Unbound - A Synacky Fan Fiction

Unbound - A Synacky Fan Fiction - Part 5

-          Scarlett’s POV –

Yet more days since I’d last eaten. Brian had brought me a big jug of water every day, for which I was grateful. I was hellishly hungry, but at least I wasn’t quite as weak any more.

I did consider ceasing to accept his water, and just ending my own life, but he left the jug in my room, and the condensation seeping down its sides was too much for me to resist. Besides, I had a feeling that if I didn’t comply he’d force it down my throat somehow. I wouldn’t put it past him.

Brian seemed…okay. I still hated him for abducting me, and hated him more for wanting Zacky, but as far as kidnappers went…yeah. He was civil, he fed me (sparsely, it was true, but I hadn’t starved to death – yet), and I did have an occasional laugh with him.

I hadn’t given up on my escape plans, but at the moment I was too weak. In the space of about a week, I’d eaten five-six pieces of bread, and I could feel my strength waning. I remembered my mother’s meatloaf on the last night I’d been home.

Strangely, though, I didn’t miss my home, or my parents. In fact, if this wasn’t part of Brian’s evil scheme, I would find it fun being here. Well. If I had food, and wasn’t confined to this box of a room. And if there wasn’t some poor fucker in here with me.

What bothered me about Jimmy being here was…well…I couldn’t put my finger on it. From what I had seen, Jimmy was a lot taller and probably stronger than Brian. He’d been here five months; it wouldn’t take him that long to escape. He could have overpowered Brian if he’d really tried. Was he being kept on sedation? Brian had called him a monster…was Jimmy being drugged? I’d have to get him out.

Gotta get yourself out first, Scar.

If what Brian said was true, Zacky hadn’t been home in over two weeks. He’d be back soon, he’d have to be. He’d know I was missing and…somehow…he’d find me. I didn’t want him to find me, I hoped he stayed away. I wanted to leave, it was true, but I didn’t want Zacky in danger.

“Knock, knock!” said Brian gleefully as he entered the room. He set the jug of water down on the bed and I glared at it. “How are we feeling today, Scarlett?”

I raised my eyebrow. “I’ve been better.”

“Good, good,” Brian said, fiddling with a phone that I recognized.

“That’s my phone!” I exclaimed. I got up and ran at Brian. If I could get to the phone…

He held it above my head, tantalizingly out of reach. “Nu-uh. I want to read you a message first.”

Still holding it high, he flipped it open and read a text that had come in. “‘Scar – where’ve you been? Mom says you haven’t been home in a week. Where are you? Are you in trouble? Please text me back…’” Brian smiled at me, “Guess who that’s from. That was this morning. There’s another one here. ‘I’m sorry, Scar, my band got to tour a little, but we’re done now. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Please just come home, sis. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Please come home, Scar, please.’”

I made a grab for my phone, missing it again. “I need that,” I growled.

We were both surprised by the sound of a text incoming. “It’s Zacky!” Brian said, delighted. “‘Scarlett, everybody is panicking. The guys from the band are out looking for you. I don’t want to get the cops involved but if you don’t respond by tonight I will. Please, Scarlett, please be alright. I know you’re angry with me, I know Mom and Dad are too harsh on you. We’ll figure something out. Please just come home, Scarlett.’”

“They think I ran away,” I said sadly.

Brian nodded. “That was kind of the point. Anyway. How about this…”

He started texting Zacky back. With the little strength I had, I grabbed the phone off him and hit speed dial. Strangely, he didn’t fight. He let me ring Zacky.

My big brother picked up on the first ring. “Scarlett?” he gasped.

“Zacky!” I squealed, “Zacky, I’m okay! Well, I’m hungry, but…” Brian made to take the phone off me. I swatted him away, urgent now. “Zacky, don’t listen to him! Don’t listen to Brian! Don’t do what he says, stay away, Zacky, please stay away. Zacky, don’t listen–”

Brian snatched the phone out of my hands. “Hello, Zacky,” he said cheerfully, “My name is Brian. I’ve got your little sister here with me. She’s a bit panicked by now. She’s also getting very skinny. She doesn’t actually need food, does she?”

I heard panicked yelling down the other end of the phone. Brian chuckled. “No, no, I’m just joking. Listen – I need you here, Zacky. I need your help figuring out what happened to your friend Jimmy.”

I froze. I heard Zacky freeze on the other end. “No, Zacky, Jimmy is not dead…ah, I’ll send you a picture. Anyway. Yeah, I have your little sister here. I’ll send you the address. Get here now, don’t bring anyone, or else my friend Scarlett won’t be around much longer. Yeah, you know the drill. Okay. Bye-bye.”

He hung up and started texting the address. He took a quick snapshot of me with the phone, then made his way out of the room.

“Hey!” I yelled, “Come back!”

“Nope,” he replied, “I’m going down to the basement. Your brother wants a photo of Jimmy.”

Then it clicked. Jimmy had been my brother’s best friend before he died half a year ago. Clearly, Jimmy hadn’t died. He was maybe shellshocked, or traumatized, and that was why he couldn’t get out. It made sense now.

I had to get out of here before Zacky came.

-          Third person POV –

Brian was staring happily at the phone as he unlocked the heavy chain to the basement. He pushed the door open, to find Jimmy slightly less rabid than he had been last time. He tossed Jimmy a huge lump of raw meat, which Jimmy devoured with pleasure. He still had yet to work out what was wrong with the guy.

He lifted the phone and took a picture of Jimmy ripping the steak to shreds with his teeth. The manic look in Jimmy’s eyes was evident even in the photograph. He smiled to himself and backed out of the room. He was so absorbed in his phone that he forgot to loop the chain around the door again.