Two Broken People

Protection and Chaos

                                                                                  Tori's P.O.V.

  My morning began with a huge headache and an upset stomach. Elliot had made me breakfast and gave me some aspirin to cope with the massive headache. My family still wasn't found, and with every tick of the clock my anxiety rose. Why was it so hard for me to concentrate? What did I need to do in order to bring my family back? My head still pounded to the beat of my anxious heart. It was a frantic rhythm blinded by fear.  I vomited in the bathroom earlier.  I couldn't catch my breath to swallow the water Elliot had given me. Elliot. The man that I wanted so desperately to love me was working on his computer now. His eyes glued to the two computer screens and a reverent focus on the one thing that stood in the way of me getting my family back safe. I tried to slow my breathing but it was impossible. The thought of losing them forever ran in my mind throughout the day. I had to be like Elliot. I had to not let my personal feelings get in the way of the task at hand. I had to focus. I had to be patient like Mr. Robot said. I wouldn't be of any use the way I was right now. Worrying just made it harder to breathe. To even function. I wanted so desperately to just find those ......people and destroy them for hurting my family. I needed to calm down. I needed space to cry. Space to process what had happened. Space to gather my mind. Space to re-focus. Space to recuperate. I walked out of the apartment and down the street. 

  Things escalated ever since I had met Elliot. He was a part of something dangerous. Something that could change the world. It both excited and scared me. Could there be a world without violence and destruction? Was he on the right side? What would happen once he changed the world? Did it have to involve me? What could I do to help? Then I thought about my dad. He was on vacation too, only since my parents were divorced he didn't tag along at the family reunion. He was on vacation in Venezuela. I could imagine him hanging out at the beach with his new girlfriend who was the same age as me or a tad older, getting a sunburn after slabbing two layers of sunscreen all over himself and his girlfriend. It made me sick. However that did not discount the unconditional love I felt for my own father. He had called me his favorite which I did not like because in my mind, you're not supposed to have a favorite. I was daddy's little girl but I still felt neglected as a child. Not all the time but when my parents divorced I felt neglected. But still. He did love me. I loved him too. I tried my best to hold my broken family together without breaking myself. They meant the world to me and I wouldn't trade one of them for the world. That's why I had to make the call. That's why I had to involve my dad. I needed to get my whole family back. And I'd do anything to do it. 

  I reached in my pocket for my phone and sighed before I dialed the number. The first time I got his voice mail. The second time, I heard his tired voice. Oh yeah....the time difference. I didn't think about that. "Hey sweetheart? What's going on?", he said after coughing. "Hey, dad. I have some....some news to tell you. It's actually extremely important.", I nervously said.  My voice was shaking. Why was it shaking? "What's wrong, sweetheart?", he listened intently. "I met someone. He's a little different- but he's very caring and nurturing. He's helping me right now.....because something bad happened.", I tried to get my words out. I just couldn't. I NEEDED my dad to understand. "Tori, what is going on?", he said loudly into the phone. "Dad, please just try to understand what I'm trying to tell you.", I sighed and tried to find the rest of my words,"Because I need you to understand that 'he' isn't the enemy. He's been protecting me. But our family is in danger." I heard him get up from sitting. "What do you mean?", he started to sound frantic. "They've been kidnapped, by this hacker group called the Dark Army. They will release our family if you'll do what they say. Please dad. I only want to get our family back.", I almost cried into the phone. "Tori I CAN'T BELIEVE-", I moved the phone from my ear to spare his shouting and cussing. "WHO IS THE GUY HOLDING YOU CAPTIVE?", my dad's enraged voice shouted from the speaker of my phone. "I'm not being held captive. I'm being cared for and I'm safe. But dad, our family isn't safe. They need you to do this for them to save them. Please. Please, dad.", I said with sincerity and anxiety in my voice. "WHERE ARE YOU?", he yelled. "New York. The man who is taking care of me isn't a bad man and he's trying to help. Please try to understand that, dad.", I implored him. "HE'LL UNDERSTAND REAL QUICK NOT TO MESS WITH MY FAMILY.", my dad shouted into my phone. "HE'S NOT THE ENEMY!", I shouted at him, "WE NEED YOUR HELP DAD!! PLEASE!!" 

  "Come to New York and then we when you get here, then we'll tell you more. I love you dad.", I said as I hung up. I walked to an alley way and cried. When I looked up, I saw Elliot looking frantic, and ticked. "Why the hell did you leave? You know I can't protect you if you run off like that! Tori do you understand just how much danger you are in? Your family has been taken by the Dark Army! What makes you think that they won't take you too? You scared the hell out of me! Don't ever do that again!", Elliot was on the verge of tears. Then he did something unexpected. He walked right up to me and hugged me. I could feel his hot tears through my shirt. "Elliot. Elliot, I-", I couldn't find the words. I struggled with my thoughts and my words. I wanted to say it. I just didn't have the strength to. So I just hugged him back. He kissed my shoulder and then started placing gentle soft kisses up my neck, up to my jawline and stopped short at my lips. When I met his eyes he was giving me the most intense loving stare that made me freeze where I stood. Then his eyes drifted to my lips, and then slowly his lips met mine. We kissed and kissed and kissed. Must've been kissing for hours. I didn't care. The world fell away when he kissed me. "Do you wanna go back to the apartment?", his silky voice was low and husky. I quickly nodded. And then he pulled me along with him as we walked through the busy streets of New York. All of the sudden, Elliot stopped in his tracks, and pulled me with him. "Someone's following us.", I could hear panic in his voice. 

  I looked behind me inconspicuously and saw two large men in all black business suits gaining on us. Elliot pulled me through the crowd faster, and I kept looking over my shoulder. They were following us quickly keeping up their pace. I grew more anxious as we turned on a street that wasn't even close to Elliot's apartment. "Why-", he cut me off. "We need to lose them.", he said as we dodged through the crowd. We couldn't shake them. They kept up with us with good speed. When we were at a cross walk waiting for the cross walk to let us walk, Elliot was tense. Suddenly the light turned green and Elliot whispered intently in my ear, "Run." I did what he said. I ran as fast as I could bobbing and weaving through the crowd, almost bumping into people. I turned down a different street running as fast as my legs could carry me. Then when I couldn't lose them I quickly made a last minute decision to turn into an alley way and climb up the dead end wall and hide behind the dumpster. I've never been so tired in my life. My breathing was erratic and my pulse drummed in my ears. What could I do? What was my options? Stay hidden for a while or run back to the apartment? My options were scarce. Suddenly my phone rang. I frantically answered it, and sighed when I heard Elliot's voice, "I'm coming to get you."