Ariana’s POV –
I’ve spent countless nights lying here in the dark feeling like my sanity is seeping it’s way out of my body. For whatever reason, I wake up that night, lying on the cold floor. As soon as I begin to make the dark shapes of my surrounding, I feel it. It’s the faintest little buzz in the atmosphere yet I wonder whether I’ve completely lost all of my sanity.
Am I seeing and feeling things that aren’t there?
But then I remember his words.
“Alejandro is looking for you.”
I can’t deny it anymore, I feel something. I inhale sharply, ignoring the sharp stabs of pain soaring through my muscles. I hoist myself up on my palms, listening out into the night for any noise. The eerie silence greets me just as it has for every other night.
“Alex,” I call out, his name rolling off my tongue like a cold whisper. I shuffle backwards until my back hits the wall, my body weak and broken down from weeks of misuse. It’s probably the last thing I should be thinking about but I suddenly find myself growing self conscious.
I haven’t bathed in weeks, my hair is a knotted mess, thick with dirt. My nails are filthy, the scent coming from me is un-bearable but one I’ve grown accustomed to. My ribs stick out to the point where I can trace them under the pads of my fingertips. I feel my spine curve straight down from my neck to my lower back.
What if he sees me and doesn’t even recognise me? Or repulses from the sight of me?
“Alex?” I call out uncertainly. My voice is hoarse and I know the sound coming from me is barely audible. Even if he is here, there’s no way he can hear me yet I still feel it. . . The slightest electricity sizzling in the air, like he’s near.
I tell myself that I’m being stupid, there’s no way Alex could find me. I’m destined to spend my days lying on this floor, my body eventually breaking away into a pile of nothing. I wonder whether someone will eventually find my remains, years on when the only sign of my abuse is bones scattered on the ground.
I close my eyes, forcing the feeling of hope to fizzle away. Despite repeating over and over again how stupid I’m being, I can’t shake the feeling that someone is near.
*****
Alex’s POV –
I finally decide enough is enough. I’m tired of waiting, I’m tired of sitting out here in the dark wondering whether Ariana lies somewhere behind those walls. I reach down and check my gun, making sure I’m ready to go. Beside me, Caleb springs upwards from his seat, a frown on his face.
“We can’t go yet.” He says hurriedly, glancing around.
“I’m tired of waiting, it’s now or never.” I respond, the adrenaline pumping faster through my body. I hear Caleb sigh be-side me, his eyes darting left and right as he studied the surroundings. He’s slightly more anxious than usual but I can’t blame him, I’m also worried what lies behind those doors.
Is this the end for Caleb and I?
If something happens to me, will Ariana ever be found?
“Caleb, I think you should stay here.” I say firmly, turning towards him. There’s a bad feeling inside my stomach, a feeling of dread and nausea swirled together. I’ve always listened to my heart and right now it’s telling me that this isn’t going to work out okay.
“I don’t know what’s behind those doors and I don’t know if this is a trap. If it is I’d rather it be me than you. You still have Nikki, go to her.” I tell him, searching his eyes. I see them fill with sadness at the mention of his girlfriend and his shoul-ders slump in defeat.
He bows his head down, strands of hair falling over to shield the pain in his eyes.
“When did chicks get in-between us? We’re the dynamic duo and now you’re risking your life for a chick and I can’t leave this car for another chick. We’ve seriously been gripped by the balls.” Caleb mutters unhappily. The corners of my lips twitch up into an amused smirk but I know he’s right.
At one stage, Caleb wouldn’t hesitate before joining me. We were both young, stupid and obsessed with the world we lived in. . . Until we met the girls. Ariana gave me something else to live for, a happiness and spark inside me I never knew ex-isted. Caleb knew he couldn’t risk his life for Nikki. He doesn’t want to potentially leave her here alone.
The responsibility and struggle behind his choice made me look up to him further instead of question his loyalty.
I know his loyalty is there, it’s just shared with Nikki now and that’s okay with me.
I place my hand on his shoulder and I’m surprised to see his eyes fill with a glossy sheen when he looks at me. His face scrunches up in pain and I feel the bad feeling inside my heart begin to deepen.
“Be careful man. Who else is going to annoy the shit out of me if you’re not here?” Caleb says, pulling me into a hug. He grips onto me tightly and I don’t respond but feel a lump in my throat appear. I eventually pull back, making sure I’ve got my gun and knife strapped to my arm and leg. I don’t say anything to Caleb and avoid eye contact as I pull open the car door.
The cold night air hits me and I slowly shut the door, listening out for any noises around me. The eerie silence intensifies and I glance around at the tall trees surrounding the derelict building. It looks worn down, ready to collapse at any mo-ment.
“Do it for Ariana.” I murmur under my breath, beginning to push through the tall strands of grass and bushes. Each step I take towards the building causes the fear inside of me to escalate. I push fear aside because to me, fear is weakness and I’m Alejandro Ruiz.
I don’t show weakness.
When my boots hit the gravel around the building, it crunches underneath me. The noise fills the silence and I close my eyes for a brief second, inhaling deeply. I’ve got this. The hold on my gun tightens as I scurry over to the brick wall, plac-ing my back against it. I hold my gun up, ready to aim and shoot if I need to. The cold night air whips around me, swaying the branches of the trees to and fro. I clench my jaw and begin walking towards the entrance door, a metal fire door with one handle.
It’s the only entrance.
A perfect way to capture me as soon as I walk through it.
I close my eyes again and force the thoughts out of my mind. On one hand, I may be walking towards my death or on the other hand, I could be going in there to save the love of my life.
I have to make the decision now and make it fast. . . It’s either me or Ariana.
With my free hand, I grab onto the handle of the door and pull hard. The metal creaks open, the building inside pitch black.
I inhale one last breath of the cold air before stepping inside, walking into whatever the darkness has in store for me.