Bad Dream

Chapter 12: I will enter your heart

I am awoken by a rough banging on my door. I stumble out of the bed ,surprised to find it still dark outside.

I open the door , "Wha-" "Get dressed quickly". Magnus yells at me.I grab the first things my hand brushes and throw it on . I run out of my room ,still yawning. The gang piles into the truck as a blur of conversation happens.

I am jolted awake again by Magnus , "Get out". I exit the truck and recoil in horror as I see a large group of men standing 10 metres away. I recognize one of them as Brent Little the leader of The Rebels, an inner city gang .They are just as dangerous as Exordium . I stand in shock as I see the boys retrieving weapons of various types. My arm is grabbed by Ambrose , "Stay close behind me okay?". I can only nod as we walk up to The Rebels whose size more than doubles ours.

"Hello Boys ,how are we tonight?", Brent pokes Ambrose' shoulder and his gang members snicker. Ambrose subtly pushes me back behind Salem before he steps forward, "Lets get this over with , do you have what we agreed on?". I whisper to Salem, "What are you guys trading?". Before Salem can answer a member of The Rebels who slipped around the gang pulls me out. "Oh look what we have here boys, a little lady". Ambrose curses under his breath as I am pushed towards Brent .Brent grabs my arm and pulls me towards him. He lifts my hair and smells it I try to pull arm out of his grip but he tightens it. "It looks like you have been holding out on us , Jake don't hand over the goods yet I have decided I'll increase the price . $10,000 and the girl or no deal". I can smell alcohol and cigarettes on his breath as Brent grabs my face and crudely presses his lips against mine. I squirm and knee him in the groin , he lets go and punches me in the face . I fall and hit my head on the ground ,blackness clouds my vision and I can feel blood trickling down my face . I hear a crash as both gangs begin to fight, fists and weapons are flying . I see Brent produce a knife and pull his hand back to stab Ambrose , I stumble up and grab onto his arm preventing him from following through. I don't know what possesses me but as he turns to me I punch him in the jaw. He stumbles back but recovers quickly, he grabs my head and throws me to the ground."You little bitch", he snarls as he sends a painful blow to my ribs. I cry out in pain as he delivers another hard kick to my torso. I open my eyes and see Kassim looking at me , I close my eyes once again and brace for the next kick. It doesn't come .I open my eyes again and I see Kassim grab Brent. I am in shock but I succumb to my injuries and pass out .

"Please wake up". I hear voices around me , I open my eyes and I see Magnus holding tightly onto my hand. I look around the room everyone looks battered and bruised, my body aches. "I'm okay", I whimper and squeeze Magnus' hand. Magnus jumps up, "Thank god you are okay". He touches my face then quickly stands again looking embarrassed. The relief in everyones faces surprises me but inside I appreciate the care. Ambrose stands beside my bed, "You stopped him from stabbing me you put your body on the line. I don't know how to thank you". I don't know what to say to this so I only give him a nod . "Well boys we should get out and let her rest now that we know she is okay". The boys all smile at me and leave the room.

"Kassim ,can I talk to you?", I manage to get out. He turns around and I see a small glimmer of confusion in his eyes . "What do you want?" , he stands next to me.

"I thought you hated me but you saved my life and I don't know why but thank you so much".

I expect him to be gracious and accept my thanks but his facial expression is agitated.

"Of course you think I am a heartless fiend who would leave you for dead, you know I don't even know why I bothered to save you I should have just let him kill you".

He moves to leave but I grab his arm and pull him back , he stumbles and falls onto the bed. He turns to me with anger in his eyes, and grabs my arm .

"Never do that ever again", he snaps at me .

"Please Kassim I didn't mean to make you angry I honestly am thankful to you".

I smile at him but he only frowns and storms out of the room. I exhale, I have mixed feelings over his anger . I again try to sleep and clear my mind from the storm inside my head.

******

Not one of them has spoken to me this week, not even Yaegar. I am taken aback at the lack of emotion considering the way they reacted when I first woke up. I edge my legs over the bed and sit on the side of the bed for a few moments allowing myself to regain my composure. I stand and slowly walk towards the door. I open the door and walk to the end of the hallway leading into the main room I stop short as I hear the news coming from the TV.

"22 year old Sahara Schade has been missing for 2 weeks after disappearing from her home. Miss Schade was a vital lead and key witness in a murder committed by the Fatal Gang. It is feared that Miss Schade has been kidnapped by the Fatal gang however police still hold hope of finding her alive. Her car was found abandoned in a paddock..".

I place my hand on my head. I've been gone for 2 weeks and I know that I will be gone for a lot longer. I feel sweat trickle down my back as I realize that I may never be found , these men are too smart. I step into the main room as quietly as I can however Kassim still notices my presence . "Look whose up!", he hurls at me. The rest of the gang turn to look at me with the same look of distain and betrayal.

Magnus stands and walks up to me, "You liar , you told us you told the police nothing . We trusted you!" . Kassim stands looking proud , "I told all of you we couldn't trust her but you didn't listen to me . Now how to you feel?". I can feel the anger boil up inside of me with every accusation that they throw at me .

"How dare you! Are you all so gullible and naive that you believe what the media tells you? I never told the police anything about you. Not even that I saw you Kassim , when Detective Smith asked me to identify a suspect I agreed because I was terrified that you would find me . Even when I finally figured out that it was you Ambrose I didn't tell anyone . Honestly it's not like any of you cared anyway , you all just want an excuse to kill me . I don't know what I expected from a bunch of monsters anyway".

It feels like there is a fire inside of my chest so before any of them can respond I run to the front door . I know trying to escape is stupid and possibly a death wish but at this stage I don't care. I reach for the door knob and find it locked ,I turn and Ambrose stands waving the key at me . I slide down the door and put my head in my hands . "I am sorry", I whisper . I don't know who I am directing the apology to ; God, my family, myself or the gang. "Magnus take Sahara back to her room and lock it from the outside". I feel a hand grab my arm and I am lifted up and lead to my room. As Magnus opens my door I take my opportunity to roughly grab onto him . However my attempt fails as both Magnus and I fall to the ground . I turn to look at him and see a look of pure anger plastered on his face, I turn to face the roof as a tear slips down my face. Magnus sits up and he watches my face.

"What?", I look at him. Before I have time to sit up Magnus leans down , "Magnus what are you doing?", I am shocked by this move. He opens his eyes and looks dazed,"I shouldn't have done that", he stammers. He stands and I grab his hand he turns to me,"I believe you didn't tell the police anything". He then leaves my room, locking it from the outside leaving me on the floor puzzled at what just happened.