Chapter 69//"I'll protect you Crescent"
We were all sprinting towards Daniel's car, which I was guessing was the only 8 seater car someone brought tonight. My heart pounded in my ears and my body was numb in shock. Someone had taken Elliott.
The question is how they took Elliott because I know my boyfriend.... Sorry fiancé, wouldn't go down without a fight
I was shaking, and it wasn't from the cold. Once I'm inside the car, I have my seatbelt on, I place my hands in my lap my fingers digging in to my thighs.
Elliott, all I want is Elliott. I want my fiancé, I want him so much.
The second Conner told Daniel that Elliott had been taken it was like my brother was going to fall to the ground.
"I caught a signal" Carter shouts from the front of the car. We all perk up to listen to him as he was the on tracking Elliott's phone.
"The grassland, near Wolverpark"
Daniel was already roaring the car to life and speeding out the car park. Alec sits beside me with Conner on my other side.
"How do we know if it's genuine?" Conner asks, his nose had stopped bleeding but he still had blood over himself.
"Do you have any better ideas" Daniel snaps harshly. Conner doesn't reply, he knows that Daniel was in a state of panic.
"What happened anyway? How the fuck did they get Elliott?" Daniel swears.
"We were both outside and then they jumped up from behind us. 3 of them out of nowhere" Conner shakes his head like he still couldn't believe it.
"And you couldn't fend them off" Daniel snorts with no humor.
"Don't you think I tried, does the look like I snorted tomato ketchup up my nose and sneezed it out"
Carter puts a reassuring hand on Daniel's shoulder "It's okay man, we'll get to him, just slow down, we don't need to get stopped by the police"
I don't think Daniel realized how hard he had been holding on to the steering wheel. He loosens his grip and lets out a large sigh of breath.
My right hand was on my bare thigh in this dress and I hand my nails digging into my skin, I tried to look at any possible streetlights.
Look at something bright, they say, it will stop the tears.
"What if he's already gone?" Daniel whispers. "We all knew Aaron has planned something like this for a while now"
I was violently shaking now I remove my hand from my thigh to cover my face.
Conner looks wide-eyed at the marks that I have left on my leg.
He takes my hand and holds it tightly, reassuringly. Trying to tell me that he'll be okay. My Elliott will be fine.
"Are you bleeding all that bloody can't be from your nose?" I ask Conner in concern. He shakes his head his dirty blonde hair swaying.
"It's not my blood Cress, it's Elliott's"
Soon enough Daniel stops the car so hard, I think I received a whiplash. Everyone throws off their seatbelts at lightning speed as we run off the path and onto the grass.
We go through the dark trees all the boys following Carter, who was shouting directions.
All 4 of them run ahead, while Alec runs with me a little slower than the rest of them.
How I would love to strip out this dress. I felt twigs cutting at my ankles as I resisted the pain.
I lift up the skirts as I catch up with the rest of them. And slowly it all comes back to me. I knew this place. This land of grass.
They slow down as they search for Elliott, not splitting up.
"It's on top of one of the hills. That's where Elliott's phone is"
I see the hills and pain erupt through me.
Elliott, Daniel, Conner and I used to roll down these hills when we were kids.
"You remembered this place" Conner asks from beside me as we search which way to go. I nod in reply.
"We have no fucking time to skip down fucking memory lane. If you want really want to then sit your ass on the ground and make a daisy chain" Daniel shouts, he was running in all directions like a crazy person.
Daniel runs his hand through his hair "I can't see them" His voice was quaking.
"Don't lose hope man. It's Elliott we're talking about. He's probably killed the lot of them and sitting on their dead bodies while sipping tea" Aiden says putting a hand on Daniel's back.
"Elliott doesn't drink tea" I sniffle.
"Sipping a can of coke then?" Aiden offers.
"They're on top of the big hill, with the huge slope" Carter roars.
I stumble up the steep hill, I was breathing like a smoker and Daniel who was a smoker was breathing perfectly fine. Fuck science.
Ahead of us were black figures and as we get closer, they weren't just figures
I gasp when I see them; my hands cover my mouth in shock. I felt my eyes burning at the sight. I think I bite a hole in my lip as the metallic blood fills my mouth.
I count 8 men.
Someone was kneeling on the ground, and his head bent, the muscles on his neck standing up.
Oh, Elliott.
There was one bulky man as either side of him, they had his arms linked with them and Elliott was kneeling in front of someone with dark hair.
