by Evelyn Dar
“Of course not,” a distorted, but obviously female voice answered.
Laylah?
Avery wouldn’t get her hopes up. Besides, if it was Laylah, why was she still tied up? Why hadn’t Laylah freed her? Avery’s stomach churned at the implications. Maybe Stacy was right. What if this was what Laylah wanted?
She tried to exorcise the thought from her mind, but it had already taken hold.
“My father will pay whatever you ask for,” she lied. “As I’m sure you know, he’s very wealthy.”
Avery heard a quiet sigh.
“This will all be over soon,” the distorted voice said.
“Sure, it will.”
“Are you okay?” the voice asked. It sounded closer.
“No, I’m not okay.” Avery’s eyes burned. “You kidnapped me, remember?”
“I mean – do you need something?” the voice asked. “Food, water, anything?”
“I…” Avery sniffled. “I just want to go home.” The blindfold captured most of her tears, but a few rolled down her cheek.
A hand touched her shoulder, and Avery flinched.
“Sorry,” the voice said, and the hand fell away.
“Wait.” Avery swallowed, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. “Laylah?”
Avery heard a gasp, followed by rapidly retreating footsteps.
“Laylah, wait. Please!” she called out. “I-I know Kendrick is your cousin, and he didn’t want to go along with this, but his friend convinced him. Stacy, right?”
The footsteps stopped.
“I know…” Avery forced herself to continue. “I know you’re Laylah Carter and what my father did to your mother was unforgivable. So if this is your way of getting back at him – at me…I guess I understand.”
Silence.
Avery sobbed. “Please say something.”
Avery waited for what felt like an eternity before she heard footsteps approaching and her blindfold was gently untied.
She waited for a beat, then opened her eyes. Laylah stood in front of her, and although those pretty green eyes were tired and brimming with tears, she looked no less beautiful than Avery remembered.
“How’d you know?” Laylah asked without looking at her.
“I woke up in your bed–” Avery closed her eyes. “I meant, I woke up in your bedroom and I overheard Kendrick and Stacy talking and put two and two together.” Avery tried to lean forward but was stopped by her restraints. She cringed at the dull ache in her shoulders.
Laylah frowned.
“Laylah, what’s going on?” Avery asked. “I understand why you hate me, but–”
“I don’t hate you,” Laylah said quickly.
Avery blinked and filed that fact away for later. “Is this Stacy guy forcing you to do this? I don’t remember much from the party, but I think we uh, well the two of us–”
“It’s not Stacy,” Laylah said. “It’s his brother, Reggie and Reggie is…scary.”
“How scary?” Avery asked, although she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“Newly released from prison scary.”
Avery’s shoulders slumped. “Oh.”
“Hey,” Laylah said softly. “I’ll figure something out. I promise.”
“Right,” Avery said.
“I meant what I said,” Laylah insisted. “I don’t hate you and I would never do something like this to you.”
“I believe you,” Avery whispered.
“I have to go.” Laylah finally looked at Avery’s face, then cringed as if it hurt. “I’ll check on you later.”
“Laylah?”
Laylah turned around.
“You should probably put my blindfold back on.”
Laylah looked at the blindfold in her hand and almost smiled.
“Someone wasn’t paying attention in kidnapper’s school,” Avery teased.
Laylah wordlessly raised the blindfold to Avery’s eyes, without making eye contact.
“Wait,” Avery said.
Laylah froze.
“Your eyes.” Avery was transfixed. “I always thought they were green but they’re actually light hazel with flecks of green.” She bit her lip. “Up close they’re so pretty– uh, unique.”
Avery’s cheeks burned, and she looked down, disgusted with herself for being unable to control her libido in her current state. She chuckled nervously. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all Stockholm on you.” She lifted her head and closed her eyes. “I’m ready.”
She felt Laylah gently tie on the blindfold, and as the footsteps retreated, Avery lowered her head. And when the door closed, she wept.
****
Laylah walked into the teacher’s lounge and was immediately shushed.
