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Chapter five

I tried to regain my balance after X jerked me away from that guy. I looked up at X. What the heck was that about? The guy was being so nice. We were having an innocent conversation. He came over and said “hi. What was I supposed to do? Send him away? I looked over at Caylan and he just shrugged.

“X is the bossiest, angriest motherfucker I’ve ever been around. I don’t understand half the shit he does.”

“I see that. Does anyone know why he’s that way?” I said, taking two steps backward.

X seemed to trust Caylan, but something about him made me feel uncomfortable. He looked nice enough: dark blonde hair, brown eyes, a skinny frame, and super baggy clothes. I didn’t feel safe around him, though, not like I did with X, which was weird because X was the darkest, most intimidating human being I had ever seen.

“No one knows much about him. X is quiet about anything that’s to do with who he is, where he came from, or anything that pertains to him directly. Hence the nickname,” Caylan said as he began to walk forward and I followed. “We do know he came from a small town where some tragedy happened, and he lost his best friend. It destroyed him. He went to juvie. We don’t know why. When he turned eighteen, he left his town, became ‘X,’ and never looked back.”

I bit my lip and looked over at Caylan. “Does anyone know his real name?”

“Carl does. Coach does. I don’t. Don’t even bother trying to get it out of them. They are under the strictest instructions to never tell anyone. I haven’t been able to find his real name anywhere. It’s like he never fucking existed before becoming X.”

My brain spun with curiosity and hurt for X as we walked down a very busy, very dirty hallway. When we finally started reaching the seating area, Caylan turned to me and looked me up and down in a way that made me very uncomfortable. I crossed my arms over my chest protectively, wishing X was around.

A smile played on Caylan’s lips. He ran his tongue across his teeth. “So, what’s your story? Where you from and all that?”

“Well, I …” I wanted to take a page out of X’s book and not say anything, but my word vomit disease was bubbling at the surface. “I’m from Salem. I just arrived in town yesterday, and that’s all there really is to me. I’m super boring.” Caylan walked me down a flight of stairs to a pair of seats that were directly in front of the ring. “Wow, these are so close. I bet these are expensive.”

Caylan shot me a look. “Did you expect X to give you shitty seats?”

“I didn’t expect bad seats, but these are like front and center. I’m no expert, but I know these are super expensive.”

“X gets these free, and even if he didn’t, he takes care of his girls.”

“His girls?”

“Yeah, you know,” Caylan said, leaning into me. “The girls he wants to fuck.”

I reeled back and took two steps away from Caylan. “No, it’s not like that. X is helping me.”

“It’s always like that with X, Aly. It’s about sex and power with him. Bottom line. Don’t be naive.”

Just then, there was a bell and the announcer came out. I took a seat and turned to Caylan.

“I don’t care what other activities X has gotten himself involved in. He knows better than to try and sleep with me. Bottom line.”

I turned around and locked eyes on the ring. Caylan walked off to do something, and I homed in on everything going on around me, just like X asked. I trusted he wasn’t trying to sleep with me. Somehow, I just knew. He had confessed too much of himself to me for this all to be a ploy. Besides, I was not the type of girl a guy like him would want to sleep with anyway.

The announcer called out his opponent. A man even larger than X walked out. He walked around the ring arrogantly and pounded his fists on his chest. I sat up straight and put my hands in my lap. I knew I looked weird sitting so properly here, but I didn’t know how else to sit. I felt sort of awkward with everyone around me drinking, cursing, yelling, and just in general acting in a way I had never been around before. Then as I was focusing on all of the commotion around me, I heard X’s name being called and screams broke out across the whole arena. Women yelled highly sexualized comments about his body.

I sat up straighter as I waited for him to come out. Unlike the other guy, who was pounding his fists and making his presence known, X walked in slowly and methodically. It was as if there was no one in the room but him. He didn’t make eye contact with anyone except for the brief moment when he first pounded his opponent. X was wearing boxing shorts, and he had his shirt off. My breath hitched at the sight of his incredibly sculpted lean body. How could one man be so attractive? I tried not to think about his body, and I tried to screen all the inappropriate thoughts running through my head, but between his glistening muscles and all the things people were saying to him, it was nearly impossible. I’d never been around someone that attractive. I was still at looking at him when a voice broke my gaze.