As we got closer I see could see Elliott was in pain by the way he was holding himself and his black hair fell forward. What I couldn't take my mind away from was the undeniable blood over Elliott shirt as his blazer was no longer anywhere to be seen?
Something caught in my throat as I see Elliott bent forward, almost looking limp.
The panic begins to fill me up. A bell ringing in my head and one word flashing in my mind
'Please lift your head, Elliott, let me see your eyes' I pray inside my head. He can't be gone.
And it was almost like he heard my prayers as he looks at Aaron, his face hard.
His blue eyes as deep as the ocean depths knock the breath out of me as per usual. They were stunning.
I close my eyes and thank God for keeping him alive.
His dark blue eyes focused on the man in front of him
His right side of his jaw was all purple and red. A cut on the other side of his face, which was oozing with the red liquid.
Elliott suddenly looks past the black haired guy to look at us. I think it was Daniel he saw first and you saw the instant reassurance in his face.
It's when he sees me that his eyes widen, and the panic in his eyes grew by the second. He goes from a slump to picking himself upright. I hear him gasp for breath when he kneels upright.
He's hurt. Badly.
He was back to slumping.
The black haired main spins around as we walk closer in their direction.
All 6 of us stop as I catch a glimpse of Aarons' s face.
The sky was dark now, but there was a fully shining moon in the sky along with lots of stars. It was beautiful, especially out here in these grasslands.
Then it hits me. This was the place where Elliott and I had our first date. Maybe if I remember correctly that this was the exact location.
I never understood why Aaron was so feared. Yeh he did have a pirate sort of look about him but nothing too scary. But it's when I see the deadly grin on his.
"Boys, I've been waiting for you" Aaron says loud and clear. "And you brought the girl"
It was like at that moment where all the boys look at me and realize that I was actually with them.
"All this over a stupid girl" Someone laughs gleefully from behind Aaron.
Is that thing still living?
Ryan walks in front of Elliott but Elliott wasn't paying any attention to him. His eyes were fixated on me, those blue orbs.
He was trying to tell me something with his eyes but I just couldn't understand it.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he? Always the better brother, even over Jack" Ryan holds Elliott's face in on hand, lifting it higher. Elliott snarls at his half-brother. This only makes Ryan laugh until he does something that shakes me to the core.
Ryan slaps Elliott across the face. The sound runs through the woods. I step back for a second; stunned that he jut did that.
I step forward, ready to castrate him until I felt someone grip onto my wrist.
I look up to Conner who holds my arm and shakes his head.
My hands were in tight balls, and I felt my veins ready to pop out.
Ryan grabs a bunch of Elliott dark hair and pulls it high, so Elliott had to kneel even taller. I saw the way Elliott teeth, were pressing down that it hurt.
"How you feeling big bro?"
I was ready to start breathing fire. I'd never felt so much anger within me before.
No one. I mean no one touches him like that.
It was unimaginable seeing Elliott in this state. So vulnerable.
He always stood so tall and strong like nothing could break him down, yet there he was kneeling, broken.
"Stop playing around Ryan" Aaron tells Ryan, but there was no warning in his voice.
Ryan just rolls his eyes and lets go of Elliott dark hair.
The anger was even clouding my vision.
"When I get my hand on you Ryan, I'm going to have you on your knees while I knock the shit out of you" Daniel spits in Elliott's brother's direction.
I see the flash of a smirk on Elliott's face.
"This is all fun and games but this isn't the reason I brought you all here. I didn't bring you to watch me harm Elliott" Aaron explains in a bored tone.
"You can come get him. Look I'm walking back" Aaron put his hands up. All the men walk away from Elliott and they all stand away from Elliott. Aaron watches us all very carefully
As soon as they stand away from Elliott falls to the ground.
I step forward to catch Elliott but there was no way I could have.
No one was moving as if they thought this was some sort of trap.
But as I saw Elliott there, I didn't care if it was some form of a trap. Someone holds me back but I fiercely force my way out their grip.
I kick off my tall heels, leaving me completely barefoot.
I run.
"Crescent, no" My brother warns.
I run along the grass to Elliott. I nearly trip over my dress as it flies behind me as I pick up my pace.
I throw my arms over him as if I was going to protect him.
He was shaking under my touch, his whole body, warm like he was feverish.
"What are you doing here Dawson?" He asks wearily but it's like he melts in my grip as he holds on to me. He puts his head in my arms.
I hold him as I place my head on his back.