Reggie, Stacy and Kendrick sat around what Laylah had dubbed ‘the war table’ and Reggie held a flip phone in his hand. Maddy stood in the kitchenette and motioned for Laylah to join her.
They watched in silence as Reggie dialed a number that was messily scrawled on a napkin. The phone rang out loud and was answered on the fourth ring.
“Hello?”
Teddy
Reggie spoke through a voice changer. “We have your daughter.”
A long pause.
“What do you want?” Teddy asked.
“A hundred thousand dollars,” Reggie said.
Teddy scoffed, and several hushed voices could be heard in the background.
“Look, man,” Reggie said. “This ain’t up for debate. We demand a hundred k. Period.”
“I must apologize son, but Theodore Bradley does not negotiate with terrorists. You will return Avery, unharmed.”
The hushed voices spoke at the same time.
“Someone’s off script,” Maddy whispered to Laylah.
Reggie erupted. “What did you say to me?” He jumped up and kicked the table over. Phones and zip ties went flying. “You don’t negotiate with terrorists, huh?” He charged across the room and they all scrambled to follow.
Across the hallway, he kicked open the classroom door, stomped inside and grabbed a fistful of Avery’s hair. He jerked her head back, and Avery screamed.
Laylah clenched her fists and tensed.
“You hear that, you motherfucker!” Reggie yelled. “You know who that is?”
“Look, just calm down, son.” Teddy said.
“I’m not your fucking son!” Reggie shouted, still gripping Avery’s hair. “I run this. I’m in charge. You do what the fuck I say.” He hung up and the moment he let go of Avery, something inside Laylah snapped and she launched herself at Reggie, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. She vaguely registered Avery’s chair falling over in the scuffle, but all of her attention was on the task at hand.
Reggie bent at the waist and easily flung Laylah over his head. She landed on top of the teacher’s desk, and her back exploded in pain. She groaned and rolled over.
“You son of a bitch!” Kendrick rushed Reggie and landed a solid blow to his jaw.
Dazed, Reggie stumbled backward. Kendrick raised his fist again, but the sound of a gun cocking froze him in place.
He raised his hands and closed his eyes. “Stacy, man, don’t do this. You know this shit is wrong.”
“I’m sorry, dawg.” Stacy’s face displayed a myriad of emotions. “Reggie’s my blood.”
Reggie chuckled and patted Stacy on the shoulder. He then pulled out his gun and strolled up to Kendrick.
“The only reason you still alive young blood, is because you remind me of me when I was your age. But you need to listen real close.” He looked at Laylah and Maddy. “Y’all bitches, too.”
“This shit right here?” He gestured with his gun around the classroom. “This is not a democracy. This is not a basketball team. Y’all cannot quit this shit, you feel me?” He eyed Kendrick. “But if you really want out…” He cocked the gun and stuck the barrel under Kendrick’s chin. “I’ll let you out. Just say the word, young blood.”
Kendrick’s entire body trembled, but he kept his
mouth shut and glared at Reggie.
“I’m not going back to prison,” Reggie continued. “And if I have to kill every last motherfucker in this room to make sure I don’t…” He un-cocked the gun and grinned. “So be it.”
Reggie shoved Kendrick toward the door. “Come on, young blood. I need to keep my eye on you.” He stepped over Avery. “And will somebody pick her ass up?”
The door slammed shut and everyone let out a collective breath.
Laylah gritted her teeth as Maddy helped her off the desk. Her back was screaming, but she had to get to Avery.
As she and Maddy approached Avery’s overturned chair, Laylah bent down and a sharp pain erupted in her lower back. She cried out.
“It’s okay, babes,” Maddy said and glared at a dazed Stacy, who stood near the door with his gun drawn. “Do you think you could help us or does Reggie have to approve it, first?”
Stacy returned his gun to his waistband, gently nudged Maddy out of the way and righted Avery by himself. Then he just stood there.
“What?” Maddy asked. “Are you waiting for your Scooby snack or something?”
