Escape {COMPLETE}

~Chapter Sixteen~

Hannah's P.O.V.

After I had calmed down at least enough to stop sniveling like an idiot, I shakily wiped my eyes with my sleeves. At this rate, I won't have any more make-up at all.... I groaned inwardly at the black smudges along my fingertips. Rubbing them on the metal ground of the tunnel, I tried to stand up. My legs were a little sore from sitting there so long, and the sun had gone down by then. I checked the time on my phone; 8:30. It's this dark at 8 fricking thirty?! My mind cried incredulously.

I sighed, finally gaining my balance. I walked into the door and into the main lobby. The clerks and such only glanced at me once, then went back to work. A person isn't exactly a surprise here, as it shouldn't be. I assumed, since none of my friends called me, that they weren't in any trouble. I thought that they just hadn't found anything and went back home for the night.

I was already tired enough, and besides, I had school the next morning. I had to go back into the routine; all the boring classes, the endless hours of meaningless lectures....I groaned aloud, as I stepped out of the building. The whole walk home, I thought, Well, at least all my buddies will be there with me.....

That night, before I went to bed, I sent a small prayer. Please, wherever Erin is....let her be safe. I flopped over in my sheets, trying to fall asleep, but it just wouldn't come. The thoughts kept racing in my head, the visions kept creeping their way back behind my eyes. Her lying bleeding on the floor, her heart ceasing to beat.....I moaned, "No...." already half asleep. I eventually calmed down enough to fall into an uneasy slumber.

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The screeching wheels of the bus alerted me that we were at the school, and my eyes flew up to look out the window. I blinked a few times, rain pouring down the windows and fogging them up. When it rains, it pours.... I thought to myself. Any other time I would've smiled, but not now. Erin wouldn't be here now. Well, at least I'll have all my other friends....

I sulked down the black steps, softly plopping into a shallow puddle, and walking towards the school building at a leisurely pace. Everyone around me was rushing to escape the freezing droplets, but I just casually strolled through it. I loved the rain; it didn't bother me one bit. It never did. Though it flattened my hair to the sides of my face, I welcomed its tiny beads of ice. It sorta symbolized washing my worries away...

I heaved a long sigh, squeezing my way past the sea of bobbing heads. I wanted to go ahead and get all my things in my locker...my shoulder was getting numb. I adjusted the strap of my backpack, pulling it up my right shoulder.

I finally found my locker, switching in the combination. Suddenly, I felt two arms wrap around me in a vice-like grip. I slightly gasped, but grinned. "Deanna?" I feebly muttered, my lungs being crushed. "Yup!" She giggled, finally letting go. I took a deep breath, and felt a little lightheaded. We laughed as I nearly fell over, tripping over my own feet, and hitting my locker door. It slammed shut, and a few people looked over, startled. Embarrassed, I walked away, pretending I didn't know whose locker it was.

Deanna and I giggled some more as we swiftly walked away. Once we were far enough from the 'crime scene', we headed into class and sat down beside each other. Thank God we had the same homeroom! We smiled at each other as we sat down in our normal seats. Erin's desk, right beside mine, was empty as expected, and I sighed as I looked at it. But, to my surprise, Patrick, Nick and Rachel's desks were also unoccupied. "Hey, have you seen them today?" I asked Deanna.

"No," She responded. "They're either absent or late." She added without hesitation. I wasn't completely convinced, and I tried to suppress the growing suspicion in the pit of my stomach. I nodded once, and the bell rang no later than a split second afterwards.

All throughout the day, I kept glancing around, hoping to see their faces, wishing that they just had a doctor's appointment or something. But, sadly, I was disappointed. By the end of the day, I heaved a sigh as I walked out the door. Alone. Deanna had to stay behind, for she rode the bus home. I used to be picked up by my mother and driven home, but I figured I could walk, since I was in high school now.

I slumped my backpack over my shoulder as I rounded a corner towards my house. I still had a ways to go, and I didn't have anyone to talk to, so my nagging thoughts got the best of me. I'm almost positive they've been kidnapped. What are the odds that they all got sick at the exact same time??? I thought miserably. Slim to none, I growled inwardly. Suddenly, I felt a presence walking behind me. I swiftly turned around, and my eyes flew wide open when I saw him standing against the light post.

"Hey, Hannah," He winked at me and grinned that stupid, foolish grin. Curse that blonde headed bozo.....

I sighed, trying to ignore the instant rush of blood to my cheeks, and instantly turned in the other direction. I started to walk of faster than I had before, but then he just followed. He was right behind me, I could hear him breathing. "SEAN!" I yelled, whipping around to face him. "Hey, beautiful," He chuckled, and bent down to peck my cheek. I was so confused that it didn't even register at first.

But once it did, I was pissed!!!!

I bitch-slapped him, right across the face, and marched off in the other direction. He stood there, cupping his hand around his jaw and I smirked in satisfaction. Good! I shouted inwardly. Teach him to think he can do that.....

Nick's P.O.V.

"I can't believe we're stuck in this stupid rat-hole until that bastard captures Hannah!" I spat the words in disgust, just willing that demon to hear me. "Nick! Don't say that! He'll hurt you!" Erin hissed from in front of me. We were all seated in random spots on the floor, the horrid news that Hannah was next still freshly burnt into our minds. "I don't care if he hurts me." I muttered darkly. Maybe if he's too preoccupied with me, he'll just forget about Hannah... I thought. But I knew that was a long shot.

"We can't let that asshole get to Hannah," I thought. My mind was set on keeping her safe, since I couldn't save Erin anymore.....

"Nick," She murmured. She scooted next to me and gently hugged my arm. "She'll be fine. We all know she can kick some ass if she needs to." She insisted. I smiled down at her. "True, I just hope that she realizes who the kidnapper is. We haven't even seen him, for cryin' out loud!" I added.

"I kind of don't want to see him...." Rachel stood up and walked over to us; she was only a few feet away in the first place. She sat down beside us and glanced at each of our faces. "Are you kidding me??" I responded. "Don't you wanna see the man who took us here? Don't you just wanna punch his face in with a barrel like Donkey Kong?!?!" Erin snorted and Rachel chuckled slightly. "Actually, no," She answered my outraged question. "I don't ever want to see that evil man's face. It'll only give me nightmares...." Erin mumbled under her breath. I don't think she knew that I heard, so I pretended I didn't.

Patrick was anxiously pacing in front of us, his tennis shoes silent against the tile flooring. He was grumbling something to himself, incoherent to us. He was obviously upset; who could blame him, his girlfriend was about to be kidnapped and there was nothing he could do about it. I felt for him, I really did. But he wasn't talking to us. I wonder why...maybe he was too nervous. Either way, I didn't want to bother his thoughts.

But then, I heard the door slam open upstairs. Oh, no! I cried in my mind. He has her!

Erin's P.O.V.

His thundering footsteps echoed menacingly throughout the room, bounding one after the other, getting closer and closer. I feared that he had already taken Hannah, and had planned to do away with us all. I shook where I sat, and Nick placed a firm, reassuring hand on my shoulder. The door flew open, and a strangely familiar face appeared behind the darkness. He stood tall, but his hands were cuffed. He was shoved unemotionally into the room, and he stumbled.

"Oh my god...." I whispered, and ran over to him. I grabbed him and hugged him tight. "Michael!" I screamed. He grinned down at me when I let go. "Erin...never expected to see you here." Blaze came in after him, and uncuffed his wrists. Michael immediately brought them around and hugged me. Tears of joy made their way out of my eyes. "I can't believe this...." I cried happily. I hadn't noticed it, but Blaze was still behind him, incredulously glaring at him.