“Stop drooling, Aly,” Caylan said with amusement.

I jumped back, knocking over a girl’s water bottle in the process. The girl, who was sitting next to me, looked at me and then shook her head. I mumbled an apology before turning back to Caylan.

“I wasn’t doing that,” I said, wide eyed. “I was just watching the entrances.”

Caylan laughed and took his seat to my left. “You know, X made it sound like you were some innocent flower.”

“Well, X is your boss, so whatever he says, you should just listen to.”

He laughed again, and I stayed focused on the first round of the fight. X was on fire, just like he was on the TV that morning at the coffee shop. It was enthralling. His body, his fighting style, was an art form. I was so focused when once again Caylan’s voice broke my gaze.

“You are a beautiful girl. You’re different,” he said with a tone I couldn’t quite understand but made me very uncomfortable.

“Thank you,” I said squeamishly as I scooted to the furthest end of my seat.

I kept my eyes focused on the fight as I tried to subconsciously send Caylan the message to leave me alone. A few minutes went by and X had already won the first round. The minute X found out the guy was down, he locked eyes with me for a second, and I instantly looked at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. He then discreetly walked to his corner of the ring. People went nuts for him. It was clear why he was a fan favorite. Despite all the hype, X was the most subtle, quiet fighter in the ring. He did his thing, and there was so much passion behind it, but when he was donefighting, he subtly walked away as if nothing had happened. It was super intriguing to me, and I suspected to all his fans as well. When the fighters were getting cleaned up, I stood up, stretched, and adjusted the buttons on my shirt. I was hyperaware of Caylan’s eyes on me. If I knew where else to go and wasn’t under strict instructions from X to stay put, I would have gone somewhere else. Somewhere away from him.

Caylan stood up next to me, and I took a step back, bumping into another girl’s boyfriend. Both of them looked at me annoyed, and I’m pretty sure they were wondering who the heck I was. I mumbled an apology and wrapped my hands around my center.

“So what is up with you and X?”

“You’ve asked that already, and I believe that question has already been answered,” I snapped.

“Just being sure,” Caylan said as he temporarily narrowed his eyes at me.  He then started rubbing the back of his hand on my arm.

“Stop! “I yelled, jerking my arm away as quickly as I could. I hadn’t even noticed the second round of the fight had already begun.

“Oh, come on. Ease up,”Caylan encouraged. His hand slipped around my wrist.

I looked around, but no one around seemed even to notice or care what was happening. “You need to let me go now.”

“I think we could have a lot of fun together.”

Between the atmosphere, his increasing physical contact, and what he had just said, my anger boiled over. I took my free arm and slapped him square across the face. He immediately let me go and looked at me enraged.

“X invited me here as a potential employee. Respect that,” I warned. I grabbed my purse with my left hand as I spoke.

“Bitch!” he yelled, and in an instant, he grabbed my shoulder with one hand and my breast with the other.

He squeezed my breast and he was not gentle about it. I panicked. I’d never been touched there before. I felt tears sting my eyes. I felt around my purse for the steel cap of my pepper spray and held onto it for dear life. The second I had an inch of personal space, I took the bottle and sprayed it directly into Caylan’s eyes, letting my purse fall to the floor. I took off in a run. I could hear people rumbling now. Oh, now I had their attention...jerks!

I ran up the stairs, and I could hear Caylan’ sheavy footsteps following close behind me. I heard the announcer call the end of the second round. I didn’t hear who won, but I kept hearing X’s name, so I guess him. I didn’t pay attention. I was halfway down the hallway outside the door to a random room in the facility when a hand wrapped around my upper arm and I was jerked around.

“No!” I yelled, blocking my face and body with my free limb.

“Aly!” an angry voice yelled and jerked my hand away.

“What… I…?”

Then Caylan came running up the stairs clumsily, holding his eyes. I tried to jerk away and run from the situation, but X held my wrist even tighter, keeping me in place. Security, fans, and managers were starting to surround us. X growled and jerked me into the empty room I was standing by. X yelled at Caylan to “get the fuck in here.”

