USWNT Oneshots

Believe (PART 90!)

Day two of my new life in hell. They'd kidnapped me, thrown me into this cell, and beaten me twice. Well, I deserved it the second time. I'd tried to escape, and then cussed the guards out when I was recaptured. It was a bit of an idiotic move, but hey. I was pissed. They're coming back in. I gotta go. I texted my friend Lara, who was keeping my spirits up through all this. Or at least, keeping my spirits higher than they could be. Okay. Be careful. Lara texted back. I'll try. I said. Tell me if anything happens. Lara said. Before I could reply, the door to my tiny cell opened, and I hurriedly shoved my phone in my pocket. "Well, little girl." the lead guard said. "Are you ready for round three?" "I'd really rather you didn't." I replied calmly. The guards all laughed. "I'm afraid you don't have much say in the matter." the leader said. He pulled a whip from his belt, and stepped toward me. The whiplash curled around my body, tearing through my shirt and biting into the skin on my back. I gritted my teeth in pain, but I was determined to keep quiet. The man smirked cruelly, bringing the whip down on my back again and again. My shirt was in shreds now, and my back was bleeding. "Anything you want to say to us, dear?" the guard asked. "Yeah." I said. "That was my favorite shirt. Why'd you have to go and shred it?" that comment earned me a backhand across the face. "You should watch your mouth around us, girlie." the guard said. "We'll soon beat the smart mouth out of you." they left the room, and I lay there on the ground, the pain almost too much to bear. Just kill me now... I texted. What did they do? I need to know. Lara said. They beat me nearly to death. I just want to die. I said. Don't give up. Lara said. I can't do it. I'm gonna die before Tobin gets here. I said. I had harbored the hope that Tobin Heath, midfielder for the USWNT and my crush, would come save me. She will come. You can do this. Lara said. I can't. I'm going to die. I said. No you're not. Lara said. I'm in too much pain. I want to die. I said. Fight through it. Lara said. I can't. They're coming in again. I can't do it. I said. The men came in again. They had knives this time, and slashed me across the arms and torso. Then, the leader kicked me repeatedly in the gut. They left me bleeding on the floor, my life force waning. I sent a text to Lara with what I thought would be my last words. They beat me again. I'm dying. Listen. If you meet Tobin, tell her she was my hero, and that I died thinking about her. Can you do that for me please? And...if they ever find my body...make sure I'm buried in my USWNT jersey. I said. Lara texted back immediately. You're not gonna die. You're not dying. she said. I sighed. She was optimistic, but there was no way around it. I was dying. Yeah. I am. I'm sorry that we never got to meet, but you've been a great friend. Thanks for that. I said. You won't die. I'm sending someone to watch over you. A guardian angel will save you. I know it. Lara said. The guardian angel...Do you...do you think it'll be...her? I asked. It could be. If you believe. Lara said. I sighed again. I don't know what to believe in anymore. I said. Believe that you'll be safe. Text your friends and family. Tell them to call for help. If you want, put a video on Wattpad or somethin. Lara said. I've always counted on my strength. But it's failing me. I'm weak, just when I need to be the strongest. I said. I felt helpless. You can do this. Pretend Tobin and all the USWNT members are inside your body. Pretend they need you. Pretend that everyone you love and care about need you to save them. Lara said. At this, I felt even more helpless. Pretend people needed me to save them? I couldn't even save myself! How was I gonna save them? But I can't save them. I can't even save myself. They chose the wrong person to count on. A fifteen year old girl who's too weak to save herself, let alone them. I said. Imagine that they have me, ok? Imagine they have me and Tobin pinned to the ground with guns to our heads and knives to our throats and we need you. Just pretend, ok? I could tell Lara was getting more desperate, trying to keep me alive. I coughed into my hand, and a splash of crimson appeared on my tan skin. Blood. I could feel myself getting drowsy, but I knew I had to stay awake. I knew that if I fell asleep, I'd never wake up again. I can't hold on much longer. I can literally feel myself slipping away. Whoever you sent to watch over me better get here quick. I said. They will. Trust me. Just stay calm and keep thinking positive. Lara said. I heard footsteps coming down the hall towards my cell. I hear footsteps. Is it...is it her? I asked. It could be. You'll never know. Lara said. Someone's at the door to my cell. If it's not her, I'm screwed. I said. It'll be someone who'll save you. Lara said. Whoever it was opened the door to my cell, and I looked up. A toned woman with brown hair stood over me. I thought I recognized her, though I couldn't see her face. It looked like Tobin Heath. "T-Tobin?" I asked. "Is that...you?" the woman crouched down next to me, moving a piece of hair out of my face. "Yeah." she said softly. "It's me." It's Tobin! I said to Lara. Are you fo shizzle? she asked. Yeah! She came to save me! I...I believe now. I can do this. I said. Tobin picked me up and cradled me in her arms. "It'll be okay." she said. "You're alright now." Was Tobin the one you sent? I asked Lara. I guess she was. :-) Lara said. As Tobin held me close to her body, I felt my strength slowly return. The pain from my wounds wasn't as intense anymore. Tobin was healing me with her presence. "Can you stand up?" she asked. "I-I think so." I said. Tobin helped me up, and let go. I was able to stand and walk. I even ran around the small cell. "Good." Tobin said. "Let's go." "What?" I asked. "Let's go." Tobin said. "I'm getting you out of here." I shook my head. "No." I said. "I'll only slow you down. Just leave me here." "Leave you here?" Tobin asked. "Leave you here, after all I went through to save you? No, you're coming with me. No protests." she took a knife from her pocket, and stepped out into the hallway. "It's clear." she said. "Come on out." I walked out into the hallway, and Tobin and I set out at a brisk pace. "Where are we going?" I asked. "To a hotel not far from here." Tobin said. "I can clean you up and all." "There they are!" a man's voice yelled. "Get them!" Tobin and I spun around. A group of guards was standing behind us. "Can you fight?" Tobin asked. "Yeah!" I said. "Here!" Tobin said. She tossed me a knife, and we faced the men. They ran at us with knives of their own, but we dodged and weaved, dealing them fatal wounds. "Let's go!" Tobin said, and we ran out of the building. Tobin led me to a hotel about a block from my prison, and we went up to the room she had booked. "Sit." she ordered. I did as I was told, sitting down on the bed. Tobin went into the bathroom and came out with a first aid kit. She soaked a gauze pad in rubbing alcohol. "This is gonna sting." she warned. "I've been tortured nearly to death." I replied. "Good point." she said. She began cleaning my wounds, gently washing away the blood and grime. When she was done cleaning, she bandaged my wounds. I sighed, and Tobin looked at me with concern in her warm brown eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked. "It's just... these are gonna scar." I said. "No one can love me once they see these." "That's not true." Tobin said. "Yes it is." I said. "No, it's not." Tobin said. "I know one person already who loves you even though you're scarred." "Who?" I asked. "Me." Tobin said, smiling. "Really?" I asked. Tobin laid a hand on my cheek. "Really." she said. "I don't care if you have scars or not, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. And I love you." she leaned in and our lips met. I was shocked at first, but I kissed back. Tobin wrapped her arms around my waist, pulling me closer. Our bodies fit together perfectly, like they had been made for this moment. It was perfect. We were perfect.

Thanks to DetroitHollywood for her help with dialogue (though she probably doesn't know it.)