Blackmailed Into The Band

Deborah

Drea's POV

" We're running out of time-"

Everything started speeding up when the sirens reached the house. A rush of adrenaline and hope filled the room as we realized we were about to be set free.

I glanced at the other girls, who had become my friends over the years, all of us bruised and dirty but ready to put up one last fight.

Cinnamon, the oldest who had become like a mother to us, looked the worst. She was the one who received the worst beatings and punishments but even now, she had a new look of determination in her eyes.

" If they successfully rescue us," She said, getting our attention, " I'm not letting them take me away. We have to make a choice now. Either we stay with them or we run."

Keera and Jessica looked at each other, both of them weak from years of being tortured before they decided to stay with the police.

Mallory, who was in much better shape, was undecided.

I was running with Cinnamon.

When the basement door was knocked down, we were unsure if someone was here help us or kill us. I held Cinnamon's hand, fear taking over my body like it did on a daily basis. Fear was all we knew down here.

" My name's James, I work with the FBI, I'm here to help," The man said, holding a little badge as he walked into the room. " Is everyone okay?"

Mallory started crying. " Is everything over?" She asked.

" Yes. We're here to take you to the hospital, and then we will track your parents down. Come with me," He said before leaving. We all followed, Cinnamon and I staying behind.

" We run towards the woods as soon as we're outside," She said.

I nodded.

As soon as we left the house for the first time in years, I wanted to cry. The sun was bright, beautiful and blinding. The grass was sprinkled with water, greener than I remembered it and the concrete on the road was darker and more inviting than anything.

By the time I stopped admiring everything, Cinnamon was halfway into the woods. I ran after her, pushing myself to catch up, hearing men behind us yelling, ordering us to stop.

Once we were in the safety of the woods, we laughed, taking our time to walk and recover from the most exercise we've done in years. The rush felt great and I wanted to continue running.

I tried remembering my address, wondering how Cinnamon was planning to get us home.

" Where do you live?" I asked her.

" Greenville. I don't exactly know where we are, or if we're in South Carolina still, but we'll figure it out," She said.

" I'm from Greenville too," I said. " We don't have to part ways yet."

" Good. I'll take you home first, and then I'll figure out the rest," She said.

As we walked, we heard the rush of water getting closer. We found a river and did our best to clean ourselves up. I washed my hair, using my hands to comb through it while Cinnamon did the same with her long red hair.

" Should we get going?" She asked after a while.

We followed the river into town and I remembered some of these places. We were still in Greenville. Or close anyways.

I remembered being little, visiting this soccer field with my parents and Josh. I wondered if they missed me. Or remembered me.

" Do you think our parents miss us?" I asked.

Cinnamon nodded. " They do. They probably watched us on TV when we got out."

My eyes widened. " Do you think we made it on the news?" I asked.

She nodded, smiling before taking my hand as we crossed the road.

" Are you hungry? I think... I think I know where we can get some food."

" Starving," I said, keeping my hand in hers.

" Alright. There's this place in the older part of town that serves food to the homeless... and we look pretty homeless right now," She said.

We began walking into the morning sun, staying out of the way of police and older men. I wondered if either of us would be comfortable near a man again. Not that it applied to me, I was only 13 but Cinnamon was 17. And as far as I knew, 17 year old girls usually had a boyfriend. I hoped the rest of her life wasn't ruined.

" Here we are," She said, leading me into a worn down place. We sat down, resting and catching our breath, coming up with a story to tell anyone who asked before we got in line behind a man with a torn coat.

We were miles away from home. I knew the walk would be long and who knows when we'd get to eat again. As we sat down, I kept thinking of my mom and dad and Josh. I missed them so much.