Amber Alert (Amber Alert Series Book 1) (6 page)

Chapter 6

Garrett helped me out of bed as he tried to help me get through tonight. He told me everything he found out from the other girls, but right now my head was spinning so fast I couldn't retain the information. It all seemed like I was watching someone else’s life. It felt as if I was disconnected from myself.

He led me toward the stairs and nodded his head to tell me to go. I couldn't hide upstairs or that would just make Steve angrier, and Garrett said that was something I didn't want to happen. I slowly made my way downstairs, each step caused a stair to creak under my weight and gave me a new sense of the word fear. I was constantly looking back at Garrett, hoping he would somehow be able to stop this.

Of course, I knew he couldn't, no matter how badly he wanted to. All he could do was offer me a timid smile and hope that it gave me a sense of comfort, but I knew it was fake, a sham to fill me with false hope. Tonight will easily be the worst night of my life, I thought, with tears in my eyes.

"It will be fine..." he whispered softly to avoid alarming Steve to his prohibited actions. It wasn't going to be fine, so why was lying to me? He knew this was going to be horrible, but he just stood there and forced me to follow the directions, but what other choice did we have?

My heart was beating so fast as I descended down the stairs that it felt like it would burst out of my chest any second. The sensation gave me a curious thought, though; which would be worse, dying or living through this insanity? I'm not exactly sure how to feel about the choices, neither is particularly great, but those were the only two I had. I didn't see escape as an option, unless Steve died suddenly.

That thought brought a smile to my face, but when I turned the corner to go into the kitchen, I caught glimpse of a candle lit dinner with rose petals all over the ground and the smell of a pasta dinner. That certainly wasn’t chicken soup for my sick stomach.

"Kelly, come here. It's time for our dinner." He pulled out a chair for me to sit at the table. There was an odd smile on his face. It didn't seem menacing, but something about it sent chills up my spine.

I took a tentative step forward. Steve's demeanor had changed, and it was nerve-wracking. How was I supposed to act when he was like this? What was the safest route for me to take? If I did something wrong, he would go hysterical and beat me like he had done with Garrett, or I would be let off easy since he seemed happy. I felt my stomach clench, I was in uncharted territory and I was going to have the worst night because of it.

"That's it Kelly, come on, I'm not going to hurt you. It's time for dinner."

"Shouldn't I take Garrett his dinner?" I asked in a meek voice, jabbing my thumb behind me to indicate where I was hoping to go. I just wanted an excuse to run back upstairs and lock myself in the cement room away from him. I didn't even think about the fact he would eventually come looking for me and I wouldn’t be safe from him in this house.

"No, I'll take care of him," Steve said as he leaned over the table to put the plates down before walking over to me. I held my ground, afraid to make him angry again, but it only encouraged him. He planted a few light kisses on my cheek and then a few down my neck, making my skin crawl with distaste.

I stood in fear as his footsteps walked up the stairs toward Garrett. He was going to lock Garrett away so he couldn't come help me. I needed to hide, but there was nowhere to hide except Garrett's hiding spot. The only problem was that I couldn't remember where it was. I heard a loud thud from upstairs, as if something fell to the ground and then footsteps. How did I get into this mess? Out of all the girls, out of all the playgrounds! Why me? Why did he have to pick me?

"Kelly?" Steve called as he walked back down the stairs to meet me again.

"Yes?" I answered to the pseudo name as I acted, as if I had been waiting for him at the table the entire time. I plastered a fake smile onto my lips as he put his hand on my shoulder and started to kiss my neck again.

"Eat now," he said as he pushed himself away from me and sat down across the table. His eyes focused on me with a smile, but that soon disappeared as I saw a glint of anger come into his eyes. I instantly looked down at the food in front of me and picked at it with the fork he had given me.

"Kelly, you have to eat," he said as he slurped up the pasta from his fork.

I just kept aimlessly playing with the food. I almost didn't even hear him until he growled at me to get my attention. "I'm not hungry. I don't feel well," I said quickly, remembering what Garrett had told me about him taking it easy on girls when they were sick. I could only hope that he was right and he wasn't just tricking me.
I swear Garrett, I better not be some sick game to you too or I'll find a way to get even.