I kept trying to pull away. I hate confrontation; I didn’t want to discuss what happened. I didn’t want to make X angrier or distract him from his fight. I wished he’d just forget me and let me run. Once we were in the room, X threw me to the side and shut and locked the door. People were pounding, but he ignored it. Caylan was leaning against the wall holding his eyes. X drew out his phone. I glanced at it and saw he was texting Carl. When he was finished, his angry gaze was back on both of us.

“What THE FUCK happened?” he yelled.

Neither of us said anything. I stared at my feet and tried to take breaths.

Just let me go. Just let me go.

X turned to me. “Where the hell did you think you were going? And, Cay, what the hell happened to your face?”

“That bitch fucking sprayed me with fucking pepper spray!” he screamed, still holding his eyes.

I cowered back and wrapped my arms around my stomach protectively. I was scared. Officially and finally scared. I’d been strong for a while, but I did not belong here. I didn’t even know how I got here. If my parents or Brandon knew…I shuddered. I kept walking backwards until I hit the wall. Ironically, X didn’t seem angry at me. He seemed completely and utterly confused.

“Aly, why the hell would you spray Caylan with pepper spray?” he asked gently. “What the hell is going on?”

“I should go,” I said, pointing to the door. “I don’t belong here. This was a mistake. I’m sorry.”

Before I could open the handle, X had his hand on the door.

“You aren’t going anywhere until I know what happened,” he warned.

Honestly, the look on his face was enough for me to know I wasn’t going anywhere until he had answers.

“Nothing. Nothing happened. I…” I stuttered as I thought of a good excuse. “I was fiddling with the bottle and my finger slipped on the button. I’ll take whatever comes my way. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be given pepper spray.” I extended my hand with the pepper spray, trying to give it back to him.

He just stared at it. “Okay, well, Aly, Carl has your purse. You know, the one you left when you evacuated the scene at a full out sprint. I had Carl watching you too.”

I looked at him with a panicked expression. If there was ever a moment I wished I could disappear, this was the moment I would have picked. X then rounded on Caylan.

“If she won’t speak, then maybe you’ll fucking tell me what happened so I can go back to my fight and you can get paid.”

For someone who acted like such a tough guy when he was around me, Caylan sure cowered the minute X rounded on him. He said nothing.

“Okay, someone tell me fucking now!” X yelled, clearly losing the last of his patience.

“Fine, I talk and you let me run out of here,” I countered, meeting X’s gaze.

Our eyes locked for a second as we silently fought. Eventually, he nodded in surrender.

“You promise?”

“You have my word. Now talk, girl.”

“He grabbed me. My breast,” I said almost in a whisper. “So I sprayed him and ran. Now let me go.” The second I finished, I ran for the door. I made sure I didn’t see the look on X’s face. I felt humiliated and desperate to escape the embarrassment I was feeling.

When the handle didn’t budge, I looked up at X and let out a small whimper when I realized he wasn’t letting me leave. It took me a few seconds to snap out of my self-pity enough to notice his eyes were completely black.

“X?” I said quietly.

He then rounded on Caylan, letting go of the door knob. “I warned you,” he said to the man cowering in the corner.

Right as I was about to bolt out of there, X punched Caylan so hard in the face that he fell to the floor. I stopped, my brain flashing to when X mentioned he had anger issues. I couldn’t let him get in trouble here of all places. Reluctantly, I walked over to where X was towering over Caylan.

“I warned you not to mess with her. She’s innocent. I fucking warned you.”

There was hurt and anger in his voice. He lifted his fist again, but before he could lower it, I jumped up and grabbed his arm with all my body weight, causing him to jerk around. It wasn’t enough to stop him since I was so tiny, but it was enough to get his undivided attention.

“What the hell do you think you are doing? I could have hurt you!” he yelled as Caylan still cowered on the floor.

“Better me than him!”

“What the hell? You have some death wish now, girl? One punch from me and you’d be out cold!”

“Yes, probably, but if you punch me, I’ll get over it. If you punch him, you may not stop, and you may get kicked off your league and sued. So I’m the better choice.” I put my hands on my hips. I wasn’t going to let him get in trouble because of me.

