The Blind Man

THIRTEEN

Her heart couldn't stop pounding. It felt like they had been driving for an eternity, but in reality she knew it had only been ten minutes. The man had put handcuffs on her before hooking a heavy chain to the cuffs. The other end of the chain led up to the front of the van where he sat driving. She couldn't stop crying. Jae had been so close to reaching her. She had seen him in the moonlight, but the killer had been fast. His moves where smooth to a point it was clear, she wasn't his first time.

The van jerked to a stop then and the man jumped out. Her body started shacking as her fear grew. What would he do with her?

The back doors swung open and he appeared with his mask still on. He grabbed her chain and jerked her out. She fell onto the dirt ground, but he pulled her up and shoved her forward. "Walk." He demanded.

She looked up to see an old warehouse standing in front of them. Would her brother and friends be in there too?

"Walk!" He yelled and this time smacked the top of her head.

With shaking legs, she started forward praying that Jae would somehow find them; somehow find her.

~~*~~

"Search." The deputy commanded his dog.

Three K-9 units had come out to help look for Maggie. The sheriff had asked several more question and even scolded him for not calling sooner. However, now that the killer had Maggie, they had a scent for the dogs to go on, which gave Jae some hope.

"You'll stay here while we search." The sheriff said.

Jae shook his head. "No. I'm going with you."

"It's not safe."

"It hasn't been safe for days now! I'm going with you." He said more sternly.

The sheriff sighed. "Fine. Just stay close."

Jae nodded as one of the deputies yelled over to them. "They got the scent!"

"You can stick with me." The sheriff grabbed Jae by the wrist and they took off together. Tears filled Jae's eyes for the first time since Maggie was taken. He prayed that he would be able to hold her hand again.

~~*~~

It was cold and dark in every part of the warehouse. The man had pushed her into a small concrete room before securing her chain to the wall. He walked out without another word said and locked the heavy metal door.

There was no window or light in the room. If someone sat right in front of her she wouldn't be able to see them. The darkness was so thick she could feel it settling onto her body.

The sound of another door opening and closing echoed through the building. Fear couldn't be the word to describe what she was feeling as she heard Cristal screaming something. She wasn't sure what she was saying, but every sound echoed down the empty hall to Maggie's door.

Several moments later silence filled the air and all that was heard was Maggie's heavy breathing. Listening closely, she heard a door open and a strange noise. It sounded like someone was dragging something across the floor. Whatever it was stopped at her door before it swung open and Maggie watched her kidnapper throw Cristal into the room.

He chuckled before shutting the door and opening a small slot. It allowed a strip of light to come through, so she could see.

Tears filled Maggie's eyes as she studied her friend. She lay practically lifeless at Maggie's feet. Her face was covered in bruises, her clothes were torn in several places and her bottom lip was swollen from a cut.

"Cristal." Maggie hissed, as she nugged her with her foot. "Get up."

Cristal groaned but never moved an inch. Leaning back against the cold wall, Maggie allowed her tears to flow. This all seemed so unreal. The only hope she had was that Jae would somehow find her. She knew once he arrived, the killer would regret doing what he had done.

Her chain was long enough to move around freely, so she used the wall to help herself stand. While she had nothing better to do maybe she could find a light switch. Placing her shoulder to the wall, she began slowing walking feeling for anything. When she turned in the corner, she shoulder hit a slim metal pole. She froze for a moment before taking another step. There was a set of prison bars in the middle of the room. Maggie's mind filled with questions about what could be on the other side.

But her questions were answered when through the dim light she saw two hands came up to grip the bars in front of her. She jumped not able to see a face since what light she had faded at the elbows of the muscular arms.

"Maggie." It was a man's voice. "Is that you?" He sounded near tears.

"Yes. Who are you?" She continued to step back.

The man laughed sounding surprisingly joyful. "It's Mark, sis. I never thought I'd see you again."

Maggie froze again trying to take it in. Her long lost brother was standing in front of her, in a prison. Held inside like an animal. Tears came fast in heavy waves; how could this get any worse?