Don't Look Back

While I'm Gone

Sky’s POV

I woke up, so woozy. I couldn’t keep my balance and I fell over. Where was I? I couldn’t see anything. Then a big door opened, revealing a bright light. I shielded my eyes, because they had just adjusted to the dark. Then someone walked in. I wasn’t in a room though, the floor was cold, and metal. A voice said, “Hello again Skylar. You just won’t give up now will you?” I recognized that voice, that confident tone. I said, “What do you want?” My father said, “You.” I said, “What do you want me for?” He walked over so he was standing in front of me. Towering over me. I felt too woozy to stand up. He said, “I want you to suffer. When you took that bracelet, you left me with nothing. Your mother took my half of my money, plus her half and ran off. I’m still tracking her down, but if you had kept your hands off of other people’s property, we wouldn’t have had an issue. But, also, you made me kill my son.” I said, “I didn’t make you do anything. You’re just sick in the head, you torture and kill people as you please. It’s like it’s a game for you, and you always have to win. But I give up now, you win.” He looked a little shocked, not expecting me to give up so easily. He said, “I know you’re just trying to trick me. So here’s the deal, as long as you stay here, I will leave your friends alone. The second you try to escape, I bring one here. And soon enough, they might all be here.” I said, “I’m not going to try to escape. I give up.” He said, “Sure you do.” Sarcastically. I said, “So, what am I supposed to do?” He said, “Well, you are in a shipping crate, There are air holes, you just can’t see them, I didn’t want to make the holes big enough so you could see where you are. But, you can breathe, but no food, no water. Enjoy hell.”  He turned to walk dramatically out the door, he does that. So I showed him that I wasn’t afraid, so I said, “Sure, I could use a vacation.” He stopped in his tracks and turned around. “From what?” I said, “Well, your goons took my clothes, so all I was in was my bra and underwear when I was saved, so now everyone at school has been calling me slut, whore, fat. It was more torturous at my school than with you.” He said, “Skylar, you are a beautiful girl and you are not fat, you are very slim. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.” I sarcastically said, “What is this? You have some dad left in you?” he laughed, “I will always be your father. Until you die, I am.” I said, “And when exactly is that?” He said, “When you do. And it will be here. By the way, Connor and Chase will be your supervisors. I’m letting them have you. I noticed that Tanner and Carter didn’t seem to do their job very well last time. So, Chase and Connor will be it, no heroes. Just you and them.” I said, “Bring it on.” And he smiled and left. He felt proud, I could see it. He thinks he’s done so well. But it’s just because I know that it’s either I die here, or I die later, slowly and painfully. So I just curled up into a little ball and fell asleep.

