To heal a broken heart

Chapter 43

~Holly's POV~

The first thing I feel again is my pounding head. I don't understand why, but I have a huge headache and my mouth feels dry like a desert. I try to move, but to my surprise my arms and legs seem restricted by something, causing me to slowly and dizzily open my eyes.

Once I become used to the light around me, I find myself chained to a wall. My legs and arms are spread out so I look like a starfish and to my complete horror most of my clothes are gone so I'm only in my underwear anymore.

The room itself is clean, light and seems nearly sterile. The walls are tiled in white, just like the floor and even the thick, metallic door on the other side of the room looks spotless. Other than that I get a terrifying feeling once I recognize the instruments lying on waist-high metal tables lining up the walls. They look like they're straight out of a horror movie.

Torture. That's what they are for.

Before I can look around even more I suddenly hear a groan to my left. My head spins around and I gasp when I finally recognize Adam under all the dried blood on his skin. He's chained to the wall just like I am, but seems to be in a far worse condition than me. Apart from my pounding headache and my missing clothes I'm fine, while he seems badly beaten, perhaps even with broken ribs or something. By the way, now that I think about it, my ribs hurt once again as well. Probably because of my arms being stretched so much and holding my body up.

Great. Just fucking great.

Before I can start to cuss for once in my life, Adam slowly moves his head, waking up. Once his eyes open he looks around just like I did before and finally his gaze lands on me. I smile at him woefully.

"Hey", I greet him. "Do you know where we are?"

My voice is raspy and my throat dry, I sound like I just ate a bucket of sand.

"No clue. I only remember coming from the toilet and seeing you with that Chelsea girl and one of Aiden's idiots in the hallway. You went limp all of the sudden and I ran over to help you, but they kinda drugged me throughout the fight I think...", he explains, grunting in anger. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything."

He tries to smile, but I see the fear in his eyes. He isn't a fighter and just like me doesn't know how to get out of here.

"Well, shit", I conclude and sigh. "I'm sorry you got dragged into my mess."

"Don't be, it's not your fault. All of us would do anything for Jayden and therefore for you as well, you know? He helped every single one of us in some kind of way. We're loyal for a reason", he states proudly. "My parents abandoned me and threw me out once they found out, that I'm- Well, they threw me out and he took me in for a while and gave me something to do, a new home and all. I'd probably be dead by now if it wasn't for him. I owe him my life."

Even through all the blood on his face I could see the gratefulness in his eyes when he spoke about Jayden. It shocks me what he already went through. And he made it sound like the rest of the gang did as well.

"Still, I don't want you to suffer because of me", I insist. "You shouldn't be here. George probably goes crazy by now."

His head whips around once I mention his friend, making me aware of what I just said. Oops?

"You think he cares?", he asks suddenly very interested. I smirk at him.

"I mean y'all are friends, of course he cares. Why do you ask?", I tease him, holding in my laughter. That's obviously not the answer he hoped for, it's written all over his face.

"Oh, uh, nothing, no reason", he mumbles out, causing me to crumble and start giggling.

"He obviously likes you", I smile. "Don't pretend like you don't care about him, I know everything!"