Rescuing Madison (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty Four

Madison's POV

"I wonder if your boyfriend has seen the video yet." Joel said. "I'd love to see the look on his face as he watches it."

I could see pure delight on his face when he had made the video to send to Jackson. It was sick. It was like he had finally got the chance to play out some sick fantasy he had. Before he made the video, he had wiped the blood from the back of my head onto my face. I guess my bloody & torn shirt wasn't enough for him.

I still couldn't believe he had brought me back to the same place as before. As scared as I was, I couldn't help but think of how stupid an idea that was. Did he really think I hadn't told anyone about what had happened to me? Well, I hadn't really. Just Jackson & his brothers. & I never talked about where I had been taken. I had barely mentioned it to Jackson once, a couple years ago. I hoped he had understood what I had said about the stars.

The concrete floor that I was laying on was making me shiver, & I wished that I could wrap my arms around my stomach. He had kicked me a few minutes ago, for not saying goodbye at the end of his stupid video, & my ribs were killing me. I wouldn't be surprised if he had cracked one of my ribs like he had before. The rope was biting into my ankles & wrists, burning my skin & causing me to bleed.

Every time he turned around, I tried to loosen the rope around my wrists. It was pretty hopeless, though, since he obviously knew how to tie a really tight knot.

I was surprised at myself at how calm I was acting. I had panicked when I realized it was him that had hit my car. I remember trying to run away from him. But, I had barely made it a few steps before he knocked me out. When I woke up, I was bound & laying right where I am. I hadn't panicked since then. I had tried to fight him off, which resulted in my torn & bloody clothes, but it hadn't made my anxiety skyrocket.

He walked over to me & kneeled next to me. He ran his knuckles across my cheek, & I tried to flinch away. He didn't like that. He grabbed my face tightly.

"You don't need to flinch away from me, sweetheart. I won't hurt you anymore, unless you give me a reason to." He ran his knuckles across my cheek again. "You're so sweet & soft."

His touch made me want to throw up. "Don't. Touch. Me." I said, gritting my teeth.

His hand stilled. "Oh, sweetheart. I'd watch that mouth if I were you." He held up a knife. "I won't hesitate to use this."

I didn't doubt that. I knew he would use it. But, it was like I no longer had control of my mouth. "Try it." Shut up, Madison!

His eyes widened for just a second, then he grinned. I felt my face pale. He sat the knife down next to him. Then before I knew what was happening, he had pushed me from my side onto my back, & he was sitting on my legs. My arms had been tied behind my back, so I couldn't move my hands to push him off. I tried to use my hips to buck him off, but he was too strong. He pushed one hand against my chest to stop me from moving.

"This will be worse if you keep moving." he said.

I wanted to ask what he was talking about, but he grabbed my shirt & used his knife to cut it right off of me. I started to thrash around again. I needed him to get off of me. He grabbed me by my shoulders.

"STOP IT! I know where your boyfriend & his brother live. Don't think I won't hesitate to hurt them also." he said, in a cold voice.

That made me stop. I didn't want anything to happen to Jackson & Kolten. I'd do anything to keep them safe.

"Good girl." He picked up the knife. "This might hurt a little, sweetheart."

He didn't use the blade of the knife on me. He took the handle of the knife, & pressed it against my ribs. Hard. Pain filled my entire body, & I screamed. I definitely knew I had a cracked rib now. He kept lifting the handle up, & pressing it in different spots, all over my ribs. I let out a scream each time.

After he did it ten times, he finally got off of me. I couldn't do anything but lay there. The pain was everywhere in my body, & I felt so tired. I realized I had tears streaming down my face. I couldn't bring myself to care, though. & Finally I was saved from the pain by the blackness that pulled me under.

***

I was awoken by the sound of Joel yelling. My eyelids were heavy to open, but I knew I needed to see what was going on. I finally opened my eyes, & saw a blurry Joel standing over me. His arms were waving around, & I think he was yelling at me. I blinked my eyes a few times, & tried to concentrate on what he was yelling at me.

"...IS HERE! What have you done, sweetheart?"

Who's here? What is he talking about? He was completely freaking out. I kind of wanted to laugh at how hysterical he was acting. He had always acted cool & calm in front of me.

"Did you hear me? YOUR BOYFRIEND IS HERE!"

Jackson is here? No, he couldn't be. I couldn't have him so close to Joel. Joel would hurt him. For only the second time tonight, I started to panic. The rapid rise & fall of my chest was making my ribs hurt, but I couldn't worry about that right now. Where is Jackson?!

Joel suddenly whipped around, & I watched his body tense up. I looked to where he was looking, & I felt the air leave my lungs. Jackson was standing there in the doorway, his face hardened into a glare, with a gun pointed at Joel.

My Jackson.. Here to save me..