Ominous Doorbell

Chapter One

All I could hear were the leaves crunching under my frightened steps as I pushed myself harder to get away from that horrid place. It was a place not even my worst nightmare could have created. I have no idea where I am, nor where I'm headed but I know I can't stop running from that house. I have to get away from there, I just have to. I had to keep my hopes up because if I didn't I wouldn't get to see James again. My brother was all I had left and someone took me from him. I can only hope they hurt just me and not him. He has already suffered enough in life because he didn't have a mum or a dad and got bullied in school because his small, frail body was covered in scars from our past.

Then I heard it, the roar from a beast most foul. It halted my thoughts and made me run even faster. The roar was distant but to me it pounded through my head. Those monsters must have found the room they locked me in empty. By now they were probably bounding down the road that brought me to that hell. I knew if I wanted to escape I couldn't use that path again. I had used it several times in the short time I had been there to try and get away but they had always caught me before I could get to a main road. This time I went for the little fading-away running trail that looked like only the animals used to cross the property now. I could only see the faint outline in the brush, there had been a wolf there yesterday morning. I saw him grazing through the tiny, filthy window in the horrid room they locked me in.

The roar of anger was getting louder, closer. I pushed myself to try and run faster. A wave of relief fell over me as I saw a paved road. My way to freedom, to James, was right there. I ran next to it, making sure not to get to close in case those monsters were patrolling it for me. My exhaustion had gotten the better of me, forcing me to stop and rest for a moment to catch my breath. I looked around to make sure I was safe, that was when the brick wall crashed into my side, knocking me to the ground and causing me to black out.

A harsh white light blinded me as I opened my eyes. I looked down, saw that the blue hospital-like clothes I was given were torn. Their condition was partly the result of the two weeks of torture that they had put me through and partly from the attempted escape through the thorn bushes today. Once I was able to see clearly, I was eye to eye with a handsome face. It was a face that was not to be trusted. It was the face of the evil spawn that had ripped me from my family. He stole me from my mostly okay life that was a million times better than the one I had been living for the last two weeks. He was dressed the same way he was when he took me; in an expensive looking suit with nothing out of place on him. His hair was sharply combed to the side, a dark contrast to his striking blue eyes.

They had the same glint in them when he reeled me in to give him directions. It was just like any other day. I went to school, raced to work at the local pizza joint then went to pick up James from soccer practice. I always ran the same three blocks from work to the elementary school but today I walked to enjoy the scenic view of the snow and ice covered trees.

As I neared the school a car pulled up to the sidewalk rolling down the passenger's window to show a man who was clearly lost based on his expensive clothes and car in a little town; the car smelt of leather and smoke. He asked where the park was. I asked him which one, one was by my house and the other was on the opposite side of town. He said he was looking for the meadow field park, the one by my house. I had given him directions and told him to have a great day. As I began to walk away, a bag was thrown over my head and I was stuffed into the trunk screaming for help because it being a small town and no one was near it was hopeless.

The music was turned up so loud; my voice was silenced by it as the car drove for what felt like hours. Reality came crashing back as I felt someone smack me on the leg, making me jump but was stopped by the ropes that had tied me to the chair. The man was so close I could smell his mint gum. He was talking about how annoying it was to keep me and how I'm not even worth saving. This puzzled me because it didn't seem to me that I was being saved.

"Wouldn't you rather die? I mean you're like trash that needs to be thrown out." He said with malice almost dripping off his lips. God I so want to just wipe that stupid smirk off his face. The best thing I could come up with was spitting in his face, so that's what I did. Boy was that not a good idea. I heard the slapping noise before I felt it. He slapped me so hard the chair wobbled.

I could tell by the look in his eyes that was just the beginning. Thankfully before the man could do worse a deep angry voice bellowed through the room shouting about the frightened boy and how he was too precious and fragile and how he needed me alive. What does he mean about needed me? Also I am so not fragile! Is he trying to save me from this man or he just here to insult me, either way I don't have a god feeling. The man with the deep voice walked over and pushed the other man out of the way to sit in the seat that was placed right in front of me. Out of instinct I leaned back, tipping the chair over and scaring myself and squeaking. I closed my eyes in fear of hitting the floor but the impact never came. I opened my eyes to see the man was holding my chair. I stared into his mesmerizing green eyes. The intense look of compassion in his eyes made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

He started to untie me never breaking eye contact further confusing me about this whole place. He seems like the man in charge but how did he not know I was here I mean I was not a quiet prisoner.

"Are you okay? How long have you been here? What did he do to you? How can I hel-"

"I'll be okay when I'm out of this place. You can help by getting me out of this damned hellhole and getting me the heck away from that bastard." I cut him off. I could see in his change of expression that I was being a bit of a dick. Can you blame me though, I mean his people tied me up, tortured me, starved me, and abused me. How can I not be pissed? Just because he was nice to me and he has those beautiful eyes that I could stare into all day. That doesn't mean he is all sunshine and rainbows. I have a bad feeling about this man.

"Well I can't send you home on your own just yet, my dear," he said standing up reaching a hand out for me. I was hesitant but gave in and took his hand. "You are very important to my family and sending you home would put not only my family in danger but yours as well." He finished, as he started to walk towards the door he walked in. His voice was filled with such sorrow and pain. What's with this 'my dear' crap? How is his family and mine connected. In danger of what? I have so many questions for his new man

"But I need to get home; your people have kept me here long enough. Maybe you should have thought of my importance before you let your men abuse me!" each word I said was laced with so much venom that there was a bitter taste left in my mouth. This made him stop in the doorway. I just wanted to go home and see James. To be like any normal teenager on winter break and complain about the mountain of homework I was given that I wasn't going to do. The man was quiet for a while, looking like he was truly contemplating what I had said.

"Fine, you can go home but I must insist I go with you on this trip to protect you." He said with a prideful tone while puffing out his chest like he came up with an idea better than hot pockets. He took a step towards the stairs but stops turning to the man who had been sprawled out on the floor.

"As for you, I told you to send for me as soon as you had him in your Pro-Tec-Tion!' he told the man who looked frightened putting emphasis on protection. He looked like he wanted to rip into him but stopped to look at me.

"Are you hungry?" his expression softened as I nodded nervously. "Come on, as for you," the boss man pointed towards the man who tied me up, "Tony, I'll deal with you later." The man, Tony paled but nodded slowly. The Boss man took my hand and led me up the stairs from what looked to be a dungeon from all the other rooms we past the doors were old fashioned wooden doors with large metal hinges.