Chapter 23
His Nerd
Ava
I havenât spoken to Hunter much after what he told me; itâs just too much to take in all at once. I need some time to myself to think things through.
After Hunter finally got dressed, which was a little bit disappointing, he dropped me off at home. I went straight to my room and have not come out of for the last few days. Luckily, today is a bank holiday, so I havenât missed any school.
Even though my mum has been home some, I havenât seen much of her. Sheâs so tired when sheâs here because she works so hard, trying to keep up with all our payments and saving money for Christmas. I know she wants to make Christmas special, but all I want is her to be home so that we can have a nice day together.
I smile as I look out the window. My favorite season, autumn, has finally arrived with just the right amount of cold. All the trees look beautiful in the dying daylight, the sunset casting an orange glow that makes me feel warm inside.
Yes, I know autumn technically starts in September, but the leaves donât really start to change color until about November. Thatâs when it truly becomes beautiful.
Sighing, I decide I should get out of this room. Maybe the fresh air will help clear my mind, help me think through all the things I have learned.
I dress in black skinny jeans, an off-white jumper, and my warmest coat. I then grab a beanie to hide my hair, which currently resembles a birdâs nest. The sun is setting quickly, so as I head out the door and lock up, I make a mental note to not stay out too long.
Walking down the street, I enjoy the crunch of the leaves under my feet. The slight breeze ruffles my clothes and bites at my exposed face, and I feel happy.
I decide to try a different route today, which will hopefully be quicker. Plus, I want to leave the old me behind a bit. Be the new, confident girl Iâve been posing as.
The wind picks up a bit, and I can feel my nose starting to run and my skin reddening. Right now, I probably resemble Rudolph, and Iâm not feeling too confident about that. Nevertheless, I carry on walking through the crisp November air, letting it nibble away at my flesh like little fish.
Itâs getting dark more quickly than I thought it would, and I have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. ~I think someone is watching me.~
Quickening my pace, I look behind me, but there is no one there, just a few cars parked on the street and a cat meowing in the distance.
I try to calm my racing heart, but then I hear footsteps behind me. Iâm about to turn the corner, to get to freedom, when a hand grabs my shoulder.
I scream until I see who it is. Then fear silences me.
Drew stands there with a hard gleam in his eyes that frightens me to the core.
Hunterâs warning and story ricochet through my head like a bullet as Drewâs vise-like grip rattles my bones. He pulls me toward a black SUV that I hadnât noticed at the end of the street.
It is only when we were halfway to the car that I unfreeze. Realizing what is going to happen, I start kicking and screaming.
Then a blunt, heavy object hits the back of my head, and everything goes black.
***
I wake up feeling like death. The back of my head thumps as if my brain has become my heart.
Itâs pitch black, and panic kicks in as I realize I canât see what is in front of me. I feel restraints on my wrists and legs, binding me to a chair, and when I struggle against them, they only become tighter.
Right now, darkness is my enemy and my friend. Drew blinded me from the light, yet he also blinded me from the horrors around me.
I let out a soft whimper, but in the quiet, it sounds like a roar.
I donât know how long I sit there, maybe five minutes, maybe an hour, but after a while, there is a ~click~ and the lights come bursting on, scaring away the darkness. My eyes snap shut. When they finally open, I take in my surroundings.
Iâm in what looks like a big warehouse or maybe an aircraft hangar. There are high beams, metal walls, and chains hanging from the ceiling. Shivering, I see that Iâm only in my jumper and trousers; my coat and beanie have disappeared.
When I look around for the first time, I notice a group made up almost entirely of men, though a few women are scattered about. Their faces are passive, but their eyes hold excitement, and theyâre all looking at one thing: me.
Drew stands in the middle of the group, a knife in his right hand and a gun strapped to his left thigh. When he sees me, his face flashes with a sinister look that makes my heart stop.
He walks toward me ever so slowly, toying with the knife, and then he presses the knife to my neck. As the cool metal bites my delicate skin, his left hand grabs a fistful of my hair, making me cry out in pain.
Drew leans forward so his mouth is close to my ear. His two whispered words send shivers down my spine.
âLetâs begin.â