"Dawson, I'm so sorry, you shouldn't be here. You're going to get hurt" He lifts his head to look at me.
I keep one hand under his chin, he looked ragged and muddy.
And I swear Elliott has never looked more beautiful.
I wipe the blood away from the side of his cheek. The cut didn't appear to be too deep.
"Cress, my Crescent"
I feel something grasp onto my bare shoulder and I scream out loud.
Elliott grasps on to my hand, as one of Aaron's men pull me away from Elliott. Elliott is instantly upright.
"Elliott" I cry as Aaron's man tries to tug me away "Elliott don't let me go"
I hold on to Elliott's hand as I dig my heels into the soft grass. I shake my head at Elliott, as I feel my fingers slipping.
The boys were running in our direction but they weren't here fast enough.
Another one of Aaron's guy punches Elliott and Elliott's fingers slip from mine.
I repeatedly scream Elliott's name, Elliott scrambles up from the ground but falls back down again as he was so weak at this point.
The guy drags me away as my brother is repeatedly shouting my name. His face was horrified as they dragged me away.
And I saw that look in my brother's eyes, more fear in them when I was being dragged away than when Elliott was being held by Aaron.
My twin was terrified for me.
Then we stop moving.
Ryan now held my arms behind me, holding them back so hard that it hurt. My back was pressed up against his chest.
At this moment I think Elliott sees red and he was coming in my direction but then he stops. His mouth hangs open as it something has stunned him.
Why wouldn't he come to save me?
That was until I look down to a blade placed against my skin.
I look at Aaron who was right beside me holding the sharp blade along my collarbone. There was a curl in his lip making him look ruthless.
Everyone is frozen unmoving, not wanting to see the outcome of their actions.
Elliott stood there thinking for a second. He had an arm over his stomach, why was there so much red covering his shirt.
He was still thinking about running towards me, I knew it. I knew he thought he can fight them all off.
But it was Daniel who was already moving forward.
'Stop! Don't come closer or I'll slit her throat" Aaron doesn't shout his words instead. He laughs them, cruelty lacing his tone.
"I can make it look like an accident, you know I have a few of the police on my side" Aaron smiles ruthlessly. Aaron passes me to Ryan, who places an even tighter grip on me.
Aaron begins to walk forward and I feel Ryan pushing me forward, but I resist his force.
He knees me in the back of my thigh forcing me to stumble forward.
"You're making this worse for yourself" Ryan's voice comes from behind my ear. Something about his voice is off.
"Don't fucking talk to her you bastard" Elliott snarls through his clenched teeth.
We weren't that far away from Elliott and the rest of the boy. Daniel had his eyes planted on the blade pressed up on to me.
"I gave you a chance Elliott. The time for chances is over" Aaron grins, as he places the knife on the left side of my chest, just below my collarbone.
"Aaron, don't do it" Elliott warns stepping slightly forward, but there was something pleading in his voice.
"I told you, you'd come back to me, but I'm going to make you suffer now." Aaron laughs as he pushes the blade harder into my soft bare skin.
I whimper at the sharpness though it hadn't cut through the skin yet.
Tears were falling out the side of my eyes. I didn't feel like crying but it was the fear inside me.
Elliott lunges forward but Conner and Carter hold him back. Elliott struggles maddeningly against their grip.
"Let her go and you can have all of us" Daniel speaks loudly.
NO!
"I will have all of you now. You know what the punishment was for leaving the gang once you knew all the secrets. Death. But how could I let 6 such powerful boys go? No, I plan to break you. As they say, the broken ones are the best"
"Please don't harm here. I beg you" Someone pleads. Everyone looks at him. His voice was soft as he looked at Aaron painfully. "Don't hurt my sister, punish me instead, slide the blade across me instead"
Something changes in that moment, it could have been Daniel's words but I'll never really understand why he did it?
Ryan pushes me forward in the harshest way "RUN!" He shouts as he lets me go free. And I don't look back, I don't even think, I'm trying to run. I don't look back at the consequences of Ryan's actions.
Ryan, Elliott's half brother who I thought was the worst person in the world.
Before I can even get two steps in Aaron has his grip on my the knife back in place. Wow this guy works fast.
The blade digs into my flesh leaving a small hole, I wince at the tiny.
I turn my head to the side to see Ryan's unconscious body lying on the grass. Aaron kicks the lifeless body before stepping forward with me in his arms.
