13 the abandoned store

The men walk in through the broken window, their terrifying aura extending over the room.

I nod my head lightly, affirming Elijah that I am ready to begin the first phase of our [his] plan. I crouch down, sinking deeper into the shadows, my muscles wobbly from the nerves.

There won't be a second chance. It's either I execute it, or these men take us.

I take in a huge breath, being as silent as possible. I walk grab the lantern like contraption, the metal hot from burning so long. I hiss in pain, my mouth flying to my mouth as I realize what I had just done.

One of the men turn in alarm, their shadows vaguely visible. "They're here for sure. At least one of them.", one of the men, I presume, Will says.

I mentally smack my head for doing so. The reason why this plan was solid was due to the element of surprise, but now that they know we're here, we're doomed.

Elliot gestures that he'll take it from here, and I nod, not wanting to mess it up anymore. He takes the lantern from my hand, his knuckles grazing my fingers while doing so. A warm blush rises to my cheeks at the contact.

Definitely not the time for this, Lena.

He walks up to the taller one, the man's silhouette visible due to the weak streetlight. Without hesitating, he swings with all his might, the hot contraption swinging right across his face. The man yelps in pain, totally opposite to the reaction that I had expected from him.

"Get him, Hemmingway!" the man yells. Will, the one that just got hit, grabs Elijah by the collar, shaking him. Elijah doesn't say a word, and quickly removes his shirt, getting away from Will. [he had a t-shirt under it get your mind out of the gutters]

"Fucking bastard! Get him, Hemmingway, what are you doing?" he yells, his anger apparent.

"Mmmf..", Hemmingway says, his voice muffled.

Why is he struggling to speak, you may ask. Well, that's the very best he could do, given the fact that his mouth was full with moth eaten curtains. I tighten the cloth around his mouth, ensuring that he doesn't die, yet is still uncomfortable. He yells, or at least tries to, his legs and arms flailing in all directions.

"Shh.", I whisper into his ear, while grabbing both his hands, and pinning them behind is back. I use the same curtain to tie both his hands and mouth, creating a neat little knot at the nape of his neck.

Jeez, I wouldn't want to be in his position.

His hand will begin cramping up real soon. Oh well, that's what you get for trying to kidnap, not one, but two kids.

Elijah grins, now confident that we can take down the one remaining man. Will however, was not the type to give up as easily as Hemmingway. He kept trying to grab ahold of us, his curses filling the store when he kept failing. It almost felt like a game of hide and seek, the kind we played at night, except this was kind of scary.

The streetlight casts eerie shadows, the thunderstorm furiously lashing outside.

We can't get out, nor can we hide within this empty store. Sooner or later, Will will stumble upon us, and easily take us away. That really doesn't sound pleasant.

His curses echo, as he keeps trying relentlessly. His curses stop all of a sudden. My blood runs cold. Did he find Elijah? What happened?

Suddenly he starts bursting out laughing, his guffaws filling the entire room. Another voice joins him, laughing maniacally. Their laughs felt like a horror movie track, melodious yet terrifying.

"You little brats think that you can outsmart two grown adults, don't you? You kids really think we're that gullible?" one of them says, laughing condescendingly.

"And you kids surely think that this piece of rag could possibly bind me? What do you take me for?", Hemmingway says, wheezing from laughing too much.

Shit. The curtain was moth eaten, of course it tore easily. I begin backing away, now actually scared. I bump into Elijah, who now didn't have any grand plan like earlier.

"What do we do now?" I ask meekly, frightened by the countless possible ways this situation could turn out, all of them unfavorable. "We talk ourselves out?" Elijah says doubtfully.

I sigh deeply, and begin confidently, knowing that these men are not going to back down with a simple performative sob session.

"Listen, you guys. Whatever you need, we can talk it out.", I start off uncertainly.

"Talk what out? Boss needs you two. Chit-chatting is not either of our cups of tea.", Will says cockily.

"You guys want something from us. We want you people to leave us alone. See! We can compromise, surely?" I say, my voice trembling slightly at the end.

"Compromise? With a scared little girl? Yeah no.", Hemmingway says.

"She's not scared.", Elijah speaks up.

"Yeah right, and I'm pregnant.", Hemmingway says sarcastically.

"Hello there, Elijah, didn't know we'd find you here.", Will says mockingly.

"Listen up kids, you are ending up at Boss's warehouse by tonight, cuffed and bound, whether you like it or not.", Hemmingway says.

"See, your compromising idea worked out alright, missy.", Will says, laughing at me.

Anger bubbles within me, the urge to hit them strong. I manage to suppress it, knowing that being civil is the only [?] way to resolve this problem.

"Enough with the small talk. Hemmingway, bind them. I'm tired, and my wife needs me to be home by sunrise.", Will says, yawning widely.

