The Grabber

They Know

"I know.. I'm starting to lose hope," Michael sighed into the phone with his back against the wall.
"Just keep holding out," James spoke. "I'm sure she's fine."
"Really?"
"She has to be." Michael looked up to make sure his parent hadn't woke. It was night now. The town was asleep besides Michael and James. It felt strange to be awake in a sleeping world.
"How much longer do we wait? What if she doesn't come back?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.." James spoke in an unsure tone. It was as if he could see the bridge almost in front of then already. "You and I both know she's too stubborn to go down that easy," he sighed. "Just... keep holding out. Just a few more days at least." Michael turned to face the phone with a worried nod.
"Yeah.. okay. I'll try."
"Be strong man. It's what Andrea would have wanted." Michael paused as he heard her name. He finally nodded again.
"I'll.. I'll try. See ya, James."
"G'night." Michael hung up the phone as he leaned his head back to sigh. He closed his eyes with worry.
"Please be okay, Dre," he whispered into the dark. "I need you." He looked towards the window as if doing so would signal to Andrea that he was speaking to her. He wished she could hear him. He wished he could hear her. The smallest sign of life from her would be enough.

...

Andrea awoke as the sunlight hit her face. She looked up to see it was day. She gave the room a look around before finally sitting up.
"Day one of your second chance," she sighed. "Just don't cause any trouble and you'll get out of here." She looked to her leg to check on the bleeding. She carefully unwrapped her shirt from the wound. She released a sigh of relief as she saw the bleeding had finally stopped. As she unfolded her shirt, she looked it over to see how much blood had soaked through. Her face soured as it was covered in blood. As the lights suddenly flicked on, she quickly pulled the shirt over her head to cover her body. The door opened with a creak Andrea had grown familiar with. Al stared at Andrea with a tray in hand. She stared back, hoping he wouldn't do anything to her this time.
"You look like you killed someone," he finally spoke after a moment.
"No thanks to you," Andrea responded. Al looked at her leg.
"It stopped bleeding?" He asked. Andrea simply nodded. "I did cut it pretty deep. You'll probably want to see a doctor for both cuts when you get out of here," he said as he walked close enough to set the tray on the floor at the foot of the bed. He looked up at her before standing. "If you get out of here. You still have today and tomorrow." He stood as he kept his gaze on her.
"What am I to do until then? Just stay here?"
"You can do whatever you want," Al shrugged. "That's up to you. Just keep in mind our little deal." He turned away to leave, closing the door behind him. It didn't lock. Andrea sighed as she knew she couldn't try to leave. She looked at the tray of eggs and lemon-lime soda. She debated on eating it, considering what happened with the cupcake. She decided against eating the eggs, knowing that she could last longer without food than water. She grabbed the lemon-lime and took a sip. It may not have been very hydrating, but it would be enough to keep her alive a little longer. Long enough for her to escape.

...

