GAGE

35| h o s t a g e

I've been here for only about a day or two, but at least five critters have tried to attack me.

I don't even know if I'm in Illinois anymore. Probably not.

My head rests on my knees but I jolt up suddenly when the door busts open. A few guards walk up to me. "Are you guys here to tighten my rope? I can't get out so I think I'm good." I say halfheartedly.

When they all stand before me, Rich emits from the middle with a devilish smile on his face.

"Josie, how are you?" He asks joyfully.

"Amazing." I roll my eyes.

"That's nice. I see you met Campbell and Groucho," he gestures to the men that brought me here, "You've been a bad, bad girl, Josie. Very bad! I thought we had an agreement. Shit, we had two agreements! I don't like when people steal from me and don't keep their promises, do you know what I do to people that don't keep promises?" He walks towards me until he's directly in front of me.

"Do you?" He asks again when I do nothing.

"No, Rich, I don't. Please enlighten me." I say emotionless.

"Oh, well if you must know... I kill them."

"Oh?" I look around to room to show him that I don't care.

"Come." He motions for me to stand and I do my best without hands.

As we walk out I focus on the sound of everyone's shoes against the cold cement.

The car ride is silent and when we stop we're at a mansion type building. I'm dragged inside and there are women all over- some aren't even clothed.

"Take her to the DR." Rich says to the men. One of them puts their hand on my back and takes me to a room. He opens the white door and I'm shoved inside where girls are getting dressed and getting their hair and makeup done. The carpet is red and the large room is filled with vanities.

I probably look like hell in considering I've been barely living these past few days.

A blonde girl takes my arm, "Rich wants you to get dressed." She takes me to a rack, "Pick a good one."

I'm left alone in front of the metal frame.

What the hell is this?

"Hey, hurry up I've got girls wai-" A feminine voice says, "Josie." I turn to see a wide eyed Bret.

My vision blurs and the corners of my mouth fall.

"Girl, what the hell?" He exclaims.

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I choke on my heavy breathing and bury my head into his tight white button up.

I can't believe any of this happening. I miss Gage which goes to show how pathetic I am and now I'm being held hostage for trying to help that idiot.

Ugh, I miss him. I didn't realize how important he was to me until I lost him. Or he left me.

I saw him almost everyday; it was like we craved each other and I couldn't stay away even if I tried. To be discarded so carelessly like I have been was heartbreaking. Despite him being a stranger, I love how his eyes change colors when he looks at me, I love how my name sounds coming off his tongue, I love how he kisses me anywhere and everywhere he can whenever he can.

I shouldn't be feeling this way. How could someone be in love with a stranger? Only an idiot can.

I only realize I'm sobbing when Bret whispers something that sounds like a blur.

"Josie, babe, you're going to get out of here, okay?" He tries to comfort me.

"They took me." I sniffle, ignoring him.

My head and heart battle for the highest echelon of pain.

"I would tell you the way out of here, but that would be way too dangerous for you. I don't know what to do, but I can't let you go on that stage." Bret contemplates what to do with me.

"What stage?" I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand.

"The auction stage, honey." When the words leave his mouth I nearly collapse. So it is happening. This is really fucking happening.

Maybe if I dress like a rat no one will bid for me. These men are desperate, so I take that back.

I wouldn't be in any of this mess if I hadn't met that delinquent. That beautiful, beautiful delinquent.

Ugh!

Fuck. My emotions take over as tears begin to form in puddles at the brink of spilling over. My bottom lip shakes and Bret tries to calm me down, "You'll be okay, okay just relax. Where's Gage?"

I just shrug and my eyes begin to burn.

"I don't know if he's here or not, but there's no way if knowing for sure. It's not like I can scan over the thousand people and spot him." Bret continues.

"Thousand?" I gawk. That means I could be leaving this place with anyone! I suddenly feel the need to start crying again. I haven't cried in a while so there's obviously something wrong with me.

I can't tell if I'm crying more because of Gage or because I'm being forced to become a prostitute for the night or however long Rich decides to keep me.

Maybe I should have ran from Gage after all, not like I could though. I could've tried at least.

"Josie," Bret's thumb catches my tears, "you will be okay." He assures. I want to believe him, but I know he can't promise anything.