Control » l.h

Chapter Fourteen

There are times when my depression was simply an annoying, dull buzzing in the back of my mind. It was something that I couldn't get rid of, but I could at least ignore it for a while and try to live and act normally as if nothing was wrong. But then there were the times when my depression was front and center, demanding attention. Where it felt like the waves were dragging me farther into the dark, cold ocean and there was no getting out. This was one of those moments.

I could hear Calum calling my name and running around on the floor above me, trying to see where my shrieks were coming from. I knew I should just run, but why? That voice in my head asked that question over and over. Why run? I wanted to die anyway, so let them find me. Let Luke lose his temper to the point where he strangles me like the guy at the docks. But this time there won't be anyone to stop him.

The fact that the boy I had learned to trust with my life was plotting to kill a police officer was terrifying to me. I could only imagine what other things he had hid from me. He was probably planning to kill me too. Everything he said was probably a lie. He was obviously good at that.

"Jemma!" Calum was calling as he scrambled down the basement stairs. He didn't even have to check the storage part of the basement, he knew I had found their secret torture chamber. His arms wrapped around my body that was crumpled on the ground. "Jemma, shhh, it's okay."

"No!" I sobbed, yelling as loud as I could. I pushed at him as hard as I could. Despite what the depressing little voice was saying, I wasn't going to die here in a basement. "No, get away from me! You're a liar! You're all liars!"

"Jemma, please calm down." he begged, trying to keep his voice steady.

"No, get me out of here!" I demanded as hot tears raced down my face. I got to my feet and stared daggers at Calum. "I'm not going to let you kill me here!"

Calum looked at me quizzically. "We're not going to kill you, Jemma, I promise."

"You're a liar and a killer," I said, my voice lowered but still intense. "You were hiding this from me, who knows what else you've been hiding from me."

"Nothing else, I swea-"

"Shut up!" I screeched as I shoved passed Calum and raced up the stairs.

C A L U M

I pushed myself off the ground, not even going to put the rag back over Wigg's mouth. I followed Jemma up the stairs as fast as I could, but she slammed the door in my face and locked it.

"Ugh, fuck." I groaned.

I put my hands on the railings on either side before leaning back and kicking effortlessly at the door, causing it to fly open. We'd need new locks on the door, but that was the least of my problems right now. I raced around the stairs to see Jemma jiggling the lock on the door. She heard me and turned, her eyes terrified. She bolted into the living dining room and I raced after her while trying to get my phone out of my pocket. I had to get the boys home ASAP.

Jemma froze on the opposite end of the table I was on. Her fists gripped at the backs of two of the chairs. I held my hands up, showing her I wasn't going to hurt her. My cell phone was still in my right hand.

"Jemma, just listen to me," I begged. "We're not going to hurt you, okay? We just need to get rid of Officer Wigg to keep you and Michael safe."

"Fucking bullshit." she spat, running to the right and into the kitchen.

I paused to speed dial Luke. As it rang, I ran into the kitchen. He picked up on the second ring.

"Luke, we have a problem," I told him as I stopped in the kitchen. There was no sign of her, but I knew she had to be in there. "It's a J3 into a J4."

The boys and I had different codes for different situations. When Jemma showed up the first night, we came up with ones specifically for Jemma issues. A J1 would mean Jemma was dead, a J2 meant Jemma was missing, and a J3 meant Jemma found the basement. J4 was in case Jemma ever had a mental breakdown or basically went crazy.

"Shit," he cursed. I heard him talk to Ashton, telling him to turn the car around. "We'll be home in five minutes. Where is she now."

I looked around the kitchen. "It's turning into a J2. I don't know."

"She's got to still be in the house, right?" he offered.

"I know she is." I stated.

"Find her." he hissed.

Just then, Jemma popped up from behind the counter and sent a knife whizzing towards me. I dodged it easily before she turned and ran again.

"Found her. Get here fast." I reported before hanging up and running after her again.

I heard her footsteps run up the stairs. I ran after her and followed her down the opposite hallway the attic was in. Where was she going? I heard one of the two doors slam shut and stopped between the two rooms. One of the rooms was Mikeys, and the other was one of the spare bedrooms. I looked between them, unsure of which one I should check first. Maybe I should just stand guard outside of both of them.

A bump came from inside Mikey's room. I walked silent to the door and twisted the knob. I opened the door and let the light from the hall flood inside the dark room. Jemma must've been standing in one of the corners because the light didn't hit her at all. I turned the lights on, but I still didn't see Jemma.

"My turn." her voice came from behind me.

Before I could turn around, a fabric was squeezing at my neck.