In Hiding (Published!)

Chapter 20

I shoved my plate away from me, and pushed myself farther away from it, to lean against the wall behind me. I heard a burp, a chuckle, then a sigh. I stayed silent.

  "He couldn't have gotten us water? If he wants us to survive for two days, we're gonna need that." I whispered, holding on to every breath I took, grateful for the ones I had. 

  "He will eventually" Cheyanne answered, then sighed and shuffled around. 

  We were going to have to fight hard, strong. We'd have to work together. I thought about making plans to fight, but there could be cameras everywhere in this room, not needed to hide from view, as it was already so dark.

  "We can't make plans," I whispered, "there could be cameras everywhere.." I trailed off, not knowing what to do, and feeling utterly hopeless.

   "No, you're right. I feel so.. tired. But not the normal sleeping type, like I'm tired of trying, it's like a giving up tired, do you know what I mean?" Cheyanne whispered in the darkness.

   I felt like nodding, but what was the point in such a dark place?

 Nobody spoke, and she didn't ask again, taking that as a complete answer. 

  I'm so tired, I felt weak, my eyes were becoming so heavy that I had no choice but to close them. There were voices flooding around me, but I couldn't hear the words. I heard my name, and that was the last thing I heard before I blacked out, smacking my head on the concrete floor.

  *****

  "Wakey, wakey," a man's voice flooded into my head, knocking me back into consciousness. He was tapping my cheeks, going from one to the other, I let out a groan, "Wake up, Casey!" He suddenly yelled, causing my eyes to snap open. 

  They weren't clear enough to take in what was around me yet, all I could take in was the blurry figure of a man standing in front of me, arms crossed, chuckling.

  "Aren't you wondering where you are, yet? Aren't you scared for your weak brother?" He snorted, then came closer to my face. I closed my eyes, and turned my head to the side, but I could still feel his sticky, hot breath on my neck.

  He inhaled, then exhaled, as if he was taking in my scent. Was he really smelling me? I couldn't have smelled very good, I mean, being on the road for weeks at a time. He came closer to me, his mouth right at my ear now, "Well? Aren't you?" He chuckled loudly, then backed up.

  I took the opportunity to question him. "What did you do with him?" I whispered, reopening my eyes, and taking in the world around me.

  I was in a small room, strapped to a wooden chair. My legs were strapped on tight, one rush movement, and the chair would go toppling over. I clenched my fists the minute I saw him. 

  "Jess! Jess wake up! Wake up Jess!" I started crying, but that wouldn't keep me from screaming.

  Jess groaned, but his eyes didn't open.

  "What have you done!? Leave him alone!!" I shook the chair, as if that would help. I was angry, very angry, I would have sacrificed myself to give Jess another chance to live.

  That's when I noticed who was here with me, and I clenched my teeth, making them snap. 

  "Timmy, what have you done? I thought you were done with Avrey?!" I screamed at him, getting louder, ready to snap these braces off and go after him.

  In the briefing room he made it clear that he was done. I mean, he didn't really say it, but from the facts we gave him, or tried to, he looked like he was going to move on from the madman.