Save Me (Taken Series Book 1) (10 page)

I look back over at the duffle bag I noticed earlier and crawl over to it wondering what is inside. Will it be clothes, food, drugs or even guns? The guns are less likely but the possibilities are endless. I hesitate wondering if I should open it or not and decide there’s nothing to lose if I do. I slowly grab the zipper and pull hearing the teeth unhook as it goes around until it is fully unzipped. My heart beat picks up speed in hopes that it’s weapons so I can use them to get out of here. Even if I never held a knife or gun in my hand before, anything is a better advantage than having nothing at all, right? I lift the flap and look inside and am disappointed. There is just clothes all folded neatly with shirts of several different colors on one side and jeans on the other. No socks, shoes or underwear. Figures. I pull the clothes out hoping to find something clean to change into since I have been in the same cheerleading outfit since my abduction. I feel dirty and my clothes are filthy. Sure Mr. Morris brought me clothes to change into while I was in the cell but it just didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to wear them because of who gave them to me but seeing myself in the light I notice that I should have changed into the clothes because I am filthy.

I take the first shirt out and check the tag that’s still attached and it’s just my size. The shirt is a powder pink loose fitted top that looks a little short in the midriff so I move on to the next shirt and the next. There are four shirts in total all the same size and all the same shirt just in different colors. There’s the pink one, then a blue, red and yellow one. I decide to wear the red one since it matches my feelings of anger. After putting the other shirts back in the bag to one side, I pull out the pants. There are four of them as well and all are the same color, size and brand. They are dark blue skinny jeans that are exactly my size. I grab one knowing it doesn’t matter which I choose and notice at the bottom of the bag are some wipes. I guess I should probably wipe as much dirt and filth off my body with those as I can. As soon as I finish wiping my body of the dirt and grime I change into the clothes. Once satisfied, I sit back on the bed and wait because that is all I can do.

After some time has passed the door to my room opens quickly and it causes me to startle and my heart to skip a beat before racing again in fear of this unknown person coming in. I jump up and stand on the bed against the wall and wait to see who enters. The person pokes their head around the door and it’s a man I don’t know. I wonder if this is ‘the boss’ man that Dark Angel was talking about. Who knows? I am so confused with all that has happened that I honestly don’t care if this guy is the boss or not. I don’t know him and I don’t trust him.

The guy peaking in has a shaved head with a scar running from the top of his forehead through his right eyebrow down to his cheek. He looks terrifying and yet at the same time kind but looks can be deceiving. I don’t know how to explain it but the way his eyes stay on me instead of roaming over my body makes me think that maybe he’s not as mean as he looks. He might have been good looking at one time but he’s older now with a hardness to him like he’s lived a rough life. Maybe drugs at one point, just because he looks kind of unkempt but he has definitely been in a lot of fights where he most likely came out the winner. As he gets closer to me after shutting the door softly behind him, I can see all the other scars cutting his face. The scars don’t stop there though as his hands show just how brutal he’s been towards someone else. Jagged cuts and scars are clearly visible from where I stand making me wonder if he has ever laid a hand on a woman before and if he plans to with me. That’s a frightening thought and even though his eyes show kindness the rest of him shows deadly. I would hate to be on the other side of those fists.

“Sierra?” He asks with furrowed brows as if he’s contemplating something.

“What do you want? Don’t come any closer?” I screech as I put my hands up in defense hoping to keep him away. I’m sure it’s of no use though because he could probably kill me with the flick of his wrist.

Putting his hands up in a defensive gesture he stops at the edge of the bed. “Whoa. Hey. I’m here to help. I just was making sure it was you. I’m friends with Forrest. We’re going to get you out of here tonight ok?” Is he serious? Could he be telling me the truth? I hope with all my heart that he is really going to save me but this could be a trick. He could be testing me to see if I’ll run and then tell Mr. Morris. Who knows what would happen if he knew I tried to escape. But wait. He mentioned he was friends with Forrest. If he’s friends with Forrest then that means he’s telling the truth, right?

