Forever.

Chapter 24: Escape

Claire's P.O.V. (Three days later)

It's been three days since Eric kidnapped me. He really hasn't been any nicer than he was when I was little.

He keeps cutting me with the knife and slapping me and kicking me when I attempt to go to bed. He hasn't called Braden in the entire three days.

And today is the day that I die.

Braden couldn't have possibly gotten that kind of money in time. There's just no way.

Eric has given me a small meal each day, but I don't eat it. First off, who knows what's in it, and second, I'm not really in the mood to eat.

For the past three days, I have been basically re living my life from when I was seven. He'll give me something to do, and if I don't do it the way he wants he'll "punish" me for not doing it the way he wants.

"A few more hours until we have to go." He says as he comes in through the door that only he knows how to open from this side.

"Go where?" I ask.

"To see if the money is there." He says like I'm dumb.

"And what if it's there?"

"We take it and go." He says.

"Wait, you're not going to give me back?" I ask.

"Maybe. If I feel like it."

"No! You have to-" I say before he slaps me across the face, right over the existing cut from the knife. The sudden impact re opens the cut, and I feel the blood run down my face.

"Do you think that we should check up on the money?" He asks.

"My opinion doesn't matter. You're going to do whatever you want."

"Good point. Let's call." He says.

"Do I have to go get in the chair?" I ask in a mocking tone.

"Nah, you can be standing for this one." He says as he pulls me off of the floor.

He reaches for my phone and makes a FaceTime call.

"Don't talk." He says.

Braden appears on the screen in a different place than the hospital. I don't know where he is, but I hope he's being careful.

I can see the sadness wash over his face like a flood as he releases a sigh. "Oh, Claire." He says.

"You got the money?" Eric asks.

"Yes." Braden says. What? He got the money? Where would he get that?

"Want to make the exchange now?" Eric asks.

"Yes." Braden says.

"Okay, I'll meet you outside the library in twenty minutes." Eric says as he pulls out the knife again.

"What are you going to do with that?" Braden asks.

"I'm making sure that you aren't lying."

"I'm not lying! I have it! Don't hurt her anymore." Braden yells.

"This is just a precaution." Eric says.

"I have the money!" Braden yells.

Eric puts the knife in my side, right above my waist. I scream out in pain and fall to my knees. I reach behind me and take the knife out and it hurts even worse than when it went in. I feel the blood running down my side, making me feel weightless.

"Claire!" Braden yells.

"I-I'm okay." I say as I breathe heavily to get the oxygen to my head.