“You are…”

“I know, something else,” I said as I rolled my eyes. “Now.” I approached X and put my hand over his sweaty chest where his heart was. “Let him go. Okay? Come on, X. Your fight. Go back to it. Let it out there. Please.”

X stared at me with a brokenness I would have never guessed he possessed. After a few seconds of me begging him to calm down, he turned to Caylan with a scowl.

“Get the fuck out and don’t ever come back before I change my mind.”

I took a step away from X. Caylan scattered and threw his headset on the floor on his way out. As he was leaving, he screamed something like “throwing me away for some bitch.”

I held onto X gently to keep him from running after Caylan. He seemed centered by my touch. X stood there taking deep breaths as the door shut behind Caylan. I could tell it was a skill he used to calm himself down, so I stood back. Once he had calmed down a bit, I opened the door for him.

“Now go fight,” I encouraged gently.

“Where will you be? “he whispered.

“Not here.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know,” I confessed.

“I’m truly sorry,” he said before he slid out the door.

I stood in that room for a while to let the crowds pass and to allow myself to calm down. After ten minutes or so, I walked out and found a security guard waiting outside the room holding my purse.

“Thank you,” I said as he handed my bag to me. “You didn’t have to stand outside my door.”

“Yes, I did. X wouldn’t fight unless someone agreed to make sure you got to your car safely.”

I bit my lower lip. This was all so confusing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*2 Years Later*

 

I stayed in Seattle for a little over a year and a half. I was able to rent a room with a lovely elderly couple at the church. They actually helped me get a job at a music shop right around the corner from their house. I didn’t even know what a resume was and they sat down with me and walked me through everything. That was the thing that always confused me about Christianity. Some people were so nice and willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, why was my family so different?

I took public transport whenever I needed to go somewhere, and always carried my pepper spray with me. Luckily, I hadn’t used it since that night at the arena.

X never searched for me after that night, and I never contacted him again. I kept up on him, though. The Internet was a wonderful thing.

Despite having known X for only twenty hours or so, the man had played an integral role in a transitional part of my life. Not to mention there was something enticing about him. I only knew him for a short time, but even then, I was drawn in by all his contradictions and his dark, mysterious aura.

He was killing it in boxing, no surprises there. It was belt after belt for him, and he had a lot of power in his division. His name was becoming more widespread. X got a lot of press for the women he was with or suspicions about his drug and alcohol usage, but I screened those articles. I didn’t need to read that. I knew he had more to offer, but for some reason, he never allowed himself to reach that potential. Plus, I wasn’t one to talk.

I decided to come back home for a bit after I found out the elderly couple I was staying with decided to move to Virginia, their dream retirement spot. They gave me three months ‘notice, and I went back and forth trying to decide what I was going to do next. After weighing multiple options, I decided to go back home and visit my parents for a while until I decided what my next move would be. I didn’t want to sign a lease in a hurry. My job at the music store was starting to get boring, and I started to wonder if I wanted to move somewhere new like LA or Dallas or another big city.

The minute I arrived home, I instantly regretted it. The saying absence makes the heart grow fonder was so true. I was instantly pulled back into a world I didn’t belong in anymore. I wanted my parents to see how I’d changed. I wanted their approval. I should have known I’d never get it. I was me now, and I wasn’t ever going back to the confused person I was before.

My parents were insistent Brandon and I date. Thiswasn’t the first time they had pushed this. I remembered when I was sixteen, a cute boy from school bought me an ice cream sandwich. When I camehome, I was on cloud nine. I went to throw away the wrapper and Dad saw it before I could hide it in the trash.

His eyes narrowed at me, and I cowered back. Mom entered the room and saw the two of us. She recognized the look on Dad’s face and pulled me into another room. I timidly threw away the evidence of the junk food I ate. She had a serious girl talk with me about “my place” and why young ladies shouldn’t eat trash. I could hear Dad slamming things on the counter from where I sat on the couch. That usually always meant I was going to get taught a lesson.

