Lovers in California: Held For Ransom

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--Isabelle's POV--

Thursday 11:30am

As soon as Martin left the basement I looked over at Nathan. He was just slumped against the pole with his head down, he looked shattered and his body looked awful with all the cuts on it.

I didn't want to disturb him because I knew he needed to rest, so I just sat there occasionally pulling on my wrists bindings trying to magically get free. I hope he does wake up though before Martin gets back because I needed to talk to him. I wanted to know if he was okay and to say sorry.

I'm glad in a way that I didn't get to see Martin whipping him because I really don't think I could have watched it. The sounds were horrific enough.

I also hope Nathan doesn't think I think any less of him because he couldn't take anymore. Let's be real, who would be able to take that? If anything, it's only made me admire Nathan even more, he didn't show any fear to that creep and he took it like a man. I think he did amazingly and I really hope he doesn't think he's let me down.

My thoughts then went to what was going on outside of this and back in the "real world". Does anyone besides Andre know we are missing? Has Andre told anyone or done anything to find us? What does both of our work think? Nathan was due back into work today but I was supposed to be in on Tuesday! They must be worrying because I have NEVER not turned up without letting them know.

Thinking about all of this suddenly made it become very real for me. Obviously I was fully aware that we were being held hostage against our will, but now there could be a lot more people out there that know. Maybe this was a good thing?

There wasn't really much I could do in the meantime while I was waiting for Nathan to gain some strength back and to start talking. So I just remained sat there and in my thoughts.

Thursday 12:45pm

About an hour or so had passed. I still was just sat there thinking about everything, and Nathan I think had fallen asleep - bless him. I still hadn't spoken to him because I really wanted/needed him to rest.

Suddenly I saw some movement from him and as per usual, he groaned slightly while coming back to reality.

"Babe?" I spoke softly to him.

He took a few seconds to adjust to the light and remember where he was. A few more seconds passed before he looked over at me and finally spoke, "Belle, are you okay?" He asked in his 'just woken up voice' and sat up slightly.

I smiled in awe at him, "I'm fine, but the real question is, are you okay?"

"I'm sore, but other than that, I'm okay" he then gave a smile back. After a couple of seconds, his facial expression changed to an apologising look, "I'm so sorry" he said.

In a way this took me aback a bit, but then again I did say that I hoped he didn't think he had let me down. "Why are you sorry?" I questioned.

"Because look at me, I'm tied to a pole after getting whipped at and I'm supposed to be the one protecting you and getting us out of this. I can barely move without being in pain."

"Please don't say sorry, you have nothing to be sorry about. Anyway it should be me that has to say sorry."

He looked at me with a very confused look, "why?"

I cried out, "Because I'm the reason you're here right now! If I hadn't tried to escape you wouldn't be here! You wouldn't have been whi-"

"Hey!" He shouted to cut me off, "slow down... stop" he said in a then soothing tone and shook his head. I started crying because it was true! The truth is he really wouldn't be here if I hadn't tried to escape. "Isabelle, look at me," he demanded so I did as I was told. "We both have no reason to be sorry. Who told this guy that it was okay to kidnap us? No one did but himself. He took it upon himself to do all of this to us. No one forced him to. So neither of us should be taking any blame. He's clearly got some issues going on with himself and is using us to take it out on, but that isn't our problem."

Now this is one reason why I love him, he knows how to calm me down. I nodded my head, "okay" I said and calmed down. I knew he was right.

"There's gotta be a way out of this" he muttered while looking around. He then reached his wrists around so he could try and see them.

I started looking around as well but there really wasn't anything, especially in reach considering I was tied to this damn chair.

"Wait, hang on a minute" Nathan then said quietly. I shot my head back over to him to see he was looking at the ring at the bottom of the support pole. The ring that the chains clip on to.

I was a little confused as to what was so special about this but he seemed to have a plan.

"Ah ha" he said while feeling the ring. He then spun around the pole slightly so his wrists where sitting directly on it.

"What are you doing?" I questioned.

"There's a little catch on this ring where it isn't joined onto the pole properly, so if I keep rubbing my wrists against it, it should hopefully cut the rope."

"Ohhh that's a good idea! Make sure he doesn't catch you doing that though."

He started rubbing his wrists frantically against this ring. Luckily he did get some rest to have the energy for this!

A few minutes passed and the basement door unlocked. Nathan quickly stopped and spun back round to face me. A couple of seconds later, Martin appeared. We both just looked at him and didn't say anything.

I glanced over at Nathan for a second and he looked like he was in so much pain. He was breathing heavily, looked exhausted and generally just had a face of someone who was struggling. Of course he was in some pain but it just seemed really weird to me seeing as he was fine just a few seconds ago. I didn't question it though, especially not in front of Martin, just in case this was one of his many of plans.

"So, did you two end up having a chat or was lover boy still in too much pain?" Martin asked and looked at both of us.

Nathan and I looked at each other at the same time, "erm yes, a little bit" I then replied after a little bit of hesitation while slowly looking back at Martin.

"It was a simple yes or no question, but that's good that you had a little chat" he said and walked to each post to unclip the chains that were holding Nathan earlier and then went over to the board.

As he was going to the board and had his back to us, I quickly looked at Nathan and mouthed "are you okay?"

He knew exactly why I asked and mouthed "shh" with a quick nod. He then went back into being in pain again. Damn, he could really be an actor.

"So," Martin started saying as he made his way back over and then crouched down to the side of us, looking at Nathan, "ouch, those cuts look like they hurt" he then said sarcastically.

Nathan didn't respond, but just glared at him instead. Still looking like he was exhausted and in so much pain.

"Hmm, maybe that did manage to break you and snap that arrogant and firey side out of you" Martin snarled.

Nathan just looked away and dropped his head down, giving out a little sigh in a somewhat defeated way.

Martin let out a little chuckle, "see, I told you I'd be able to break you," he snarled confidently again and turned his attention over to me, "what are you gonna now, huh? Seems as lover boy is out of action."

I didn't reply, but just stared at him and kept glancing over to Nathan, trying to look extra scared.

"Looks like he can't do or say anything, even if he wasn't tied to that pole," Martin started saying as he stood back up and then made his way over to me, "I guess that means we can have some fun now."