Stacy snorted. “I knew you didn’t fucking like me.”
“Maybe I was beginning to,” Maddy said softly.
Stacy paused. “Yeah, well I ain’t shit, girl. Now you know.” He walked out.
Laylah clutched her back and grimaced. She had given Avery a once over and she seemed okay, but Laylah needed to be sure. She loosened Avery’s blindfold and pulled it down.
Glistening brown eyes stared back at her.
“Are you okay?” Avery asked before Laylah could speak. “What happened? I heard fighting. Did he hurt you?”
Laylah smiled despite the pain. “I’m okay.”
“No, she’s not,” Maddy said. “Laylah jumped on Reggie’s back and he threw her across the room.”
Avery gasped. “Oh my God.”
“I’m fine,” Laylah insisted. “Just a little sore.”
“You shouldn’t have jumped on him,” Avery said, a tear rolling down her cheek. “He could have shot you. What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t,” Laylah whispered. “He was hurting you and I just…”
“I’m fine,” Avery whispered back. “Please don’t ever do that again.”
Laylah looked at Avery until she couldn’t.
“What the fuck?”
Stacy stood in the doorway staring at an unblindfolded Avery. “Oh, hell, nah.” He turned around.
“Wait!” Maddy stepped forward. “You can’t tell Reggie.”
“Yes the fuck I can,” he responded.
“Think about it, Stacy,” Laylah said. “What do you think Reggie will do after you tell him?”
“Whatever he gotta do.”
“If this ransom thing works,” she continued. “Reggie won’t give Avery back to her father. Not when she can identify us.”
Maddy spoke softly. “You heard what he said. He’d kill us to stay out of prison. You’re his brother. Is he bluffing?”
“Nah,” Stacy said. “Reggie don’t bluff.” He returned the gun to his waistband and rubbed his face. “So what? I’m supposed to turn against my brother?” He shook his head. “That ain’t happening.”
“Can I say something?” Avery asked.
Stacy glared at her.
“Ransom or no ransom,” Avery said. “If you keep me safe, I will forget I ever saw your face.”
“How I know you not lying?”
“You don’t,” Avery said.
“We’re not asking you to go against your brother,” Laylah said. “We’re asking you to help us save Avery.”
Stacy pulled the gun from his waistband. “Put her blindfold on and let’s go.”
Laylah pulled Avery’s blindfold up and before she pulled away whispered, “I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”
Avery smiled sadly. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“He’s full of shit.” Reggie leaned back and rested his hands behind his head. “He’s just trying to come off as hard. He’ll pay.” But the uncertainty in his voice said otherwise.
The room was silent as Reggie mulled over his options.
“Fuck it.” Reggie opened the phone and hit redial.
“Is Avery alive?” Teddy asked by way of greeting.
Reggie spoke into the voice changer. “You gonna pay me?”
There was a long pause, but this time no hushed voices in the background.
“I need to know she’s alive,” Teddy said.
Reggie sighed. “You want to talk to her?”
“I want to see her,” Teddy said.
“The fuck?”
“And not on a pre-recorded video,” Teddy continued. “You will set up a private live stream.”
“I’m not finna do shit.”
“You will if you want one hundred thousand dollars,” Teddy said.
“Yo, this ain’t no negoti–”
The line went dead, and Reggie stared at the phone with wide eyes. He growled, snapped it in half with one hand and threw it across the lounge. After several seconds of cursing, he turned to Stacy.
“You know what he’s talking about? That live shit?”
“Nah.” Stacy glanced at Kendrick. “But Kendrick’s real smart about tech stuff.”
Reggie glared at Kendrick. “You know what he’s talking about?”
Kendrick nodded.
“Can you set it up?”
“Yeah,” Kendrick said. “But I’ll need more than flip phones.”
“Aight.” Reggie rubbed his chin. “I’ll call my boys. They can get whatever you need.”
“Maddy already has it,” Kendrick said quickly.
Everyone looked at Maddy, who shot Kendrick a bewildered look.
