September's Staircase [On Hold]

Chapter 23

  Movement ceased and I can only guess that we've reached our destination. I stay still and silent waiting for what's to come next.

"When I open this door," his voice strays as he gestures towards the door on my left while uncuffing the handcuff connected to the car and snapping it around my free hand." I advise you not to do anything stupid love, there's no where to run to without me finding you." His voice turns into a whisper towards the end, while he unites my hair before stepping out of the driver's seat and opening the car door for me.

I entertain the idea of running but my thoughts are immediately put to a halt when I take in my surroundings.

Green for as far as my eyes are able to see. Massive trees, tall and clustered together. There isn't the slightest sign of civilization other than the massive wooden cottage in front of me. When I turn around Dylan is taking a duffle bag out of the trunk. His eyes meet mine and he gestures for me to follow him.

He clearly has no idea how to treat his fugitive. He turns his back on me multiple times perhaps if my mind could of formed a coherent thought I could of possibly gotten away from him or create as much distance as possible. But instead i resort to glaring at the back of his stupid head, where will I run to honestly ? I take note of the dusty pathway to the left of the house as we make our way up the stairs to the front door. Maybe there could be vacation cottages down that way?

I'm ripped out of my head and thrown into reality by him clearing his throat. I look up at him and he raises his eyebrow at me before stepping aside. "Get in." His words are clipped and he watches me intently as I step into the house. My eyes scan the room quickly. There are barely any windows great. I step further into the fairly large room which I suppose is the living room area. There are two couches in the corner and a table that sits between them. The walls are painted a dark green color and the only light source comes from two lamps.

I jump slightly when I feel cold hands wrap around my hands that are currently still handcuffed. "It's alight," he coos " I'm taking it off but don't try anything the door is dead bolted." He says kicking the metal door before smiling up at me.

I scuff at him and rub my aching wrist as soon as the metal is removed. He looks down at my bruised skin and a emotion flashes on his face but is quickly wiped away. He tugs my arm and I pull away only to have him tug it a little bit harder. He doesn't speak only walks tugging me behind him as we move down a corridor as though I'm some kind of rag doll.

"You know for a kidnapper you aren't half as bad as what I've seen in movies." I speak pulling my arm from his gentle grasp. Might as well get on his good side. I catch his crooked smile before he turns completely to look at me.

" For a fugitive you're oddly casual." He raises his arm making a gesture that looks like he is shooing a fly. Casual no I'm simply forcing myself to remain calm.

"This uh this is our kitchen." He speaks eyes fixated on anything but me. I don't speak so he continues.
"The room to the left is yours and the one to the right is mines." He speaks once we are back in the corridor. He acts like this isn't the strangest thing. That he didn't just snatch me up but more like we're two buddies sharing an apartment. F*cking  nut.

He pushes open the white door to my room and I step inside. It's spacious, no windows, a fairly large bed and a single wooden chair sits in the corner. The walls are white and the room is very impersonal obviously but it's a lot better than what I expected. I walk over to the bed that is covered in a basic blue comforter and notice two remotes on the bed. Dylan walks beside me and gently wiggles them out of my hold. "T.V." he tilts his head to the flat screen hanging on the wall. Huh I didn't even notice that. " Air condition" he says pointing to the air conditioning unit on the opposite wall. I do not like the fact that this room is windowless. I.need.fresh.air.asswipe. But it would honestly be stupid for him to place me in a room with a window so props to him.

I step back a little trying to create a little space between us without him noticing. He does though and scratches the back of his neck before leaving the room and returning seconds after with the duffle bag. "There are some stuff in there you might need." He says dropping the bag onto the bed, " The washroom is right down the hall." I nod. My eyes dart momentarily to the duffle bad and he quickly catches on to my silent question. "Go on."  He gestures to the bag and I move to open it.

The bag is filled with clothing, all much to big. It looks like he just shoved some of his t-shirts and sweat pants in it. Atleast they smell clean. My hand grazes over the zipper to one of the compartments. A small toiletry bag is hidden to the bottom. Much to my horror a box of tampons are among the toothbrush and body wash. The gesture is somewhat appreciated but I have no intentions of staying long enough for it to be needed.

He steps towards me and I flinch away once again. Nervous fingers tug at the roots of his hair before he speaks, "Look I know how this must feel to you but trust me ...this," his hands fly up in the air between us as he waves them around, " Is much better than what they had in store for you, I'm doing you a favor you're safe and somewhat free to move around the house." He is pacing around the room by the time he finishes and I'm left debating whether I should tell him off but I suppose that won't calm him down and I need to stay on his good side. His good side, stay on his good side September. That's the only plan I have so far.

My body reacts before my mind and my feet quietly pad towards him, my small hands reaches out to his pacing body in a attempt to stop him. It works he instantly halts and looks down at me, surprise clear on his face. I don't speak and I try my best not to flinch away from his touch as his thumb reaches up to swipe away a few drops of tears I hadn't even notice fell from my eyes. "Please don't cry September, I'm sorry but I couldn't let them hurt you, you shouldn't be placed in the middle of this because of Matty."

"Who is them! Why will they come after me for Matty? We barely even have a friendship! This is crazy! So what I'm suppose to stayed locked away with you? How can you possibly be trying to help me by taking me away from my family!" I push out of his grip and and slouch down on the floor. He follows and sits in front of me looking terrified and I can't deny I'm a bit relieved he isn't angry. "How am I suppose to believe you're doing good for me" I stop to swallow down the lump in my throat, "When the last time I met you..you did something so terrible to me." I choke on a sob and try to push that memory to the back of my mind.

He scoots a little further away from me and when he looks up at me regret is clear in his eyes. " You don't know what they are capable of, I'm sorry I had to do that but I was a complete stranger to you I didn't think talking it through would of worked and I deleted the picture before they could have done anything, I'm trying my best to keep you as safe as you can be in this situation and you need to trust that everything I do is because I have to but I try....f*ck do I try to cushion the blow. But you can't see that ! You still think I'm the bad guy!"

Just as he finishes his rant loud pounding sounds from the front door repeatedly and his eyes dart to me.

" Don't move!" He commands before exiting the room.