𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 : Robin Arellano

SIXTEEN

Robin had been digging whilst she was away, digging until his fingers ached and his limbs were sore to the point of exhaustion. He was so set on getting her out of here that he didn't care.

He had also been waiting for the phone to ring for him, but with no such luck he had given up on that. Maybe he was just still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Carmen had supposedly spoken to a dead person. And that so called 'dead' person was telling them how to escape. Yet he wasn't complaining, he was one step closer to getting her out.

The grabber had visited him another time, with eggs and sprite. But for once he didn't say a word and had left him to it. In a strange way it panicked him more than ever.
But, Carmen had returned again. Fortunately, not another scratch on her and, due to Robin's tiredness they lay on the mattress together, Carmen listening out for the phone to ring.

His fingers combed through her hair, with her head on his chest as they stayed silent for the moment.

"What's the first thing you're gonna do when we get out?" She asked quietly.
"Eat some real good food probably. You?"
"Shower. A long, hot shower." She smiled, both of them watching her hair slowly rising and falling along with his breathing on his chest.
"That's a good one. I'll get you out Carmen, even if it's the last thing I do."
Her head shot up at this, turning to stare at his face.
"No Robin, we're getting out together. We established this. Either we both get out or neither of us do."
One thing about Carmen was that she was very stubborn pretty much all the time, and Robin loved it.
"I know mi vida, I know." He paused, sighing and she waited for him to continue.

"I just...it all feels wrong. I always saw myself as brave, you know? The toughest guy in school, beating anyone and everyone in a fight. But when I was taken by the grabber? I realised that maybe I wasn't as strong as I thought I was, that if I couldn't protect myself then I wouldn't be able to protect you. And if I couldn't do that then that would kill me."
"Robin-"
"No no. I wouldn't be here still if it weren't for you, just the thought of getting you out keeps me sane."

She didn't know if you could feel your heartstrings tugging physically, but if you could then she definitely just did. His words hit her in a way that nothing else ever had, like a wave of an unknown emotion had pulled her under.

"You'll be a hero, Robin Arellano. We'll get out, get the grabber arrested, live out our lives to the fullest together. No other child in this goddamn town will fall victim of the grabber because of you. You aren't weak, and you are brave. Please don't forget it." She sighed, one hand holding his face gently as his eyes searched hers for any uncertainty in her face. And with nothing it was now his turn to feel his heart being toyed with.

"I love you." He blurted, he didn't mean to say it. But he couldn't deny how good it felt to, or how right it was. She had frozen up for the moment as he watched her, seemingly scared to witness her reaction.
"I love you too." She muttered, breaking into a smile. And with that his heart began to beat again, the warmth spreading through his body like a fire.

Yeah, this may not have been how he had imagined saying it to her, but it was still perfect. Anything involving her was perfect.
"I'll get it out mi amor, I promise you." He muttered, pulling her into him and taking a deep breath. They would get their happy ending.

~

Finney hadn't slept. He was up every night, mapping, calculating, searching. His best friends were gone. Gone. But he'd find them.

"Finney please go to sleep. You look awful." Gwen muttered after waking up in the middle of the night, noticing his bedroom light was still on.
"Not now Gwen, they need me."
"Finney please. Don't do this to yourself, you're no help to them in this state." He froze, a small form appearing on his face as i he stopped to think about her words. She was right of course, he was becoming a shell of himself, a weak form in this state of tiredness.

Gwen watched him with a concerned gaze, watching as he froze and thought, watching as he then broke down.
"I miss them so much Gwen." He cried, eyes shut as he began to sob.
"They don't deserve this. I don't want to think they're dead." He managed to choke out, leaning into Gwen as she moved to hold him.
"It's okay, Finney. They're strong. They'll be okay." She whispered soothingly, almost trying to convince herself as much as she was him.

"They'll be okay."

~

Carmen woke up to the phone ringing again. Scrambling to her feet immediately to answer it.
"Hello? Bruce?"
"Don't go upstairs." She didn't recognise this voice.
"Why?"
"It's a trap."
"What do you mean? Is this Bruce?" Robin stirred awake, shooting up from his laying position when he didn't feel Carmen beside him but visibly relaxing when he laid eyes on her, standing up and walking up behind her, listening.
"Who's Bruce?"
"He's the baseball player."

"We don't play baseball here."

"Who are you?"
"I don't remember."
"Did you play anything?"
"I delivered newspapers."
"Billy...oh my god Billy." She placed a hand over her mouth to stop her cry.
"Maybe."
"Billy I'm so sorry." She muttered, feeling Robin's arms snaking around her for comfort, her back pressing into his chest.
"Just don't go upstairs."
"But he's not even home?..." She muttered confused.
"But he will be. Don't let your boyfriend go up there." He affirmed.
"What will he do?"
"He'll wait. On the other side with that fucking belt." She could hear the anger in his voice. She understood why immediately.
"He didn't say he could leave. So if you try, he'll punish you. He'll hit you with that belt until you pass out. And you'll cry. You'll beg him to stop. We all did. But he just keeps beating you." Her heart fell, tears falling immediately. None of them deserved this.
"Billy." She didn't know he was about to end the call, but it stopped him from doing so.
"I know you don't remember but...I met you when I first moved here. You helped move into my house and you brought me a paper everyday. You're really sweet and kind. The biggest heart out there. You deserved none of this, I hope you find peace." She said calmly, although for a while it was silent, no answer from him.
"Thank you." She heard him say in a small voice before the line went dead.

Robin pulled her in immediately, softly stroking her hair as she quietly cried into him, whispering comforting words to her. He hated to see her cry, but at least he was here to hold her.

"Robin promise me you won't go upstairs. Please." Her voice began to break, she couldn't bear to lose him. He just slowly nodded, squeezing her for comfort. It reassured her enough.

"I love you."
"I love you too."

Ya'll please don't be mad.....
So sorry for ghosting I started college and was working all weekend so forgot this existed. Totally my bad.
Anyway I gave you lots of cute things for the calm before the storm.😟
Also i cba to check for grammar so you'll have to deal with it bc im lazy.

hope everyone's had an amazing past few months. Can't believe i haven't posted since before my birthday...in july....but enjoy and i'm working on more xxx

~emilia xx