Hostage

7. "You actually thought you could get away from me"

  I lay awake in bed, listening. Listening as footsteps sounded upstairs. Listened as boyish laughter traveled through the vents and to my ears. And listened to the slam of the door, indicating the boys departure.

I instantly sprung up from the bed, pulled the bobby pin that's been stuck in my nappy hair all this time out, tucked the sheets back in place neatly; Something my mom always made me do.

Thoughts of my mother flashed through my mind and I winced. I wonder where she is, what she's doing. Is she safe? Does she know my father (if I can even call him that) is hiding the fact that he runs some secret gang?

I turned around, ready to put my plan in action but I was halted by a wide-eye Clyde, whose presents I just now noticed. I gasped at his unexpected emergence, placing a gentle hand over my heart to stop the sporadic beating.

When did he even get here? I don't remember hearing Harry or anyone for that matter bring him down here in the middle of the night, yet here he is. Tied up to a chair in the center of the room.

"Raleigh" He whispered, eyeing my determined frame. "What are you doing?"

Should I tell Clyde? I eyed the camera in the corner skeptically. It wasn't like any of them were here to see this, and by the time they did see it hopefully I'd be long gone -if things turned out alright.

"I'm leaving" I whispered, starting towards him. His eyes grew twice their size when I moved to untie him, skillfully setting him free. "I can't s-stay here, Clyde. My mom, and my my brother....I have to go"

"No, Raleigh" His hands secured my wrists the minute the ropes fell, bright eyes searching my own as he struggled to convey what he was saying. "They're dangerous, Raleigh. They'll find you. T-they'll make it ten times harder on you"

I tugged my hands free from his grasp, pushing him back by his chest. "I'm leaving, Clyde. And you can either come with me or I'm tying you back to your chair" I spit venomously. 

~*~

My frantic hands held the bobby pin between my fingers, working the lock at the top of the door. "It's not gonna open" Clyde mumbled from down the steps, where he was positioned in his chair.

He told me this plan was idiotic and I wasn't going to escape.

I would prove him wrong. I continued to pick the lock; I did learn from the best after all: My brother. And my mom. Well, my mothers version of breaking through a door is shoving her shoulder against it and kicking it until it opens, but I didn't want to break the door because I feared there would be an alarm.

And I wasn't sure I had the physical strength to do so.

Tears trailed down my cheeks when the door wasn't budging and the reality of the situation began to overcome me. I was going to be stuck down here forever. I would never be free. I was going to be tortured and abused for the rest of my pathetic-

And then the lock clicked. And the door opened.

I let out a gust of relief as I pushed it further, wincing as its creaked echoed around the room. I chanced one last look at Clyde, who was shaking his head fiercely but was careful enough not to speak.

Taking in a deep breath, I turned away and walked through the doorway.

The house was pitch black, save for the dim glow of the lava lamp that sat on the table in the living room. I'm guessing that's where I was considering there was a flat screen TV and three long plush sofa's that looked to be about the same amount of my college tuition. Alright, maybe I was exaggerating a tiny bit but this looked like a very expensive house.

How do they even make this money? I wondered.

I allowed myself a few seconds to adjust to the dark and calm my erratic beating heart before adrenaline consumed me and I was sprinting to the left in search for an escape.

I had no idea where I was going or what to expect as I turned corners, nearly crashing into a wall at one point in time. I allowed my legs to carry me as fast as possible through this place -this hell.

My breathing picked up when I heard what sounded like footsteps come from upstairs. Oh no. No. No. No.

Somebody was here.

They're gonna find me and they're gonna drag me back down there to rot. My eyes watered and my legs burned as I turned a corner, ending up in the kitchen. A gasp left my lips as I ducked beneath the counter to shield my body.

There was no way I'd be able to find my way out of here if someone else was in here with me. I grasped the edge of the cabinet and peeked ever-so-slowly around the edge, but I was only able to see the rest of the kitchen and half of the living room.

Sighing in defeat, I turned and leaned back against the cabinet holding my head in my hands. How was I going to pull this off? And just as I lifted my head, prepared to throw in the towel something caught my eye.

Curtains. The moonlight peeking through the curtains. A door. A back door.

I don't think my smile could grow any wider as I stumbled forwards, pressing my palms flat against the curtains and yanking them back.His backyard was fenced in, but I could easily climb a fence. I learned from the best: Spencer, again.

So with a small laugh I un-clicked the locks, and slowly slid the door open, taking a minute to let the wind blow through my nappy hair. I took a moment to feel the freedom.

