Dawn

I wasn’t sure if my eyes were open or closed. Everything was dark. My body was sore and I couldn't move my hands from above my head.

I tried to move the rest of my body, but pain shot up from my feet to my legs—everywhere. I cried out in fear and pain. I moved my head to one side, then the other; I couldn’t see anything. I was pretty sure my eyes were open. Had I been blinded in the accident?

“Elijah?” I called out, hoping for an answer. My voice was weak.

I was lying down on something hard, but it wasn’t cold like the ground. I hadn’t been thrown from the car—at least, I didn’t think I had been.

I faintly remembered being pulled from the car by rough hands. They were hands I was used to, and they were not gentle. I heard grunting and someone talking in a German accent but I couldn’t make out what was said, or by whom. I couldn’t get my mind to move my body. I was helpless.

“Elijah!” I called out again, louder this time as panic began to set in. I pulled on my arms, trying to get them unstuck. It felt like my wrists were tied with a thin rope, cutting the circulation off. “Help!”

I kept yelling, pleading for Elijah, anyone, to help me. My voice grew hoarse before the darkness and the pain took over my body once again.

* * *

Opening my eyes some time later, I could see the morning sunshine through a flimsy, dirty curtain. It was a dull light, coating everything in a haze around the small room.

There wasn’t much to it. One door was to the right of me, and a small four drawer dresser stood next to me, out of reach.

I couldn’t see what my hands were tied with as they were still up above my head. I could hardly feel them. I was lying on a dirty green mattress. There were no blankets, and I wore the same clothes I had on when I left the house. At least knowing I still had clothes on was a relief.

The room smelt dusty, almost musty in a way. It seemed like no one had used the room, possibly this house, for a long time.

Flopping my head back down, I sighed. I had no idea where I was or when I would be let loose. I had no idea what time it was. Would I die here?

I must have dozed off, as I was woken up when the lock turned in the door. I stayed still, faking sleep. The door slowly squeaked open, inch by inch. I leveled out my breathing, even if it meant I wouldn’t be free of the rope on my hands anytime soon.

The heavy footsteps carried whoever it was towards me. When the person was close enough to the mattress, he kicked the edge of it, hitting my foot in the process. I jerked but kept my eyes closed and breathing even. I didn’t trust him; I didn’t even know who it was.

“Still out,” he said loudly as he stomped out. His voice was scratchy and deep. It was not someone I knew, nor did it sound like someone I’d had to please before.

“How much did you give her, anyway?” I heard Morgan say from near the door.

“Enough,” the man replied. I could picture him shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Whatever,” Morgan sighed. “Get lost.”

“Got it boss,” he said, all too happy to oblige. “Still don’t know what you want with her. She’s nothing.”

“I said get lost, Paul!” Morgan seethed a banging sound reached my ears.

“Ich werde,” he mumbled before stomping away, slamming a door a few seconds later. Morgan groaned before entering the room.

His footsteps were softer but his breathing was heavier, for a reason I couldn’t guess.

“Oh, my pretty girl. Look at what I had to do,” he sighed, bending down so he was closer to me. I felt him brush some of the hair off my face. “I didn’t plan to cause you any harm, but I had to have you.”

He sighed again. I could feel his eyes on me, looking me over. I wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but I had a pretty good idea.

“Oh, for the love of . . .” I heard my mother mumble as she passed the doorway. She stomped angrily away before returning.

“What are you doing, Joan?” Morgan asked with worry.

“Waking her up,” she answered hotly, before dumping water on top of my face.

Spluttering and crouching, I opened my eyes. I tried to sit up, forgetting my arms were tied way too tight for me to be able to move at all. The water was ice cold, but at least it halfway cleaned my face of the dried blood.

“See?” Joan said proudly.

Still spluttering, I glanced over at the couple with hatred. I loathed them both for so many reasons. Joan looked tired and much thinner than when I had last seen her. Her bare arms were covered in needle marks from her heroin addiction.

Morgan seemed fairly put together. His face was clean-shaven and he wore what looked to be clean clothes, unlike Joan. He did seem paler than he had been the last time I saw him. Sickly pale.

I remained quiet, waiting to see what would happen. After a few moments, Joan huffed out a breath and stormed out of the room. She slammed things around in another part of the house.

I tugged on the rope again, knowing it was futile, but I didn’t know what to do. I felt lost and awkward as Morgan stared at me, not saying anything.

“Sorry ‘bout that,” he said towards the rope that binded me. “I can’t have you running off while I was sleepin’. We won’t be here long; it’s just a short stop while we rest. I’ll be getting rid of her shortly.”