Dad believed in physical punishment. He always justified it biblically, but looking back now, I wasn’t so sure him laying his hands on me was ever okay. It came out in a conversation with Mom that I liked a boy from school, and, well, a few days later, my parents tried to get me to date Brandon, “a good Christian boy.” I told them “no “then, and I told them “no” now. I would never, ever date Brandon. This was always a source of tension in my house. Both of my parents thought they should have a say in who I ended up with. I strongly disagreed.

It was a typical Tuesday at the Abernathy household and two months since I’d arrived. I stayed in my room flipping through the paper most of the time, trying to plan out what my next move would be. I couldn’t stay with my parents much longer. I had to let myself continue to grow. My parents would always confine me. I still didn’t know what I was going to do with my life, but I knew I wouldn’t find out living with them. In my short time with X, he made me believe I had potential and I never really let go of that. I was on the second page of the paper when a headline caught my eye.

 

Famous Boxer Calls It Quits After Rival Threatens to Release Information on His Past

 

X? My heart pounded, and I kept reading. The article said that X retired after a huge rival of his uncovered information on his background and threatened to release the information. He made a deal to retire early if that guy kept his mouth shut. My head throbbed. How could X do that? Why would he take that deal? I had to make sure he was okay. Despite constantly being surrounded by people, he never seemed to be around people who truly cared about him. I pulled out my phone and shakily texted the number I hadn’t texted in years. Please, God, let his number be the same.

Me: Hi, this is Aly. We met two years ago. I doubt you remember me, but I wanted to make sure you are okay. I saw the headline. Can we meet up? You don’t have to, but you were there for me once. I just wanted to return the favor.

I sat perched up on my bed, staring at my phone as if my life depended on this next text. The longer I waited, the more anxious I got. I began to regret ever sending the text. What if he was laughing at me? Eventually, my phone buzzed and I snapped it up off the counter and opened it.

X: Aly?

It was only one word, but somehow, I knew it meant more. He was happy to hear from me. He knew who I was. He was a man of few words.

Me: It’s me. How are you?

X: It’s good to hear from you. It’s been a while. I’m an asshole.

Me: No, no you’re not. Can we meet?

X: Yes, we can. Where are you these days?

Me: It’s complicated. I can be wherever you need me.

X: The coffee shop? The one from two years ago?

X was gentler, less bossy.

Me: Yes, that sounds good. You love that place, don’t you? Give me a few days. Okay?

X: Sure… Thursday morning … 6AM?

Aly: Sounds great. X … I know you aren’t religious...but I am praying for you. I’ve never stopped.

X: Thank you, Aly. See you Thursday.

I threw the phone and smiled at the ceiling. X.

I immediately started buzzing around my room throwing things in my duffle. I was a few minutes into packing when Brandon came strutting into my room. I turned around and saw him eyeing me angrily.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to go. I have some stuff to take care of.”

“Where?” he snapped.

“Seattle. I have to go to Seattle.”

He thought for a second. “You met someone.”

“No, it’s complicated. A friend needs me. I have to go.” I stood up to face him. “I’m sorry. This life isn’t for me.”

Brandon’s eyes narrowed. “Do your parents know?”

I bit my lower lip. “Not yet, but they will soon.”

Brandon looked around my room. “You can’t go.”

“Yes, I can and I will. You can’t stop me. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

I looked at Brandon curiously as he approached me. Before I could say anything, he whipped something out of his back pocket, and I felt a jolt in my neck. Pretty soon, my world went black.

“Brandon, what did you do?” I asked as my voice faded out and I landed with a thud on the floor.

I didn’t know how long it was before I woke up, but when I did, I felt drugged. I was groggy and nauseous. I went to wipe the hair from my face but quickly realized I was strapped to a chair.

“Where I am?” My voice was panicked but weak.

“You’re awake?” a voice called out.

I blinked several times to try and get my vision back; everything in the room was blurry. I finally was able to clear my vision, and when I did, I found myself face to face with Brandon and my father.

“What? Dad?!” I asked with wide eyes “What? Why? What’s happening?”

Dad circled the chair silently and then leaned against the back wall. He crossed his arms over his chest slowly, methodically, then nodded to Brandon. He still ignored my panicked questions. I sat there paralyzed, looking between the two of them, waiting for some explanation, something to reassure me I was safe.

It knew it wouldn’t come.

