Revenge

Chapter 21: Untrusting

Chapter 21: Untrusting

The shock of her words seems to freeze me.

I die tomorrow.

I jolt from my terror at the sound of the door slamming closed. My nerves feel on fire as I tear open my backpack. I retrieve my cellphone, then hide underneath the pane of glass, where I know the camera can't see me. After all this time, I should at least have enough battery to make a call. Sometimes when my phone dies, after a bit I can still use it. For a short amount of time that is.

I watch the opening screen flash across my vision. Within seconds the phone flashes on, along with a warning.

2% Battery Remaining

Text messages start booming into my inbox immediately. I don't bother checking them. Instead, Im dialling a number before I even realize whose it is.

Dialling Dad...

I hear the dull ringing in my ear. The fourth ring happens, and I'm sure he won't pick up. On the fifth ring though, there's an answer.

"Hello? Catherine?" My father practically shouts.

"Dad..." Is all that comes out.

"Catherine, where are you?"

I rush to the window and try looking out, but the trees are in my way. I then realize my mistake. The camera can see me on the phone now.

"I'm like...-"

"Catherine, where are you!"

"In a hospital! A like, an abandoned fricken hospital!" I scream. "I have to go."

"No! Stay on the line. Just for a little bit longer," he tells me. What? Why? Is he still in contact with the family? Does he know they plan on killing me? So he wants to hear my voice for the last time?

"Wanna hear your little girl for the last time?" I ask in a dark voice. I hear the click of the door unlocking.

"W-what?" I hear my dad stutter. I drop the phone into my bag, leaving the call still on. Silly me.

It's Nate who enters, curiosity written all over his face.

"Watcha doin'?" He singsongs. I lean against a barred window, biting my lip.

"Oh... Just chillin'," I answer. I look out of the corner of my eye into the bag and see the call still on. When is it going to die?

As I think it, the screen goes black.

"Who were you on the phone with?" He questions, stepping towards me.

"Um, my phone's dead, dumbass," I retort. He arches an eyebrow at me. "And apparently I will soon be too."

That seems to catch him off guard."Wait, what?"

"I die tomorrow, haven't you heard?" The tears well up in my eyes before I have a chance to stop them.

"I... Catherine..." He trails off, staring at me so intently. He takes another step closer, and I cringe. I feel his arms wrap around me. I expect to feel a death grip. Maybe he'll kill me himself. But the grip is comforting... He's hugging me.

This sets me off. I'm then bawling into his neck, him holding me up. I feel the heat radiating off his body, it's almost as if I haven't felt warmth before. His muscular arms remain wrapped around me, for what feels like forever. Nate then whispers in my ear, "You're not going to die."

"W-what makes y-you s-so sure?" I sputter.

"Because, I won't let them hurt you anymore, I'll find a way to get you out of here," he whispers back. Chills run through my body. Is he being serious? Can I even trust him? Why's he being so nice to me all of a sudden?

I wrap my arms around him too, to steady myself. At least that's what I tell myself. Maybe I just don't want this affection to end. I feel the toned muscles on his back, and my hands trail down to his hips.

"How can I trust you?" I murmur. He pulls away slightly and looks me dead in the eyes.

"Because, everything I've done here is to make sure you get out of here alive," he whispers. Yeah, like kidnapping me, right? "I've been here too long, I should go. I'll come here early tomorrow so we can discuss what we're going to do, alright?"

Can I trust him?

"Alright," I reply. He kisses me on the head, then breaks the embrace before heading for the door. He opens the door. "Wait," I say.

I step towards him, wrapping my arms around him. I plant my lips on his, feeling his warmth once more. His body presses to mine, and his hand holds my cheek. I pull away slowly.

"What was that for?" He asks.

"For helping me all this time, I knew you weren't like them," I say. He nods, smiling.

"See you tomorrow," he tells me.

Can I trust him?

"See you tomorrow," I reply. He turns away, shutting the door behind him.

Click.

I smile at the door. He really should have been the one asking if he could trust me. I look down at my hand, which holds Nate's keycard to the door standing right in front of me.