He Did This To Me

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

It had been way too long since I last saw Brayden - or heard him, in my case. I was starving. Now it was four days. Hunger was getting the best of me. My body was shaking worse than before. Getting to the point where I couldn't sleep because I was waking myself up. I couldn't be sure that even if I did fall asleep, that I would ever wake up again.

"Help...me..." I managed to utter to no one in particular. There was no one to hear me, and my throat wasn't letting me get to my real voice. It came out scratchy and hoarse. But the sound of something besides my own thoughts, and the drip of the water into the bucket, was nice to hear.

"I'm going to die here. Brayden will leave me to rot while my family tries to find me. I will become a skeleton." I choke out. I needed to hear something other than the growling of my hungry stomach.

It was so cold in this room. Like I was trapped in a freezer that contained no food or water. All I could get to drink was what I could manage to melt without getting frostbite, and what dripped from the roof.

I was bored. Nothing to do here. So I opened my imagination. I thought about Colton and me. We would grow old together, and I would die with his hand in mine. I swear, I could feel his presence. His voice whispered in my ear, "I love you Adri. Always have, always will."

I slipped into a sleep that I didn't know if I would ever wake up from. Maybe I wouldn't, and maybe I would be thankful if I didn't.

***Colton's POV***

"Where is she?" I scream at Brayden. He holds his hands up to protect his self in case I decide to hit him. "If you don't want to die, tell me where she is!"

He spits in my face. "You won't kill me because if I die, so will she!" He's got a point. I'm taken by surprise by his comment. It's true, he's the only one who knows where she is. I don't have much choice but to let him live.

"Okay then, tell me why you were in my daughters hospital room. Now!"

He looks away.

"For Adrianna. She was worried about Ella so I went to see how she was. I swear I wasn't going to harm her!" he cries. There's something about the intensity in his eyes that makes me believe him. Brayden's one to stand up for what he believes in, and if he says he was doing it for Adrianna, maybe I should believe him.

"Okay Brayden. I believe you. But please, please! Just tell me where she is! If you truly loved her, you wouldn't let her die!" The last part I barely manage to choke out. I want so badly to end his life! Like nothing I've craved before!

His eyes go cold. "Oh yeah. Like they say: if you love something, you have to let it go. Guess what Colton. I don't want to let her go! I loved her when nobody else did!"

I lean down so that we're face to face. "Brayden, I don't care. I'm her husband and I love her more than words can say. Please, do it for a friend." I rest my hand on his shoulder and look him in the eyes. There's no way to tell if my act worked. I guess we'll have to find out...

*****

My eyes open. My body's covered in sweat and I'm breathing loudly. But I'm still alive. A moan escapes my lips from the pain of having such an empty stomach. Never had I been in so much physical pain.

Why am I still alive? I know the answer. I'm alive for my family. I haven't died yet because that would be selfish. I have to suffer so my family doesn't. It's as simple as that. But there's only so long someone can grasp at life when it keeps trying to jump out of reach.

'You can do this. You'll pull through!' I hear Colton's encouraging words. A surg of power fills my veins. I feel so close to him. If he were here then he would say that. If I were to die, I'd want his hand in mine until the bitter end. But something tells me that it won't happen.