Brandon paced the room before finally turning to me. “Aly, you are here because of your erratic behavior these past few years. We have known we probably needed to do something about your behavior since you laid a hand on your father two years ago. We prayed and meditated on this. You won’t be locked up forever. It is just until we can trust you again and some of the, well, tools, we have here are simply to reinforce some facts you have forgotten over the years. Redemption is sometimes paved in blood, Aly. Of course, you’re my friend, so I’m hoping not to have to go that far, but we will see. It all depends on you.”

“You’re doing this to teach me a lesson?! That makes no sense! I’m not a robot. You can’t just keep pushing my buttons until I act like you want me to!”

“You need to be saved, Aly,” Brandon said with a shrug. “And we had to do it before you left for Seattle and it was too late.”

“No,” I yelled, jerking on my ropes. “Let me go! Let me go! My friend needs me. We are Christians. He is hurting. Let me go!”

“He?” Brandon asked, storming over to me.

“Yeah, he.”

His face turned red with rage, and he slapped me hard across the face. “You slut!”

“He’s just a friend! I never slept with him. I am not a slut!” I cried.

My dad, Ronald, came over and kicked the legs of my chair, causing me to slide across the stone-cold floor. My head jerked around wildly until I finally stopped moving and my vision was blocked by the hair that was now covering my face.

“No! SOMEONE HELP ME!” I screamed. My panic was increasing now that I couldn’t see what was going on.

“No one’s looking for you, Aly,” Dad said. “The police are in the church’s pocket. As far as everyone else knows, you are going back to Seattle tonight. They will take my word for it, and everyone will assume you are out of town. So you are going to stay here until you learn your lesson. That way, when you ‘come back from Seattle,’ you can show the world what a respectful young lady you have become. Brandon will do most of the teaching since I am a busy man.”

“No,” I said as tears rolled down my face. “You’re my dad, and Brandon, you were my best friend. How can you do this to me?”

“To teach you,” Brandon said simply.

Then he pulled out his taser.

 

Hearing from Aly was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. I was an asshole. I left her and let her go after that night with Caylan because of my shit. She needed me. I had no doubt she could make it on her own, and she did, but still… It was a dick move. One I had regretted since and been too chicken to remedy.

The past two years had been a haze of tournaments, money, power, women, drugs, and alcohol. A lot of shit and emptiness. That life was fun for a while, but it was empty. It felt empty. When it turned out fucking Cyclone, my boxing rival, had a connection to Ryan Oakland, I made a deal. If I retired (basically assuring him this year’s title win) he would stay clear of my past and keep it out of the public. This ensured Sarah’s tragedy stayed out of the public spectacle. I was done with this life anyway. It wasn’t a hard choice to make. The only thing that sucked was the uncertainty of everything.

Thursday morning had come around fast. I got to the coffee shop at six in the morning and waited. Time went by, and Aly still wasn’t there. At seven, I was curious. It was not like Aly to stand people up and to not show up without a word. She had morals. Something was up. I sat there thinking. I had texted her three times already with no response. Tapping my hands on the table, I glanced at the other people in the coffee shop. I put one of my hands under my chin and waited. Then I heard a voice in my head, one I hadn’t heard in over five years. Check the newspaper, the female voice said softly. I froze. Sarah. I was completely in shock. Check it, the voice said more firmly.

I walked up to the cashier and asked if they had a copy of the paper. The lady handed me one, and I went back to my table wondering why the hell I was flipping through the paper when I should be trying to get hold of Aly.

I flipped through all the pages until I got to the last page where the missing persons reports were. My heart flipped. Frantically, I looked and saw exactly what I was expecting to see. In the bottom left corner was a picture of Aly with the caption:

 

A young girl from Salem goes missing in her hometown- reported by mom. Call Salem PD to report any information.

 

I bolted out of the shop, my adrenaline on high. Not Aly too. If there was a God out there, please not Aly too. I immediately called Salem PD. It took me less than ten seconds to realize they didn’t care about this case. They told me she was in Seattle. Fuck no, she wasn’t! If she was, she’d be at this coffee shop. I tried to tell them. They said they had it on “good authority” she was in Seattle.

Fuck them.

