It's been five minutes and already I was feeling restless and guilty. Caleb is out there and I'm sitting here doing nothing about it! Suddenly mad at myself, I quickly grab a backpack and fill it up with stuff along with the pistol I took from my dad and extra ammo. I slung the bag over my shoulder and quietly slinked downstairs. Dad was on the phone in the kitchen and Noah was still looking at the TV, completely oblivious to their surroundings. Perfect.
Silently, I quickly scurried to the door and went outside and took in a nervous breath. I have no idea where they may be, but that didn't matter. I would find him. Skipping the porch steps completely, I worked my way out onto the sidewalk, but heard the familiar squeak of the door and groaned as a figure made their way in front of me.
"Where do you think you're going sis?" Noah looked at me seriously. I looked him in the eyes, kind of annoyed he even had to ask that question.
"To find my best friend. I'm not letting some bastard take him away and get away with it."
"But... what about the man?"
I sighed in frustrated. "I don't care about him anymore." My voice slowly rose, but I brought it down, afraid of attracting any unwanted attention. "I'm done letting some person scare me... Making me stop my life. He's the one who has Caleb and now it's time to do something about it."
"Well I care about you..." An unfamiliar voice comes behind me and I jump, holding back a scream as I come face to face with the last person I wanted to see. The man smiled his usual perverted and I slowly block Noah from his view.
"What are you doing here...?" I looked him straight in the eye as I slowly reached for the gun. My hands were shaking like shit, but I didn't care. No way was this dude going to do anything to my little brother. Before I could even process what was going on, I feel a yank on my bag as he quickly grabbed the one and only weapon I thought to bring and studied it. I swore under my breath and clenched my fists.
"Nice..." His brown eyes met mine as he smirked, turning the gun around in his calloused fingers. "It would be a shame if you shot me with this." He stuck the gun in his belt and cracked his knuckles. I looked straight ahead as his booted feet echoed against the concrete sidewalk while he walked closer to us. I stiffened as he placed his face close to mine and his smirk widened. "You, you're lil' brother and I... Are gonna have a lot of fun."
The moment I tried screaming, he already had us in his grip and pressed a cloth against our mouths. Noah was out in a matter of seconds and I could feel myself slipping away quickly, but I wasn't ready to give up. I watched as my brother fell to the ground and struggled to get out of the iron tight grip, but it was no use. My strength was slowly decreasing and finally, I let the blackness take over.
~
"S-sis?"
My body was being rolled around slightly on something cold. And very hard. I slowly opened my eyes and groaned, waving Noah away to make him stop adding to the pain of sleeping on a floor. Sitting up, I looked around and saw three grime covered concrete walls and bars. Reminded me of a prison cell. "Crap... Noah, I am so sorry..." I whispered quietly and stared out at the cell in front of us, not quite ready to face him. I felt absolutely awful. This was all my fault that Noah is put in this position.
"I-I want Dad..."
Closing my eyes, I scooted over to him and hugged him tightly. "I know... I do too. But I promise you, I will get us out of here and we'll be with dad in no time." I wasn't sure if I completely convinced him, but I forced a smile on my face to try and assure him even more than I probably did. Noah's small body shook in my arms and I rested my chin on his head, holding him close. Reason we always ask for Dad is because we're not all that close with our mom. She's serious worker so we have never really bonded. He's been there for us with everything.
"D-dad is probably freaking out by now..." He said quietly, stammering a bit.
"Both mom and dad most likely. I'm so sorry I got you into this mess..." I sighed and forced back the tears that were threatening to wash over. Not in front of Noah. You must stay strong for him, Carrie.
"It's okay... At least we have each other, right?" Noah turned and looked at me with his innocent eyes and I smiled a small, real smile.
"Always."
I got up and walked over to the bars and tried to see if we were the only ones in there. From what I was able to see, we were. But it was obvious there were more here... Many more. I shuddered at the thought and pressed my face against the cool metal, trying to calm my thoughts. The cold helped calm my nerves some, but not much. I swore and kicked the bars in frustration and hung on the bars as if they were the only thing keeping me sane.
"Carrie...?"
Wait a second. I knew that voice. My head shot up as the voice came from the left of me and I gasped. "Caleb?!"
"Yeah, it's me. How did you two get in here?!"
"Uhh..." I laughed a bit sheepishly and ran a hand through my hair. "Cute story. Well, I found out you were missing and uh... Went looking for you. Funny part is, Noah saw me sneaking and the creep caught us both while talking about how stupid I am."
I heard the familiar noise of him sigh and I cringed a bit. "You're such an idiot sometimes Carrie, but we got to find a way out of here."
"Yes, I know. No need to point it out." I sighed. "And we will. Maybe if we can find a loose spot in the bars..." Frowning a bit, I knew it was stupid the moment I said it. And of course, Noah had to point it out.
"I don't think that will work... We aren't strong enough."
"Kid has a point you know." And the usual pattern. Noah points out my stupidity and Caleb must add his smart-ass comment. Ugh.
"Just trying to think outside the box." I slid down the wall and hugged my knees and ducked my head. We're screwed unless we can think of something overly creative. My head snapped up as I heard whistling coming down the hall and I see the brown hair and five o'clock shadow coming toward our stall. Well this is going to be fun.
The man stopped in front of our cell and looked at us. "Well how are my lovely children doing?"
I glared at him and then turned my attention to the wall in front of me. Couldn't stand to look at his filthy face. Couldn't stand the fact he was looking at me like I was something he's wanted all his life and finally got it on Christmas morning. He smiled at me. "Looks like someone is grumpy."
"Let us out you piece of shit!" Caleb yelled angrily and I heard him crash into the bars. The man eyed him a bit and clicked his tongue. "Uh, no... Why would I do that? I just met my children and I am not letting them go so easily."
"We aren't your children!" Noah narrowed his eyes and stared right into his soul.
The man smirked and placed his hands in his pockets. "You are now..."
My thoughts were spinning, my ears ringing as the three argued a bit. I covered my ears, unable to take it anymore and curled up into a ball and rocked. After what seemed forever, I had it.
"SHUT UP ALREADY!" I shouted and felt a shock go through my body. A sharp pain jolted through my limbs. I looked up into his merciless brown eyes and saw him holding a button. I gritted my teeth as he smiled, pleased to see me in pain.
"Don't talk like that to your father my dear..."
Father? My dear? Oh hell no. I slowly stood up, ignoring the pain shooting through my joints and faced him with an emotionless mask. "You're not my father... You never will be. Just wait. there is always someone out there who can beat you at your own game and that someone will be me. If you think you can hold me in here like a caged animal, well," I laughed humorlessly. "You're damn wrong."
He smirked at me and walked closer to the cell bars and looked me dead in the eye. It took everything I had not to look away and to stand straight and act like I wasn't afraid. I grabbed the bars to help myself stay standing and held my breath.
"Well, I am your father now child... And your small for that kind of adult play..." He smiled and brushed my face with his finger, and I spat at him with a glare. I may be small, but I can do many things. He just doesn't know it yet. "Now have fun my children." His finger lingered a little while longer on my cheek before walking away. I let out the breath and sat back down and looked over at Noah. He hugged his knees and looked ahead.
"We need to get out of here quickly..."
I nodded and realized I was shaking. From fear, nervousness, and shocked nerves. Anything you can think of, I was shaking because of it. "And I will get us out of here. I promise..."
Somehow and some way, I would. And somehow, someway, I will beat that creep at his own game, and he will pay for what he has done. He will pay for underestimating me. And he will learn the lesson of his life when this is over.
He wanted a battle? Well I'll give him a war.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
