delicate | b.e.

four.

BILLIE

I've officially been missing for 5 days at this point.

Everyday feels longer than the one before and I feel so hopeless. She's never going to let me go.

I just want to leave.

I wanna be home with my family.

"Billie?"

I quickly look up and see the girl, who I now call 'Kingston,' coming down the stairs.

"Yes?" I sigh. "How are you feeling today, darling?" She asks as she sits in her big chair across from me.

I don't know why she calls me this shit.

"Fine." I respond. "I have a surprise for you." She tells me. "What is it?" I roll my eyes. "You get to call your family today." Kingston answers.

"W-what? Really?" I ask. "Mhm." She nods her head. "Thank you so much." I reply. "Don't thank me, it's just my job." She rolls her eyes.

"I have a question." I say. "What?" She asks. "Can you untie me? Just for a second?" I ask. "No." She responds.

"I just wanna put up my hair. It's in the way of my eyes." I sigh. "I'll do it for you." She shakes her head.

"You don't have t-"

"Just let me do it." She sighs and takes a hair tie on her wrist and comes up behind me. She puts my hair up in a bun and pats my head when she's done. "Better?"

"Yeah, um, thank you." I gulp nervously. "It's whatever." Kingston sighs.

I wonder what her real name is. I know for a fact she won't tell me.

"Can I call my family now?" I ask. "Yes. They get three chances to answer since it's an unknown number and if they don't, we'll try tomorrow. I'm not waiting all day." She replies.

"Okay." I nod.

She pulls what looks like a burner phone out of her pocket and sets it in my lap. "I'm untying you just to hold it, so don't even try anything."

"I won't." I promise her.

She unties me and I pick up the phone. "Call." She orders.

I type in my mom's number, but she doesn't answer.

Come on, Momma, please answer.

I call her once again, and this time, she picks up. "Please stop calling th-"

"Momma, it's me, it's Billie!" I say. "Bil? It's you?" She asks with a shaky voice. "It's me." I respond. "Baby, I've been so worried. Where are you? Are you okay?" She questions.

"What can I say?" I whisper to Kingston. "Tell her you're safe and being taken care of." She whispers back.

"I'm safe. I'm in danger, so I was taken by a girl who's taking care of me. I- I promise I'll be okay." I say even though I'm not sure it's the truth.

"You were kidnapped?" Mom asks. "Not like that. I mean, yes, but she's not hurting me. I need to stay here, I guess." I reply.

"I'm calling 911." She responds. "No, no, don't! You can't, Mom." I shake my head. "I'll call you when I can, just please don't do anything. I promise I'm safe." I assure her.