The Bird That Couldn't Sing (GBFF)

Chapter 52 - Victor

Nothing. We've found nothing since Cory and I retrieved that video clip of Jade leaving that note. It's been a week since then, and even though I'll never give up looking, I can still feel my hope deflating.

I feel like an empty shell without my princess.

"Come on, Gabe. Let's just get this over with so we can get back home and keep looking for Sang," I sigh, stepping out of the car and onto the parking lot.

With a sigh of his own, he opens his door and steps out, not even bothering to give me a second glance before he makes his way into the grocery store.

With all of us staying home all day every day, we haven't actually gotten a chance to get out and grab food or any other essentials--not that any of us eat much of it anyways. But still, if we're going to find our love, then we're gonna need to be alive. And we can't live without food.

We can't live without Sang either...

Following behind him, I make my way into the store reluctantly, ready to get this over and done with so we can return home. Can I even call it a home if Sang isn't there? Without her, it feels more like a prison. A cage.

Once inside, we both grab a cart and go our separate ways, loading them up with some things for the next few weeks. I'm just walking past the elctronics aisle when I spot it: the perfect phone case for my princess. It's pink with polka dots, and in the middle, there's a little picture of a grand piano.

I never got to play for her...

I pick it up and set it softly into the cart before carrying on, tears gathering in my eyes, ready to spill over. This in itself is strange, because I thought that I couldn't possibly have any more tears left to cry. I guess I was wrong.

Turning around a corner, I realize I'm not paying too much attention when I bump into another cart. I rush out an apology just as this other person does. Looking up, I find it's Gabriel.

When I glance down to look into his cart, I see an array of things. Pink headbands, pink nail polish, pink sweaters--though I'm surprised that he'd buy clothes at all from here--and, most agonizingly, one single pink clip--looking just the same as Sang's used to.

Absently, I say, "But, I thought you hated Sang's clips..."

His eyes looking like they're also about to spill over, he replies, "Well, I did, but not anymore. Now I see those clips as just another amazing thing about Sang, and I saw this, and I had to get it for her."

I just nod, as I completely understand. And then we walk to the registers with our groceries--well, partial groceries, thanks to me. Once we pay, we make our way out and to the car. We load all the bags up into the trunk and hop in, making our way back to our prison.

On the way there, we say nothing, and Gabe doesn't complain about the song playing on repeat over the stereo. Winter by Vivaldi.

❤

Only a few minutes away from "home," Gabriel suddenly asks, "Hey, Vic, do you see that car? I think it's been following us."

My eyes widen as I look through my rearview mirror to see what he's talking about, and that's when I notice it. That car has been pretty close to us this whole time; I just didn't really notice it before because I've been too caught up in my depressing thoughts.

"Yeah, I see it," I answer.

"Let's take this turn up here on the right, then a couple more turns away from home. If they're still behind us, we'll know it's no coincidence," he instructs. I do as told.

After the last turn, they're still behind us. I tell Gabe to see if he's able to make out the person that's driving, but he's unable to, as the windows are tinted. He curses loudly.

"Fuck! I'm redlining the guys. Someone is fucking following us." He pulls out his phone, aiming to do just that, and I look over for a brief moment to watch. But in that moment, the car that had been following us randomly slams on their gas pedal, hitting our bumper with force, and shooting us forward.

We both shout as our heads go lurching forward--mine hitting the steering wheel, and Gabriel's hitting the dashboard--just as the car rams into a tree, and everything descends into darkness.

❤

The first thing I register are my arms, which feel like they're on fire. The next thing I register are my legs, which feel like they're weightless. The last thing I register: all the pain shooting throughout my whole body, like I've just been hit by a truck. I guess that isn't too far off from the truth.

With a grumble, my eyes slowly flutter open to take in my surroundings. My head is pounding, as if it's been hit by a ton of bricks.

I gasp at the sight before me, which only makes the throbbing in my head and chest worse.

We're in a room, Gabe and I. A room walled with stone and sadness, completely bare and cold. I look to my right to find Gabriel with his arms chained above his head, the rest of his body dangling. And looking down my body, I find the same is true for myself. God, my arms feel like they're about to snap off.

Suddenly, Gabe starts to stir, his head lulling to the side as his eyes flutter open and he groans in pain. The same shock is seen on his face that must've been apparent on mine.

What the fuck is going on?

"Victor, what the fucking shit is going on?" Gabe moans in agony. But I don't have an answer for him, as I have no clue myself, so I say nothing.

I allow my eyes to wander again, only to spot a camera in the top corner of the room, blinking red. Recording.

"Shit, Gabe, look." Fuck, it hurts so bad to speak.

"Where?" He grumbles, looking over at me uncomfortably. I tilt my head in the direction I'm referring to, and he curses once more.

We're both trying to figure out what's happening when the large metal door before us opens out of nowhere, and a person strolls in. Jade.

Volto.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Hey, guys, how's it hanging?" She giggles at her own joke, but her laugh sounds nothing like my Princess's. It sounds wicked and full of terrorizing promise. It sounds evil--nothing like Sang's at all.

"Fuck you, bit--" is all Gabe manages before she's right in front of him, punching him in the gut as hard as she can. He lets out an "umpf" sound as he lurches forward a little, gasping for breath. But he can't move far, as he's still hung up by his hands and a chain from the ceiling. My eyes grow dark with rage, but I know better than to say anything, as she'll do the same to me.

Instead, I say, "Where's Sang?"

Laughing once more, she answers, "Oh, you'll see her soon. I promise."

And even though I know this promise is laced with cruel intent, I still find my heart beating so hard, like it's about to leap out of my chest and find her itself. A tiny smile makes its way onto my face as I think of seeing her once again, even in these circumstances.

Because I'd do whatever it took to see Sang again, even one last time.

Whatever it took.
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Guys, I'm not ready for this next chapter! It's gonna be crazy! But I can't wait till you read it. So I'll talk to you then.
As always, until next time...

Love,
Tori