Our Secret Love [COMPLETE]

Our Secret Love: part thirteen

Even driving as fast as I could without getting a ticket, I felt like I needed to go faster. It all seemed so clear to me now. Alex didn't really want me back; he was just trying to get on my good side again. I'd heard that the four months he'd spent in prison for torching the car were his own personal hell. And he blamed me for it. After all, I was the one that had put him in jail in the first place. Now he wanted me to get a taste of what he'd went through.

Finally reaching the lookout point over the river, I jump out of my car and hurry as fast as I can down to the edge of the river. This was the frustrating part; having to walk slowing down the small, muddy path. But eventually I make it to the bottom. I can hear them talking from here, and race through the trees toward the sound. Puffed out, I slow down as I reach the edge of the clearing they're in, hiding behind a tree.

I can see they're gathered around one tree in particular, to the right of the clearing. I lean forward slightly and see Corey's tied to the tree, blood seeping from his bottom lip, his left eye swollen. I want to go help him, but decide against it, knowing they'll probably hurt him more if I showed myself.

I hear a crunching noise behind me; somebody else coming down to the river bank. I carefully move through the trees toward the right, until I know I can't be seen by the newcomer.

Alex steps out from behind the tree I was hiding behind a few minutes ago.

"Ah, there's our guest of honor!" he says loudly, pulling a cigarette out of his jacket pocket and lighting it.

His 'boys' smirk, proud of themselves, and form a loose semi circle around Corey, leaving room for Alex to stand directly across from him.

"Sorry for the slight...inconvenience we've put you through tonight. But don't worry; you'll be back to Kelly by midnight. Well, at least part of you will."

They all start laughing raucously while Alex stands there grinning and smoking.

"What part do you think she'll like best? Your hand? Or maybe your pretty little head?" Alex taunts, pulling a butterfly knife out of his pocket and flicking it open. He steps forward until he's directing in front of Corey, then he strokes the blunt side of the knife down the side of Corey's face.

"Well? Any last words?" Alex asks, quieter than before.

Corey tightens his jaw and spits blood in Alex's face. Mad now, Alex wipes the blood off his face and grabs Corey by the top of his head, twisting his head to the side.

"Stop!" I cry out, stumbling into the clearing. "Stop it!"

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. Come to chose which piece of him you want?" "Get out of here, Kelly!" Corey shouts. Alex smacks him across the face before swiftly coming over to me.

"Go on, then," he yells, grabbing my arm. "Go say goodbye to your boyfriend!"

He drags me to Corey and throws me toward him. With tears stinging my eyes, I wrap my arms around his neck as gently as I can and stretch up on my toes until my lips are close to his ear.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, my throat tight. "I'm going to get you out of here, I promise."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. But you have to get out of here," he whispers back, hiding his mouth near my neck so they won't know what he's saying.

"I'm not leaving you!" I whisper fiercely before crushing my lips against his.

"Okay, enough!" Alex yells. "I'm going to give you a choice here, Kelly. If you come over here now, I'll let you live. Otherwise, you can go to hell with your pathetic excuse for a boyfriend."

I grip on to Corey tightly, my jaw set.

"Have it your way then," Alex says, walking slowly toward us.

"I love you," I whisper to Corey.

"I love you too," he whispers back.

Alex stops a couple of feet away from us and tightens his grip on his knife.

All of a sudden, the clearing is filled with light. Light from torches, I realize.

"Drop your weapons and put your hands behind your heads!" I hear through a megaphone. Alex's eyes widen in shock for a minute before he realizes that I must be the one behind this.

"You stupid bitch!" he shouts, stepping forward with his knife aimed at my heart.

Then three things happen at once; Corey bumps me sideways, causing me to fall on the floor, a loud crack echoes through the clearing, and Alex falls to the ground, landing on top of me.