Keeping Hope (Broken Girl Series) (4 page)

“Here, guys.” I hand Ash the blanket and sweater. He wraps them snuggly around a lifeless Abbey.

“The ambulance is on its way. My fucking phone lost signal again. Do you think we should wait near the road? They might not be able to see us.”

“Good thinking, Cole. Help me up and I’ll walk with you.” I hold out my hand and pull Ash to his feet.

“You going to be okay staying here with Abbey, Jake?”

His hollow eyes stare at me blankly. He continues rocking back and forth. I kneel down beside him, grabbing the back of his head and pulling it into the crook of my neck.

My voice a soft spoken whisper as I lean into him, “Jake, she’ll be fine. I’m going to make sure we get help for her.”

I feel the moisture of his tears against my skin. I pull back, giving his neck a gentle squeeze before returning to an upright position. Jake’s head drops and his eyes close tightly.

Ash and I make our way toward the side of the road.

“Fuck, Cole. Jake is in a bad way. He’s shut down or something. Maybe from the shock. I hope to god this ambulance turns up soon. I’m not sure Abbey will make it much longer. She’s been unconscious for so long and her pulse is so weak.”

I exhale heavily. “Fuck, this is such a mess! We lost Ken, Ash. God only knows what’s going to happen to Abs and it’s my fault. Fuck, I’m to blame for this.”

“We were run off the road, Cole,” he screeches. “This was not your fault. In fact, I think you did pretty well driving while that bastard was battering at us. You couldn’t have done anymore.”

I turn and smile at him, inhaling sharply as I wince at the pain in my side. The sharp stabbing pain nearly takes my breath away.

“Fuck, you’re hurt, Cole.”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”

“But you’re clearly in pain.”

“Just bruising, nothing to complain about,” I dismiss. My eye catches a glimpse of flashing lights approaching. I eagerly step closer to the side of the road, waving my arms frantically, as much as the pain will allow.

Ash waves and jumps, screaming, “Over here! We are here!”

The ambulances and police car spot us and pull over. The paramedic jumps out racing toward us.

“Where are the casualties, son?”

“Follow me, just this way.” I lead them down the banking, toward Jake. He remains crouched on the ground with Abbey.

Within seconds they have Abbey on a gurney, working on her. Jake remains crouched on the ground. I use the discarded jacket to wrap around him.

“Jake, you really need to snap out of this,” I mutter, desperately trying to get Jake to say something, do something. I see another paramedic walking toward us with a foil blanket.

He addresses me, “I think we need to get him in the ambulance.”

I look at the medic, a little confused at his suggestion. “He’s just in shock,” I answer matter-of-fact.

“We need to get him to the hospital. You all need to get checked out.”

“What about Abbey?” croaks Jake. I whip my head to the side at the shock of finally hearing his gravelly voice. I never thought Jake would react this way in the mist of crisis. He’s closed down and is seriously struggling.

“My colleagues are working on your friend, but it is important we get her to the hospital as soon as we can. Come on, let’s get you guys in the ambulance.”

The paramedic leads us back up to the road. I wrap my arm around Jake’s huddled shoulders, helping him to the parked vehicle. I see Ash still standing beside the road, arms crossed, his trembling visible from here. The first ambulance pulls away, Abbey inside. The lights begin to flash and siren starts to blare.

“Let’s get you on a gurney, Jake,” the paramedic sweetly speaks to Jake, taking his hand and leading him into the back of the ambulance.

He lies down, bringing his knees up. The paramedic slips a mask over his head, positioning it against his mouth.

“We need you to take nice, deep, steady breaths now, Jake,” coos the young brunette paramedic. She sits us on the passenger chairs, advising us to belt up.

The driver closes the rear doors before setting off.

Kennedy

To my surprise I’m not in the basement, or one of the baron outbuildings. I look around. The room is familiar to me. It’s the small box-sized room next to Master’s suite. My hands remain tied and the door is bolted shut from the outside. There is a bucket in the corner of the room. It is clear I’m going to be here for a while. Thoughts of Cole and my life in Newport flood my mind. I try and focus on the positive memories of my recent experiences. I hold on to the hope that Cole and my friends will be looking for me.

Hope is all I have.

I will do whatever I need to do to survive, regardless of how humiliating, disgusting, or painful. I will do anything to get out of here, to protect my baby. For her I will do everything I can.

I search the room, looking for possible ways to escape. I know it is futile. There are wooden shutters on the outside of the window. The door is bolted. The only two means of escape are completely blocked.

I slump on the bed, thoughts of the unknown haunt me.

I can hear the faint cheers and raucous calls of “hallelujah” coming from the floor below. At least I’m spared from the falseness of the whole “let’s worship” bullshit.

It’s just a cover up, an excuse; a reason they use to justify their lifestyle, their sick desires to punish and brutally torture innocent human beings and other living creatures.

The noise below dispels and I hear voices and banging surrounding me. I sit upright on the bed, my knees brought up to my chest. My heart rate picks up to an accelerated speed. Footsteps thud, filling my ears as the noise increases. The door to the next room slams shut.

My shoulders drop as I exhale, trying to relax my nerves. I didn’t realize I had been holding my breath until just now. My head thuds, the unknown causing my fear to penetrate every thought I have.

With a sense of foreboding, I sit huddled…waiting.

