Ark (#Wattys2016)

Being Fearless

"I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens."

                      -Woody Allen

My fingers fumbled as I hurried to answer the call. Bringing the phone to my ear, my voice caught in my throat as I hesitantly asked, "Dad?"

"Paxton? Is that you?" my father's hushed voice answered, laced with fear and panic. The breath was knocked out of me, the shock slowly wearing off. Zane was suddenly beside me, disbelief clear in his eyes.

"Your dad? He's alive?" he asked.

"Dad, this is Pax. I'm here. Where are you? Are you okay?" I asked frantically, ignoring my best friend's inquiry. I couldn't believe that I was finally hearing from my father after all this time.

"Pax, listen, I don't have much time. He's going to be back any second." I was startled by the urgent tone of my dad's voice. He spoke quickly and quietly, as if he was afraid of being overheard.

"Who? Dad, who are you talking about? Where are you?" There was so much I wanted to know; so many questions I wanted to ask him.

"I cant explain right now. I need you to listen very carefully. Whatever he tells you to do, don't do it. Okay? Don't do what he wants. I don't care what he does to me. I can take it. I just need you to stay strong." I flinched when he let out a startled yell. "He's here! Paxton, please! Promise me!"

"Dad! Where are you? Just tell me where you are and I'll find you!" I jumped to my feet, my heart slamming against my chest. I could hear a struggle on the other end of the phone, my father's sudden scream of pain bringing tears to my eyes.

"No! Get off me you son of a bitch! Paxton!" an inhuman growl mixed with his panicked gasps. "I swear to God, if you touch him, I'll kill you!"

"Dad? Dad!" My father's scream was suddenly cut off, replaced by eerie silence. I froze, my heart stilling in my chest. Raspy breathing seeped from the phone, telling me that there was still someone there. I swallowed the lump in my throat, my body shaking and my heart thumping. "Who is this?"

"Talk to me, Pax. Whats going on?" Zane asked, grabbing my shoulder. I held up a finger, silencing him. I could still hear the shallow breathing. Whoever had attacked my father was still on the line, listening.

"Who are you? What did you do to my dad?" I demanded, struggling to keep my voice even. The mystery man remained silent, his steady breathing echoing in my head. My skin burned with anger and I yelled into the phone, "Answer me, you fucking coward!"

The man chuckled darkly and replied, "Tsk, tsk, Elijah. That's not a very angelic thing to say."

A tingle ran up my spine as I instantly recognized his voice. It was the Boogeyman.

"Where is my father?" I ground out, venom lacing every syllable.

"Don't worry. The mortal is fine for now. He's just taking a brief nap." his nonchalant tone further infuriated me. I wanted nothing more than to find him and choke the life out him.

"I swear to God, I you hurt him, I'll kill you." I threatened. I wasn't even sure if I could even carry out such a promise but I intended to find out.

"Funny. Patrick here has said the same thing everyday for the past ten years. Well, that and other things. Its mostly just been a lot of screaming in agony and begging for mercy." he continued calmly, as if he was discussing the weather. A bitter tear fell down my face at the thought of my father being tortured day after day from over a decade. "I tried every thing I could think of but he refused to give you up. He must really care about you."