Chapter 37: Blackout (Claire's POV)
I looked up at the empty hallway, then looked down at Flynn. I slowly walked over to him, the dogs standing there in confusion too. We never fight in this house. Nobody does. Ever. "Are you okay?"
Before you ask why I'm here comforting him instead of Leo, it's because sometimes Leo needs a minute to himself to calm down, I know that by now.
"I'm fine," he huffed.
We fell into silence for a long time until I broke it. "Flynn, I think you-"
"I already know what you're going to say."
I folded my arms across my chest, raising my eyebrows at him. "What am I going to say?" I questioned.
"You're going to say I shouldn't go see her because it's your life on the line here, and I get that but-"
"That's actually not what I was going to say. Like at all," I huffed.
"It's not?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"No. First of all, it's not just my life on the line here. It's mine, and yours, and Leo's, and even Aesha's. But her life is on the line regardless. Theo knows she's my best friend, he could go ask her any time."
He listened intently.
"I was going to say, you should go see her, but," I paused, "You should stay with her. Just for a while. And then maybe she can come here for a few days. I've been stuck here for more than a month, right? I have the right company," I glanced upstairs, "With her, so do you. Both of you can do a little up down. Mainly you, though, I'm sorry about that," I chuckled.
"It's okay," he nodded, "You're right."
I sighed, "I think you should go stay with her. And while you're there, tell her you love her."
"But Leo-"
"I'll handle him," I nodded reassuringly.
Within the next ten minutes, Flynn had packed up some of his things and was heading out. Once he left, I was planning on going and talking to Leo, updating him on what just happened. "Bye, Claire," he smiled.
"Bye," I said.
He gave me a quick hug before unlocking the door. He left and I stood there, watching as he drove off. I sighed and turned around to close the door but before I could, it was blocked.
I looked down and saw someone's foot in it and when I looked up, I saw Theo. "Hey, miss me?" he smirked.
"L-" I opened my mouth to scream Leo's name but he had his hand over my mouth before I could even comprehend what was happening. I couldn't breathe right and I caught my vision fogging up. I tried letting out muffled screams and fighting against him but it was useless. I had him holding me by my arms and someone else holding me by my legs.
The last thing I saw was Ace and Max running upstairs.
Smarter than I thought, huh.
Shut up, you're getting kidnapped. For real this time.
Yeah, but you'll live. He'll save you.
This isn't a movie, Claire.
You'll be fine. Just breathe.
I inhaled as deeply as I could and then passed out. This bitch just can't give good advice.
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My head pounded even as my eyes were closed. I tried opening them but when I only saw darkness, I realized I was blindfolded. I grunted before calling out, "Hello? Theo?" I tried moving my arms but they were tied, above me. I dug my legs deeper down into the surface and felt velvet under my skin.
I was on a bed. My legs and arms were tied. I shook my wrists.
Handcuffs.
I shook my legs.
Also handcuffs, fantastic. Is he Christain Grey psycho?
No, just psycho.
"Theo?!" I yelled.
"Coming, darling, relax," I heard his voice before the blindfold was taken off slowly. I squinted at the sunlight pouring through the room. Where the fuck am I?
"Seth's house. It's a hideout if you will," he winked, sitting by my legs.
"What are you doing?" I asked, trying my hardest to soothe my pounding heart and remain calm. "What happened?" I asked.
"You had a blackout. Sorry, I had to make sure you weren't awake."
I looked down at my clothes.
Still the same, babe.
Shut up you bitch.
"I had a blackout? You made me pass out!" I yelled.
"It is what it is. Here, have some water." He held a glass up by my lips. I eyed it warily. "It's not poisoned. I would have killed you there if I wanted to," he laughed.
"Drink it," I barked. He rolled his eyes before drinking a few sips. When nothing happened to him, I drank it too. I have to cooperate with him. He has a temper but he never once lay a finger on me, I didn't intend to let that happen now. "Can you please let me out of these? My wrists are starting to hurt," I winced, playing victim.
Bitch, you are the victim.
Keep your smart mouth shut.