“Forrest? Is he here? Does he know I’m here? When is he going to get me? I can’t stay here any longer. A girl says that my teacher is keeping me and that when he takes me from here I’ll never be found again. What if his partner, they call him ‘the boss’ comes? I need to get out of here before one of them comes. I need to go home. You can’t let him take me?” I start to sob at the end of my rant with fear and hope rolled into one. I fear that ‘the boss’ or Mr. Morris will arrive before I get out of here and stop my escape and at the same time I have hope that this is finally the moment where I’m saved.

“Yes Forrest. You mentioned ‘the boss’. Did you get his name? Did you see him?” Why is he worried about that? He needs to worry about getting me out of here. If he wants to know who ‘the boss’ is he needs to ask the girl I talked to earlier.

“I don’t know who ‘the boss’ is. I haven’t seen him yet. The girl mentioned him as a partner to Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris was my P.E. teacher and he kidnapped me and kept me in a cell somewhere. He drugged me before we got there and he drugged me again when he brought me here. I never knew he wanted me, then the girl said that he’s wanted me for a while. She also said that this place sells people. Is that true? Oh my god. You have to help her. What if she gets sold too? Call Forrest. Get him here and he will help. I know he will. Please don’t leave me here!” I couldn’t stop the crying. I was so close to escape I could taste it. I could almost feel Forrest’s arms wrapped around me. I could almost feel the relief of when my parents see me and their tears of joy. I could almost feel love from Damon and the rest of my family and friends when I arrive home safely. Almost.

“I can’t take you home just yet. I just needed to make sure you were alright. I still need to call Forrest to help me get you out of here safely without getting caught. But I assure you it will be soon. See?” He shows me the text to Forrest about my location and that I am here. I sag with relief at knowing that Forrest knows where I am but I need him to hurry before Mr. Morris or ‘the boss’ arrive. With ‘the boss’ being Mr. Morris’ partner he could come here at any time and stop me from leaving. I need Forrest to hurry and get me out of here.

“We need to hurry. Tell him to hurry. I’ll do whatever you need just as long as you hurry and get me out of here. Then you need to save the girl that I talked to.”

“One thing at a time. You’re our first priority. Forrest would kill me if I didn’t get you out first. The other girls are safe for now because they are to be auctioned off in a few days’ time and I already have people ready to buy them and take them home to their families.”

“You know about this place?” I ask incredulously. Why if he knows about this place is it still here with people being sold like cattle? “Why haven’t you shut this place down? What are you really doing here?”

“Calm down. I work undercover trying to catch the guy that runs this operation. I can’t shut it down or else we can’t catch him and he sets up shop somewhere else and we have to start all over. We are so close to catching him and when we do this all stops. Forrest can tell you more after we get you out of here. Now what I need you to do…”

“Forrest knows about this place? Is he a part of this? He can’t be. He’s a good person. I know he would never sell people like this. What does he have to do with this?” I interrupt him with my questions. I should probably listen to what he has to say but I’m in shock that Forrest is a part of this vile place. Did he know about me being kidnapped and is just trying to save face? No he couldn’t because he’s not a bad person and he cares for me. He would never let anyone hurt me. With that thought, I wonder what he has to do with a place like this.

“No he is not a part of this like you think. He’s undercover too, but working a different angle. I’ll let him explain later when you see him but first you need to listen closely as I tell you what’s going to happen. In one hour the fights will be finished and your teacher will be back here to get you. Forrest is going to leave 10 minutes before it ends and race here to get to you first. We have to work fast so you need to be ready to go when I open that door. You will leave everything as is and if someone comes to see you, don’t speak about any of this. Not even to the girl you were talking with earlier, you got me?” I nod my head and wait for more instructions. I’m excited and scared for what’s going to happen. “Good. When you leave here you will not be going home right away…”

“What!” He holds his hand up to stop me from saying anything further. Why wouldn’t I go home? Isn’t the point of this whole escape is to take me home?

