Gone

11.

"Taylor..." I breathed, anxiously shaking.

"Kevin put you in there didn't he?" Bryson asked her, sounding upset. Taylor only nodded at Bryson's question. I was convinced she was too terrified to talk about what she went through for the past month. As I heard the front door open, I could only assume it was Lukas and Kevin.

"Bryson? Did you give the girls dinner, right? It's 9 o'clock," Lukas announced from the living room. Bryson just staggered in the middle of the room, until Lukas and Kevin entered the doorway. I watched as Lukas glanced at Kevin as if he knew that Bryson found out something Kevin had been hiding.

"Bry-"

"How long has Taylor been in the shed for Kevin..?" Bryson trembled, slowly turning around.

"Since the day I knocked her ass out," He laughed, leaning his left shoulder on the doorframe.

"You starved her jackass! Look at her!"

"Shut up wuss, I fed her once a day for the most part."

"She could've died! Don't you realize that?!"

"But, she was dead to you, wasn't she?" I could tell Bryson was getting furious with Kevin's childish acts, I think most of us in that room was. Then, out of nowhere, Bryson ran at Kevin full speed and knocked Kevin down in the hallway. Most of the fight took place behind the wall which I was unable to see. But I heard numerous punches, cracks, and yelling. I covered my ears to make sure I didn't begin to cry. I don't remember the fight lasting very long, but Lukas eventually stepped in, which made Bryson freeze altogether.

"Guys, guys... TWO WEEKS!"

"Wha-what?" Bryson stuttered, pushing Kevin off of him, "Two weeks what?"

"I've known about Taylor being in the shed for about two weeks, Bryson. Kevin told me."

"She could've died in there! For real Lukas," Bryson articulated.

"Would that be so bad? All of us were doing just fine thinking she was dead," Lukas shrugged, exiting the room, and sauntering down the hall. The other two followed him to some other place in the house and left the four of us.

While they were gone, I had wanted to start asking Taylor questions and updating her on what had happened while she was isolated, but then realizing I should just respect her privacy for right now. I pulled the journal out from behind my back and decided to read more.

"What are you reading?" Kelsey asked me, raising a brow.

"I found it."

"That doesn't give me much detail Kassidy," Kelsey sighed.

"Okay listen," I began, waiting for each of them to turn their heads toward me, "I think I have a plan to get us out of here."

"No, no, no. Kassidy, this is going to fail like every other time," Chloe interrupted.

"No, this can work. We just have to follow exactly what I say."

"What is it then?" Kelsey sighed, seeming extremely uninterested in what I would soon have to say.

"This," I said holding up Bryson's journal, "This is Bryson's journal. It's proof that he actually is sincere about us and, I guess he somewhat cares?"

"Whatever," Kelsey scoffed, "Watch, this is going to get us in trouble, just like last time."

"Goddamn it Kelsey, let me read you one of his entries;" I turned to the day of Taylor's so-called 'death', and began reading.

"So that's really his journal?" Kelsey asked me.

"Yeah. I haven't read everything, but I think I need to."

"Ugh, if only Lukas had one of these journals, we could find out what he's planning on doing next.." Chloe pondered out loud.

"If he does, we could even find out if he's gotten the ransom yet," I added.

"In all honesty Kassidy, Lukas probably has received the ransom, but is probably trying his hardest to get more cash because he's a disgusting human being," Kelsey stated, beginning to rage. I rolled my eyes at her statement and looked through more of his journal. I ended up landing on a page I hadn't paid any attention to just yet.

"This one was written on Halloween, it says; ́October 31st, We filmed the ransom video today. There were struggles, and things ended up getting worse as the day dragged on. Kevin took the blonde girl with short hair out of the room and took her to the basement. I remember hearing her screams, which made my skin crawl. I wish I could've stopped him, but Lukas needed me to stay in the room to help finish the video. I hope Lukas receives the ransom money soon. Dealing with all of this is so stressful."

"Why'd you even take his journal in the first place?̈" Kelsey asked, full of irritation.

"Because if we read it, we could get into Bryson's thoughts and feelings. In the last few entries, it even says how he's pretty close to calling up Justin." I expressed.

"That might actually work," added Chloe. Chloe agreeing with my idea was unexpected.

"Even though this will probably crash and burn in the end, let's just see where this goes..."Kelsey sighed. Kelsey, Chloe, and I took turns reading the entries in the journal, knowing Taylor had no interest in reading the journal. We allowed her to keep to herself until she decided to join in. The rest of the night continued with the three of us talking like before. I urged myself to speak to Taylor about what had happened, but I knew she still needed space.