Control » l.h

Chapter Fifteen

L U K E

I got out of the car before it was even in park and sprinted to the door. How could Calum let Jemma get to the basement? I didn't even bother with the door. I lifted my hand and the door flew open. I raced inside and called for Calum, but there was no reply. Michael and Ashton appeared at my flanks, looking around.

"Where are they?" Ashton wondered.

"We'll have to split up," I decided. "Michael, take the basement and this floor. Ashton will look through the rooms on the second floor. I'll help him when I'm done looking through the attic."

We ran in our separate directions, Michael racing around the stairs to get to the basement door, and Ashton and I running up the stairs. I ran down the hall towards the closet door while Ashton went down the opposite hall, where Mikey's room was. I got to the end of the hall and flung the door open, practically throwing myself against the other door only a few feet away. I bolted up the stairs and flung the third door open. I called for Jemma, but there was no response. I began to climb the latter to the platform by the window when Ashton called for Michael and I. I slid down the ladder and ran down the stairs, not bothering to close any of the doors behind me. I raced down the hall to Michael's room. The door to his room was open and there was Ashton yelling, Jemma screeching, and a gagging noise emitting from the room.

I turned into his room to see Ashton trying to pry Jemma off of Calum. Jemma was on top of Calum's back as he laid face down on the floor. She had what looked like one of the pillow cases around his neck while she pulled with all of her strength. Calum gagged, trying to breathe.

"Jemma, no!" I shouted, running over to her. I went to reach out to her, but she almost bit my hand when I did. As shocked as I was, I composed myself. I stood and closed my eyes. "STOP."

The room was frozen and silent. I opened my eyes as I heard Mikey step into the room behind me, breathless from running. Ashton was looking at us with a worried expression. Jemma had a crazed look in her eyes. Calum moved his head to look up at me. I focused my power on Jemma so Ashton could free her hands from the pillow case. He got it off of Calum's neck and Calum rubbed at where the fabric used to be.

"Jemma, what the hell are you doing?" I demanded.

"I saw the basement," she stated, her voice unwavering. "If you were going to kill me, you should've just let me jump off the building."

"I told you so many times, Jemma, we're not going to kill you." I insisted.

"Fucking bite me!" she yelled.

I threw her against the wall Michael's bed was pushed up against. "Jemma, stop it!"

Calum slowly stood and looked over at Jemma, who still had a look like she was a frightened caged animal. How was it possible that a girl could go from totally trusting us to wanting us dead in a matter of minutes? We weren't even gone a half an hour before this happened.

"I saw Officer Wigg," she began. "He told me your plan. You're going to kill him. He's your captive and you're going to kill him and probably burn his body, right? Well I'm your captive too. I saw all the weapons in your basement. I saw everything. I know everything."

"You don't know everything, obviously." I scoffed.

"I know I'd rather be dead right now than here with you." she spat.

J E M M A

I had to admit that I was actually scared of Luke when he yanked me off the bed without even touching me. The other three boys called after him, but he ignored them, making me walk to the other end of the hall, in the closet, up the stairs, and to the attic. He slammed the door shut behind him and locked it. The boys knew well enough not to get in Luke's way when he was like this.