(Tasha's POV)
~7:40pmToday seemed like a normal day. I woke up, had my morning coffee, and went to work. Work was fine, no different than any other day, until I was about to leave. About 15 minutes ago, Kurt pulled me into his office and asked me to sit down. He had gotten some news from another unit that I wasn't going to like. He said,
"There's no easy way for me to say this other than to just come out and say it. Nathan was found unresponsive outside a bar last night. He overdosed on heroin."
After that, everything is blurred. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. Nathan is my brother. We took two very different paths in adulthood. I chose to make something of myself despite my past, but he chose drugs and alcohol. I tried everything I could to help him, but he didn't want my help. I knew this day would come, but I was hoping not any time soon. I'm able to hold myself together until I leave the building. I decide to walk instead of taking the bus. I keep thinking of all the things I should have done and could have done. Why didn't I do more? Why did he do this to himself? The streets are loud tonight. Horns are blaring, music is blasting, and people are shouting. My head feels like it's going to explode. I decide to take a few alley ways, shortcuts. I usually avoid them, they can be pretty dangerous. I don't care tonight, I just want to get home. I want to go home, but not to an empty apartment. There's so many memories in there. I pull out my phone and text Reade,
"I need to see you. Can I stop by?"
I keep walking in the direction of my apartment, I'll turn around if he answers. As I passed different groups of people, I hear the occasional cat-call. Something you hear quite often around here. I pick up my pace, wanting to escape from here as quickly as possible. I'm a couple streets from my apartment, so I check my phone; he hasn't answered. I text him again,
"Reade, its important. Please answer".
I keep walking, I feel the heaviness in my chest grow as I come closer to home. It seems like Nathan was just here and we were laughing and enjoying ourselves. I let out a shaky breath as I walk through the lobby. The first time Nathan came over, I told him to wait outside so I could make sure he didn't have anything on him. I shouldn't have done that, I should've trusted him. I walk up the stairs, at the very top step there's a bar that hangs from the ceiling. Nathan ran into it once because he forgot to duck, he's much taller than me. I hesitate at my door, maybe I should just go to Reade's anyway. He's probably just in the shower or something. I'd better not, maybe he has someone over. I take a deep breath and unlock the door. I step inside and shut the door behind me. I turn the light on to see Nathan's jacket lying on the couch. Tears fill my eyes and I fall back against the door. I slide down to the floor and sit with my head in my hands. I need to get out of here, I need to go somewhere. Patterson has a date tonight and Kurt is with his kid. I pick my phone up and check it again, he hasn't answered. I start to dial Reade's number, I feel so numb I can barely move my fingers. I put the phone up to my ear and wait. It rings five times, then goes to his voicemail. I hang up without thinking of leaving a message. I call him a second time, maybe he'll realize it's kind of urgent. It rings five times and goes to voicemail. This time I clear my throat and speak,
"Reade.. please call me back. It's, um, it's-", my voice cracks, "Nathan.. He's gone," I let out a sob before hanging up and slamming my phone on the floor.
"Dammit," I said, through my sobs. "Damn you, Nathan".
I stand up and throw my arms against the door. I need to go, I don't know where, just anywhere but here. I grab my phone off the floor and run out. I don't lock the door, it'll be fine. I run down the stairs and out the lobby. I stop at the sidewalk in front of the building to catch my breath and decide which way to go. I make a right, in the direction of Reade's apartment. I won't go inside, just see if his car is there. The tears are still coming out, but I'm not sobbing anymore. I really don't want to be alone right now. The streets are a little quieter in this part of town, there's less traffic. I came up to an alley way when I felt my phone vibrate. It's probably Reade calling me back. I reached in my pocket to answer it, but someone come out from the alley, making me glance up. At a second glance, I don't see them anymore, like they disappeared. I reach for my phone again, feeling a little nervous. Just as I pull it out of my pocket someone grabs me from behind. Their hand is over my mouth and I feel a prick in my neck as I reach up to remove their hands; my body goes weak.
YOU ARE READING
Don't Flinch
FanficTasha, Reade, and Patterson are kidnapped and the timing is horrible for some of them. Countless days pass by the time they're found, during that time span unimaginable things are done to them. They're trained to survive, but are they able to keep u...