Stripped to the Heart

Chapter 15 - Bread and Water

I dreamed of death threats and torture but no images came to mind, I woke up and looked across the room, remembering where I was and dreading the thought that I actually had to wake up here.

I looked beside me, half expecting Leo to jump up from the covers and I let out a small whimper of annoyance when I didn't see him there. But Joy was a close second when I saw her there, I almost forgot of the danger we may be in. Doubts were circling at  the back of my mind as I finally saw the people around me.

This is pretty much what Anna looks like!

One by one I saw heads pop up from under the blankets and then thump back into the pillow. I guess we were all feeling the same way about these surroundings, boring off-white walls that had no excitement at all.

This felt like a horror movie and I was just waiting for someone to burst in here with a saw and start killing us all. But of course I couldn't let those thoughts circle in my mind, I felt almost relieved as I heard footsteps approaching but then again they were heavy footsteps. Indicating that someone was coming, who was quite possibly heavier and older than us.

Moments later I stared at the figure in the door, not sure what to make of it. He was dressed in a suit with a blue and white striped tie. A pot belly and a long, fiery red beard. I had suspiscions yesterday but now I know it was him, Principal Smith.

Why had he taken us hostage? Did he want something? No, there was another cause behind this. No one steals the 'rich kids' for any odd reason. I'll bet he has put ransoms up for the kids, although I have wondered why there is a nerd sitting in the corner now, playing with his phone.

"Obviously you now know who took you, but fear not I am only after the money. There will be an auction for you all. I will invite all the slave drivers and kidnappers, then there will be your parents. If they bid over $1000 then I will immediately sell you off, but if some other man bids there first, they take you. That would cause your parents a lot more of a hassle. Don't you think? Anyway once the auction is over I will not hassle you again" Principal Smith paused for a second.

"Only for being a naughty kid!" he said, over dramatically.

We all groaned and rolled our eyes, so our parents would have to buy ourselves out of this. This could be a parent-child bonding session, I mean I only just was allowed back at school after the accident. I had an appointment tomorrow, I also had other questions so I voiced them.

"Erm-what about our school attendance, cheerleading practice, doctor appointments and that kind of thing?" I still had a leg cast on and layers of bandages over my chest. Which made me look like I had a boob job, it made them look twice as big. I reckon I've seen at least 20 boys stare and drool, it makes me slightly uncomfortable and I always have good attendance. My cheerleading team needs me every Tuesday for practice and this coming weekend was supposed to be a big competition, I needed to be there to support them.

He slowly replied "I'll just put you as present and then say you were in sickbay the whole day, that way you shouldn't need to be in class and for doctor's appointments your parents will reschedule those I should hope" he obviously believed that was enough and walked out of the room.

That just left us sitting there, wondering about what we should. I saw Joy finally push the covers off and I began talking, using her as my stress doctor. "Your parents aren't that rich right? They wouldn't just have a couple grand lying around, would they? I know my parents have a couple billion, but yours would be lucky to have a couple grand with all their money combined." she nodded and I took this as the time to speak up "but luckily for you, I might be able to signal my parents to also pay for you, if I can chat to them I can tell them to put me for $1000 for both of us."

She just sighed and said "you can't do that, not for me" that was just protests. "Yes, I can" I proteseted back "No I mean, my parents have to pay" with that I was silenced. "What if my parents give the money to your parents?" I said, knowing this could work "Well I suppose that could work, but how are you going to tell them that?"

"I'll text them" I said, then I grabbed my phone and pulled up the message maker, Dear Mum, if you haven't heard there will be an auction and you have to 'buy me back' as he put it. Anyway I was wondering if you could give $1000 to the Avonn family, they won't be able to afford to buy her back. Also inform them to put up the $1000 straight away. XOXO - And.

I went to press send when I looked up at the bars, I had none. "Damnit" I threw my phone at the window and it fell out. "Why the hell did that happen?" I screeched again. I slowly made my way to the window and grabbed my hair scissors, used only to cut gum from my hair and other disasters. But this time I began to cut the fabric that held the window down, as soon as I reached the hole where the phone slipped through the scissors flung at my face.

They hit my ear and instantly I felt the blood trickle down, the scissors now had some blood spotted on them. I picked them up on my white blouse, not worried about the shirt but about finishing the job. I snipped at the fabric until it reached the end, then I just pulled it up and tucked it into the curtain rod, hanging above.

I looked at the window sill and realised I could probably sit on it, my leg hurt as I pulled myself over it and into a sitting position. I looked around and realised we were in an apartment and that we were on the 4th floor, that would be too high to jump from but I realised that if I dropped I could land on the next floor's balcony.

I turned my body around and signalled for the others to do exactly what I did, then I swung back and forth. On the count of 5 I let go and went flying into the verandah's door. Ouch. I quickly brushed it off and ran to the edge of the balcony, it had another wall so it would be easy. Then I looked around and spotted my phone on the ground, I picked it up and deleted the message.

As I looked up I saw that Joy was quickly following my actions and saying something to the others, I moved away from the path I took and she headbutted the door, I just laughed. Slowly everyone came down and I then looked over the edge.

There was another verandah, a little harder to reach I would think but I could probably let go and land on the railing. My leg would be a problem though, I stood there pondering for a moment but figured it would be smarter just to try.

That is why I'm here on the second floor, because I tried. I almost fell but I leaned forward at the right moment and fell straight to the pebble floor instead. One person did fall, the nerd who had been in the corner. He didn't look happy but he was alive, a broken bone perhaps because he didn't stand up or move.

We had reached the second floor, now if we jumped we would probably break bones but the first floor's balcony looked harder to get to. In the end I realised it would be smart just to be safe, that is why I now have to make a decision, I can fall backwards to the ground or let go and balance.

I chose to try and balance but I fell back anyway, I immediately used reflexes and changed into a handspring, as I landed on my legs it hurt but I was happy to be safe. I ran over to the nerd and reassured him it would be ok. Using my phone I called for the police and ambulance, when they arrived everyone was on the ground.

One way or another, they might have fallen or landed and then jumped but it didn't matter because tonight, tonight Principal Smith would be in a jail cell and we would all be back at home. I had the evidence to put him behind bars, I had been filming because it just turned on. My phone has always been a bit weird but I will never hate it now.

The phone even filmed the falls of us all and when it fell. All of it was on tape, we were all safe and our parents had their kids and an extra $1000. At that moment I wasn't happy, I would have to look back at my brother's face and tell my parents who would worry too much. Even if I wasn't happy I was safe and thankful. My life wasn't perfect but it had taken a turn for the better, and that was a relief.

A/N

Hope you enjoy, and yes I know it was a bit cliche but I kind of go myself stuck in that situation and I didn't know how to get myself out of it. Please tell me if it is as good as my previous chapters.

- P.S