Cole

Sitting in the waiting room of the unfamiliar hospital, I pull my cell phone out from my jeans pocket, but the damn thing has no battery left. I shove it back in my jeans. The movement causes the pain in my side to intensify. I wince, taking in a sharp breath.

When we arrived at the hospital, the doctors checked us all over. They provided me with pain medicine to help dull the ache, but I am still incredibly sore. At least I hadn’t broken anything.

Things are a very serious for Abbey. I haven’t heard shit about her, and Ash is frantic in his attempt to find out how she is. He’s been shouting at anyone he can to try and obtain answers on her status.

After his most recent tirade, he slams his body down beside me, letting out a huge sigh. “Dammit!” he growls. “Why won’t they tell me how she is?”

“You gotta give them time, Ash,” I say, resting my hand on his shoulder.

“Time? We’ve been here for fucking hours,” he sighs.

“Fuck, I feel bad about this whole god damn thing,” I huff out. The guilt is eating away at me like rotten flesh.

“Don’t torture yourself, Cole. It isn’t your fault. What did the police say to you? What about Kennedy? Do they think they’ll be able to find her? Do they have any idea where she has been taken to?” His questions tumble out so fast I struggle to keep up.

“Fuck! I don’t know, man. I told them everything I know. They said they would search for her, but what if those sick bastards do something to her before she’s found? I’ll never forgive myself, Ash. Fuck! If anything happens to her, I will kill all of those sick fuckers!” I shout, letting out every one of my emotions and frustrations.

“I know, Cole, but we have to remain positive that Kennedy will be okay. She managed to escape once. We have to believe that she can do it again. Belief and hope are all we have right now, Cole.”

“I do hope, more than anything, Ash. Kennedy is such a beautiful, kind, and caring person who does not deserve this. Who gives anyone the right to do this to her! To anyone!” I wrack my brain, trying to make sense of this, but I just can’t.

“It’s fucked up. That’s for sure, Cole.”

“I can’t imagine my life without her. I know I’ve been really shitty with the whole baby thing, but it was hard, ya know? Trying to work out whether I was that kind of man; one that could step up to the plate and be a father to this child. Before I even had chance to clear the air with her, she was gone. Snatched. And now I’ve lost her.” I drop my head to my hands, trying to keep my emotions in check.

“I know, man. Try to not beat yourself up about it! It won’t change what’s happened.”

“Ash,” shrieks a female voice from behind us.

We snap our heads round to see our parents walking through the door. His mom runs toward him, pulling him into a hug. I stand and walk to my mom who embraces me.

“Oh, Cole, you stupid boy. What on Earth were you thinking?”

“I tried to save her. Mom, I failed. I let Kennedy down. People were hurt in the process.”

Mom pulls back and grimaces at me. “Don’t say that, Cole. None of this is your fault. What you did was reckless and stupid, but you did it for all the right reasons. Your heart was in the right place.”

“Everything is such a mess, mom. Abbey…Kennedy…” I fall against my mom, needing to find comfort.

She grabs my shoulders, pulling me back so she can look me in the eye. “We will get who did this, Cole! I Promise you that. How is Abbey holding up?”

“They won’t tell us a thing. It’s been hours! And nothing! Ash has tried, but we just can’t get any answers from anyone.”

She squeezes the top of my arm before saying, “We will see about that!” My mom places a kiss to my cheek and storms toward the reception desk.

Kennedy

I sit waiting.

It was inevitable that, sooner or later, something was going to happen. He would try and hurt me in some sick way or another.

I hear the rattle of keys at the door. I sit up straight, readying myself for what is to come. The light streams into the dark room as Master enters. He carries a tray in his hands, walking toward me. The eerie calmness about his demeanor causes me to shudder.

“How is my angel?” he slurs, placing the tray on the floor near the door.

“Like you care,” I spit back.

“Life on the outside has untamed you, my child.”

“Untamed?” I huff. “No, but it did teach me a lot about the evil, sadistic life I was subjected to here. It taught me there are better people on this Earth than those I have had the unfortunate luck of living with for the last sixteen or so years,” I say calmly, but with assertiveness in my voice.

“Well, angel, you sure have a lot to say for yourself. Why is that?”

“I’m not scared of you any more, Christopher.”

“It’s Master to you! Don’t forget that,” he growls, pulling my legs from underneath me. His harsh movement causes me to fall back on the bed.

I look him dead in the eyes, lowering my voice, “You’re not my Master anymore. You never will be again,” I growl. I grit my teeth together, as I glare at him, my eyes never wavering.

He leans over, closing the space between us. His foul breath blows against my cheek. “It’s been a while, my angel. I’m desperate to taste all of your loveliness.” His hand runs down the side of my face and over my shoulder, as he works toward my waist. He uses his whole body weight, leaning on me in an attempt to pin me to the bed.

I wriggle furiously, trying to escape his hold.

“Why do you fight this, Kennedy? You know this is your destiny, to be here with me. Come on, just a little taste. The more of a fight you put up, the more I will hurt you and the baby.”

“Don’t you dare bring my baby in to this!” I scream.

“This is my baby too, angel. You can keep fighting this, but we are meant to be. You need to open your mind and start to enjoy the experience of being loved.”

I laugh. “Love,” I huff loudly. “You think what you did to me was love?”