"Oh and? We'll have some fun with the girl, while we're at it. I'm sure the boy would love to watch too. Isn't that right, Valentine?", Will adds.

My blood runs cold. They surely won't do that? Are they actually going to..?

I continue overthinking, weighing the possibilities of winning a fight against them. Hemmingway, or whoever, I don't care, begins approaching us, figuring out where we are based on our voices.

"Where is my little girly?", Will calls out. "Let's play a game. If you come to me right now, I'll let you undress yourself. If I find you first, I get to undress you. It's all your call, princess.", he says, licking his lips.

Eugh, what a creep.

I could feel Elijah fuming beside me, my anger nowhere suppressed enough to stop myself from calling out, "You wish, you motherfucker."

"Awh, such a naughty little girl, aren't you? It's okay, I'll find you soon.", Will says.

I shouldn't have done that. I begin walking sideways, away from Elijah, and the source of Will's voices. Will can now easily find me, given that I spoke. Ugh, damn that cunning pervert.

I slowly step, ensuring that I don't make a noise. My heart thuds in my chest, terrified by the thought of what would happen if those men got their hands on me. Tired, both emotionally and mentally drained, I continue tip-toeing in the dark, when I hear a man scream.

Elijah, or one of the men, the scream was indistinguishable. My heart sinks to my stomach. They got one of us, how long would it take for them to find me? My brain goes into autopilot, as I begin overthinking the current situation. What if it was a trap? A ploy made by the men to lure Elijah out? Perhaps they did so, so that I would cry out in concern, and they could track me down?

But that's too farfetched.

Or is it?

I sigh in frustration, not knowing what to do. If I call out to him, I'd give myself away. If he really is in trouble, I can't help him.

I decide that the best call right now, is to follow the walls, edging slowly towards the broken windows, and escape into the rain. Taking them on headfirst is too risky, especially when the stakes are so high.

Working alone isn't the best option, but when you're forced into a situation where you absolutely can not communicate, it's the only option.

I apologize to Elijah in me head, praying that he's okay, and that he gets out safe. As I near the entrance, somehow managing to avoid the two men, I hear a sharp cry.

"Lena!"

I whip my head around, looking around in the darkness. That is Elijah. That is one hundred percentage his voice. The streetlights allows me to see only near a few feet in front of me, the rest of the store a black void. My heart thuds loudly in my chest, worry and fright taking over the rational side of my brain.

I hear footsteps, not near me, but not quite far either. They tap across the store, two sets, or perhaps three, it was difficult to distinguish due to the sound of the rain. At this rate, I can never escape.

I decide that right now, when it's a matter of life and death, it's best that I take the selfish route, and escape alone. But won't that make me a not-so-nice person? Of course not.

I can get him help, only if I escape. There's nothing that I can do, waiting here in this dark void. But who will I go to for help? Mother? Father? The cops? Jess?

All of them are either untrustworthy or think that I am untrustworthy.

This situation is just perfect.

"Thank you, universe.", I mutter, under my breathe, pissed off at how every option is closed off.

"Thank whom, Lena?", I hear Elijah's voice.

I breathe out in relief, looking up, only to find the bald man, Hemmingway I think.

"Mimicry is one of my hobbies, Lena. Now, what do you want me to take off first? That tight little blouse of yours, or that little skirt you're parading your assets in?" ,he says, creepily rubbing his hands together, his voice still sounding exactly like Elijah.

It was very unnerving to listen to such disgusting words come out as if it were Elijah saying them.

"Lena don't let them get to you.", the actual Elijah yells from somewhere within the dark room.

"Look at me, you little slut. You are coming with me. Boss's priority is you, and only you. Valentine is just a little bonus.", Hemmingway says, spraying my face with his spit.

My face contorts in disgust, however I take some comfort in Elijah's words, knowing that he wants me to escape just as much as I do.

"Listen here, baldy.", I say, "Your boss can go suck my dick. All I need you to do right now, is to step aside and get out of my way, like that little coward you are.", I say, my words fueled only by anger. I watch his face turn even more wrinkly, the vein of his forehead throbbing. "I heard everything what happened outside. How you follow little Willy around like a puppy, how you heed to his every command, hanging onto every word of his. When at some point, you knew that you could never become him, you began challenging everything he did. Oh, I know every little thing about you, baldy.", I say, smirking at the reaction that this spiel is getting me.

Oh he's angry-angry?

Good, my plan is working.

"How dare you?", he says, grabbing a hold of my neck, his hands huge enough to go around it completely. He tightens my grip on my neck, choking me. I struggle for oxygen, my lungs heaving in its attempt to get the required air. His grip tightens around my neck, and he says, "Lena fucking Whitaker. Stay in your lane, and you won't get hurt.", he says, his terrible breath filling my nostrils.

He tightens the hold on my neck, and I begin panicking, worrying if I won't get out of this darned store, alive.

