We drove for ages, twisting and turning on roads I’d never been on before. We finally stopped and I heard footsteps walking around the car. I pressed into Connor, shaking and he wrapped his arms around me.
The door was yanked up and I blinked against the light cutting through the dark. I recognized Darcy but there was someone else with him that I didn’t know. I glanced at Connor and his eyes were narrowed in anger.
“Charlie,” Connor snarled. “I should’ve known you were behind this.”
Charlie ignored him and said, “Darcy, you’re a fucking idiot.”
“I did what you asked,” Darcy hissed. “And I risked my ass as well.”
“I asked for Connor and you got some girl. You’re an idiot; this is going to be even harder to cover up.”
Darcy swallowed hard, “I didn’t think about that. But she was with him, she would’ve told someone.”
“And now someone is going to come looking for her,” Charlie spat.
For the first time, Charlie acknowledged that Connor and I were there. “Been waiting a long time for this Connor. You owe me big time.”
“I don’t own you anything. I did everything you asked,” Connor shifted his body so he was in front of me.
Charlie noticed this and smirked, “Get out of the car. Now.”
A muscle jumped in Connor’s jaw but he slipped out of the car and pulled me behind him.
Charlie looked me up and a small smile flashed across his face. “You got yourself a good one Connor.”
Connor clenched his fists and I wrapped an arm around his waist. “Con, please don’t,” I whispered.
“I can’t stand the way he looks at you,” he said quietly.
Charlie rolled his eyes, “I’m getting sick of your games Connor. You have something to do for me.”
“I’m not doing anything for you,” Connor said angrily.
Charlie smiled and before I could react he grabbed me and pulled me out of Connor’s arms.
“Con!” I cried as I tried to get away from Charlie but he locked me into his arms.
“Shh, shh, shh,” Charlie whispered in my ear. “Be nice and I won’t hurt you.”
I tried to pull away from his mouth near my ear as it made my stomach turn. He twisted my wrist and I cried out in pain.
“STOP,” Connor was shaking in anger. “I’ll do what you want just don’t hurt her.”
Charlie grinned, “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. You’ll get your girl back when you bring me what’s mine.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched Connor walk away and I was left alone with Darcy and Charlie.
“C’mon,” Charlie tugged me back to the car and put me in the backseat. I curled in a ball against the door, trying to stop the sobs that were shaking my whole body. Darcy slid behind the wheel and Charlie sat in the passenger seat. “What’s your name beautiful?”
“I-Isobel,” I mumbled.
“Did your boyfriend tell you what he did?” I looked up and saw that Charlie was mocking me.
Anger replaced the fear, “He didn’t do anything.”
Charlie looked at me sadly and then lifted his shirt up to show me a small tattoo on his side underneath his arm. “Look at it,” he said. “Do you recognize that?”
I swallowed hard as I traced the outline of a lion head with my eyes. “Y-you’re th-the,” I stuttered.
“That’s right babes,” Charlie seemed amused by my reaction. “I guess your boyfriend didn’t tell you he was in a gang.”
I shook my head, “He’s not my boyfriend. And he wouldn’t-”
“Listen here, Isobel,” Charlie’s tone became aggressive. “The reason you are here is because Connor didn’t do his job. And the only way you will get home is if he does it. Do you understand?”
“What is his job?” I asked timidly.
Charlie laughed forcefully, “You don’t want to know.”
“I know who you are,” I said softly. “I know what you do.”
“Connor is our runner. He gets the money from the seller back to me. And then he decided to leave and I lost a lot of money and know he is going to get it back.”
I nodded slowly then dried my tears and looked out the window. I didn’t know where we were and all I could see was trees and open fields. My heart sunk as the fear crept back in my mind. I was alone out here and no one was going to find me.
-
“Hey princess, wake up,” I jumped and realized that we were at a house. Darcy stood over me, “Please get up before Charlie gets mad. I don’t want to hurt you but he might.”
I nodded and then got out of the car and followed Darcy into the house. He led me down the hall and into the living room. I was surprised to see that other people were sitting in there. I saw Charlie talking to the boys that had been at the party with Darcy but there were four other boys there and one girl.
“Hey Charlie,” Darcy called. “What should I do with her?”
Charlie glanced at me and then nodded at the girl who got up and walked over to us. “Come on,” she said and I followed her down the hall and then up the stairs to the top floor. She ushered me into the room and when I adjusted to the light I saw that the room took up the whole floor.
“This is where I live,” she said. “You are going to stay with me.”
I nodded, trying to fight the tears.
“I’m Macy by the way,” she spoke kindly. “If you need anything just ask me.”
“Thanks,” I managed to choke out.
“Hey,” she said softly. “Don’t be sad. Everything will be okay.”
As she said that, it was like a dam cracked inside me and I broke down. Sobs shook my body and I covered my face in my hands. I felt warm hands grab my shoulders and steer me towards the bed. Macy wrapped her arms around me and let me cry into her shoulder. When I had no tears left, I pulled back and dried my eyes.
“It’s going to be okay you know,” Macy whispered.
I shook my head, “You don’t know that.”
“Isobel,” she said, so quietly I could barely hear her. “I know Con, he won’t leave you here.”
“H-how do you know my name?”
She froze, “I can’t tell you but you have to trust me okay? If you want to get through this then you have to trust me and believe me. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
I nodded, “Okay I promise.”
Macy stood up and looked down at me. “I’m supposed to lock you in up here but I have tons of books and movies, you can help yourself. I’ll bring you food later and there’s a water cooler by the door. And, um, you can change into some of my clothes.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for helping me.”
Macy paused in the doorway and then turned around and quickly said, “We are going to get you out of this Iz.”
Then she shut the door and locked it, leaving me alone again. I curled up on the bed and hugged myself. The last thought I had before I fell asleep was: who is we?
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A/N - please comment and vote and tweet me @vampsTO I would love feedback xx
