Squad Love (Quad Squad & DAGames X Girl Squad)

Chapter 43: Separated

*Ryan's P.O.V*

I know this place. I know it well. But as for just spreading information... I'm forbidden to do that. They've threatened everything- My life, my parents', my brother's, Baz's, Baz's family's lives, even Charlotte....

...Charlotte...

I wish I could just walk back to you, sweetheart. I wish I didn't have these threats on me, or else I'd get my a*s up and leave. I wouldn't give a d*mn. If I were to lose my life to see you again, that would be alright with me... but it wouldn't with you. I can't put you through that pain, so I'll stay where I am and pray to find a way out or for someone to find their way to me.

I can barely move anyway as it is. So much has happened since I was taken from all of you... I don't wish to say now, and I know you won't pry. I'll tell you at some point, but for now....

...The waters that divide us are the weakest barrier in our way...

----

"Hello Ryan." A voice greeted me from the open doorway in front of me. 

It was open alright, with the sun beating in through the windows on the other side of the room....

...The one I knew all too well...

"I brought you something." She set a notebook down on the bed with a pen. "Your voice is shot from all of your yelling. I figured this would help you get across what you want to say." 

She glanced up at me, but I couldn't return the gaze. But there was something else I couldn't do....

...I couldn't fight back anything she did...

I simply didn't have the strength. She let me strain myself until I was in so much pain that I could hardly turn over from my right side to the left at night whilst the both of them slept so peacefully. 

The nights passed like seconds to them, but to me they were an eternity. I often watch the bats out the window flying around, but I couldn't feel any joy in what I saw. I'm so used to the area... it's almost like I'm numb to it. At least, in this situation. I'm so far away from home... but as I said, the waters that divide me from my friends are the weakest barrier...

My company sighed and came up to me, but I still refused to look at her betraying eyes. I felt her hand run down my shoulder, but my arm was too numb from the previous day's torture when I tried to escape for the fifth time. I had to, then, lay with my arms tied to a pole over my head and allow the blood to stop flowing to them. 

I lost all feeling and the pressure made my head hurt so bad... I couldn't feel my arms for hours and I couldn't move them when they were finally released. I had been distracted by the event to comprehend if anything else was going on outside the pain I felt in my shoulders from having to bare so much weight....

...But this morning, I woke up in more pain than just my arms...

As I said before, I'd rather not say what it was, but just know that once I was told of what happened... I was glad that I hadn't payed attention...

"Ryan? Are you okay?"

That voice haunts me, and she knows it. But she won't stop as her hand falls from my shoulder to my lower back. It was then when I flinched for the first time. It made me uncomfortable since I found out what had happened yesterday evening. 

"What's wrong, baby?"

Every. D*mn. Time. 

Every time, she says that word. Every time, I tell her to stop; that I'm not her 'Baby' and I never will be again. By the way she's acting now, for all I care.... I never was. I can't believe that I used to love this woman.