“She knows more than me, anyway,” Kendrick said. “She used to show me how to do stuff all the time and uh, she runs Instagram.”
Maddy smirked. “Not untrue.” She squinted at Kendrick. “You started following me?”
Kendrick ignored her. “Her and Laylah can pick up everything we need.”
Reggie laughed. “You must think I’m stupid, young blood. Ain’t none of y’all leaving.”
Maddy raised a tentative hand.
Reggie sighed. “What?”
“Hi, uh I get why you don’t want us to leave but let’s think this through for a quick second. The entire city of Atlanta is on a manhunt for Avery and the police are following up every lead.”
Reggie yawned loudly. “Girl, get to the point.”
“People saw Laylah and I hanging with Avery last night, and if we don’t show up for school today, it won’t take long to tie our absence to Avery’s kidnapping. Not to mention, we’re terrible criminals and probably left like a million clues. They’ll find us. All of us.”
Reggie frowned at Stacy, and the brothers walked into the hallway. The moment the door shut, Kendrick turned to them.
“If he lets you leave, go straight to the police.”
“What?” Laylah shook her head. “No.”
“What do you mean no?” Kendrick asked.
“Kendrick,” Laylah said. “You’ll go to prison for this. Possibly for the rest of your life.”
“To be fair,” Maddy interjected, “we’ll probably all go to prison for this.”
“I don’t care.” Kendrick shook his head. “Reggie’s a psychopath.”
“Stacy’s not,” Maddy said.
“So?”
“I’m just saying,” Maddy explained. “I don’t think he’d let Reggie hurt Avery.”
“You don’t think?” Kendrick scoffed. “You don’t even know him. Besides, he wouldn’t be so nice to you if he knew you were a…you know, the way you are.”
Maddy wrapped her arms around herself.
“Yo, I’m not trying to mean. I’m just stating facts.”
“I know,” Maddy said quietly.
“I won’t turn you in,” Laylah said.
&nbs
p; Kendrick looked at her like she was crazy. “How do you think this is going to end, Laylah? Teddy’s gonna give Reggie a hundred thousand dollars and just let him go?” He glanced at the closed door. “Don’t be stupid, cuz. You get out? You go to the police.”
The door swung open.
“Aight,” Reggie said. “Y’all can go to school and bring back the shit we need for this live video thing.”
Laylah and Maddy started toward the door.
“Oh, and Legs?”
Laylah turned around.
Reggie grinned. “If the cops show up after you leave, best believe before they bust down the door, I’m putting a bullet in your cousin’s head. Then I’m putting one in your little girlfriend’s head across the hall.” He blew her a kiss. “Have a good day at school.”
++++
Laylah opened the bottle of ibuprofen and poured out three. She was about to return it to the medicine cabinet when she thought of Avery. If Laylah felt like a decaying zombie, she could only imagine how Avery felt. She pocketed the pills along with a handful of ointment and bandages from the first aid kit.
She quietly closed the bathroom door and when she turned around, she found herself face to face with her mother.
“Mom! Uh, hi. I thought you were asleep.”
Worry lines creased Gale’s forehead. “It’s 7 a.m.”
“Exactly,” Laylah said. “You should be resting for your shift tonight.” She swallowed and brushed past Gale. “Oh, I borrowed your car last night. Maddy wanted to take separate cars to the party in case she met someone which I know you disapprove of, but, well you know Maddy.”
Gale followed Laylah into the living room. “Are you okay? Is Maddy?”
“Uh, yeah,” Laylah said. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
Gale looked at her incredulously. “Honey, Avery Bradley was kidnapped last night. It’s all over the news.”
“Oh, that.” Laylah shrugged. “I think we left before it happened.”
Gale closed her eyes. “Thank God.”
“Yep,” Laylah said, feeling sick for the lie. She grabbed her backpack off the sofa. “I’ll see you later.”
“What about Kendrick?”
Laylah stopped but didn’t turn around. “What about him?”