Ryan was Aaron's right hand man, if this show Aaron treats him then what hell has Ryan grown up in? Maybe Ryan wasn't someone that should have been looked at as an enemy, maybe he only ever needed saving to begin with?
Ryan's act of kindness isn't going to save my life, but I'll never forget it.
I look up at the boys who are standing their in shock at the scene that has just unfolded before them.
Elliott looked as pale as a sheet of paper, he looked like he was about to be sick everywhere.
Daniel turns to Elliott and puts his head in Elliott's shoulder, as he could no longer watch what was going to happen to me.
Elliott puts his hand on my twins back.
What would it feel like to have one twin die when the other lives? I knew that was the only thought Daniel had in his head.
And for the first time, I let the thought enter my head. You would feel so alone.
And the blade runs across my skin, I take in a gasp as I feel the sharpness and the cut. There was a gash above my left book and it was bleeding. My gray prom dress was turning a bloody red.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD. I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU" Elliott screams.
Aaron's was laughing in my ear at everyone's reaction.
I watched my blood dripping off the blade as I look back up at the boys.
Before I could understand what happened, Elliott punches Aaron so hard he lets go of me.
Let's wave a flag for Elliott. Woohoo!
Elliott pulls me towards himself as I fall into his chest. I don't even think for a second what is going on behind me as I just gaze into Elliott's eyes.
"I love you" Elliott tells me that as he holds his face in my hands. "I love you so fucking much Crescent Dawson"
"I know and I love you too Elliott" I choke out trying to stop the tears.
"No you don't, you will never ever understand how much I love you"
I shake my head wanting to protest.
"I'll protect you Crescent"
He wraps his arms around me tight and securely but there was that look in his eyes and I swear for the first time Elliott Grayson was afraid.
"Don't look so happy Elliott. I have one more surprise for you and Daniel tonight"
"Boys you know what I told you" Aaron grins.
And they come forward. And then for a second time tonight I feel Elliott being pulled away from me.
It wasn't that Elliott wasn't strong of fast. They were just stronger and better.
I look around and see they were all being held back. Elliott tries to says something but they bulky guy holding him back hit him the second a breath of voice leaves his mouth.
I stood there alone as the cut burned on my chest burned as the wind flew past
"Red is you color Crescent"
"I think you would rock it better" I reply to him, trying to show I wasn't afraid.
"How much damage a stupid little girl can do? If it weren't for you Elliott and Daniel would have no one they really needed to protect. They would have come back along with the rest of them. But you, well you gave them a reason to stay away from me. An excuse" He reaches his hand into his blazer, the grin never leaving his face.
"And as long as you live Crescent Dawson, they will never come back to me"
He pulls out something that reflects in the moonlight.
"The cut was just to draw out the night. This is the finale" He reaches the object out in front of him and it takes a short moment for me to realize was it was.
A gun. A freaking gun.
I don't even know how I stood still. I thought I was going to drop to the floor as my legs felt like jelly.
It was that moment before death, where it feels like your going in and out conscious. I couldn't see properly, things kept going blurry.
And breathing, well I'd forgotten how to do that.
My heart pounded through the whole forest.
It was over.
Aaron closes one eye as his aims with both hands.
The sound of the gun runs through the night, and a shadow befalls on me.
Silence.
And then there was sickening thump on the ground
And my heart stops. It was like a guardian angel just flew past me.
Everything stopped, nothing was moving anymore. All the wildlife has disappeared, no sounds of cars. Not even the sound of the wind. Not anymore.
My hands cover my mouth at the sight beneath me.
I drop down to my knees and look at the lifeless body. How can life leave a body so quickly? I was crying puddles of water as I tried to gasp for breath
Someone was screaming and I wanted them to stop screaming.So I could concentrate on what just happened
Until I realize it was me screaming.
The blood pours out the gunshot wound; I look at my shaking hands and find them thick with the blood.I was covered in his blood.
Looking up I see Aaron stand they're open mouthed and stunned as he drops the gun to the ground and it rolls forward.
I look back to the lifeless body. His eyes closed, peacefully.
He was already gone.
Author note:
Who was it? Daniel ? Carter? Elliott ?.... or was it, Conner?
If it makes you feel any better, it wants Aiden or Alec.
Honestly, who do you think would be the worst person to shot and why? Who knows maybe your answers can really change my decision?
Also, it might be a few days before I upload the next chapter cause it gonna be super long and probably difficult to write.
Don't kill me just yet, though I can't believe I just did that!