"Don't kill her, Hemmingway, we need her. Boss will kill us otherwise.", Will yells from somewhere within the darkness.

Good, he gave away his position by speaking. Valentine can now get away, or at least move away from him.

His grip loosens upon Will's command, me guesses being accurate about Hemmingway's personality and the two men's relationships.

"Looks like I'm right then?" I manage to say, grinning smugly, staring into Hemmingway's eyes.

His eyes cloud with anger upon hearing my words, and his hands fall from my neck. I gasp for air, my red face returning to normal. I cough as the required oxygen fills my lungs, never being so glad to be able to breath.

"Will, I am done here. Let's just take this bitch to our Boss. I don't want anything to do with her.", he grunts angrily, and storms out of the store.

I sigh in relief, thanking the universe, this time genuinely, for letting my plan work without any slips.

"You're glad, aren't you?" he asks. "Yeah.", I say, a smile appearing on my face.

Wait who the hell was that?

I look up to find Will there, a creepy smile on his face.

"Don't think you can get out of this with your dirty little words.", he says, biting his lips weirdly. My hair stands on edge, frightened by this next obstacle. He barely took anytime to find me here. I begin panicking, palms sweating profusely. He approaches me, walking close enough for his nose to bump mine.

"I know you want this as much as I do.", he breathes into my face. In disgust, or maybe anger, or maybe even frustration, I kick him hard in the southern region, without ever considering the repercussions. He yells in pain, and falls onto the ground, writhing in pain. I stare in satisfaction, a grin appearing on my face.

Take that, you pervert.

As he recovers, I begin hurrying outside the broken window, and into the rain. I find the car that they had arrived in, gone. Baldy must've gotten real pissed, so much so that he left his friend in this dingy store.

"Hey, let's hurry.", I hear a breathless voice behind me.

To my relief, I find Elijah standing there, the rain drenching us both. I look at him, his wet hair plastered to his forehead, raindrops dripping from his hair strands.

Why the hell does he looks so good, even if he's absolutely drenched?

Not the time, Lena, I remind myself.

He grins, those wretched dimples making an appearance again. I hear Will getting back onto his feet, his shoes clattering on the floor of the store. Something tickles my stomach, and before I could figure out what was happening, he grabs my hand, and begins running, dragging me along with him.

We both run as fast as we could, Will following us from a distance. We hear him throw curses at us, yelling his heat out. However my mind chose to focus only on those warm hands enclosing mine. Without realizing, a grin spreads across my face.

Every cloud does have its silver lining.

********************************

15th September 1970

Tuesday

I wake up to the rising sun's piercing rays on my face, casting sharp shadows everywhere. My eyes fall upon boxes and cartons, hundreds, or maybe even thousands, everywhere.

The first thought that crosses my mind is that: "Yesterday was all just a dream!" After all, a girl can day dream.

Feeling absolutely refreshed, I stretch my limbs, my whole body aching.

"Good morning, Lena. I called the school office today. We're both calling in sick today. Apparently, I make a convincing adult.", Elijah says smugly.

I nod, slightly confused by what he's doing here.

Besides, where exactly is this "here"?

As I lift my head from a pillow, or what I thought to be a pillow. I look around, to find myself in a warehouse, an old one, my head on a bag of something soft. My head aches, as yesterday's events come crashing down. I recollect all the traumatizing things that happened, as I realize that I am in imminent danger. Whether it is going to happen tonight, or tomorrow night, I'm not sure.

But I am a hundred percent sure that, if I don't hand over the mine documents to Jess, I'll probably be a pile of bones in a graveyard by next week.

I grab the hair on my head out of frustration, the information too much to handle.

"Hey, Lena, are you okay?" Elijah asks, his concern evident on his face.

"I um, need some time alone.", I say, getting up from my makeshift bed.

"Oh of course. I'm cooking some food. I'll leave some for you, if you want some?", he says, framing it like a question.

"Thank you.", I say, smiling stiffly.

I walk out the warehouse, the rising sun really pretty. I gaze at the sky for a few minutes, entranced by how much it looks like a painting.

My mind drifts to my parents. I already miss them. Despite their conservative practices, they still love me. They want the best for me, and that's why they're so strict. I know that this isn't the best relationship that a parent has with their child, but it doesn't mean it's the worst. I mean, at least I'm not getting abused.

"Thinking about your parents?" a voice says beside me.

I turn around, to find Valentine standing there, two Styrofoam cups in his hand. I nod, surprised at how he read my mind. Am I really that easy to read?

"Here, have some water. There's some toothpaste in your case too, we can use that.", he says, smiling.

I take it, thanking him. I gulp down the entire cup, the cold water refreshing against my throat. "How did you know?", I ask, crushing the Styrofoam in my hands.

"Know what?", he says, his eyebrows knitting in confusion.