"I have to keep you here, you know that," he sighed.
"Then lock me in here. Just lock the door. Please, it really cuts," I hissed. It actually really was cutting. "At least loosen them? Please, Theo? Please?" He looked into my eyes and cracked, taking the handcuffs off my hands and feet. "Thanks," I said, rubbing my wrists. Pulling this Stockholm syndrome shit might be easier than I thought. "Theo, why am I here?"
He clicked his tongue, "Because your dad messed with the wrong people."
"I didn't, why am I paying for his mistakes?"
He shrugged, "I had the power. I could have whatever I wanted from him. I chose you." He brushed my cheek lightly with the back of his hand. I clenched my jaw but didn't pull away. He has to trust me so I can get out.
Last time I thought I was kidnapped, it was my boyfriend. But since then, the victim's instincts had improved quite a bit. I knew that the only way out was to make him trust me. And I was keen on making that happen as soon as possible. Or at least holding him off until Leo got here. He has to get here.
"So, what are you gonna do with me?" I asked, dreading his answer.
"I don't know that yet," he shrugged, "Depends on how you act, darling."
"Why do you want me here?" I mumbled.
"Did you ever love me, Claire?" he questioned.
"Uh- of course, I did," I lied.
He shook his head, "Liar."
"I did, I swear," I said, pleadingly.
"These can go right back on." He dangled the handcuffs in my face.
"You cheated on me, Theo," I whispered.
"He told you, didn't he?" I nodded slowly. "You never gave me the one thing I wanted from you," he laughed coldly.
I slept with him so I have no idea what he's talking about.
I can't believe I slept with him.
He wasn't such a psycho back then.
Well, he wasn't any good either.
Not like Leo, huh?
Never like Leo.
"What did you want?"
"I wanted you to feel something, Claire. But you never did," he scoffed, "You were still stuck on your little junior year crush on Leo Jackson." He has got to be fucking kidding me.
"Is that what this is about? Leo?" This had nothing to do with my dad and his debt, or me. This was about Leo. This was about him wanting to be better.
"You know, ever since Leo got you, people began getting more afraid of him. Wanna know why?" I listened intently. "Because he got control of himself. For you," he pointed at me.
"He doesn't have control of himself, Theo. I-"
"No, no, no," he laughed, "You don't have control over him. No one has control over Leo Jackson. He bettered himself. He started being calm, but when somebody messed with him, Claire. Or said anything about you or your dad, it didn't take a second for him to go batshit crazy on them. Me included," he scoffed.
"So, why am I here?" I whispered.
"Well, if you're such a great strength for him, you must be his biggest weakness too. That's why you're here. So that I," he stood up, "Can bring Leo Jackson to his knees. Begging in front of me, for you. And it's nothing personal, hmm? Just his dad and my uncle's history."
"Your uncle killed his mom."
"He killed my aunt first."
"Leo's dad did?"
He shook his head, "His dad had people do it," he replied. He turned around to leave, a key to the room in his hand.
"How do you know that was his dad?" I blurted out.
He stopped and turned to me, confused. "Who else would it be?" he scoffed.
I hesitated, "Someone your uncle owed? Seth is bigger than Mr. Jackson, you know that," I stood up but he pushed me back down.
"Stay on the bed."
"Theo, you know I'm right," I said before he could leave. "Seth is lying to you."
"Claire, stop. This isn't about Seth anymore. It's about me and Leo. I want to know what magic spell you cast on him. Which spell brings him to his knees. Because that guy is deeply in love with you." He opened the door and stepped out.
"How long will I be here?" I called out.
His head poked in and he smirked, "Until Leo's dead."
Well, he's an idiot if he thinks that's gonna happen.
He's changed his motives of bringing me here three times already. Fucking liar.
Was it because of my dad?
Because I didn't give him what he wanted?
Or because he wanted Leo dead?
I reckon it's the third. But there is no fucking way in hell am I letting that happen.
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Chapter thirty-seven
omg, he's such a psycho, wtf am I writing you guys lol?
next chapter: broken