“Why?” I asked, deciding I’d try to keep him talking. Maybe I’d try to get him to earn my trust before I tried to escape his hold. I had to get out. I didn’t know what he’d do to me, and I couldn’t stay here. I was worried about Elijah, and about my baby girl. My mind was going a mile a minute, and I didn’t know what to think.

“Why what?” he asked, tilting his head. “Why get rid of your mother?”

“Yeah,” I answered. I wanted to know why about a lot of things. Why was I here? Why did he take me?

“Oh, she’s always been in the way,” he laughed. “A means to an end,” he shrugged. “I don’t need her. I did in the beginning. She helped get rid of Quentin; he was always around, saying he was going to take you far away. Away from her, away from me. I got her hooked on the heroin, and she couldn’t stop. She tried once she knew her debt was paid, but it was so easy to get her to go back to it. Now she only cares about her next hit, it makes it easier on me. Plus, the drugs make her forget things and not care about what she’s lost.”

“Why me?” I asked, pulling on my arms again, trying to get some sort of feeling back into them.

“Because you are mine,” he answered with a smile. “I’ve never been able to have kids. I tried—with Joan in fact, before she even got pregnant with you—but yeah, it didn’t work out. So, I did the next best thing: I killed your dad so I could step in.”

“Why did you take me to Galvin, then?” I asked quietly, keeping my emotions out of my voice.

“Joan owed him money. Plus, I was mostly living there and I wanted you trained to be the best of the best. I didn’t realize how much I wanted you until then.”

“Oh,” I said, not really knowing what to say to that. The only thought that went through my head was that he was sick, and needed major help.

“Enough of the talk,” Joan shouted through the house.

Groaning, Morgan stood up, giving me another look before he turned.

“Can I use the bathroom, please?” I asked before he left the room. I did need to go, but also wanted to take a look around the house to see if there was any way I could get out.

“Fine,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Make it fast. And don’t try anything. Got it?”

I nodded. I wouldn’t try anything—yet. “Of course.”

He carefully untied the rope from its hook on the wall, but not my hands. He smiled sadly at me as he helped me stand. It was a good thing, since I couldn’t support myself; my legs were weak. He only laughed as he helped me out of the room and across the hall to the bathroom.

Darn, I was hoping to get a better look. I glanced around and saw a small living room, but that was it, before I was forced into the tiny bathroom.

“I’ll leave you be, but I’ll be just outside this door,” Morgan warned, helping me lean against the stained sink.

Once he was out of sight, I did my business. The bathroom made me cringe as I’d become used to having a clean one. After flushing, I looked in the smoke covered mirror, seeing my reflection.

Part of my face was red and swollen, and a partially dried cut was along my right eyebrow. I ignored the rest of my body as it ached, and I didn’t want the visual to go with the pain.

I checked to make sure that the phone was still in my sock before calling out for Morgan. I wasn’t going to risk letting him know I had it on me.

“All done?” he asked, too sweetly.

“Yes,” I answered, hoping to please him and not say too much. I needed to hide the phone before he tried anything. “Do I have to be tied up again?”

“I guess not. You’re weak,” he laughed. “Jay not feeding you well enough?”

“No,” I simply answered.

“I’ll give you something for the pain, okay, child?” Morgan said as he gently sat me back down on the bed.

“You don’t have to,” I said, not wanting to pass up any moment I could use to call Elijah—as long as my phone worked. I hoped it was charged enough to still make a call.

“I will,” he replied. “It’s my job to take care of you. I can’t have you tired and sore while I enjoy your company.” With that, he walked out, leaving the door wide open. I quickly removed the phone from my sock, hiding it under the mattress by my head with shaky hands. I managed to lie down on my side before he came back in, carrying a syringe.

“It’ll help, my child,” he said, injecting it into my shoulder. “Now, sleep. I have plans for when you wake.” With a kiss to my lips, which I didn’t respond to, he left, gently closing the squeaky door behind him. I was asleep before it clicked shut.

* * *

Elijah

The next time I woke up, it was light outside and I groaned as I tried to move. I was uncomfortable all over. Not just painful, but achy. It was quiet; the beeping of the heart machine was the only sound to be heard.

My eyes were caked closed, because I’d been forced to sleep by drugs. I hated drugs for this very reason: it made it hard to think; hard to focus. Giving up on trying to force my eyes open, I let my head relax back against the pillow. I wanted my own bed, my house, and my girls.

I was calmer, and I forced myself to stay that way. I didn’t want to be sedated again. I had to get out. I had to find Dawn. Taking a deep breath, I listened around me, hoping something could get my mind off my worries and fears.