"Knew what I was thinking. ", I say.

"I went through it myself, you know. When I first ran away, I couldn't stop thinking about them. Those days, guilt and sadness were the emotions that I thought I was capable of feeling.", he says, looking at the horizon, his eyes illuminated by the orange sky.

We both gaze at the sky, lost in our own thoughts. Silence hangs in the air. However, instead of feeling unnatural, it was comfortable. I turn around to look at Elijah, his hair falling into his eyes, as he gazes down, at his feet.

"Why the hell did you go to retrieve the case? They must've been looking for us. Don't go anywhere without informing me beforehand.", I say, concerned.

"Lena, that was our only case of essentials. My supply had just finished yesterday.", he says, as if it should've been obvious to me. "The only thing I regret is missing my heater. Damn it, I spent so long making it.", he says, disappointed.

I look at him, and say, "Elijah, is that really the only thing you can muster after yesterday's series of events?"

"No. I also wanted to ensure Will ends up in hell, but that's not something under my control is it?" he says, chuckling. I join in, our laughter filling the morning air.

I haven't felt this happy in a long time, especially with someone beside me.

I could almost get used to this, waking up in a warehouse, to the bright morning sunshine. Sure, it isn't really practical, but everyone can hope right?

I continue sitting there for a while, enjoying the sunrise, while Elijah goes to freshen up. He also mentioned eggs and bread, to the sound of which my stomach rumbles hungrily. He chuckled at it, promising me that I can have as much as I want.

Upon asking him where he got the food from, he scratched his head sheepishly and told that he had borrowed some money from my case and bought it, and hoped that I didn't mind.

I couldn't stay pissed at him for long, especially when those dimples made an appearance. I really am such a fool for them. A single sighting of those darned dimples could make my shitty day somehow ten times better.

He headed inside, leaving me alone outside the warehouse. We were somewhere in the outskirts of the city, the beginnings of the countryside visible from here. The air, crisp and clear, was so much better than anything I've ever felt.

I sigh, my mind lost in the countless worries that ran through my mind. I shake them off one by one, convincing myself that things cannot get worse than they already are.

Oh boy, was I in for a surprise.

*****************************

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻

The afternoon air in the countryside was warm and humid, the air blowing softly against the vast corn fields. A lone warehouse stands in the field, currently occupied by Lena and Elijah. Laughter echoes from the warehouse, as the two laugh to their heart's content.

Unbeknownst to those two, a small black van appears out of nowhere. The black van hurtles down the road, creaking as it passes ditches. Upon hearing laughter, the driver of the van, decides to stop the van, appearing to take a break.

A man dressed in black appears, this time, an accomplice with him. They walk down the withered pathway leading to the warehouse, their footsteps silent. No one takes notice of them, as they walk into the open warehouse.

Upon closer inspection, Elijah and Lena are sleeping on one of the lumpy pillow they had made, gazing at the ceiling of the warehouse. Talking animatedly, as teenagers talk on a sleepover, those two fail to acknowledge the grown men entering the very warehouse they are in.

As one of them, the girl, gets up, she spots the men. A flash of recognition passes through her eyes, as she begins shaking the boy next to her, her face contorted in fear. The boy wakes up lazily, unbothered by her concerns. That was only until he too spots the men.

The electrifying tension in the air gets charged even more, as one of the men in black bring out zip ties and gags. The other brings out a knife, an evil smile on his face. The one with the knife approaches them slowly, gloating about something. His manic eyes meet the girl's, and upon eye contact, the girl begins visibly trembling. Sweat drips down their forehead, as they realize that they are cornered.

The one with zip ties closes in on them from behind, ensuring that their only exit is blocked. Knowing that there's no escape, they begin negotiating. Civil talks turn into pleading. Pleading turns into angry insults. As the situation keeps getting worse, the one with the zip ties manages to get a hold of the boy. The boy tries to shake him off, limbs flailing. However, the man in black being stronger, manages to pin the boy against a wall, and binds him.

The girl stands there frightened, as she realizes what's coming next. As the one with the knife walks towards her, the scene gets interrupted by a third man. This man in his fifties walks in powerfully into the warehouse. His attire makes him stand out, a black suit, seemingly designer, accessorized with his greying hair and beard. On sighting him, the other two men immediately address him, excuses flying out of their mouths. He shushes them with a single wave of his hand, power emanating from his very presence. The girl senses this, and misjudges the situation. She begins begging him for help, for mercy, not knowing that he was the cause of her misery.

The man in the suit, looks at her disgustedly, and says, "Follow Jess, and I'll try showing some mercy on you." Lena's fear turns into anger as soon as she hears the word 'Jess'. That's when the cogs in her brain begin working. A beard. Jess's words. She had given me a clue.

Upon assessing the situation, it seems like the main villain has finally made his entry.