Blood Red Blindfold

Chapter 15

I jiggle the doorknob for the tenth time, praying it will magically open unlike all the other times. My useless arms tug, trying to rip the door open.

"Hails, it's okay. We don't have to open it," Josh says, trying to comfort me.

"Yes we do," I whisper exhaustedly. "We might need something in there. Or it might be tunnel out!"

Josh shakes his head, looking defeated. "It's not a tunnel out, Hailey."

"I know," I whisper, pounding my fist into the door. The peeling wood is rough underneath my skin. Josh's arms wrap around me protectively. "Can't we just break it down?"

"Too loud," he whispers.

I shove my face into his chest. "Why don't they just kill me already?" My cry is muffled by his shirt.

"Hey, hey. Don't you dare say that. I won't let that happen." Josh's arms tighten around me, holding me as close as possible. "I need you Hails. More than you know." Tears are soaking his already dirty shirt. He lifts my chin so that I'm looking at him. His thumb brushes the streaks of salt water from my face. "My parents are going to get us out if this. I promise. "

I stare into his eyes. They're so innocent, so full of hope. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Josh," I whisper. Loud footsteps cause me to jump. I pull Josh back to where we had been sitting and we plop down just in time for the door to swing open.

Hoping for Grant, I watch legs descend into a full body. It's Wade standing awkwardly on the bottom step, staring at us. "What are you two doing down here?" He questions.

"Waiting for you idiots to let us go," Josh retorts. I grip his hand, trying to warn him that these men are touchy. Wade could have a gun for all we know.

Wade's foot taps irritatedly on the step. His shaggy hair bounces with the movement. "I don't have time for this," he spits. "Y'all are coming with me." His voice drawls out, making him sound uneducated. Uneasy eyes dart to the red cloth on the basement floor. "Put that on," he instructs as a last minute thought.

Josh gently ties the blindfold around my eyes, following orders. He squeezes my shoulder to calm my nerves. But we both know that won't work. Wade grabs my wrist with his bony hand, and starts to pull me up the staircase. My shins bump into the steps multiple times, making me grunt. I can only assume Josh is following behind us.

The sound of my heart beat continuously becomes louder and louder, drumming in my ears. The rushing sound of blood cycles through me, leaving me feeling like I might explode. The creak of a door ahead of me sends me into a cringe. Wade roughly pulls me into a room. I hear the scraping of wood before I am shoved downwards into a chair. The red is pulled away from my eyes and left on the expanse of table in front of me.

Plates with chicken and metal silverware scatter the table around me. Josh is shoved into the seat across the table. At the head, Terrox sits with his arms crossed, looking amused. I frown at him.

His arms open wide, gesturing to the room and everything within it. "Welcome to dinner. Thanks for joining us tonight!" His smile is revolting.

"Screw you," I mutter. Josh kicks me softly under the table to warn me.

A bright chandelier hangs from the ceiling, throwing gold coloring across the walls. The table is set to look like a family dinner. I wrinkle my nose at the though of Terrox having a family.

Wade and Davidson stand guard just inside the door. There are empty seats at the table, but they don't dare to take them. Maybe they're just as scared of their boss as I am. I stare intently at the metal knife in front of me. It's only a butter knife, but I wonder if it could cause any damage. How nice it would be to stab it right into Terrox's throat.

Terrox starts to cut into his piece chicken, making me flinch with the sound of metal on ceramic. His chewing is loud and he looks at both of us in a manner that tells us to join in on the feast. Meekly, I take a small bite, avoiding eating with him in the room. Josh does the same thing.

"Okay. C'mon. What do you actually want? Clearly the point of this isn't to have a tea party," Josh approaches. I glance around the room. Where is Grant? My entire mind feels uneasy without him here as a buffer between the inherently evil and unfortunately innocent.

Terrox looks Josh up and down while shoving another slice of chicken into his mouth. "We're ready to make contact with family," he replies after swallowing.

"How do you plan to do that?" I question, glaring at him.

Terrox frowns and points his fork in my direction. "I would not say anything if I were you, missy. I haven't decided exactly what to do with you," he spits in my direction.

"You're going to ask my parents for more for her," Josh says, interrupting. "They'd pay." His eyes look like they're pleading with the man in charge.

The older man rolls his eyes. "You're such a fool. Too lovesick to see anything. You think she's worth that much? Her parents didn't even want her," he comments, his voice cruel.

My heart is pounding in my ears, tears threading to spill all over my cheeks. I shouldn't have told him he's merciless. He'll kill me. Davidson and Wade both move closer to the table.

Terrox's eyes narrow on me. "No. Perhaps I'll give her to Davidson. He seems to take a special liking to her."

The creepy man smiles at me, coming closer to my chair. I can feel his hands and saliva on my skin. I shrink back in my seat.

"Or better yet," Terrox continues, "I'll sell her to the market. She's a pretty girl. She'll make a killing for me. Men would pay for that body of her's." Both he and Davidson look at me hungrily.

"No!" Josh shouts, standing from his seat. Wade is instantly shoving him back down, holding him to the chair.

Davidson's hands find their way to my shoulders. I flinch away, but his grasp stays, inching closer to my chest, shoving me into the seat. Josh's eyes widen.

"Don't touch me," I gasp, squirming.

"Let her go!" He yells. "I swear my parents will pay anything!"

Terrox flicks his eyes at Davidson, who releases me. I instantly am scooting my chair as far away from him as I dare. I shudder from the leftover trace of skin on skin contact, remembering the tongue sounding down my neck.

Terrox leans against the table on his elbows. "Here's how this will work. Tomorrow, we will record the two of you for a message to Josh's parents. You will only repeat the information we tell you, and nothing more. You will be held at gunpoint." He points at me. "And I will not hesitate to kill her if something does not go the way I want it to." His eyes are stone cold, bearing down on me. He dares me to try something.

"Okay," I whisper, praying that Grant will appear to save me.