I heard breathing from the chair next to the bed and figured it was my mom. She would stay here until I was released, most likely, and then either be at my house or trying to get me to go hers. I just wanted to be left alone, or be teaming up with Kaleb to find my girl.

A snore brought me out of my thoughts, and I couldn’t help but smile a little. I knew that snore. Turning my head and forcing my eyes open, I saw Kaleb sitting there, legs spread out and head leaning against the back of the chair. I had to wonder how long he’d been here, and how long I’d been asleep.

There was a light tap on the door before it was pushed open, revealing a nurse. I watched her, not really having anything to say. I wanted to go home, and I’d do just about anything so I could.

“Good morning,” she greeted quietly, as she checked the monitors and my chart at the end of the bed. She wore dull blue scrubs. Her black hair was piled high on her head in a messy bun. Her face was rounded and clear of blemishes. She would have been the type I’d have gone for in the past, but since finding Dawn, I didn't want to think about another.

“Mornin’,” I replied, my voice quiet and hoarse.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, looking me over with light gray eyes.

“Just dandy,” I managed to get out. I felt like I’d been hit by a semi. Every nerve was tainted with pain.

“I’ll get you more pain reliever,” she smiled kindly, but quietly, as to not wake my guest up. “The doctor should be in shortly.”

She left, leaving the door open before returning just a minute later with water and a little white cup containing pain meds.

“Here you go,” she said sweetly, looking me over.

“Thanks,” I responded before downing them, not caring what they were. I just wanted to feel un-dead, if possible. I sure hoped Dawn was better off, wherever she may be. I had no idea how she’d been able to live with this sort of pain day after day at that prison.

“The pain meds should kick in shortly, and most likely make you groggy, but if you need anything, push the call button, alright?” she said, turning to leave. I simply nodded, too tired and sore to respond.

I laid my head back down against the pillow, letting my eyes close, even though I knew sleep was the furthest thing from my mind. I heard Kaleb move but I kept my eyes closed. He sighed and moved again.

“Damn chair,” he grumbled out, shifting again. I couldn’t help but laugh as I slowly opened my eyes. I could feel the drugs taking effect, my body becoming lighter. “Elijah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said, turning my head towards him. He looked tired, like he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep. “They gave me drugs.” I smiled at him.

“I can tell,” he laughed. “I told the doctor to make sure they didn’t give you anything but Advil, but apparently they didn’t listen.” A pause. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I want to fly,” I mumbled out, closing my eyes again. Could I fly? Where could I fly?

“Oh, Elijah,” Kaleb mumbled. “I’ll be right back. Stay,” he said, giving me a look I wouldn’t ever disobey. Did he really think I would move from this bed? He left and I closed my eyes, thinking about flying. I wondered if I could grow wings. Could I fly to my Dawn, my pretty Dawn, who was not here with me? Where was she? I faintly heard the heart monitor pick up speed as my panic increased yet again.

“Dawn!” I yelled, hoping, praying for her to respond. I had to find her. “Dawn!?”

“Elijah,” I heard Kaleb say, and a pressure against my face from his palm. “You have to calm down. They can’t sedate you again.”

“Kaleb?” I asked, confused. I was looking for Dawn, so why was he here?

“Take a deep breath for me, Elijah,” Kaleb said, leaning his forehead against my own. “Like this. In. Out.”

I copied him, not knowing why I had to. I was sure my eyes were wide with questions.

“Good,” Kaleb praised as my heart began to slow, beating a more normal rhythm. “Again.”

“Where am I?” I asked once I was calmer.

“You’re in a hospital, and you have to stay calm for me, alright?”

“Oh,” I answered confused. “Why?”

“You were in a car accident,” he answered. His brown eyes held something that he wasn’t telling me.

“I’m tired, Kaleb,” I said, letting my eyes close before I quickly opened them again. I felt like I was missing something.

“You can sleep,” he said, brushing the hair off my forehead. “I have someone I need to go talk to. Sleep.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, letting sleep take my body over.

* * *

Kaleb

“He is not allowed to have any more drugs of any kind. Got it?” I seethed at the attending doctor. I was not thrilled at all about what the nurse had given him. It was meant to help his pain, not make him high as a kite.

I couldn’t deny that I sort of enjoyed seeing Elijah high from pain meds, since I’d never seen him like that before. He never once touched any type of drugs, unless they were prescribed by a doctor, and he still wouldn’t touch them unless he absolutely needed them.

After scaring the shit out of his doctor, I made a few phone calls, calling in a favor for a new doctor who would know Elijah as well as I did, so no more drugs would be prescribed unless I gave the okay to do so.

I knew when he woke up, he’d either still be high, or cranky as hell. I wasn’t sure which would be better; I’d talk him down, either way.