“911, what’s your emergency”
The bathroom door seemed weak, as if it was just a temporary fit after Noah broke the other one. At least that’s what it sounded like as Sebastian threw his body against it. “Help me please, I’ve been kidnappe-” the phone fell from my hands due to their violent shaking. “Sorry ma’am I didn’t get that, would you be able to repeat what you just said ”. Diving to the ground to retrieve the phone I clutched it with both hands.
The banging of the door was getting more violent with each second. “I’ve been kidnapped, I don’t know where I am, my name is Embr-” a terror filled scream pierced the air as Sebastian’s heaving body flew through where the door used to stand. “You f*cking b*tch” his boot slammed down crushing the phone against the tiles as his chest heaved up and down in fury.
I crawled to the corner of the bathroom, curling my body into a ball as my tear filled sobs echoed throughout the bathroom. “Just wait until Noah gets his hands on you, god it’s going to be fun to watch him break you” he let out a humourless laugh as he yanked me onto my feet by my hair.
Kicking and screaming, I clawed at his hand as he dragged me down the hallway. Sliding along to floor I shouted profanities at him
The burn on my chest that had been a bearable ache before, began throbbing relentlessly at the sight of the basement door. My body slammed against the concrete floor as he threw me on the ground. Every inch of me screaming with agony as he shut and locked the door, leaving me unmoving in the dark, damp basement. I was in for it, Noah would be back soon and hurt me.
The tears involuntarily rolled down my face, was this really what my life had come to. Only last week I was in school so oblivious to my surroundings. My biggest worry being the math’s test coming up and the nightmares.
God what I would give to be there in that world, the world that displaced me, the one I was so unfamiliar with nowadays. I crawled to the best of my ability over towards the worn out mattress on the floor. I avoided looking around the room in fear of the flashback I would get from when he branded me.
I had soon lost track of time as my throbbing head started to shut down, rendering me unconscious.
Movement around me was the first thing I noticed, the second being the uncomfortable pain that spanned throughout my body. “Embry, baby get up, we have to go” I groaned as the unforgiving light burned my eyes. Noah crouched down in front of me, his clothes looking tousled and worry lines creasing his forehead. “N-noah?” my voice was scratchy, my throat was raw as if I had been crying for the past four hours.
“Come on little bug, we have to go, you can sleep in the car”, rubbing my groggy eyes, he gently took my wrist into his hand as I kept my head down, concentrating on not doing anything wrong. “A-are you really mad at me?” I whispered out afraid of the answer.
“I’m not mad at you babygirl” he reassuringly smiled, heading towards the open front door, I froze when Sebastian came into view, fear coursing throughout my body.
Not only was his face bruised even worse but he was limping as he walked to the car. I peered down to the hand that was holding my arm and as I suspected, the knuckles were cut and damaged. Snapping out of my thoughts I was yanked closer to Noah as he sent a threatening glare in his brother’s direction. Sebastian, giving no response, proceeded to load boxes into the car.
The boot and half of the back seat was full of boxes and random household materials sprawled across it. It was bright out, as if the sun had just risen, meaning if I hadn’t been unconscious for 25 hours then it was most likely Thursday, the 16th.
Focusing on my breathing as Noah lifted me into the car by my hips and sat me on his lap, I was sitting sideways with my legs thrown over the next seat and my back to the door. I jumped a little at the slam of the boot door, Sebastian placing himself in the driver’s seat as the engine revved to life.
“N-noah” I whispered, causing his head to sharply tilt down towards mine but his eyes softened when they met my quivering frame. “Yes baby-girl?” he tore his eyes from my gaze, subtly placing his hand upon mine and running circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.
“Where are we going?” I mumbled, embarrassed by our close contact. “My parent’s house, just a precaution in case they tracked the call” he sighed, knowing this had opened a whole box of questions for me to ask. Yet for the moment, I stayed quiet, getting my thoughts together.
He had never talked about his family much, I hadn’t even realised he had a brother before I unfortunately had to meet him myself. I knew his father was a rich man and wanted his son to be homeschooled but Noah had wanted to go to a public school so he was sent to live with his aunt, only visiting his parents during the summer.
I remember he used to talk so softly about his mother, maybe she could help me. The thought of his father sent chills down my spine, he was an emotionless businessman who raised two psychopathic sons. What if he was like Sebastian? Then I would for sure need Noah’s trust. If I gain his trust then maybe I could leave, if his mother was really as kind as Noah made her out to be then she would help me.
Deciding this was my chance to start I worked up the courage to talk to him, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to force you to leave your house” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, my cheeks flushing.
His fingers gently tilted my head upwards, our eyes meeting, “I know baby, I know.” His eyes looked remorseful, did he know what had happened? “You know?” I questioned, regretting it as his whole frame tensed and his jaw ticked, “I have cameras all over the house, of course I know what that pr*ck tried to do” he spat, breathing hard clearly losing his temper.
Looking in the rear view mirror, Sebastian seemed unfazed by Noah’s words, keeping his concentration on the road. I panicked as Noah seemed to be failing at controlling his temper so I pressed my head against his chest. Holding his hand in mine I began playing with his fingers, remembering it used to calm him down before. I released a breath as he seemed to calm down.
The hand I wasn’t holding stroked my hair as I slowly shut my eyes, a strange calmness taking over as my body finally gave into the exhaustion it had been fighting.
—
Groaning, I flipped onto my side finding comfort in the cooler side of the bed. The noise of chatter interrupted my peaceful slumber as my eyes drifted open. Where was I?
Recalling the previous events, I came to the conclusion that I was lying in a bed in his parent’s house. Sitting up, I examined my surroundings, boxes were scattered all around the floor and there was no sign of Noah or Sebastian. A fear began to settle in my body, I was alone in an unknown place, it was moments like these I felt as though Noah wouldn’t be the worst person to have around.
Untangling my limbs from the comforter, I threw my legs over the side of the bed and crept over to the door. Peeking into the corridor noting that it was empty, hearing Noah’s familiar voice travelling from down the hallway. Following the sound of his voice I was met with stairs which descended into what looked like an entry hallway. Gripping the banister, I cautiously tip-toed down the stairs, readjusting the pajamas I must have been changed into. A fact I was too groggy and hungry to be mad about.
Awe-struck, I stilled once I hit the ground floor, fully taking in the design of the house, or rather even mansion. “It’s gorgeous isn’t it?” I jumped at the feminine voice that sounded from in front of me, my mouth agape as I studied the beautiful woman in front of me.
She looked to be in her 40s and 20s at the same time. Her skin was sallow and hair a shiny black, as it flowed down to her mid back, her smile welcoming and motherly. She couldn’t have been Noah’s mom, could she have? “I’m sorry darling, I didn’t mean to scare you, I’m Evelyn, Noah’s mom” she beamed, walking over to me as she encased me in a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you, the beautiful, kind soul that captivated my baby boy’s heart.”
I leaned into the hug, embracing the heartfelt and warm feeling it gave me. She reminded me of my mother, causing a small smile to grace my face.
Maybe she would be the key to my issues.