I took a step forward, smiling brightly when my bare feet touched the patio flooring. I was going to leave. I would finally gte out of this place and have Harry and all his little gang memb-

My body froze when I heard a deep, guttural growl that gradually increased with each breath I took. My head snapped to the left, where two full grown German Shepherds were standing defensively, ears drawn back and mouth pulled back to reveal full sets if sharp pearly teeth.

One began barking, and when I took a step forward to prepare myself for the run the other one jumped in front of me to prevent my escape. "Okay" I whispered softly, holding my hands up as they began to advance. The one to the left of my leaned back, looking like he was prepared to pounce.

I screamed when the one in front tried to nip at me, and his growls only seemed to get louder. What do I do? What do I do? I screamed so loud I was sure Clyde heard me downstairs when the one on the left lunged for me.

My body curled in on itself instinctively, and the tears were relentless as they streamed down my cheeks, prepared to be eaten alive by the viscous beast of a dog.

However, the impact of his paws nor his teeth ever came. Before they had the chance to I was yanked roughly, colliding harshly with someones chest as I sputtered out a gasp.

"Back" Was spit out harshly from the person who's chest I was currently clinging to. Desperate intakes of air were heard as I tried to breathe properly. I could feel it; One of my panic attacks was slowly creeping its way through my body. Starting at my lungs.

I tried to escape and almost got eaten alive by two viscous dogs. Harry had me back in his clutches and I wasn't sure what the consequences of my actions would be.

"Ha-ar-ry" I sputtered out, trying to grab his attentoin that I couldn't breathe. My body wouldn't stop shaking, the sobs wouldn't stop, I couldn't stand up straight, my mind was dragging me down to that endless black pit where I let my thoughts consume me. I leaned into Harry completely, all of my body weight depending on his. Why are you seeking out comfort in him? My mind screamed. He's the reason you're trying to escape in the first place.

"What the fuck were you thinking? You actually thought you could get away from me? What part of this entire thing don't you understand? I might as well fucking own you now because you aren't leaving!" Harry spit out.

I was dry heaving, clutching to Harry's chest as his hands landed on my shoulders and he shook me harshly. "What the fuck was going through your head when you decided to do all of this? Huh? Answer me" He demanded, roughly shaking my shoulders.

"I -I can't"

"You can't what? Why are you shaking so damn much?! You knew you were going to get caught and now you have to deal with the consequences" That word caused something inside of me to snap. Consequences. Harry was going to hit me.

My vision was beginning to get splotchy form the lack of oxygen my lungs were receiving. "Breathe" I gasped, reaching for his shirt and grasping it between my fingers as my eyes rolled, unable to focus.

"Raleigh?" Harry mumbled and for a split second he sounded concerned. He sounded....worried. But surely my mind was playing tricks on me because Harry doesn't show emotions. I'm not even sure he has any.

"Hey. Hey! Raleigh" He sounded frantic, and before I knew what was happening his arms swooped under my legs, lifting me in his arms before planting me on the counter. The motion was quick, and my eyes failed to adjust to the movement.

"Look at me" He said gently, hands placed on my cheeks and forcing eye contact. He stood in between my legs, one hand on my lower back so I didn't fall while the other remained still on my cheek. "Breathe" He said softly.

I tried to hold eye contact as I gasped for breath, but my eyes lolled and Harry caught me before I tipped over on the counter. "Shit. Okay, Okay." He inhaled deeply, deep green eyes encouraging me to follow his actions.

I exhaled slowly just as he did, and I could feel my lungs loosening, my chest was less restricted than before although he tightness in my gut stayed put.

"I'm sorry" I gasped out in fear, wide eyes finding Harry's. He nodded softly, placing his hand over my heart and inhaling deeply with me. The warmth of his palm caused a fresh row of goosebumps to arise, and I exhaled shakily. I shouldn't be feeling this way.

But Harry was comforting me and I couldn't help it. I couldn't help but to cling to him in a time when I was so vulnerable like this.

"You're gonna be okay" He said. "Just focus on breathing. Can you do that for me, Rae?" I nodded, and Harry and I sat in silence as I continued to breath steadily. Until my lungs opened up and my body untensed. Usually I took medication for my panic attacks, but I threw the prescription out once I hadn't had an attack in a year.

"Okay?" Harry asked cautiously, placing a hand over my heart as his eyes locked on mine. I was at loss for words. Harry's hand was warm and gentle against my shirt. And it remained there even when I nodded my head in reassurance. Stop it

His eyes held mine captive for what felt like hours as his hand remained stationary over my heart.

Harry had helped me through my panic attack. He hadn't 'punished' me for trying to escape. He technically saved me from getting attacked even though they were his own dogs.

I discovered something new tonight: Harry has feelings. Harry cares about me. Well...somewhat.