I had my driver take me to the train station. I took the first train to Salem. I was expected to arrive at seven at night. I read the missing persons article over and over. Reported by mom. Reported by mom. What about her dad? Who the hell would want to hurt Aly? She was so innocent. Of course, that made her an open target. Like Sarah. I shuddered. I remembered the first time we talked on the train. I remembered how she struggled with her bag and couldn’t contain her thoughts no matter how hard she tried. I had been so busy stewing in my past I didn’t see how much I cared about the girl right in front of me. A girl Sarah would have loved as well and been proud of me being with. I slammed my fist on the seat. Temper. Control your temper.

Aly’s parents were big members of the church, and in a small town like that, I didn’t have any doubts that they had strong ties with the police. I was sure her dad had told them she was in Seattle, and it was not like they would listen to me over him. Besides, I had only known Aly for a day, and they had no idea who I was. They wouldn’t listen to me, especially if they didn’t listen to her mother. Her mom had gone behind her husband’s back to put that ad out in the paper. I’d have to start with the people Aly had mentioned: her dad, mom, and this kid Brandon. I’d start with Brandon, for fucking sure. That was the twat that made Aly feel guilty about everything when she first arrived in Seattle.

When we landed, I called Carl to see if he could use his connections to find Brandon’s address in Salem. I found out Aly’s last name was Abernathy, so it would be a kid with a connection to the Abernathy family. Carl was on it, and by the time I got in my rental car, I had an address.

I’m coming, Aly. Hang the fuck on.

 

Brandon made up a sick game where he quizzed me on Bible facts and if I got any wrong, any at all, he would taseme. He had the settings on light enough so I wouldn’t pass out, unfortunately, but enough to cause pain. He had untied me when he started the game, and now after being tased four times, I was lying on the floor with my hair covering my face like a limp noodle. The pain hadn’t fully registered because I still couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t believe my dad and Brandon, the two people who had always made me feel like a horrible person, a sinner, were capable of this kind of violence. As more time went on, I realized I was going to stand X up. For some reason, that made me feel guilty, even though I had no choice in the matter. My heart hurts. If I ever got out of this stone room, I would probably never see him again.

Brandon’s voice brought me out of my boxer-filled thoughts.

“Did you have sex in Seattle?” he spat at me.

“No!” I coughed out. “You’re trying to find things in me that aren’t there! Why are you doing this?”

Brandon scowled and reeled his foot back, kicking me square across the face. I let out a whimpering sound and went to reach for my face. Nothing happened. My arm stayed limp at my side. I could feel blood running down my face, but I couldn’t move to wipe it away.

“My arm won’t move. Brandon, please,” I begged. “My arm won’t move.”

“Stop, Aly,” a deep voice said in the doorway. My dad.

“Dad, please,” I begged. “I can’t move my arm.” I was crying now, out of pure terror. Why wouldn’t my arm move?

Dad came over and sat me up, leaning me against the wall. The minute he did, my head fell straight to my chest.

“We are trying to help you, Aly,” he said as he adjusted his coat.

“How long have I been here?”

“It’s only been like four or five days.”

“No.” A tear fell down my face. “A friend needed me.”

Brandon spun around. Fire flashed in his eyes. He glanced at Dad. Shaking his head, Brandon turned back to me, reached out, and grabbed my face.

“We are your friends. Your family. Whoever you met back in that sinful city is not your friend.”

Brandon grabbed my hair and threw me across the room so once more I was lying limp on the floor. Pain shot through my body.

“Please, Dad,” I said, trying to reason with him as a father, my father. “I’m so scared.I’m so scared.”

I cried harder now. My body wouldn’t move. I didn’t know what they were doing, what they were going to do. I had already been here for five days. Where was my mom? Did she know? No one said anything in response to my first outcry, so I kept crying, kept trying.

“Please. I’m so scared,” I pleaded.

Footsteps headed toward me until I felt someone standing over me.

“Remember how I told you that I was trying to teach you a lesson, to save you? You are not grasping it, Aly. You still want to go back to Seattle. You are still talking about this ‘friend ‘you met there, and you are still not getting questions about the Bible correct!” Brandon shook his head in disappointment. “Unfortunately, we are going to have to step it up now.”