Sky's POV

I heard the door open, this time, the light was not as bright. Yeah, wondered where I was, but I didn't really care. Someone walked in and shut the door. I didn't move, I just laid there. Whatever I was drugged with made it uncomfortable to move. He turned on a light, which was a little lightbulb in the ceiling with a little chain. It was Connor. I looked up at him, but then back down at the floor. He smiled, "You aren't going to do anything? We don't have your friends. You aren't going to fight back?" I calmly said, "No. It's okay." He stepped closer and sat down in front of me. I sat up. He put his gun in his belt. "What's okay?" I said, "I die here, or I die at home. Does it really matter when?" He said? "Why would you die at home?" I said, "Im sick. I'm going to die soon. So I don't really care anymore." He said, "I didn't know that." I said, "Because I never told anyone else before." I didn't have to tell Dylan because he was there when I went. Connor said, "Are you hungry?" I said, "I thought I was supposed to suffer a long and painful death." He said, "But I don't want that anymore." He got up and left. I was so confused. He came back an hour later with a bag. He put it on the floor in front of me then smiled and walked back out. I opened the bag and found a ham and chews sandwich with a bottle of apple juice. I scarfed it down and stuffed the garbage in my jacket pocket. Connor helped me, I didn't want to get him in trouble. Then heard voices outside. There was some yelling, but I couldn't hear through the box. I wanted to get up and put my ear to the door, but my foot was chained to the back wall. The yelling was three different voices. Then I heard two gunshots. Each shot made me jump, I prayed there wouldn't be a third. Then the door swung open. Connor walked in. He dropped his phone on my lap. "You're free. Forever." I said, "What did you do?" He bent down in front of me, "He can't hurt you anymore. Call the police in five minutes, give me a head start. I'm sorry for what I did to you. I really am." He stood up and started to walk out. I said, "Wait, Connor, come back." He came back, and I stood up, I kissed him. Not a long deep kiss, but a short but thankful one. When I pulled back I said, "I owe you one." He smiled and left. I sat back down and waited five minutes. Then I called the police. When they got here two police officers ran into the shipping crate that I was in. One man and one woman. The man bent down in front of me and said, "We're going to get you out of here." He looked at the chain attached to my ankle from the wall. His partner took out a little lock pick and freed me. They helped me up, it made my head spin. I said, "They drugged me, can you help me out?" The woman put my arm over her shoulder and she put her arm around my waist. She said, "Look straight up, whatever you do, do not look down." We started to walk out. I did it. I looked down. My father and Chase were lying on the floor. Gunshots in both of them, square in the chest. My jaw dropped. The officer said, "I told you not to look." I turned and she walked me back to the squad car. She let me sit up front and she drove me to the station. When we got there she said, "Can you tell us what happened?" Two officers sat on one side of the desk, I was on the other. I said, "I was taken from my school, they drugged me and took me away. I woke up in that box and I had no idea where I was. It was my dad, he said he was going to leave me there to die. He had two boys from my school as guards, I guess he paid them or something. But one of them, he's an old friend of a friend. But we never got along, so, at first, he wanted me dead. But then, the next thing I knew, I heard two gunshots and he walked in and gave me his phone. Then he left." One officer said, "We are sorry this happened to you, is there anyone who can come and pick you up, or would you like an officer to drive you home?" I said, "I can have a friend pick me up, is there a phone I can use?"

Ross's POV

My phone rang, it was the police station. I picked up, "Ross?" I heard. I said, "Sky?" She said, "Yeah, it's me, can you pick me up?" I said, "I’m on my way." And hung up. I was so happy I ran out the door and drove down to the police station. When I got there, I ran inside. I saw Sky sitting on a bench out front. I ran over and she stood up. I picked her up and hugged her. When I put her down, she gave me a little smile. I said, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to be free?” She said, “But, now, I’m free from him forever.” I said, “Wait, what?” She said, “Connor shot Chase and my dad. They’re dead.” I said, “Isn’t that a good thing?” She said, “Everyone does bad things, they make bad decisions, mistakes, but it’s all a part of life. But they shouldn’t be killed for it. Everyone deserves a second chance. I saw the way my dad looked at me, he knew he had me, but he knew that I wasn’t scared. And he looked proud. Even if he was going to leave me to die, I knew he was proud.” I said, “Sky, that is so messed up. He tried to kill you, he made your life hell. He deserved to die.” She said, “Just, forget it. I’m gonna walk home, just, tell everyone I’m okay.” I said, “Sky, I know what that means, ‘forget it’. If something bothers you, tell me. Don’t just say that and then just walk away. You just let your dad push you in a box, to leave you there to starve to death. That should upset you. He killed your brother.” She said, “Wait, how long was I gone?” I said, “Three days.” She looked shocked, “What did I miss here?” He said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll fill you in tomorrow.” She said, “No, what happened?” I said, “Carter and Tanner were murdered. I think you can fill in the rest. He deserved to die Sky.” She looked at the floor, eyes wide. Then she ran off. I let out a sigh and went home. I told everyone she was okay and they all asked me what happened. Rydel was extra interested. We all knew that Sky’s dad wanted Sky, he would have just killed Rydel. After I told everyone what had happened with Sky, I went into my room and fell asleep.