Andrea lied asleep as the night came. The day wasn't so exciting. She had curled up facing the window. She didn't have much else to do besides stare through the window to the outside world she longed to see again. She dreamt of her friends, seeing their smiles again. How she missed them so much. She was suddenly jolted awake at the touch of a hand on her side. As she retreated away, she saw the face of the frowning mask that covered the real one that lied behind. He stared for a moment, crouched beside the bed.
"I was beginning to think you were dead," he finally spoke as Andrea caught her breath. "You didn't wake up with the sound of the door or the lights. Or me walking over here." Andrea stared at him as he remained still. He didn't reach for her. He didn't stare in any place that would make her uncomfortable.
"How long have you been here?" She asked. Al looked away as he shrugged.
"I lost track of time." Andrea shuddered at the thought of him staring at her while she was asleep. She looked down as she allowed her body to relax. The mask Al wore this time made her feel uncomfortable. She wondered how many he had.
"I figured it out," she finally said after a moment. Al shifted his vision to hers.
"Figured what out?"
"Why you haven't killed me," she said as she looked him in the eyes. Al shook his head.
"That's not how the game goes."
"Even if it was, you can't kill me."
"Can't I?" He tilted his head.
"They'll know."
"Who will know?"
"You said James doesn't like you. Rebecca is suspicious. My brother too. If they find out I'm dead you'll be their first suspect." Al slowly shook his head as his low voice returned.
"I'll just kill James. And Rebecca and Michael."
"My dad will know it's you."
"I don't give a shit, I'll kill him, too."
"My mom will know."
"Then I'll kill her, too," he raised his voice as he stood. Andrea jumped at his sudden anger. "I'll kill everyone I have to. Goddammit, Andrea. How many people know about me? About Al?" She tried to swallow back her fear. She hoped she was right about this.
"It doesn't matter," she challenged. "You can't kill me, and you can't kill that many people that quick without a word getting out to someone else or someone seeing you." Al stared into her eyes. If looks could kill, Andrea would have been dead by now. She tried her best not to let her fear show as he stared. Finally, Al raised a finger to point to her.
"You have one more day," he said softly. "You're lucky I don't just kill you now. You'll be lucky if I even let you go at all. I have ways of making people believe lies. I mean, look where you are. I made you believe in Al, didn't I?" Andrea didn't respond. She knew he was smart. He had to be. For someone to get away with five other victims undetected or not suspected, they had to be smart. They had to know how to manipulate the human mind. They had to know how to act. Andrea mistakenly found out that Al could put on a show. He could make everyone believe him and his lies. Almost like magic.
Al left the room after a moment and closed the door behind him. This time, it locked. Andrea released a shakey breath of relief. Perhaps she could outsmart the Grabber. Make him realize what a mistake it would be if he killed her or kept her here. She hoped she could get through to him. Maybe she could get him to realize the horrible things he's doing. That may be a bit of a stretch, but it was worth a shot. Andrea wanted to put a stop to this once and for all. She just needed to escape from here and make it to safety first. Just as she was about to lay down again to think, she grunted as another vision had come to her. She grasped her head as she fell forward; catching herself with one hand as the other held her head. She saw an image of the phone behind her. Each victim was trying to use it. Nobody could hear anything.
"Hello?" A voice caused Andrea to open her eyes. She slowly looked up to see who had spoken. Five figures stared back at her. Blood dripped from their wounds. Tears stained their faces. She looked at each of them. They remained silent. "She can see us," The Billy spoke to the others. Andrea slowly nodded.
"I can," she whispered.
"Why did you come here?" Vance suddenly interjected. "He wasn't going to take you until you made that stupid plan."
"You know about the plan?" She asked. Vance pointed to upstairs with his thumb.
"The Grabber read your notebook with all the details. We were there with him and read it, too." Andrea tilted her head.
"Can he see you guys?"
"No," he shook his head. "Lucky for him. I would have beat his ass by now if I could."
"You're the only one who can have these visions," Bruce spoke up. Andrea directed her attention towards him. "The Grabber isn't able to. He can hear the phone, though, but he doesn't want to believe it."
"Why are you guys giving me these visions?" She asked.
"Because we want to help you get out of here," Robin replied.
"You don't deserve our fate," Billy finished. Andrea shook her head.
"There's no way for me to escape," she sighed. "If I cause trouble again, he'll probably kill me. He said if I behave, he'll let me go."
"That puta is a liar!" Robin said. "I'm sorry, but I don't think he's gonna let you go. Not that easily."
"He's right." Andrea's attention shifted to Griffin. "He's not going to just let you go. You're gonna need an escape plan." She scoffed as she looked at the group.
"Well, what can I do? My friends' lives are on the line. My family's lives are on the line. My life is on the line!"
"You don't think our lives were?" Vance shouted. Andrea jumped. "We're the ones dead! Not you!"
"Not yet, anyway," Billy sighed. "If we can't get you out of here, then..."
"We will get you out of here," Bruce nodded. "We're not gonna let him win. Not again."
"He took five of us, and that's enough," Griffin finished. Andrea shrugged with a sigh.
"Then what do I do? I've already tried getting through the door when he was asleep, but he caught me before I could even finish the last code. He visits me way too often for me to do anything else." The five looked at each other, deciding on what the plan would be. "Do I have to do anything? I mean.. he might let me go. According to him, tomorrow is my last day if I don't step put of line."
"You've already played the game," Griffin sighed.
"And you made him angry," Billy continued.
"Nice move, by the way," Robin chuckled a bit. Andrea did as well. Her smiled faded as she shuddered at the memory.
"The chances of him actually following through are slim," Billy finished.
"Or zero knowing that fucker," Vance shook his head. "He's a fucking kidnapper. A goddamn killer. What psychopath would tell the truth?"
"I think she should wait," Bruce said as he looked up. The others looked to him, then followed his gaze.
"He's pacing," Griffin spoke. Andrea looked up to follow their gaze. She could see nothing but a concrete ceiling.
"Pacing?" Bruce looked back to Andrea. She met his gaze.
"He knows he lost."
"Lost? What do you mean?"
"He can't kill you," Griffin met Andrea's gaze. "He can't keep you here. He has to let you go."
"Here's what you're gonna do," Robin said as he met Andrea's gaze. "You're not gonna like it, but you're gonna have to do whatever he wants."
"What?" Andrea replied as she curled her body inwards. "You know what he tried, surely. I'm not letting him go further!"
"Just listen, dipshit!" Vance raised his voice. Andrea's gaze jumped to his as he pointed upstairs. "That asshole isn't gonna let you out if you cause trouble. If you keep him happy, he won't wanna kill you."
"Don't fight back. Don't push him away if he gets close. You don't want to anger him," Billy spoke. Andrea shook her head with a fearful face.
"He won't touch you if you don't fight back," Bruce shook his head. "So, don't fight back."
"I don't know if I can do that," Andrea shook. "Not again."
"You have to," Robin sighed. "Behaving and doing what he wants will be the only way. It won't be fun for him, so he won't wanna bother with you anymore."
"If he can't have fun with you, what's the point in keeping you around?" Griffin shrugged.
"He likes the fighters. The struggles. The... naughty ones," Vance shuddered. Andrea looked at the five as she thought. Finally, she looked at the floor with a sigh.
"Fine... I'll try." She felt her body tremble as the words pushed past her lips. She looked up as the five had lifted a hand to Andrea. She slowly lifted her hand to touch theirs.
"Good luck," Billy nodded.
"You're strong," Robin smiled.
"Kick his ass for me when you're out," Vance snarked.
"You can do it," Griffin smiled.
"Be careful," Bruce nodded. Andrea smiled at the five.
"Thanks, guys," she nodded.
Andrea's head jolted up with a gasp as her eyes opened. She tried to catch her breath as she raised herself from the edge of the bed, taking a look around.
"Guys?" She asked the empty basement. She brushed her hair out of her eyes as her attention was brought to the empty glass bottle as it rolled to hit the door. "It was a vision... right," she sighed. The bottle jumped as if to say yes. She looked back to the door as she slowly backed herself against the wall, hugging her knees. She was worried of what was going to happen on her final day. Only a few more hours and she would know. Her body trembled as she tried to rest her head on her knees to get some sleep. She would need it.