The van slows and pulls onto a rocky road. After two minutes, the van comes to a halt. My heart starts to race. I hear the two front van doors open and slam shut. The rusted side door rolls open.
The van sways as the two men jump from the back of the van. I hear Josh squirm in their arms, trying to escape. His feet drag against the ground as he is pulled away.
Hands grab my forearms roughly, tossing me out of the van. "I've got her," Ginger says, catching me from toppling to the gravel on the ground.
A little to tightly, he grips my shoulder and hustles me to an unknown location. I hear Shaggy grunt from somewhere in front of us. Josh probably elbowed him or something.
Suddenly I trip, crashing onto brick stairs. "Could've warned me," I squeak, trying to be defiant.
"Sorry," mumbles Ginger so softly I almost miss it. He lifts me and helps me up the steps. I feel something warm on my knee.
A door is opened in front of me. I am pushed through. Down a hallway, I am lead down another staircase. My mind immediately flashes to basement. One stair. Three stairs. Seven stairs. Twelve stairs. Sixteen stairs. Eighteen stairs. My head bobs as I descend. My eyes are filled with blood red.
I hear Josh thrown to the ground in front of me. Ginger lowers me against a wall. I expect questions. I expect voices. Instead, I hear footsteps turning and walking away, up the staircase. The door slams above.
"J-Josh?" I whimper.
"Hailey," he whispers. His shoulder rubs mine. His bound hands find my cheek. His free fingers pull away the blindfold. Colors and light fill my vision. His eyes search mine.
He slips his tied arms over my head, circling me. My head falls back against his chest.
"I tried to get that gross man off of you. I couldn't do anything. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I'm useless. I couldn't stand him roughing you like that. I wanted to kill him. I love you and the sickening man hurt you and I couldn't save you," he blabbers.
Tears start to fall. I can't stop them. My breathing hitches. I try to calm myself, but I can't. "It's not your fault," I cry, "you couldn't have done anything. It's not your fault."
"Please forgive me. I love you and I don't want any harm to come to you," he says, holding me tight.
"That's the second time you've said that," I whimper.
"I'd say it a thousand more times," he whispers back.
"How can you love me at a time like this? At all even? I'm that stupid best friend that everyone thinks you're with so you never get any girl's number." I let the tears stream like a waterfall out of my eyes.
"That's what I wanted them to think," he says.
YOU ARE READING
Blood Red Blindfold
Mystery / ThrillerHailey Graham has just gotten home to her new house, which she never wants to leave again. Being nineteen, she doesn't feel prepared for the world, or anything for that matter. Joshua Brandt, her only friend, meets her at her house, but their meetin...
