Hold Me Down (Peterick) ➳ Book 3

Eight

Kellin wasn't worried about Vic not being around when he woke up. However, as the hours passed by his nerves grew. He sat by the window, watching the sun rise and waiting for Vic to return. Any time he'd gone out before he was always back before Kellin woke up. It was something he promised long before they even started dating.

So by the time Alan woke up, Kellin was a nervous wreck. He'd taken to pacing the length of the room, and noting Alan said could stop him.

"C'mon, Kellin, I'm sure he's fine."

"He's not back. Of course he's not fine."

"No ones been here in months, okay? Maybe he got tired and decided to sleep. Everyone knows how little he sleeps."

"It doesn't feel right."

Alan sighed. "Fine. Let's go talk to Austin and see what he thinks."

Kellin snickered because Alan would use any excuse to talk to Austin. He was like a moth to a flame when it came to the man, and unfortunately he always got burned.

The two hurried down the hallway and into Austin's room without knocking. The door was open anyway, and they could hear the laughter of a few others inside.

No one noticed their arrival, but Kellin's usually shy persona was overtaken by the fear of losing Vic.

"Hey, Austin," he began. "Vic's missing."

Jamie, Phil, Tino, and Jack all stopped what they were doing and looked over at Kellin.

"Missing?" Austin asked, clearly looking for some elaboration.

"Yeah. Missing. I haven't seen him in hours."

"Maybe he just went out," Jamie suggested with a shrug of his shoulders. "He used to do it a lot after . . . you know."

"That's what I said, but he's convinced somethings wrong," Alan interjected.

"There is something wrong," Kellin whined. "Please."

Austin sighed. "Fine."

"You're giving into him?" Alan exclaimed.

"It's better to be safe than sorry."

"But what if there's something out there?"

"Everything will be fine, Alan. Why're you so worried anyway?" Austin ruffled Alan's red hair and went about gathering what he might need.

Alan almost said it. Almost told Austin how he was worried he wouldn't come back. Almost told Austin how much he really loved him. But Austin was still recovering over the death of his wife, and it wasn't fair of Alan to drop something so big on him. So instead he ignored the question and guided Kellin towards the sofa.

"I'm, uh, gonna go back to my room," Kellin muttered.

"Want me to come? I'll sit with you until they're back," Alan offered.

Kellin shook his head. "I'm just gonna be sitting there worrying."

Alan gave Kellin a pointed look as if it say "Me too." 

So somehow the two were in Kellin and Vic's room, but not for the purpose the rest of the group assumed.

"You do know we're the least likely to fight off anything that could attack him, right?" Alan pointed out as he slipped on his shoes.

"Hey. I'll have you know I took down one of those aliens by myself."

"And then screamed liked a girl for ten minutes after."

"I wasn't expecting it to start spewing black stuff out of its mouth. My favourite shirt was ruined."

"Right."

"Whatever, let's go," Kellin snapped.

They were sure to stay in the shadows as they trailed Austin, and duck behind buildings as he turned around. As they continued on, they did their own search of the area, taking through the places Vic may be.

Kellin was just stepping out into the street, when Alan shoved him back, following him seconds later.

"Wh—?" A hand was placed over his mouth before he could finish.

Alan was shaking his head, a clear indicator to not talk. When Kellin nodded, Alan removed his had and gestures towards the street.

Kellin smiled smugly—he was right in assuming Vic hadn't just fallen asleep somwehere—but let the expression drop at the sound of a crack.

This time it was his turn to hold Alan back as he tried to help Austin. With enough strength, Alan was subdued, and Kellin was able to peak around the building.

Austin's unconscious figure was being carried away, and the only way to save him was to follow him.

*

Vic wasn't at all surprised to see Austin tied in the chair next to him. If anyone in the group went missing, Austin was always the one to look for them, and usually he wouldn't stop until he found them. Most of the time it was a good thing, but sometimes it was better not knowing.

Austin had discovered that after finding his wife dead in the corner of a basement a few days after she went missing. He hadn't been the same. He was getting better though. The entire group saw to that.

"So, Kellin was right," Austin muttered.

Vic chuckled. Leave it to Kellin to get worked up like that. "He usually is."

Austin nodded in agreement.

"Know where we are?" Vic asked.

"No. Whoever it was knocked me out before I could see them. They pack a strong punch though."

Vic could feel his own body aching. He assumed a portion of the pain had been from his uncomfortable sitting position, but the rest of it had to be from whatever torment he'd gone through since his abduction. Vic couldn't remember the last few hours well, but something suppressed in his mind gave him the idea that he'd been interrogated in cruel and unusual ways.

"Is everyone else safe?"

"I hope so. And I hope Kellin and Alan were smart and didn't do anything stupid."

The door to the side flew open and to Vic's surprise Kellin and Alan were brought in.

"What the hell did you do to them?" Vic demanded at the sight of their glazed over eyes.

"Nothing," the man said as he pushed the two further into the room. "Just something to keep them comfortable and calm until I'm ready for them."

"You're going to kill us. Aren't you?"

The man stopped mid-step.

"No. Not yet."