Chapter 64
Fiona
“How long until we until we get there?”
“Is it far?”
“Are we almost there?”
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I badger the man with questions while wringing my fingers in the hem of my shirt. He provides only short, vague answers to my questions, which makes me more nervous.
My bottom lip hurts from where I’ve dug my teeth into it for the past thirty minutes we’ve been driving. My foot won’t stop bouncing, and my racing heart won’t calm down. I’ve tried breathing slowly, closing my eyes, imagining Ethan alive and well… nothing helps
“Here. You must be thirsty or hungry,” the man finally says, reaching behind him and pulling out a water bottle and bag of chips. “Maybe it’ll help you calm down. I know Ethan being hurt is scaring you, but we’ll be there soon. Just try to relax.”
His words do nothing to help the anxiety that’s climbing up my throat, but I accept the water and snack. Like he said, it might take my mind off of the problem at hand.
While I sip on the water, I pull my phone out again, clicking Ryan’s phone number for the third time. It rings and rings and rings before going to voicemail again. This time I don’t bother leaving a message. If he was going to answer, he would’ve done so by now.
For the fifth time, I dial Ethan’s number. My stomach cramps with each ring before his voice reaches my ears.
“This is Ethan Montgomery. I cannot take your call at the time, so please leave a message, and I will get back to you soon as I
I will
get back to you soon as I can.
I will get back to you.
Get back to you.
The words echo, and I wish they were true.
The beep sounds, and because I want to talk to him more than anything right now, I choke out my words.
“E–Ethan. I hope you get this message, and that.. that there was some kind of misunderstanding. If… I need you to be okay, Ethan. Pl–ease,” my voice cracks and my vision blurs as emotions I’d been trying to hold in tip me over the edge.
Unable to say more, I hang up and that’s when I notice a funny taste in my mouth. These chips must’ve gone bad, so I put them aside and look at the driver.
“We’re here,” he says before I can ask how much longer. Turning, I hope to find us at a hospital, but the building I see is the exact opposite. It’s brown, dingy, and honestly, run down looking. The windows are boarded up with pieces of two–by–fours crisscrossing over the glass, and in some of the windows, the glass isn’t even fully intact.
“Wh–where are we?” I question, searching the area. The grass is overgrown, there are no cars around, and the only light I can see is flickering. This place looks like somewhere drug addicts or troublemakers would come for a good time. I wouldn’t be surprised if a runaway teenager came walking out any minute.
Why would Ethan be anywhere near here!
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Chapter 64
“Why aren’t we at the hospital?”
The man turns to me, waving a hand.
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“Ethan hasn’t made it to a hospital. They were trying to help him with the private doctor they called in,” he tells me, pushing
his door open
“Private doctor?” I ask, confused.
“Yes, they said it wouldn’t be good for Ethan to have more no
news coverage, especially since he’s hurt. That would only give his enemies a chance to damage his company and reputation,” he explains.
A him of pain sprouts in my head, and I rub at my temples. What is going on?
The door next to me opens, the man standing there. Something about this isn’t right. Even if it gave him news coverage. Ethan would go to the hospital if he was injured enough. He’s not scared of any other businesses trying to take over. That’s what Ryan and the PR department are for.
There are measures in place for times like this. I don’t believe Ethan would risk his life by hiding in some dingy warehouse instead of calling an ambulance like a normal person. He’s smarter than that.
The pain in my head turns from a slight ache to a throb, pulsing in my temples and behind my eyes.
“Just come out, and I will take you to Ethan,” the man says, holding out his hand for me to take. I take his hand, letting him help me down, but a wave of dizziness hits me. I stumble.
“S–sorry. I just don’t–I don’t feel so good.” I mumble, blinking to clear the fuzziness from my eyes.
A chuckle reaches my ears, and this time, when I look up, the man is smirking down at me. My entire body grows heavy and the funny, bitter taste from earlier coats my mouth.
“What di–id you do?” I glare up at the man as his fingers circle my wrist and pulls me forward. I stumble, nearly falling to my knees as the light headedness hits me again. Legs shaking, head swimming, and breaths coming out in short pants. I pull against the man’s hold.
“I was told to get you here any way I could, and this was the easiest, but I can’t have you running off now.”
My heart stutters, and I think about to the funny taste in my mouth after drinking the water the man gave me.
“You drugged me,” I gasp, but when I try to pull away from the man, his grip becomes tighter.
A sense of uselessness falls over me at the realization of what’s happened. I willingly went with this man and even let him drug me. For him this must be the easiest kidnapping in the history of kidnappings.
“Let me go! You can’t do this!” I shout, and using every ounce of strength I have, I stomp my foot down on his foot. He groans and drops my hand. This is my chance to get away while I still feel a little bit steady.
On shaking legs, I try to run away, my mind whirling at a million miles a second.
Is Ethan even here?
How did I walk myself into a dangerous situation without even realizing it?
Would anyone notice I’m gone?
How was I so stupid?
Would I be able to make it out of here?
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Chapter 64
away before the man it on the again Aband buck the menement parkes me so much that tumble to the great, kicking at his legs
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round my neck, jerking me
The man just chuckles while I fight for very life Clawing, punching, kicking None of it has any effect on my kidnapper. He merely grates me by the hair and drags for bark to the car.
MEDICIvaram, scratching at his hand to stop the pain seating try seal Something was into the top of my head. silencing me and spling me reeling
He throws me onto the car, and my heard knocks against the glass. My vision blurs from the impact, and I groan. Still, I don’t give up. I throw my arm out to hit my kidnapper but miss when he ducks.
“You really need to dear to give up,” he growls, pulling my hands together and tying rope around them. The frayed rope digs into my skin, searing it and creating red marks where it burns when I fight against them
“And this’ll keep you quiet
Then, he shoves a dirty rag in my mouth, muffling my cries.
