers.
Epilogue
3 weeks later
“You’ll remember to call?” Mom asks for the hundredth time. I roll my eyes before turning to her.
“Mom I’ll be home regularly anyway, it’s not like I’m across the country!” She daisies her brow, “but yes, I will call,” I sigh.
“This is the last one,” Dad says, coming into my dorm and placing the last storage box on the floor. “You’ll call us regularly won’t you honey?” Dad asks, and I sigh loudly.
“What will we do now? Both babies at college, the house will feel like a morgue.” Mom whimpers, Dad wraps an arm around her shoulders.
“We were barely there all summer. You should be getting used to it by now. You can do all those things you wanted to do before Henry and I came along,” I suggest.
