All I saw was darkness. The second I was dragged into the car, they put a black cotton bag over my head. Then they handcuffed my wrists behind my back. Tears fell to my cheeks and I struggled. "Please, let me go!" I begged. They didn't say anything. I just sat in the corner of the van, completely blinded. I don't know where we were but I knew we were on the outskirts of town. We drove too long to be anywhere else. The car pulled to a stop and the van door slid open. "Get up, now!" a gruff voice yelled. I felt someone grab at me and they dragged me forward. I heard gravel beneath my shoes and someone gripped my arm tightly, pulling me forward. I struggled and fought, trying to pull away. "Let me go!" I yelled. I heard a door open and close and I could smell beer. I had no idea where I was. Then suddenly, they uncuffed my wrists, pulled my arms above me, and cuffed my wrists again over a pole. I tried to pull at the rail holding my wrists up but it was far too secure. Then they pulled the bag off my head.
My eyes adjusted to the light and I blinked a few times. Then I saw them. Jason, Paul, Andy and Chance. I saw them and I knew. They wanted Eddie. I forced away tears and exhaled a shaky breath. "You know why you're here, don't you?" Jason asked. I nodded. "Good, then make this easy on yourself...tell us where to find Eddie Munson." he said. "I don't know-" I started. Then I felt it. The first punch. It landed just beneath my ribs and I groaned, coughing and sputtering. Tears spilled down my cheeks and I looked at them. "I don't know where Eddie is-" I started. The second punch landed on my cheek. I felt my eyes swell up and bruise. "Tell us where he is." Jason said. "I. Don't. Know." I snapped. The third punch landed on my face, splitting open my lip. I cried out as my head whipped to the side. "You can beat me all you want but it won't change anything. I don't know where he is and even if I did, I'd never tell you." I said. "We'll see about that." Chance said. The next blows rained down viciously. Over and over, they punched my stomach and ribs and face. A few minutes passed and my head hung limp and silent tears rolled down my cheeks. Jason grabbed my hair and jerked my head up to face him. "Tell us where your boyfriend is." he said. "No." I said weakly. "He fucking killed Chrissy! He killed someone! Why are you defending him?!" he screamed. "He didn't kill her." I said. "Yes, he did!" he yelled, punching me across the face. I didn't say anything.
Just then, the door opened. "Hey guys. Sorry, I left my-" I looked up and Lucas walked in. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Lucas! Please, you have to help me!" I pleaded. Lucas froze. "What's going on?" he asked. "She's going to tell us where Eddie is." Paul said. "No, I'm not!" I exclaimed. Another punch on my ribs. I gasped for air and Lucas's eyes widened. "Lucas, please. I'm your friend. Please, help me." I begged. They all looked at him. "Your friends with this freak, Sinclair?" Jason asked. I looked at Lucas with pleading eyes. He avoided my gaze as he spoke. "No way! She knows my sister." he said. I felt my stomach lurch. "Oh right. Your sister is one of those freaks too." Andy said. "Sort of." Lucas mumbled. I quickly realized Lucas was choosing his popularity over his friends. Mike and Dustin said he was pulling away but I didn't realize it was this bad. I didn't think he would let this happen. "Whatever. Lock her in the freezer until we figure out what to do with her." Jason said. "Won't that kill her? I mean- the temperature?" Lucas said quickly. "Sinclair, there's no power anymore. The freezer's empty, she'll live." Paul said. The next thing I knew, I was being dragged to the freezer in the kitchen. After the beating I just took, I didn't have the strength to fight them. They threw me inside and Andy handcuffed one wrists to a bar and then they shut the door. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. Then I let myself fall unconscious.
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LUCAS SINCLAIR
A few hours had passed and they came up with a plan. When they asked for someone to stay back and watch her while they went to get supplies, I immediately volunteered. It was perfect. I could let Melissa go and say she escaped. But it was clear they didn't fully trust me because they made Paul stay back with me. We watched tv for a while and I knew I needed to tell Melissa I was sorry. So I grabbed a cup and filled it with water. "What are you doing?" Paul asked. "She can't die of dehydration before she tells us where Eddie is." I said. He nodded. I went to the freezer and opened the door. It was dark and cold. Not freezer temp cold but it was still cold. She was shaking and her teeth chattered. Melissa looked up at me with hatred in her eyes. "I hope popularity is worth it." she choked out. "Melissa, I'm sorry-" I started. "No, you aren't. If you were, you'd let me go." she said. My face fell. "Here," I said. I handed her the water and she looked at it. She took a sip and put it down. "When Steve or Dustin or Mike or hell...Max, when they find out what you did, you're done." she spat. "I'm sorry." I said. Then I left.
