Eyeless Princess (book two)

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

(Jack POV)

"Lilly." I said softly, sitting on the bed. I rubbed her head. She rolled to her side, revealing her stitches. I know that must hurt.

I honestly cannot wrap my head around the fact that this happened while we were out of the house. How stupid! I have no one to blame but myself. I am the protector. The provider. And I failed.

Lilly and I aren't perfect but we're both trying really hard for Jackie. How could things turn so sour so quickly? So many questions ran through my mind like how did he find out about Jackie? How did he know where to find us? Where are they? Who took her?

"Jack?" Lilly said weakly. I put my hand on hers. "Yes?" I asked, worried. "I remember what happened now."

"What happened? Tell me." I coaxed.

"It was just Jackie and I at the house. She passed out. I didn't know what to do. She was unresponsive. All of a sudden she just got up like nothing was wrong. She started to walk to the door and when I asked what was wrong she struck me with a frying pan. Really hard. It knocked me out cold. After that she was just gone." She sobbed that last part.

"Lilly it's not your fault. Our cover was blown. Zalgo was bound to find us one day. I just didn't think it would be so soon." I sighed.

Lilly sat up now. "Who could have betrayed us like that, Jack?"

"I don't know. But we'll find out. We always do. And when we do, we'll end them." I spat. Lilly shook her head. "I just miss her." she said quietly. "I know you do. I do too. But we'll find her. I promise."

•••

(JACKIE POV)

"I want to go home." I cried. The mean dragon thing, his name is Zalgo, was angry with me. "You'll never go home. You'll never see your family again!" He hissed.

The black goop coming from my eyes was all over my face now. I miss my mommy and daddy so much. I even miss Sally.

"Jorge!" Zalgo called. His proxy came running in nervously. "Y-Yes Zalgo? What c-can I do for you sir?"

"I want you to send a message to Lilly." He smirked. Zalgo is truly wicked. "Yes sir." Jorge obeyed. "Anything f-for you sir."

"Tell Lilly that if she ever wants her precious daughter back then she'll have to meet me. Alone. If she tells anyone then Jackie will be killed without hesitation. She can find me at 41.002375,-123.205919."

With that, Jorge was off to find my mommy. I sobbed at his words. "Please don't do this to me." My only answer was another one of his evil laughs.

•••
(LILLY POV)

Ever since the incident occurred I am hardly on my own. My only alone time is when I'm using the shower or toilet. Having little to no freedom is draining. I just want my little girl back. 

I had just gotten out of the shower. I only had a towel wrapped firmly around me. I wiped the steam off of the mirror to see a blurry image of myself. I looked tired. My hair is beginning to fall out from the stress.

As I was examining myself I heard a knock on the bathroom window behind me. I turned around and paused. Who could that be? The knock came again, louder this time. I moved the curtain to the side. It was someone I could not recognize.

My face flushed with embarrassment and the grip on my towel tightened. Fear built up in my chest. The strange man at the window put one finger on his lips and motioned for me to open the window. I shook my head no.

"I have information on the whereabouts of your daughter." I could hardly hear him through the glass. I opened the window just a crack. "I'm listening."

"I am a servant for the Lord Zalgo. I am here to pass on a message from Lord Zalgo himself. He says, if you ever want your precious daughter back, then you must meet him at 41.002375,-123.205919. Come alone or else Jackie will be killed without any hesitation."

My heart sunk. Oh no. Before I could ask the strange man any questions, he disappeared. I was conflicted. There was no way I couldn't tell Jack.

I carried the weight of this secret for hours. Finally, I found myself at Aileen's door. With sweaty palms, I knocked at her door. It was fairly late. About 2 o'clock in the morning.

I was about to leave when her door swung open. "Lilly? Is that you, dear? What brings you to my door at this hour?" She asked. "Can I please come in?" I whispered. She stepped aside to let me in.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "It's Jackie. One of Zalgos servants came to me and told me if I wanted her back then I would have to meet him. But he wants me to come alone or else Jackie dies." I sobbed.

"Oh dear." Aileen gasped. She wrapped her arms around me, offering a comforting hug. "Don't worry darlin'. We'll think of a solution. We always do."