What About Us?

Chapter 18

JACOB

If I could describe Melisa in two words, it would be Loving and Procrastinator. She put off her quarter project until the last week. Finally, she managed to finish it and she collapsed on her bed.
"Hey, you're done!" I exclaimed
"I've got to turn it in!" She jumped up, grabbed her project, and sprinted out the door. I grabbed my sweatshirt and ran after her.
She wasn't a fast runner but she managed to turn in her project before I caught her.
"Done . . . it's in . . . I . . . inhaler." She breathed. I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it to her. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now, let's go celebrate!" I said "How about a date? I'll pick you up at your room at 6."
"Ok, see you then."

<*>

"No, no, no, NO! This can't be happening!" Teddy exclaimed

I had come down to grab a slice of pizza before mine and Melisa's date only to be ambushed by Teddy and Charlie. After 10 minutes I still have no idea what Teddy is so upset about.

"Teddy, just calm down . . ."
"Calm down? CALM DOWN! TELL ME HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN?! SHE'S MISSING! AND SHE'S BEEN MISSING FOR 2 DAYS!"
"I know, I know. We will find her, we can go to the police . . ."
"Wait, who's missing?" I asked breaking in
"MARIA! SHE WENT OUT WITH FRIENDS THE OTHER DAY AND NOW SHE'S MISSING! PROBABLY TAKEN BY THE SAME GUY WHO KIDNAPPED ME AND ANGELA!" Teddy yelled
"Teddy you really need to calm down." Charlie said trying to get Teddy to stop pacing
"I told you before I will calm down when she is found!" Teddy said and stormed out of the dining hall.
"I better go after him, I'll see you around."

I grabbed my pizza and made my way back to Melisa's room.

She opened the door right away. She looked incredible.

She was wearing the sapphire blue dress I had gotten her for Christmas.

"You look gorgeous." I said
"Thanks."
"Ready to go?"
"Yup." She replied shouldering her bag

<*>

We went out to this little Italian place for dinner. Afterwards we were getting ready to head back when she realized she had left her purse at the table. I sent her inside to grab it and hung out outside.

It was chilly but not bad for Washington. I was quietly admiring the stars when everything went black. I felt someone grab my arms and start dragging me away. I tried to fight them but whoever it was was too strong.

I felt the air shift from fresh to artificial. I tripped on some steps and whoever had taken me kicked me. I tried to get him but I was working blind and ran into what I assume was a wall.

Someone pulled off my blind fold and held a gun to my head.
"If you want to live, walk." A gruff voice said
I felt a stray tear fall down my cheeks as I was pushed up the stairs.

The farther in, the worse it smelled. It was a horrible mixture of blood, urine, and body odor. I could hear someone screaming in the background. It sounded female. I used all my energy to keep myself from freaking out.

They forced me into a chair and tied me up. The men who had brought me in clustered in the corner and started whispering.

The ties on my wrists weren't too tight, so I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my phone.

Melisa and I have developed code words for situations like this. We had also worked on texting without looking (I'm the master). Our code word for danger is Donut, and our code word for stay inside is Waffle (I was hungry that day). I quickly texted her and shut off my phone, placing it back into my pocket.

A few minutes later, two more men entered, bring in the stench of blood, and carrying a girl between them. It took me no time to recognize Maria. Her hair was messy and her face was bruised and bloody. She could barely walk and looked half concious.

The men conversed for a moment before surrounding me
"Where is he?" The tallest asked. He had spikey hair and couldn't be older than 23
"I don't know what you're talking about." I replied
"Don't lie to us or we'll burst your brains." Another threatened. He pushed the gun into my temple, his teeth were razor sharp and yellowed
"Tell us where he is or we shoot the girl." The fat one threatened pulling out his own gun and pointing it at Maria.
"He left. He told me was moving to Maryland to start over. He took his girlfriend too, they left a day ago." I lied. I had no idea who they were looking for, but if they targeted Maria, it had to be someone I knew.
"We have anyone in Maryland?" The fat one asked
"Listen here boy." The biggest said. I could tell he was the leader by the way the others shrinked away from him. He was tall and muscular but fat at the same time. "If you're lying to us, we will find out and we will kill you and everyone you love."
"I'm not lying. We weren't even friends, I just noticed him packing up a car. When I asked he said he was leaving to start over. The car was lime green if that helps." I said trying to keep my voice steady
"The boy talks. Keep him here, take the girl back. She has to know something." The leader said.
The fat one and the smelly one grabbed her and started dragging her away.
"Let me go! NO!! HELP ME!! SOMEBODY HELP!!" She screamed. Lucky for both of us she didn't call out to me.

<*>

I listened to her scream all night and into the morning. When they brought her back she was barely breathing. After listening to the guys conversation I learned that they would all be out at midnight tonight. That's when I would make my move.

<*>

The guys had returned and wanted answers I couldn't provide.
"Back up." The leader said. The guys followed his order and joined him on the other side of the room. The leader cocked his gun and shot at me.

I felt a searing pain in my shoulder and bit my tounge to keep from crying out.
"Consider that a warning. Next time I want answers you deliver or die." The men chuckled and grabbed Maria for more torturing. She went through her usual round of screaming as they dragged her away.

<*>

By the time they dragged her back in, the blood from my shoulder had soaked me whole arm and I was getting light headed.
I watched the men leave and heard the door close before I untied myself and rushed over to Maria.

She was in worse shape I was in. Bloody, bruised, and beaten. Not to mention starved. I covered her mouth and whispered in her ear.
"It's Jacob. We're going to get out of here."
She nodded lightly and I untied her. My arm was still bleeding but managed to support her and drag her down the stairs.

At the bottom I heard a TV playing. I glanced around the corner and saw two of the guys playing cards and watching TV. I made sure they weren't looking and we bolted for the door.

I nearly cried when we made it back to the restaurant I had had dinner with Melisa just last night.

We started on the road back to camp when we heard something.

The two of us ducked into an alley and hid in the shadows.

"Maria! Jacob!" Someone called.
"We'll find them." Some else soothed.
Teddy, Charlie, Melisa, Angela, and Jackson all stopped infront of the alley way. Maria and I struggled to our feet and stumbled over to everyone.
"Teddy?" Maria asked. She let go of me and collapsed in his arms. "I th-though I would n-never see you again." She sobbed
"Jacob!" Melisa yelled and ran at me. "Your bleeding!"
She pulled the collar of my shirt down so it exposed the wound.
"Were you SHOT?!" Angela exclaimed. Her and Charlie started riffling through a first aid kit. Charlie shoved gauze into the wound and Angela cleaned up Maria.

Melisa sat quietly off to the side  of me while Charlie dressed my shoulder.
"Jacob?" Melisa asked
"Yeah?"
"Are you ok?"

Honestly I wasn't. I had been shot, threatened and beaten all in less than 24 hours. Maria had it far worse though. She had been beaten, tortured, and starved for days.
"I thought we were going to die." I said trying to keep my voice steady
"We need to get them back as soon as possible." Angela said as Maria fell into a panic attack.
Jackson and Teddy supported her between them and worked together to get her to calm down while Melisa and Charlie helped me to my feet.

I was feeling faint from the blood loss so I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and leaned on her. She put an arm around me and helped keep me on my feet.

*Author's note*

Sorry about the different font.