What About Us?

Chapter 26

Jackson

I seriously just wanted some Chinese food.

All week I have been swamped with homework and have had no time to do anything else. Now that it's Friday and all my work has been turned in, Angela and I decided to order some Chinese food and watch movies. Apparently, those plans were about to change.

<*>

I had just picked up our order and was heading back when I was tripped, grabbed, and blindfolded.

I was pushed along and into what I guess was a building. The air temperature became warmer and smellier. Like the guys locker room.

I was pushed up a flight of stairs and pushed down. Someone then tore off my blindfold.

Once my eyes had adjusted to the low light I took in my surroundings. The room was mostly dark with the only light coming from a small suspended lightbulb. Where I was sitting on the floor there was a large rust colored stain. There was a group of about 5 or so men in a half moon shape around me. The largest most scrappy of all stood directly in front of me holding a blade.

"Finally caught ya. You escaped me a few times, but you can't hide for long. I can tell you've been liking that camp. Is that where you've been all these years. I've missed you." His voice held a false sense of sadness.

I wasn't buying it. "What do you want?" I demanded

"Now now." He clicked his tongue and knelt, pressing the cold blade to my face. "Is that anyway to speak to your father? Now let's see, what do I want? What do I want? Well, when you decided to run off that night the police came around and said someone filed a report saying I was abusive and killed my wife. I was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. You lied about me, so now I want revenge!"

His laugh was cruel, and he slid the knife down my face leaving a long cut.

"Now. Neither of us have much time. Your little friends have managed to find out where you are and they should be here soon. By that time, I will be gone, and you will be dead."

I gulped

"That's right. I've got it all bugged. Your sweet little friends did the job for me. Technology these days. Little bugs. Your sweet heart Angela was the first. She brought two into your house. You ever wonder how they kept escaping? No one get's past me unless I know about it."

He pulled out his phone and opened it. I could hear what sounded like Teddy and Charlie talking. He clicked over to another screen where Angela's voice was present.

"She was a feisty one. Tried to escape a few times, but we took care of that didn't we boys?" There were chuckles passed around "I didn't like her much though. No fun, we had to let her go. The little one, Maria was her name. Teddy's reaction and her screams were priceless! To bad that Jacob kid had to spoil it. We got her back though. I think she's in one of these rooms. Greg, why don't you check."

One of the bigger guys left and came back a minute later holding the limp body of Maria. They shoved her down next to me.

"You killed her weeks ago!" I yelled

"Really? You never stopped and asked Teddy about Maria's sister? That's right, and we didn't even kill her. We found little Agatha dead months ago. It was the perfect bait. It got the police off our tail and our little M here has been immensely useful. Right M."

Maria twitched slightly.

"Now, from what I hear, your dumb little friends should be here in just a few minutes, so let's get on with this."

I jumped to my feet and grabbed Maria under the arm. I was almost to the door when I felt something slam into my chest. I could feel my ribs breaking as I feel to the floor. I raised my arm to block any other hits, but with the next blow I felt my arm snap. I curled up tightly on the floor, pain clouded my vision.

"I hope you said goodbye to your sweet heart."

He aimed his pistol at me and shot.

I felt the impact on my right side.

"Come on. They'll be dead before anyone can reach them."

The men fled from the room leaving Maria and I alone.

Pain kept me from seeing straight. Every breath was excruciating, and my left arm hurt to move. I could feel the blood from bullet wound flowing through my fingers. I lightly nudged Maria with my foot and she groaned, signaling she was still alive.

<*>

We lay there for what felt like forever. Everything seemed to be getting more painful. I could feel everything from the tiny cut on my cheek, to the hole the bullet left. My entire world was washed in pain.

Finally, I heard a door slam and people running around. For the first time in my life I hoped my dad was right. I tried to roll over, but that sent a wave of excruciating pain through my body making me cry out. That was exactly the kind of indicator they needed.

I heard footsteps behind me, then there was a soft but strong had on my shoulder. I let out a sigh of relief that hurt like hell.

"Jacob, check on her. Oh Jackson." I felt her turn around to face me. "Oh my god you're bleeding!"

I closed my eyes as she rolled me onto my back and started putting pressure on my wound.

"We're going to get you out of here, Melisa's waiting for the ambulance. Their going to help you. Just stay awake." She reassured

"Maria . . . her death was staged . . . it was her sister, twin sister . . . Agatha . . . she . . . she . . ."

"I know, I know. Shh."

"But you were bugged. He knows . . . everything!"

"Shh, it's ok. Just calm down."

I let my head rest on the cooling floor and closed my eyes. I could hear sirens blaring in the back ground.

"See, help is here. You're going to be ok."

I opened my eyes and saw Angela smiling through tears.

When the Paramedics arrived, I could barely keep my eyes open and the world was starting to melt away.

I saw Paramedics lift me onto a stretcher, I saw Angela running beside us, I saw people load the stretcher onto the back of the ambulance, I saw someone put an IV in my arm, I saw an oxygen mask being lowered over my head, I saw Angela gripping my hand and talking to me, I saw people push me into the hospital, I caught a glimpse of Angela crying as they rolled me away.

Then my world went black.