“No you won’t go home right away. Your teacher and ‘the boss’ will be looking for you once they realize your gone and be on a rampage searching so Forrest has to hide you out for a few days. After they calm down and we don’t feel their eyes on us, I will send in a detective to your hideout who will take your statement, arrest your teacher and hopefully by then we will also have the ‘the boss’ in custody. Then you will be taken back to your family and more will be explained of what’s to come. I trust Forrest will take good care of you and you will be safe with him after we get you out.” Oh god. I want to see my family but I understand why I can’t just yet. It just sucks. At least I’ll have Forrest.

“Ok. I can do that. I trust Forrest. I can wait a few days. It will all be ok. Everything will be ok.” I’m rambling trying to calm myself. I wring my hands nervously. Soon this will all be just a terrible dream.

“Tell him I love him if this doesn’t work out. Please. Just tell Forrest I love him and I’m sorry and tell my family. Just in case.” Even though I have hope that I will be out of this mess in less than an hour, I know to expect the worst and I can’t go another second without Forrest knowing how I feel if I don’t make it out.

“There’s no need for serious goodbye confessions. Everything will work out, ok?” I nod my head and stare at him hoping he’s right. He looks into my eyes searching for something before nodding his head giving me a small smile to reassure me. “Ok. I need to go and look the part but just know that you’re safe now and you’ll be home soon.” He gets up and leaves but not before giving me one more reassuring smile then slips out the door and locking it with a click making it seem as if I didn’t just get the best life changing news.

I lay back down on the mattress with a smile on my face, excited at the prospect of going home soon. I just hope it’s not too good to be true. I wait for the time to come for my escape and imagine what kind of state my family will be in when they finally see me again. I hope they are ok. I hope they didn’t hole up in their rooms and not live their life. As much as I missed them and as much as I’m sure they missed me I would never wish for my family to sulk around waiting for me. Of course if the situation were reversed and it was one of them who was kidnapped I would probably be the same way or maybe I would be out looking for them. Maybe I would follow leads like a detective and find whoever took my family. Now that I think about it I doubt that they just sat back and waited. I know for a fact that my brother and Forrest wouldn’t just sit around hoping for word of my whereabouts. They would be out knocking on every door trying to find me. My dad is probably doing the same but using his connections with his customers, some are pretty shady, for any news and my mom is most likely the only one sitting at home waiting for the phone call saying I’ve been found.

I imagine my escape and seeing the look on Forrest’s face when he sees me. He’ll look at me with love, worry and relief. Maybe he will have tears ready to spill but never do. I’ll run into his arms and he’ll hug me tight never wanting to let me go. He’ll kiss my forehead then my nose, my cheeks, then my lips in a raw and passionate kiss. His hands will roam my body checking to see if I’m real, safe and uninjured. His fingers will slide between mine and squeeze with reassurance as we run into the night and away from my nightmare to an underground hideout that only he knows about. There will be no words spoken as we hide in this safe house. We’ll sit down and hold onto each other as I cry with happiness and relief and he laughs his deep throaty laugh at how blissful he is to have me back.

I will never have a better chance to tell him of my feelings than at that moment. I’ll tell him how scared I was and what happened to me and how after being taken I was sorry that I never told him of my true feelings not caring if he reciprocates them or not. And since this is my dream he will tell me how much in love he is with me and wished he could have said so sooner that he doesn’t care what anyone else says or thinks, he just wants to be with me. We will spend several days talking, laughing, kissing and touching before going home and seeing my family and repeating the ‘I missed you’ and ‘I love you’ and the ‘I’m sorry’ to Damon and my parents for worrying them. I skipped over the part where I have to retell the story to the police detective because I don’t want to ruin my dream with negativity. I just hope my dream will be similar to reality. That things could really be that easy.

I didn’t realize how long I imagined my homecoming for but it must have been a while because the door swings open causing me to jump and squeak in fear before I realize it’s the same guy from earlier.