I heard them take something out of a bag, but I couldn’t move my head to see it.

“No, please. I’m never going to agree to stay here, to abandon my friend. Never! I’m sorry I got the questions about the Bible wrong. I’ll study more. I promise. Please don’t hurt me anymore. We can compromise. Please…”

I felt something sharp hit my skin, and I screamed as it ran down the length of my arm. Brandon was reciting some Bible verse, and I felt the blood oozing down my skin.

“Dad, help me,” I cried.

Finally, as the blade kept pinching my skin, I felt my world start to slow.

“Someone, help me.” My voice faded out.

Then, as I made a last-ditch effort to try and move my arm, I heard a voice in the doorway.

“Step away from her NOW!” a deep male voice yelled.

X? Was I losing my mind?

Brandon stepped away from me. Was he here? Was someone here? Was someone saving me? It wasn’t the police. My dad knew the police.

“Help!” I cried. “Please help me, whoever you are.”

Dizziness hit me hard. I shut my eyes. I could hear voices in the background and the sound of fists.

“Please help,” I tried again. I didn’t care what happened to Brandon or Dad. I just wanted someone to help me. “Someone, get me out of here. Please.”

Then a large body came next to mine and wiped my hair away from my face. I opened my eyes and lifted my head.

“X? What? How? What are you…”

“Shhh…” he said, holding a finger to my mouth. His eyes were dark as night, and his body shook, yet somehow, he was managing to be gentle with me.

“Is Dad okay? Is Brandon?”

“Unfortunately. “I could see a flash of rage as he spoke. “They each took a punch, but your dad ran, and Brandon’s on the floor over there being a pussy. I let them go so I could get to you.”

“I can’t move my arms,” I cried, letting the panic seep out of my voice. “I think there was a knife.”

“Shh, Aly, it’s okay. You’re safe.” X brushed my hair back again.

I felt my breath steady a bit, and then my whole body relaxed under his touch. “Get me out of here. I just want out of here.”

“I got you,” he said. He wiped some of the blood off my face. “I’m going to get you out. Just let me see where you are hurt, okay?”

I nodded. The first thing he did was grab my arm. He grunted and quickly removed his shirt, wrapping it tightly around my arm.

“To stop some of the blood loss,” he said matter-of-factly. “Okay,” he continued as he inspected my body. His voice was shaky. “You’re bleeding a lot, and I don’t have anything else to wrap you with. You can’t move?”

“No, I can’t! Help!”

“Shh, it’s okay.”

He put a hand gently on my neck and then another under my legs. He lifted me up easily as if I weighed nothing. The minute I was airborne, I panicked a bit, but X calmed me again. My face fell into his chest. I didn’t want to see the world. I wanted it all to be black. He scooted me closer. X carried me and I closed my eyes.

“You’re not taking her anywhere.”

My eyes flashed open. Brandon stood in front of us. My body instantly started shaking, and X squeezed me tighter in; an effort to try and calm me.

“Get out of my way,” X warned. “Now!”

“No. She’s not leaving here!” Brandon reached for something in his pocket.

“X, he has a taser!” I screamed.

Brandon lurched forward. X raised his hand to block the blow, but in the process, he accidentally dropped me. I landed with a thud on the floor. Pain radiated on my tailbone and up my spine. I bit my lip hard to keep from crying out. I heard the sound of several punches.

“X, no!” I whispered through gritted teeth. “Please, get me out.”

Pain radiated throughout my body and seeped into my bones. I didn’t know bones could hurt. I heard a very angry scoff, and then X was once again by my side. I then heard the scuffling of feet. Brandon was gone. Thank goodness. I let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m so sorry,” X said, his voice chock full of emotion as he stroked my hair. “I’m so sorry. I had to block that blow. It would have incapacitated me too. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Shh…it’s okay. I need a hospital. Please.”

“Yeah, you do,” he said, scooping me up once again.

As we got to the car, X threw me into the backseat. He turned around and looked at me with the most pained expression I had ever seen. “Don’t leave me, Aly. Please don’t go.”

I looked at him. “I’m not going anywhere, except maybe to sleep.”