Odd Living

Twentysix

I wake up and the couch is still damp from my tears. I notice that there is a bagel on the table next to the couch with some fresh clothes. I get dressed first simply to get out of his clothes.

While eating the bagel, I devise a plan. I hope it works.

Cal knocks at the door at what I'm assuming 8am, giving us an hour to get to the pharmacy. "Morning Mackenzie. Are you ready?" He asks sweetly.

Cal is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Even though I'm in this situation, he is being so kind about it.
He has brownish-green eyes and dark colored hair. He still has the mask on so I can't see anything else. He sounds like he is in his early 20.

"Yeah. Let me just brush my hair." I walk over to the little bathroom and scavenge for a comb. "Is Brandon awake?"

"I don't believe so; we should hurry then." He says just watching me.

"Why do you keep looking at me? Is there something wrong?" I ask, setting the comb down.

"Uhh... yes... I mean no. There is nothing wrong with you, you just look familiar, that's all." He says shyly.

"Oh. Well I'm ready now. Can we go?"

"Uhhh... sure." He clears his throat. "We are walking, is that fine?"

"Yeah. I don't mind." I say following him up the stairs.

I look around and we are in the room where I first got out of the trunk. It looks like a garage. There is a tool bench and two cars. How long does Brandon plan on staying in America? Oh yeah, until I "love him" again. Dumbass.

"You ready?" He asks before opening one of the larger doors.

As soon as the door opens, he takes his mask off and puts his hood on.

"Yep."

We walk to the more populated areas and I notice the same poster on nearly every lamp post. It's a missing poster. OF ME. Cal cannot see this, he'll report back to Brandon and I'll be stuck in that basement forever.

"Do you see all of the posters?" He asks.

Shit.

"Yeah. Please don't tell Brandon. I don't want to be in that basement for the rest of my life."

"I wasn't planning on it. People care about you and miss you. I think you should run. Run as far away as possible."

What? If I was with Dr. Douche, he would bring me right back to the house. He wouldn't even give me a chance.

"What do you mean?" I am very confused.

"Hit me in the face, really really hard, and run. You don't deserve this." He takes off his hood. Revealing himself.

"I... I can't do that to you. I don't want to hurt you. Brandon will kill you if he found out I disappeared on your watch."

"I know, but it's worth it. You don't have to do it now, you can wait until we are walking back. Just promise me you will run." Cal says, looking deeply into my eyes.

"I can't run. Literally but I'll walk as fast as I can." I promise him. He is going to be in so much trouble and it's all my fault.

We walk into the store and Mr. Ludwig notices I'm not with Ian.

"What happened to that other young man?" He asks. "You two stopped talking?"

"Ian? No, we are talking. He was just... busy... at home," I say. "Cal was kind enough to take me to work."

"Ian? Ian Carter? That's why you looked familiar. Oh my god!" Cal had an ah-ha moment. He left the store to calm down a bit.

"The real reason that he took me to work is because one of his friends kidnapped me and he didn't trust me to go to work by myself. Ian is unaware that I am missing. When Cal gets back, please don't say anything, okay?" I say without even breathing.

Mr. Ludwig nods, understanding. "Would you like to work register or stock shelves?" He asks like nothing happened.

"I can stock shelves for a while." I head to the back store room and refill the shelves a box at a time.

Cal comes back in the store and asks where I went. Mr. Ludwig points to the aisle I'm in.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew Ian?" He asks sounding a bit upset.

"I didn't know you knew him. All I know about you is your name." I say while fixing the band-aids.

"Everyone knows Ian. He is huge on YouTube..." Cal was cut off by the ring of a bell attached to the front door.

Ian walks in. "Ah, Ian. I remember you." Mr. Ludwig says loud enough for me to hear.

Cal gets up and goes to the front of the store. "Ian, it's good to see you again." Cal says.

"Calvin, what are you doing here?" Ian asks angrily.

"Just stopping by for some Advil. Looking for someone?" Cal asks sassily.

I don't know if I should go up there or stay back here. If I go up there Cal will most likely get pissed but if I stay back here Ian will leave. I hear Mr. Ludwig coming over.

"You should go up there, he misses you." He whispers as he pretends to fix something above me.

"Thank you." I whisper back.

I stand up and walk into the line of Ian's sight. He pushed Cal out of the way and runs to me, arms open, and gives me a strong hug.