Kidnapped

Chapter 31

(Jason's POV)

When I wake up, I'm tangled up with Lucy in the hospital room. I look at the bandage on her head from the barrel of the gun and cringe at the memory. Then I look down at her left side. It's bandaged up tight still. When I look at her face, it seems as if it's set into a permenent frown. I can't help but feel like I caused a part of that.

She probably thinks I'm crazy for staying with her for so long after everything she's been through. Her parents, Luke, the girls, her whole life. I know that at some point she'll end up asking me that question. Questioning me as to why I stayed. Why I cared so much.

I just don't think she quite realizes how much I love her.

She starts to stir in her sleep, and then her eyes are opening. Just when she's about to say something, all of the girls pile into the room.

"Goodmorning." Lucy says to them. I can't help but admire her. The way she smiles when she's in the worst possible place right now. She doesn't realize how strong she is. I honestly believe that she thinks she can't break down every now and then. That she can't shed any tears. But she got those girls out of there. Honestly, she's the strongest of them all to have done such a thing. She's truly amazing and I just want her to see that.

They all smile back and speak their greetings. "Do you want us to go out and get you some breakfast?" Mandy asks, offering food again.

"Uh, no thanks, but I would like some coffee if you don't mind." Lucy smiles at her.

Mandy smiles and says, "Yeah, of course. I'll be right back."

I know what she's thinking because as I look at the rest of the girls, I see it. They all have bags under their eyes and they can't focus on one thing really. She's probably thinking about how unfair it is. How they're all being so nice to her, and caring for her while she's sitting in a hospital bed, helplessly. I can't help but wonder if that's what she's thinking as she sits there and stares at them all.

Mandy is back with the coffee in minutes of silence and Lucy gratefully thanks her and Mandy accepts it with, "You're welcome," and smiles.

By now I'm out of the bed and sitting in the chair next to her. I'm still staring at her as she's oblivious to it. There's still a few more days before Lucy is aloud back home. The doctors have to keep observing her to make sure she'll be okay to go around on her own.

"If you guys don't mind, I really want to go outside. Could someone ask how I should go out there? Please?" Lucy pleads to the girls and Carla goes to attend to her needs.

The doctor comes in moments later to explain how she will be able to go out. "Lucy, my dear, we would recommend going out in a wheelchair. Although, if you're feeling up to it, you may walk out. Please feel free to do what you please." He finishes his statement and walks out.

"What do you want to do, Lucy?" I stare at her, smiling softly.

She stands up and sighs quietly. We get the impression she wants to walk and help her. She gets on her two feet and makes us all back away from her. She starts to walk on her own. At first she stumbles, but she starts to walk steady as she moves.

We make it to the elevator and pile in. I'm not even sure we're all supposed to be in here. Regardless of the fact, I press the button for the ground floor.

The elevator jerks and we're moving down smoothly.

Eventually we make it to the bottom and we all file out one by one, Lucy first. She's out of the doors within seconds and wandering around the courtyard. I'm surprised to not see any reporters around.

Lucy and I sit down on a bench and I lace my hands with hers. She looks down at our hands and smiles up at me. I lean down and place a gentle kiss to her forehead. She smiles again and takes in the scenery.

- 2 weeks later -

It's been two weeks and Lucy recovered remarkably from everything she's been through. Her and I have an apartment now and we get frequent visits from the girls. Luke has life in jail without parole or whatever it is. Lucy definitely seems happier now and she seems to have a sense of security with the pistol at her hip.

Lucy is back in school, too. She's set on getting her education. She even says she wants to go to college for law. It kind of surprised me at first, but I didn't question her. 

Today we are having a cook out with all of our friends and family at our friends place. Everyone is almost here. The last people to arrive are Lucy's grandparents.

"Hey, guys," Lucy smiles at her grandparents and hugs them.

"Hello, dear," Her grandmother replies, squeezing back. Her grandfather smiles at me and pats me on the back.

Everyone is here now and some of the guys are cooking the meat while the girls are inside getting stuff together. Lucy of course is out here with me as I still barely allow her to go anywhere without me. It's going to be hard letting her get away from me.

When I look at her, she's already smiling at me. She stands on her toes and pecks my cheek, blushing and looking away.

(Lucy's POV)

I made it. I have waited so long to say those words and now I finally can. I made it. I made it out of that hell alive.

Even after everything, with me going a little crazy after the last kidnapping, the girls, Jason, everything, it all made me stronger. I feel safer now that I can defend myself. Having the pistol makes people kind of rethink messing with me or my peers.

I'm so happy to finally have the freedom I deserve and want. It's amazing to be surrounded with all of this happiness today. I recovered well from the incident a few weeks ago, I made it out of the kidnapping alive, I beat Luke.

I beat Luke.

It was the most amazing feeling in the world after everything I- we, went through. We all went through hell and some of us made it out okay.

Now here we are today, after years of being in hell, and we're here, happy as ever. Being surrounded by friends and family is so nice right now.

I still have my fears of Luke's accomplices. It scares me that one day, me, or someone, might not wake up.

But I'm trying to not live in the past. I just want to be happy and I'm going to do everything in my power to create my happiness with the life around me.

Jason and I go to sit down by our families and we just stare at each other, neither wanting to break the silence.

"I love you so much," I say, not breaking eye contact.

"I love you so much more." He smiles at me and we share a passionate kiss.

My name is Lucy McMillan and I was Kidnapped by Luke Bogers, but I made it out alive.

-

Wow, it's over. Who woulda thought, huh? I just want to say thank you to everyone who stayed with me throughout this whole story. (I know, it's all over the place) Destruction (the second book) will be up soon and I hope you'll read it! Thank you to everyone who commented, voted, and just read my story. I couldn't thank you all enough. I love you guys! :)

- Kayla