My Light in the Darkness

Compromise

"Put your hands behind your back," Zach whispered in my ear. I barely realized he got that close, so close I could feel his hot breath fan over my exposed skin. I guess it wasn't the first time he asked me to do this because of the way the other four were looking at me, curious.

My heart was beating in my ears, my breathing was shallow, and my knees almost started to wobble underneath me. What was wrong with me? I've been in hostage situations before, I was just never the hostage.

Slowly, I pryed my hands away from my sides and put them behind my back as requested.

"Now," Zach began, taking something that sounded like a rope from his bag, "for this to work, you're going to have to compromise." His voice was still a hushed whisper in my ear. "Please, I don't want to hurt you."

"Why?" I suddenly shot. I jerked my hands away from him just as he finished the knot. My sudden movements made the other boys to aim their guns.

"Hey!" Zach shouted, his hand held out to the others like he could stop the bullets if he wanted too. "Easy guys," his tone held a warning that intrigued me. He turned his attention to me once again and looked me dead in the eyes. "Because. You're a teenager like me and I'd hate to have to kill you." The authority in his voice caused me to tremble. He didn't look like he would be able to, but the dark behind his eyes said otherwise.

"Okay," my voice was weak. I cursed myself for showing I was scared. It was something I hardly ever did.

"You'll come back to camp with us. If you even think of escaping I won't hesitate to shoot. Don't make me shoot, I've had a clean week and I don't need you to ruin it." I nodded my head in understanding. It was strange. When we first started, he seemed timid and scared, but now he took charge like he's been doing this for years.

That's when I got it.

It was how he captured people. He made them think he was just a young naive teenager, someone easy to take down before he showed his true colours. I was a fool to be so captivated, but his show was convincing.

"Why take me hostage instead of just killing me?" I asked as he pulled me out of the office. He held me close to his chest, his gun pressed against my back.

"You took pity on Corbyn, so it only seemed fair." We set Corbyn free, no harm done. Yet, here I was. I had a gun to my back and rope digging into my skin.

"Taking pity on me would be to set me free. I have a family dammit!" I cursed at him. If his expression could turn any colder, it did.

"You know us to well by now. Setting you free could be our downfall. We don't know if you have people that could down our own. You must understand," he came close to my ear again, "that's its simply taking procautions." I shivered.

"Zach," a curly headed boy hissed. I turned to look at what he saw. At the end of the parking lot stood Gabby and Thomas. She looked mortified, Thomas looked pissed off.

"No, no, no. Fuck," I cursed. I looked to see what the guys were doing, the oldest looking one had his gun out and pointed, Corbyn looked pityful, but copied his actions. "Please, please don't hurt them," I begged. "Please!" I practically screamed.

"Why should I?" Zach spat.

"Because if you take me, she's all my Aunty and Uncle have, please! She's my sister!" I cried. I looked to her, shaking my head no, trying to get her to see I was fine. "Gabby, please." I prayed under my breath she wouldn't do anything stupid.

"Shoot him," Zach said over his shoulder, giving a silent nod in the direction of Thomas.

"No, No!" I screamed. "RUN!" I yelled to them, but it was too late. The gun shot rang through my ears. I screamed and kicked at Zach, falling to the ground in my struggle to get free. "Thomas!" I cried. He fell to the pavement, blood spilling from his body. Gabby slapped her hand over her mouth and fell to her knees. I watched as Zach drug me to my feet. I watched her pull her boyfriend into her shaking body, I watched as she cried and stroked his hair, I watched as he muttered calming words to her that I knew she didn't believe. I watched until I couldn't see them anymore.

I didn't stop kicking at Zach. I was to rattled to let it slide so easily. "You bastard! They didn't do anything! You could have let them go free!"

He pulled down on my ropes, jerking my body back into his own. "They would have followed you," he spat, "you're her sister, as you said. Family sticks together."

"You're a fucking retard if you think I won't go crazy to get back to them." I have him one warning before I elbowed him in the gut.

He heaved over himself, coughing like a mad man. I wasn't exactly gentle.

"Fuck," he groaned, holding his stomach in one hand, the other stabling himself on his knee. "Take her," he ordered Corbyn.

With hesitation, Corbyn grabbed the ropes and started dragging me along with the others, Zach taking the rear as he finally regained himself.

Prick.