Don't Talk to Strangers

Chapter 8

There was a loud pounding at the door and Dave left my side. He opened the door and I heard him lock it from outside.

I quickly fell to my knees and started sobbing.

"Oh god, someone please help me. Please help me," I said under my breath.

"Kara," It was my father's voice. I remembered the dream i had and the panel in the closet.

I wiped my cheeks and opened the closet door as quietly as I could. I heard another loud thud outside the basement door and someone shaking the door knob vigorously.

I slam the closet door shut and started pulling on the panel of the back wall. My eyes widened when it revealed a dark tunnel.

I started crawling through it as fast as I could, not looking back. After a few minutes there was a wall that I couldn't pass. I ran a shaking hand over it and felt rough wooden planks. I let out a breath of relief and started to kick at it.

The wood was new, the uncle must've known of this escape tunnel and boarded it up. He must've trapped someone in the basement before..

My injured calf was now throbbing but the wood finally started to crack. I pushed a few planks out of the way and crawled onto wet grass. I looked around and I realized I was in there backyard. It was dark except for the half moon and the cool air nipped at my mostly bare body.

I limped to the front of the house and saw Josh's car how it was left. I ran to the front door that strangely was unlocked. I didn't want to go back in but I had to find Josh and Reagan.

The house was quiet and I headed upstairs. I called out for Josh and Rae but there was no response. I looked up at the ceiling and saw an attic door, the string swaying back and forth the tiniest bit.

I took a deep breath and pulled on it and started up the stairs. I looked around but it was pitch black.

"Josh? Rae? Are you in here?" I whispered.

I heard a whimper from the far corner of the attic and carefully made my way over. Rae sat there in a ball, her small eyes glistening with tears, a strip of tape across her mouth, and her hands tied behind her. What kind if monster would do this?

I ran over to her and wrapped my arms around her. I untied her dainty hands and gently peeled the tape off.

"It's ok Rae, we're going to be alright but we have to find Josh, ok?" She nodded her head and gripped tightly onto my hand.

"I'll go down first and make sure nobody is upstairs." I tried to go down the stairs but Rae's hand tightened around mind harder.

"Rae, I promise I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to you." Her hand slid out of mine and I quickly went down the creaking steps. I checked the hallway but no one was around.

She hopped down and entwined her fingers with mine. I had a feeling about going back to the basement but the thought made my stomach churn.

We went back down stairs and before I new it we were near the basement. I turned around the corner and my foot hit something soft. I looked down to see Josh laying on the floor blacked out. There was a bruise on his forehead and a cut on his lip.

"Josh, wake up. Please wake up Josh".

I put my ear to his mouth and a rush of relief swept over me.

"Kara?" I almost couldn't believe he was awake. My heart started to race and Rae ran past my side to hug him.

"Where's my uncle? I tried to save you Kara but...I'm sorry. Did he-?"

"No, no he didn't. You did save me, Josh." I helped him to his feet and wrapped my arms around him.

"Well isn't this sweet?" I could recognize that voice anywhere. We turned to see his uncle standing with a gun in his hand.

"Don't hurt them, it's me your after." Josh said pushing Rae and I behind him. I held onto Rae's hand trying to think of a plan.

"See, that's where you're wrong Josh. I'm not after you. Originally it was Rae, a sibling for a sibling. But little Rae is so young. Then, I met lovely Kara. The only reason you came back, though you knew I wanted you dead."

"I didn't kill him! I didn't kill my dad, or anyone!" Josh shouted.

"Don't lie!" His uncle raised the gun in his trembling hands.

Without thinking I grabbed the back of Josh's shirt and pulled him and Rae into the basement. I lead them to the closet and showed them the tunnel.

"Josh go, than Reagan." I said bending one of the metal hangers around the door knob.

We ran to the car but Rae's small legs couldn't keep up. She slid in the dirt and landed on a now mangled wrist. A scream escaped her mouth and Josh picked her up and we continued to the car.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the front door open and I jumped into the passenger seat and ducked. I heard the gun and the window shatter and the engine start all at once and then we were driving.

Josh grabbed the deep blue sweatshirt he lent me the first time I met him, the new him, from the back seat. He handed it to me and I put it on quickly.

"Rae, how's your wrist?" He asked her.

"It really hurts," She replied still crying.

Josh stopped the car and I couldn't believe we where already back in Ridgeway. We went into his house and I noticed it was almost two in the morning.

We went into the kitchen and Josh looked at Rae's bloody and bruised arm.

"Well, it's definitely not broken. We're very lucky." He cleaned it off and wrapped it up and told her not to use it.

"What do I tell the kids at school tomorrow?" She asked frowning.

"I'll send you next door like always when you wake up, and if anyone asked you slipped at the park," She nodded and kissed his cheek goodnight. She walked over to me and gave me a hug.

"Kara, I'm really sorry. This is all my fault." I could see how upset he was but I wasn't mad at him and I didn't know why.

I hugged him tight, happy everyone was ok.

"It's ok Josh,"

"No, Kara, I think maybe for a while we shouldn't hang out together. That way my uncle doesn't find you as easily,"

"Oh, ok." I said looking down. I didn't want to be without him, it was strange but I couldn't explain it.

"I won't like it either, but I think it will be better. Just for a while until things calm down a little,"

"Ok, well goodbye," I turned towards the door and put my hand on the knob.

I jumped when I felt Josh's hands around my waist. He gently turned me around so we were face to face and pulled me closer to him. He leaned in and I felt his lips on mine.

He pulled away and I noticed him giving me "that look". I felt my cheeks blazing but I didn't care.

"I'll talk to you soon, Kara McConnel," He gave me a half smile and I knew neither of us wanted to be apart for however long it would be.

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Hi everyone! Yes, I am still writing this story and I apologize a thousand times for not updating it in over a month but I had wrist surgery and couldn't type it. I'll try to update as much as I can.

I hoped you liked this chapter though, let me know what you think :) thanks.