SHIVER

Chapter 15 - Tears

A tear slips down my cheek when I look in the mirror. I'm back in the black catsuit, waiting to go. The idea that I will have to see Eric again is terrifying. I know that this will end badly.

It is such a dangerous mission that Joe, Charlie, Joseph and I have to go. There are so many risks, and just thinking of the danger has tears pouring from my eyes. The voices tell me I am going to fail, and I believe them. I hear a knock on my door, signalling that it is time to leave. I try to pull myself together, but I find it difficult. A loud sob escapes my lips as the tears fall, and I hear Charlie enter the room. He comes up behind me and hugs me, whispering that it will all be okay. I don't believe him.

I leave his arms and walk down the hall knowing that if I pause, even for a second, I will break down. Charlie follws me, and I hold my head high, ignoring the tears that slide down my cheeks. At the end of the hall we meet up with Joe and Joseph. Joe ignores me and Charlie as we walk toward the car. I don't care anymore. We enter the car, and I continue to ignore the falling tears. Charlie tries to comfort me but I don't let him. Sarah comes down to wave us off and to wish us luck, but I ignore her.

She comes over to the side of the car I am in. She opens the door and crouches next to me. I look at her, and she bows her head before looking up again.

"Be brave sweetheart," She whispers as she wipes away a stray tear from my face. It was a pointless act as more tears follow it as soon as it's gone. I look at her, and I see tears in her eyes. I ignore it. It's her fault if I get hurt because it's her who is sending me away. She knows I wont say anything, so she shuts the door and walks back into the building.

We head off, and I continue to cry. Charlie grips my hand and I give it a squeeze. He doesn't care if I want to push him away, he will always be there for me. This makes me happy and sad at the same time. How will I manage to survive without him if something happens? How did I manage to survive in the past without him? The answer? I almost didn't. The drive is done in silence, and I am grateful. It allows me to silently cry in peace.

After about an hour and a half, we arrive. I begin to shake uncontrollably. Charlie grips my hand tighter. We stop, and Charlie lets go off my hand. He opens his door and exits to come and open mine. He grips my hand to pull me out of the car. As I step out into the cold night air, I shiver.

"We have to walk for about a quarter of a mile. Stick to the shadows," Joe tells us. I already knew this, so I begin  to walk forward. The boys follow me. I make fists with my hands, digging my finger nails into my skin. The pain calms me. However, as his house looms into view, I begin to hyperventilate. The sight of the enormous house that I have entered twice before has me feeling terrified.

I remember the endless halls, the many unknown rooms, the dead ends. This place is like  a maze. 

I halt, and Joe walks forward, turning to face us. He looks at me before he speaks.

"Now, this place is full of danger. There is danger at every corner, so keep an eye out. The money is located in the center of the building, but it is extremely hard to get to it. I think there will be guards at every possible point, so keep an eye out. If you get into bother, run," Joe tells us. We all nod our heads. I still continue to cry silently.

We creep forwards, and eventually we reach the wall surrounding the massive building.

"We have to climb this," I say. My voice is extremely shaky. "Then we have to split up. That way it will be harder for us to get caught. We will try to meet in the center of the building, but if not then grab some money and go. We meet back here."

Joseph goes first. He climbs the wall with ease. We hear him drop to the ground below, then hear him as he slinks off. Joe goes next. He has no difficulty clambering over the wall and silently lands on the other side. When i'm sure that he is gone, I urge Charlie to go next. He looks at my tear stained face as if to say no, that him and I must stick together. I urge him to go, but before he does, he embraces me. We kiss passionately for a few seconds before I push him away and tell him to go. He looks at me one last time before he climbs the wall. He struggles a bit, and I am glad Joe isn't here to see it as I am positive that he would mock him. He lands with a thump on the other side, and I hear him quietly sneak off. I brace myself before I begin to climb.

I wipe the tears off my cheeks and order myself to be calm. I cannot afford to panic now. I run and jump at the wall, pulling myself up effortlessly. I slowly let myself drop to the ground below on the other side. I creep forwards toward the towering building. I know the path I will take to get to the center of the building. It's going to be difficult, but it has to be done.

I reach the first door, and I enter. Now, this is where the real fun begins.

I push my back against the crudley decorated wall. I slowly edge myself along, slowly peeking around the corner to see what lies in my wake. There are two guards ahead, so I know that none of the boys have come this way. I crouch and wait until the farthest guards turns around the next corner. The closest guard is facing the other way, so I slink forward. I hook my arm over his mouth and drag him into one of the rooms. I then kick him in the groin so that he is lying on the floor in pain. I then take the rifle from  his arms and use the butt to knock him out. His eyes roll, and he passes out. I quickly tie him together with rope that I found in the room, then I retreat back to the door. I keep the rifle so that I can knock out the other guards and I keep the rope for tying up victims. I slowly open the door, and I peek round to see if the coast is clear. It is, so I creep out.

I move slowly so that I am quiet, also so that I can hear is someone is coming. I reach the next corner and look back, to make sure I am not being followed. I peer round the corner, and I see one guard. I quietly run forward, raising the rifle as I do so. Before I reach him, he turns and opens his mouth as if to scream, but he is to late. The gun smacks him on the head and he collapses. I quickly tie him up and I run forward. Just before I reach the corner, I hear noise behind me. I have been spotted by a guard. He runs at me, and the only way I will be able to stop him is if I shoot. I aim toward his thigh and I pull the trigger. The jolt of the gun is new to me, so I very nearly hit myself in the face. The guard is down, so I run forward, tying a tourniquet around his thigh to stop the bleeding.

I don't want a man to die because of me.

He yelps in pain, so i smack him across the head to make sure he stays still and quiet. Then I run. I reach where I want to be, the center. There is no one around which makes me suspicious. I open the door to the vault, and I scream.

Lying there, unconcious and covered in blood, is Charlie. And standing over him is none but Eric himself. He looks and me and a grin spreads across his evil face.

"Ah Emily, have you come to join the party?" he asks me. I get a flashback and I vomit. I shake uncontrallably. The only thing I can hear is Eric's cold, cruel laughter and Charlie's groans.

***

A/N: I will be finishing this story in a few more chapters. I am beginning to write a Science Fiction novel. I may, once I have completed the novel i am planning to write, continue this story from Charlie's point of view. I would like your opinions though. And I hope you really like this chapter. I recommend you listen to the music at the side whilst reading, It makes it more thrilling!

Natalie x