Thanks to The Boots

Chapter Twenty-Six

We walk into the gang headquarters, it's very clean and modern on the inside. We turn down several hallways, and Dad points out some rooms to me. The training room is there, the cafeteria is down that hall, the living quarters are next to the bathrooms on the left, so on and so forth.

We walk into the interrogation room. It is painted white and quite small. There is a metal table in the center and a camera in all four corners of the room.

"Hello, Brianna Johns," the questioner smiles brightly. "I am Becky Carlos, and I just have a few questions for you."

"Okay," I'm already bored.

"First, what is the full name of your kidnapper?"

"Ryder Thomas, I don't know his middle name."

"What are other names that were given to you of people in the rival gang?"

"Ryan Thomas, Edward Thomas, and Helen."

"Did you ever go to any gang base, or headquarters?"

"No, I only went to Ryder Thomas's apartment, the Thomas mansion, the gym, and the woods."

"You stayed closely with Ryder Thomas, yes?"

"Yes, I believe he was assigned to watch over me by people above him. Most nights I stayed in his apartment, though the last night I was in their hands, last night, I stayed in the Thomas mansion."

"Do you know the addresses to anything?"

My mind flashes back to the mix up with the driver, Ryder gave me his address. But I can't for the life of me remember what it was. "I overheard Ryder Thomas' apartment address, but at this moment I cannot remember what it was."

"If you remember anything after this meeting, please call in and tell us."

"Of course."

"Next question, did any members of the rival gang force themselves onto you?"

"Force themselves onto me?"

"Did they force you to do anything sexually that you did not want to do?"

"No, no never. Ryder Thomas treated me very kindly."

"And how did you get the bruises on your neck?"

I tell her the full story of last night.

"While with Ryder Thomas, did you feel any romantic feelings toward him?"

I bite the inside of my cheek and part of my bottom lip. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I can hardly think about my feelings toward Ryder. Let alone talk about them with my dad and a stranger.

"Do you need a minute?" Dad asks kindly.

I shake my head quickly, "I'm okay. I can do this."

"Take your time, sweetie," the woman smiles.

I hold in a cringe, she thinks I'm weak. Dad thinks I'm weak. Everyone thinks I'm weak. Maybe I am weak, and I'm going to change that.

"Yes, I did have romantic feelings toward Ryder Thomas. Though, after realizing who he truly is, I pushed my feelings away."

"Do you still have feelings for Ryder Thomas?"

I pause, not knowing the answer. Even though I want to curl up into a ball and not answer, I straighten my back and answer, "I do not have feelings for Ryder Thomas anymore. After becoming aware of his character, I am disgusted by him and no longer have feelings for him." I hope it's true.