The Silver Serpent - A Heist Novel

At Least I Got White Castle

"Baby, please, come on. Wake up," A voice pleads. I try to open my eyes, my vision fuzzy as I blink away the wetness. A wave of pain rolls over me, and I grind my teeth to keep from crying out. I let out a soft groan and try to reposition myself from lying down.

"Carla?" I ask, my eyelids fluttering as I attempt to shake myself out of this.

"Oh, thank god. Baby, it's me," The voice cries. I look up, the corner of my vision vignetted, and see James Payne smiling down at me. I reach up to cup his face with my hand, making sure that he's real and I'm not just hallucinating.

I completely forget about my still shackled arm until the unlocked manacle bumps along his face. He looks down at it, then me, taking the cuff in his hands. His muscles bulge from his shirt as he uses all his strength to snap them open, freeing my raw and bloody wrist, holding it gingerly. He attempts to help me sit up, but I refuse his assistance, pushing his hands away.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Payne," I apologize once I get seated.

"What? Why?" He frowns, his eyes flicking from wound to wound.

"I ruined the shirt you got me, and I... I accidentally left the jacket in the room with... with-" The image of my father flicking open the knife flashes in front of my eyes, and I can't stop my shivering.

"Baby-" Payne starts, but I shake my head.

"Have they gotten the a-address yet?" I change the subject, glancing out the window to get my bearings. The buildings and flashing lights are moving by quickly, and my stomach turns over.

"Baby, you need to rest," Payne insists, placing a hand on my shoulder. I instinctively flinch away, raising my hands to protect myself. I slowly lower my fists, pursing my lips at Payne's piteous expression.

"We... we haven't got time. Does Jessica," my sentence is interrupted with a cough, "have the address?"

"I'm not giving you the address until you take a breather," Payne tries to look me in the eye, but I'm avoiding his gaze. I hyperventilate, then take a deep breath.

"Th-there, I took a breather. Where's Carla?" I demand, looking around.

"Who do you think pulled you out of that stairwell?" She calls from the driver's seat. My vision's tunneled, but I can see a blur of lights and a silhouette towards the car's front. I give a slight smile and lay my head back, resting it on the seat. "Who did this to you? Who took you?"

Payne starts to answer, but I catch his attention and shake my head.

"An associate of ours, that's all," I lie, pointing a finger at Payne to warn him, 'Don't say anything.' I cough some more and straighten up in the seat.

"She doesn't know?" Payne hisses, leaned in so that Carla can't hear.

"I'm not talking about this," I mutter, my tone biting at him. He backs off with a huff and crosses his arms, pouting like a child. I lean against the door, hitting my shoulder, which is already pulsating with pain, against the lock. I yelp in surprise, then quickly cover my mouth, dropping my hand and grimacing as I straighten up.

"I'm fine," I lie, taking a deep breath that ends in a grunt because of my bruised ribs.

"If you say you're fine one more time-" He starts, his voice gravelly and annoyed. I hold myself away from him, shaking. He notices and leans back, his forehead creased. "Kid, are you... are you afraid of me?"

"N-no! It's just... I'm just kind of tired. I'm sorry," I apologize, biting my cheek as I lean against the seat, my head just an inch or so shy of reaching the headrest. I don't realize when my eyes close and I drift off, my head about to settle on my left shoulder. Payne nudges me slightly, and I snap back up, eyes open.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," I promise, trying to keep myself stable. Carla pulls into a gas station parking lot and turns around to us.