TORN~ A tragic yet beautiful love story

Chapter 17

Taylor’s POV:

            I had already gone over to Michael’s, and we ended up arguing over this whole thing for a while. It was nearly 5:30, and I went to his place at 3:00. He was speeding, hand tight on the wheel, rushing to get there. “Mike, please,” I began, “You know I’m in on this, but calm down. We aren’t going to hurt anyone.” He wouldn’t listen, he just kept fuming. “Listen to me god damnit! Michael! We can’t just-” he cut me off with a booming yell, “BE QUIET TAYLOR!” I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, he said, “DON’T SAY ONE MORE THING OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!” I kept my head down, and said nothing. Michael was beginning to scare me. I mean, I knew what I got myself into, but I didn’t want it to happen like this.

            Sebastian’s POV:

            “Just tell me how long.” I said to the woman at the counter. “Thirty minutes.” Damn. It took me twenty just to get here and another ten waiting in line. I didn’t have thirty minutes to wait for our order, then another twenty to get back. I let out a sigh, “Is that as soon as it can be done?” I was being respectful; I knew they had a lot of orders to fill. The woman nodded apologetically, and I said, “Alright. If that’s the best you can do. I appreciate your help.” I said with a smile. She sighed; probably relived I wasn’t chewing her out. “Thank you sir. You can wait in the lobby, I’ll get you when your order is up.” I nodded, and sat down, playing with my thumbs, rubbing my soar wrists, and watching the clock.

            Dottie’s POV:

            I was so tired. From everything that still had not been resolved to the question of when it would be, I didn’t want to pack. Still, I made myself do it; made myself continue to pack some extra things around the dining room. I was taping up a box, when I saw the clock: It was now 6:07. Sebastian had called me to tell me the pizza was going to be a while, but I guess it’s taking even longer. I was packing one of the last boxes in the hallway, when I caught the sight of head lights in the driveway. My heart jumped into my throat as I smiled; Sebastian was home. I turned back around to pretend like I was still packing, so he would tell me to take a break and sit down with him. I heard the door open, then close. The voice I heard made my heart sink back down. “Hello Dottie.” My hands trembled and I slowly turned to see Michael. “Michael?” I asked, voice shaking. “What are you doing here?” he just smiled at me wickedly. I looked beside him and saw Taylor. “Taylor?” I asked. He didn’t say a word, almost looking guilty. Mike took a few steps towards me and said, “I missed you… seeing you, talking to you,” he reached out a hand, “…touching you…” I smacked his hand away from me, “What do you want?” I spat out, pissed he even had the nerve. He chuckled at me, “Surprised you even have to ask.”

I got frightened, “What do you mean??” I asked him. He didn’t reply. I darted my eyes to Taylor, getting an idea, “Taylor, what does he mean??” I asked franticly. Taylor looked down, traced his bottom lip with his tongue, and breathed. “Mike, maybe-” he began, but Michael cut his sentence short. “No Taylor,” cocking his head to the side and saying, “You’re not backing out now.” I began to panic. “Back out of what??” I asked, again, with no answer. I clenched my hands tight, closing my eyes, “God damnit, WHAT?” I shot my eyes open, to see them both a tad closer to me. I backed up and said, “What’s going on here. Tell me, now.” Michael grabbed my wrist, and yanked me forward, and I squirmed in his grip. “Let go Michael!!” I yelled at him. “Come on, no need to be difficult.” He tightened his hold on me. “Taylor, tell him to let go!!” I looked at Taylor, eyes full of fear, begging. He shook his head, and said, “Sorry Dottie. I’m not going to do that.” Sebastian was right, he had changed. “What?!” I looked at him in surprise and horror. I kicked Michael in the stomach, and he let go. I ran into the kitchen, and he was close behind. I ran behind the island in the room and he was on the opposite side.

“Get out, NOW!” I yelled at Michael, who was scaring me now more than ever. “I’m gona have to say no.” he was calm, yet intimidating. “GET, OUT!!” he chuckled at me, and Taylor came in, hands in his pockets. “Dottie, hush, please,” he began, “You have neighbors.” I just looked at them both in complete and utter amazement. “What the hell?! Why are you guys doing this??!” My eyes were raging. I tried to get by, but every time I moved, Michael moved. They were just determined to keep me there. I still had yet to understand why. Mike moved a little closer, and I turned to run, but he ran around the counter, so I grabbed one of the kitchen knives, impulsively. I turned to show them I had it, and to back him off, and he did. “Whoa, Dottie put it down.” Mike said, putting his hands up slightly, trying to get me to drop the knife. “Not until you walk OUT OF MY HOUSE!” I was losing it, on the verge of either killing them, or crying my eyes out. “Taylor,” Michael began, “Get her to drop it.” Looking over at him only for a second before returning his gaze to me. Taylor walked over to me a bit, but I held the knife higher, “BACK off Taylor!!” Taylor put his hands down, and for a second, his eyes, his mannerisms, were back. “Dottie, baby,” He spoke softly, “Give me the knife, I don’t want him to have to hurt you. Please, let me help, give me the knife.”

He walked so slowly I didn’t realize he was in front of me until his hand softly held my wrist. “Let it go.” He tugged gently on my wrist. I saw the Taylor I knew, and made a huge mistake. I loosened my grip for a second, and Taylor snaked the knife out of my hand. I shuddered knowing that was my very last bit of leverage I had against them, and I’m sure I never looked more defenseless in my life. Michael looked at me with a grin, and said, “That’s more like it.” He stepped toward me, and back handed me across the face, sending me back into the counter. The force of my back hitting the marble was so painful; I slid down, holding my face in one hand, while the other struggled to keep me up. “Mike what the hell?!” Taylor yelled. Michael glared at him, and turned to me, grabbing my arm tightly, cutting off the circulation, and yanking me onto my feet. “I’m not going to be in any part of hurting her.” Taylor sternly made his point, trying to make Michael stop. “You don’t want to hurt her, yet you agreed to this??” Michael yelled as he spun me around, twisting my arm behind my back, and pulling me into his chest so we were both facing Taylor.

“I didn’t want it to happen like this. It’s not right.” He seemed to regret his decision as he saw the red mark on my cheek spread to my eye where he had hit me. “There is no RIGHT way to DO this Taylor!” his teeth gritted, and his grip tightened painfully, making me whimper as he spoke. He continued, “Now you are either WITH me, or you leave this house and keep your GOD DAMN mouth SHUT!” I let out a cry, “Taylor-” I pleaded before Mike yelled, “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” and slammed me onto the counter, chest first, making me hit my head. I screamed in agony, and felt dampness on my scalp, and then saw a few drops of blood pierce the counter. Not too serious, but enough to make me crack, and make Taylor’s eyes widen. “JESUS Michael!” Taylor yelled. Michael held me down with a hand on my neck and the other on my shoulder blades. “In or out. Pick. Now.” Michael gave Taylor an ultimatum. Taylor looked at Mike, then at me, and whimpered, “Taylor please… don’t leave me with him…” I cried during the final plead, and he clamped his eyes shut. He took in a breath, and slowly let it out.

“…Out.” Taylor finally said before turning around. “What?? Taylor NO! PLEASE!” I began sobbing loudly, begging him to come back, while he stormed out my front door, slamming it behind him. Michael’s hand covered my mouth, and he said, “One more peep out of you and I’ll really make you cry.” His tone was serious, chilling, and horrifying. I nodded, letting tears continuously escape from my eyes; clamped shut, and unwilling to open. I prayed to god Sebastian would be home in time to stop Michael… But maybe I just wasn’t praying hard enough.