Sometimes You Need To Let Down Your Hair

Chapter 20

       Lucas pulled away and looked at me. He still looked concerned. I was kinda confused about why he kissed me, but at least it was the only thing I felt confused about. I didn't mind, and in fact I wished it had lasted a little longer, but why would he kiss me right now? After all I'm injured, and just a few moments ago I was so out of it that I couldn't even stand up. Sure my head still hurt a lot, but it wasn't as hard to think straight anymore.  "Don't get me wrong that was nice, but why did you kiss me?" I asked.

       Lucas sighed with relief, and laughed a little. "Well, you were really out of it and I thought maybe that could make you focus." I rolled my eyes and sent a half-hearted glare his way, but he just shrugged his shoulders. "What? It looks like it worked."

       "Okay, well we can talk about that later. Right now we need to get out of here," I said. 

       "Why? What happened? I came back after hearing you scream. I was afraid something had happened, so when you threw the rope down I climbed up as fast as I could. Then I found you lying on the other side of the room with blood dripping down your pretty face. It took forever to even get you to open your eyes," he said. At this point he was looking at the ground. Then he looked up, "Honestly, it scared the life out of me. I didn't know what to think." 

        "What happened Willow?" He asked. I took a deep breath and told him everything that had happened. He was shocked, and barely even let me finish before jumping to his feet and saying, "First of all I'm sorry I didn't listen when you said we needed to get out of here right away. Secondly, I think we should leave as soon as possible."

       I nodded my head, and then Lucas helped me stand up. Lucas grabbed my hand and we walked to the door. I was surprised to see that it was unlocked. As we made our way out into the hallway I got a little scared. Gothel was so upset before, so I didn't see why she would suddenly leave. The house was dark and more than a few times I tripped over something. Luckily Lucas still held onto me so I didn't fall. We made it downstairs without any incidents, but the front door wouldn't open. I practically growled in frustration.  

       Lucas turned to head to the kitchen where the sliding doors were, but I pulled back on his hand. "If she shows up you need to run. She won't hurt me, but she'd hurt you do please just run," I whispered. 

       Lucas shook his head and trailed his fingers across my face, "It looks like she's already hurt you. I'm not going anywhere." I smiled at his kindness, but I wasn't happy about it. I'd deal with whatever she threw at me and I'd find a way to get out of it.

       Lucas grabbed my hand again and pulled me to the kitchen. We walked around the island and went to the sliding doors. Lucas and I shared a hesitant look before I tried to open the door. I was relieved and surprised when it opened up. I immediately gave Lucas a giant hug because I knew that what walking through the door would mean for me. I'd be free to live my life the way I wanted to.

       "Not so fast," a cold menacing voice said from the doorway that lead into the kitchen. Lucas and I separated from the hug and saw Gothel standing there with a gun in her hands. My breath got caught in my throat and I forgot how to breathe. Where did the gun come from? Lucas stepped in front on me protectively and by doing so pulled me out of my sudden fear. i had to be brave, or someone would get hurt. 

       Gothel laughed cruelly and said, "So this is the boy I've heard so little about," she said gesturing to Lucas with her gun. "I assume you've  told him about everything while I was searching for my friend here?" I remained silent as I berated myself for thinking that this was over. Of course she'd be waiting, why did I ever think we'd make it out so easily? Gothel sighed, "So we're going to have to do this the hard way. Alright." She cocked the gun and gestured to the stools sitting by the island, "Have a seat."

       We reluctantly sat down. Lucas sat on the side closest to the stove, and I sat in front of him. "Now what are we going to do with you two?" She asked mockingly. 

       I sarcastically said, "Well for starters you could put down the gun and let us leave."

       Lucas smirked, but she didn't find my retort very funny. "I think not. Willow dear you are coming with me no matter what, but you can decide what happens to your friend. If you don't put up a fight, I'll leave him here tied up. Someone will find him eventually, and he'll be alright. However, if you find it necessary to defy me, I'll put a bullet through his head."

       My eyes widened. She wouldn't, would she? I looked in her eyes, and realized that she would if it meant no one would ever find out about what she did. I looked at Lucas. He was scared, but he said, "Willow don't go with her." Gothel pressed the gun to his forehead. 

        "Make your choice Willow, or I will make it for you."

        I automatically yelled, "I'll go with you! Just don't hurt him." 

       Gothel smirked and told me to wait in the kitchen while she grabbed the rope from the front room. She walked out and Lucas and I ran to each other. "We have to go now. We can make it Willow," he said. 

       I thought about the gun. If I left, when she caught up to us she would kill Lucas. I couldn't let that happen. I shook my head. "No. If we go, then you'll die. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

       Lucas shook his head and grabbed my hand. "Willow I can't let you do that. If you go then you'll never leave. You have to realize, I'll be okay. Please lets get out of here while we can. Look I lov-" I didn't want to let me talk him out of what I was about to do, so I kissed him to make him stop. When I pulled away he was surprised.

       He didn't realize I had balled my hand up in a fist and prepared to punch him. Tears fell down my face and I whispered, "Please forgive me for this." He looked confused, but when he noticed what I was preparing to do the realization started to settle in. Then it hit him. My first that is, not the realization that I was about to use it to knock him out. He fell, so caught him. I lowered him down to the floor and checked to make sure that I hadn't seriously injured him. I had read a martial arts book a while back, and it said a cross punch like the one I just did could be used to knock someone out and shouldn't hurt them too bad.

        First I checked his pulse because it seemed like something I should do, it was perfectly fine. Next I felt where I had punched him. His jaw didn't feel broken, but I figured it would probably bruise. I hoped he'd be alright, and I hoped that he wouldn't hate me when he woke up. Just then Gothel came in with the rope. She saw Lucas laying on the floor and tossed me the rope. she didn't comment about his sudden loss of consciousness. 

       "Well, get to it and tie him up. We can't have him following when he wakes up now can we?" I looked at her, she still had the gun pointed at us. I sat Lucas against the island and loosely tied him to it. I felt really guilty, but if I hadn't of knocked him out he would've gotten himself killed. I couldn't let him do that! He was my first crush, and my best friend. I wouldn't let him die because of me. After I tied him up, I stood up and faced Gothel.

       She pulled me to the front door and told me that before we left we would have to make some changes. "First, we will act like this never happened. Second, you will call me mother. Third, you will do what I say when I say it. And lastly, you will not ever leave the house again or have any contact with anyone but myself. Do I make myself clear?"

       I mumbled yes and looked away from her. Unintentionally my gaze settled upon a clear bottle and rag that sat on the stand by the doorway that led to the living room. She grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at her, "Do not mumble. I hate it when you do that. Now, do I make myself clear?" 

       "Yes, mother," I said angrily.  

       "Good," she replied. Then she grabbed the rag and held it over my face. I reflexively struggled when I smelt something funny and started to feel woozy, but it wasn't long until I passed out.