North Way High

Chapter 14

I wake up from my nightmares. I see that my brother is a little out of it. He's awake but also half asleep. I look around a little more and I see someone sitting freely against the wall. Chase. He must not have left yet. Now that I think of it, nobody really likes Chase, just like his brother said. I used to like him, I think, but it's too hard to remember about love. Ugh, love. Just the word gives me a headache. I hear laughing. I turn to see who it is, and it's Jackson. He's talking to someone that must be older than him.
"Jackson? Who are you talking to?" I yell, trying to amplify my voice all the way up there.
"Jamie, this is my dad." Jackson replies. The man walks over to me and sits in a chair right in front of where I'm tied up.
"Hello, Jamie. I'm your boss. You may call me Master Finn. I have a few basic rules you must follow to not be punished," he says in a sweet voice. As he speaks, I feel multiple chills come through my body. Strong ones. "My first rule is no communicating with anyone but me and Jackson unless you are given permission. My second rule is no talking back or refusal. Ever. No matter what command is given to you, whether it's scraping stains off the floor, or killing people you love, you must do it or you will be severely punished. And one more thing," he scoots in closer so only I can hear and he forces me to eat a small bite of something that looks like bread. It doesn't taste very good, like a salty, squishy piece of old cake, but all of the sudden, I feel like everything he has just said is what I need to do. It's my mission to follow, understand, and never forget these rules. He reads my mind and realizes that this food had already worked through my body. He gets so close to me that I'm forced to focus, "Chase is your enemy. He was, is, and always will be your enemy. He will try to be nice to you only to trick you. He's evil and he must not be reckoned with. Any good memories you have with him must be erased right now or I will have to erase them for you. Do you understand?" He says, very distinct and harsh so I don't forget it even though I'm forced to with this stuff he's made me eat. I simply nod and his emotions suddenly change. He smiles at me, "And one more thing, darling. All of those chills you've felt up and down your body are my test. Now I know exactly the type of needle, what to put in it, and how you react to it. Which means I know exactly how much to torture you so you don't just flat out die because of the emotions it gives you, but enough to scar your life. I will give you one of these if you break one of these rules. Did you see how your brother was? I only gave him two or three in a lower prescription. I have power over you, Jamie. Remember that." I nod my head in understandment. He smiles and walks away.
"Your first job will start when we need you. Otherwise, you can just sit there or we have a Morrisons 'How to Be Evil' video if you'd like to watch it." He says, smiling.
"Um, I'll just sit here. Thank you." I say as sweetly as possible. I don't want to get on his bad side. I don't want to be like my brother. Speaking of my brother, "I thought you said you would let him free if I came. What happened to that promise, Master Finn?" I say, trying not to sound angry.
"Well, we decided we wanted to keep him longer. Besides, he can't go back now. He will tell everyone we have you captured and we will be exposed. We can't have that, can we?" He asks.
"Of course not. But what if you let him decide to not tell anyone about Cornells or what's going on?" I ask.
"We did give him that choice but he gave me an evil look and tried killing me with a pen, so we figured his answer was no." He replies. I just nod. Alex hates them so much that he won't even lie to make them happy so he can keep himself safe? That's not a good sign. They really don't seem that bad. As I sit here on my seat, locked in still, I see Chase staring at me. He's sitting against the wall, bored. Like he's seen this too many times. He sees me looking back at him.
"Jamie, don't listen to what they tell you. They're the evil ones. Remember our hugs. Remember the sandwiches. Remember your mom! We love you!" he's trying to make me turn my back on the people that actually accept me. And I won't let him.
"Oh, Chase. Haven't you done enough? You're trying to trick me but I'm not falling for it! I know you're evil! You're not tricking anyone!" I yell at him. It's like I just struck him with a belt. He looks down and covers his face so I don't see him cry. What a wimp. What am I thinking? My mom? Our sandwiches? My mom died long ago. And it's just a sandwich. Our hugs? I don't remember hugging him. Hugs require love and love is a disgusting thing. Is it? No. Love is bad. Love is good. What? I don't know.
"Jamie, I know you're in there somewhere. Please don't fall for their tricks. Please remember..." he starts. His sweet, soft voice is very familiar. It's almost hypnotic. So sweet . . .
"Hey! You said you would keep quiet if we let you stay! She's ours now! Jamie, don't talk to him! You're dangerously close to breaking a rule." Says Master Finn, putting me back in reality. We stay quiet but Chase sneaks looks at me. Pleading looks. I can see innocence in his eyes, true love . . . but he's bad. He's trying to trick me just like Jackson and Master Finn warned me. He's dangerous. The more I think of it, I do remember good things about him. My head on his shoulder on a couch, embracing him before and after school in his hidden apartment . . . I need to say something to stop his tears.
"Love. I remember." I mutter, a little smile on my lips.
"What?" Asks Jackson. He walks up to me. He seems angry.
"Ch-- Chase?" It starts coming back to me in tiny pieces. "Love. Him. I remember him. He hugged me and it was so sweet . . . " I start.
"No! Are you kidding? That wasn't Chase. That was . . . me. We loved each other and that's why you're working with me now. Don't you remember me? I gave you a sandwich. I hugged you. Don't confuse yourself, Jamie." He says.
"Then why would you lock me up? No. It wasn't you. It was the guy sitting against the wall. I remember him. His name is Chase, right?" I ask. It's starting to come back to me, fitting in like puzzle pieces.
"Friend. Lover. Boufriend. Hero. Chase! Get me out of here! I don't know what's going on!" I yell. I don't know what's happened the past hour or so, but I remember Chase. And I remember my family. I'm not supposed to be here.
"Master Finn, you can let me out. I'm ready to go home." I say, happily. He walks up to me, enraged.
"You broke a rule! I told you not to communicate with him without my permission!" He slaps me, hard across the face. "Did you have my permission?!" He yells, his neck veins tensing up and sticking out in rage.
"I'm sorry, I just, I didn't know. I'm sor--" he slaps me again and I wince. Chase stands up.
"Jamie! It's me, Chase! You remember me!" He runs toward my seat but Master Finn shoves him to the ground.
"Fool! I told you to stay there and keep quiet! Your ruining my plot! And now, because of you, Jamie has to pay." He smirks. Chase struggles but can't get up, Master Finn is too heavy on him. I scream.
"Jackson, it's time for the first torture shot." He says.
"No! She can't survive that! She's too fragile! She doesn't deserve that!" Screams Chase.
"You're right. She doesn't. But you deserve to watch her suffer. Do it Jackson!" He yells. Chase is trying so insanely hard to get free, and he does. But it's too late. Jackson has just entered the needle in my neck. Chase runs up to me and kisses my cheek. Jackson nor Master Finn mess with Chase. It's too late for him to do anything.
"Jamie! I'm going to try my best to get you out. I promise. I'll do anything and everything for you. You're about to enter the worst nightmares you've ever seen times twenty, but it's not real. I'm here for you and I love you. Be strong." He says, quickly. As I fade into blackness, I can hear Chase scream and someone gets hit with something. I'm desperate to see if Chase is okay, but I'm already entering the world of horror. Be strong . . . he said. Stay together.

But I'm already falling apart.