Let me go

Chapter 3

"I know this room has become your worst nightmare," Nash told me. He was staring at my bed, a matter I could not decipher swirling in his bright blue eyes

Cameron, took me to my room, holding my wrist, not saying a word. He watched me take a seat on the armchair then walked out, locking the door behind him. And a few minutes later, Nash came into my room to and I quote "talk."

As usual, I didn't say anything. My hand squeezed my wrist in fear.

He killed her, don't you dare, not even for a second think he's a good person, Emily.

Nash laughed a little, "you don't talk a lot, do you?" He scratched his neck. "I'll try to move you to a place a little better than this." Nash ran his fingers over his broken nose. He walked forward from where he stood, but not towards me. To the night stand by my bed, he fished his pockets, taking a skeleton key. "Emily?" he called.

Something  about the tone he used made me answer, "yes."

He unlocked a drawer. Empty. But then, Nash fished his pockets again, taking out a folded piece of paper and a pen and handed them to me. "Write your mom a letter. But don't you dare say anything that can expose us in any way, okay? Because I'll read the letter." My eyes widened.

Was he for real?!

No, dummy. He's playing with you. Remember when Cameron tricked you at first? They're all the same. Open your eyes.

My desperation pushed all the negative thoughts out, I asked, "do they know?"

He shook his head no, "if they find out. They're going to kill us both. I don't know what happened to us. We were brothers, but then- then Gabrielle-" He stopped talking and shook his head again. "This is not my place to tell. Make sure to put it in the drawer when you're finished writing. Don't get caught and don't write anything that can give us away, okay?"

I nodded. Nash stared at me for a long time- I fidgeted with the pen, uncomfortable under his gaze- before walking out, closing the door and locking it. I sat on the floor in front of the night stand and unfolded the piece of paper, placing it on the night stand.

I started to write,

"Maybe these have been the hardest days of my life, but I'm okay, Mom. I'm not hurt, I'm not in any danger. I'm eating regularly and I sing that song you used to sing me, remember?

'Little bird, you are.

Small, so insignificant, I cannot lie,

But you have a heart stronger than stone,

A voice louder than lions,

A mind bigger than all the galaxies.

Little bird, you are.

Small, so insignificant, I cannot lie,

But when I look into those eyes of yours,

I wander, I go deeper into peace than I have ever gone before.

So stay with me, little bird.

Teach me how to be as small, as insignificant as you are.'

I love you, mom. Tell little Sam that. Stay strong because even though I may not be standing next to you, I'm always with you.

Take care, don't lose hope,

Emily."

I folded the piece of paper again and put it in the drawer with the pen, tears falling out of my eyes. I can't do this anymore. I can't handle it. I have to get out of here or I'll end up just like Gabrielle.

~ ~ ~

I remember when my little brother Sam turned 4, he wasn't like normal kids: saying dad or mom or whatever when he was just a year old. No. He didn't say a word, just the normal baby gibberish. Until he turned 4, on his birthday in our back yard, we were all singing him the birthday song, my mother, my friends, his friends. Then when the song ended, he was silent and just stared at me. For like a whole minute, then he said "I love you, Emily," with a small but clear voice. That was four years ago, when I was twelve. The things I would do to hold him in my arms right now. Someone unlocked the door, but didn't open it until he knocked gently twice. Taylor's head came to view and I immediately got out of my bed and stood by the corner. He sighed and took a seat on armchair. "I'm sorry about this morning, Emily, I really am. I'm never like that. Really," the line between oblivion and reality was so small at this moment all I wanted to do was go to bed. "I'm not a bad person. I'm not a murderer. I don't want to hurt you. I don't have bad intentions." I breathed heavily. I actually really couldn't breathe.

"Why'd you kill her?" I aksed, gaining confidence I never thought I could find in a situation like this. "She was in so much pain. I saw it in her eyes when one of you hit me in the head. I was only lying two feet from her, Taylor. She asked for my help. Can you believe those were the last words she has ever said?!" The tears ran freely out of my eyes, I wasn't going to act strong anymore because there was nothing worse than this. Nothing worse than being locked up, alone, afraid, lost.

"You have to understand-" I cut him off.

"I don't want to understand! Don't you get it? You kidnapped me, killed a girl in front of me, then threatened to kill me. How do you expect me to understand, I just don't get it. I want to go home. That's all I can understand." I didn't know wether he was angry or sad. But I backed away anyways.

"Come downstairs with me if you want, we can do something about you."