Kidnapped

Chapter Six

That night I asked where Audrey was going to sleep. Of course Victor said the floor, but Jake made him bring in another cot.

"Jake's nice," Audrey said once everyone had left the basement.

"Yep." I avoided her eyes.

She sat down on her bed, right next to mine, and sighed. She looked like she was thinking about something.

"You don't actually like him, do you?" Audrey finally asked.

My face turned red.

"Well, I mean..." I mumbled. "I don't know. I guess so. Maybe Evelyn was actually right about something. For once in her life," I added to myself.

"But..." Audrey sighed again. "It will never work out. He's a kidnapper, Audrey. Not to mention once we get out of here, you might never see him again. Or he'll get put in jail."

I swallowed. "Once you get out of here."

Audrey looked at me. "Why wouldn't you get out?"

"I told you, remember? Victor thinks I know too much. He isn't gonna let me go. You get to leave when your parents pay. My parents not only can't pay, but Victor wouldn't let me go even if they did."

"But you can't stay here forever!"

I bit my lip.

"Oh, Aubrey."

Then suddenly Audrey stood up. "We have to escape," she announced.

I almost laughed. "That's impossible."

"Why? We aren't tied up. The door isn't locked. They simply trust you enough to not leave."

That was true.

"But how?"

Audrey sat back down on her bed. "I haven't gotten that far yet."

"Well, they probably lock the doors, but they're a fancy kind that doesn't need a key. I saw them. So we could get out that way," I said.

Audrey smiled. "Let's go now!"

But my feet wouldn't move.

"Come on," she whispered, heading to the door.

I had been wanting to get out of here ever since I got here. But now that I had the chance, I realized how much I would miss watching TV all day and playing chess with Jake. Audrey was right; I might never see him again.

I took a deep breath and walked over to the door with Audrey. This was more important.

She opened the door and we peeked out. No one.

We padded out of the basement and towards the front door, the opposite way of the living room.

Suddenly Audrey stopped short. I looked over her shoulder and saw none other than Brick, standing in front of the front door and watching the hallway. I almost gasped but covered my mouth in time.

We slowly started backing up the way we had come. Only a few feet away from the door of the basement, we heard Brick say, "Hey!"

I froze.

But then I decided we could try to fool him.

"What are you doing up?" he said.

"Well..." Audrey stammered.

I elbowed her and said, "We just got up for some water."

Brick narrowed his eyes. I don't think he believed us.

"Alright," he finally said. "But Victor doesn't like when people get out of bed, so don't do it again."

"Okay," I said, pushing Audrey back down the basement steps.

"That was close," she said as soon as the door had closed.

"No kidding," I said.

"We need a different strategy."

"Let's figure it out tomorrow," I told her, yawning. "It's almost 11."

"Fine." Audrey curled up in her cot and was soon fast asleep.

I lied there a little longer, though, thinking. I did need to get out of here; I couldn't stay forever. But I had sorta grown to like it here. Not Victor, Evelyn, or Brick, mind you, but just here in general. I missed my family, of course, but would Jake get arrested?

***

Later the next day Jake pulled me aside.

"Victor is sending the ransom note to Audrey's father tonight, but he told me he wasn't sure that he would let her go."

My eyes widened. "He can't do that! He'll make a ton of money but Audrey will never get home!"

"Exactly," Jake said.

I thought for a moment. How could Victor be so horrible?

I pulled Jake into the basement so no one would overhear our conversation. Then I looked up at him.

"Please," I said softly. "Help us escape."

His eyes widened slightly, and he bit his lip.

"I can't," he whispered.

"Why not?"

Jake swallowed. "I would get kicked out."

"But so what?" I pleaded. "Why do you want to stay with kidnappers?"

"Because they're all I've ever known," Jake said. "They took me in when I was three. This is my home. These people are like my family; even though they're kidnappers. I wish they would get their money honestly, but they don't and that's just how it is. If I got kicked out...I don't know where I would go."

Woah.

I didn't know that. I thought he just kinda happened to become a part of their gang, like he met them and decided to join them or something.

"You could come with me. I would find a home for you."

"But wouldn't I get arrested for being a part of this?"

"I won't let you be. It's not your fault you live with kidnappers."

Jake shook his head. "I can't," he whispered.

"Please," I said, a single tear slipping down my cheek. "I can't stay here forever."

"I like you, Aubrey," Jake said. "A lot." His voice cracked. "I don't know what I'd do if you left."

"I like you, too," I said softly. And I knew it was true.

"But I can't help you. There's nowhere else for me to go."

"Ok," I said, my voice barely audible.

"I'm sorry."

And then he leaned forward and did something I had never expected.