"You're not hungry?"

"No." I shook my head as I pushed the plate away. It smelled delicious, just how my mom used to make it, but I had been so sick today that I couldn't bear the thought of having to taste it twice. I knew it wouldn't taste as good the second time around, or look as good.

"Then I'll save it for you tomorrow and we can move on with the night." he said as he finished his plate and took mine away from me.

He swept his fingers over my cheek as he took my plate away and went to wrap it up so I could eat it later. I swallowed so hard I thought he could hear me from how he glanced back at me afterward. There was a steady stream of anger surging through his eyes that sent my stomach into a frenzy of fear.

"You don't seem pleased about this," he said quietly as he put my food in the refrigerator and glanced back at me.

I didn't answer him. I wasn't sure how or what he meant by the statement. What was I supposed to be pleased by? I certainly wasn't pleased with the fact that he had taken me. Why did he want me? What did I do wrong?

"Kelly! Answer me!" He yelled so loudly I jumped out of my skin slightly and pushed the chair back in fear.

I was too scared to answer. I knew if I said nothing it was wrong, but saying the wrong thing would be worse. What would be the right thing to say? My parents always taught me, honesty is the best policy, but in this situation I wasn’t sure they were right anymore.

"I just don't feel well, so I don't want to eat and get sick again later," I explained, hoping that would please him and his anger would subside slightly.

"I understand, sweetheart. We can skip the rest of dinner and dessert then. I don't want you to get sick again, come on,” he said sweetly as he gripped my arm and forcibly yanked me from my chair. I lost my balance when I saw we were heading for the downstairs bedroom.

"Wait I'm hungry now!" I said so loudly I almost yelled it. I was terrified of what would happen in that room and would do anything to stay out of the room for as long as possible. Forever was my goal, but I knew in the back of my mind that eventually I would end up in there once.

"Too late for that," he growled as he dragged me into the master bedroom. This had to be the most filled room in the house. 

There was a king size bed with white sheets and a rose petal heart in the center of the bed.  A sheer white canopy cascaded over the bed and provided minimal light with the string lights that were wrapped around the bedposts. The rest of the rose petals were scattered over the room and accompanied by more candles that were meant to set the scene for a romantic night.

"Just like our honeymoon, right Kelly?" he asked as he sealed the door behind us. 

I heard a loud click as the lock slid into place and trapped me alone with him in this room. I felt dread wash over me and it only got worse when he stepped behind me and placed his hands on my hips. He pulled me into his body and held me tightly against him, so tightly I could feel something hard pushing against my butt.

"Yeah, it is exactly like our honeymoon," I guessed, unsure of what he was referring to. Didn't he realize I wasn't Kelly? Didn't he understand that Garrett's mom was dead and that I wasn't her? Why was he so focused on recreating his life with others if Kelly was who he wanted? Why did he do this to those girls and me?

"I knew you'd love it, Kelly. You always loved that little resort where we had our honeymoon," he said with a pleased sigh as his hands started to roam over my body.

He continued to press himself into me as he explored my body with his hands. When I started to struggle under his touch he got more forceful with me. I heard him chuckle slightly the more I tried to resist. It was like he enjoyed it when I fought against him or found encouragement from it. He simply held me tighter to him and started to pick up the pace.

He started planting kisses along my jaw line.

"Please. Don't. Stop!" I cried.

"Don't worry, my love. I will wait as long as I can handle it."

His attempts to pleasure me were failing, but they were working wonders for him. He was as stiff as a board against my butt. After a while, I felt his hands travel up to my stomach and stop on the button of my shorts.

"I can't wait any longer, Kelly," he said in a husky voice filled to the brim with lust.

***

It felt like it went on forever before he was finally done with me. The pain stayed behind in full force after he left. It was permanently scarring me with the reminder of what just happened. Tears slid down my cheeks and I curled into a ball, trying to comfort myself, even though I knew it was useless.

"Thank you, Kelly. I hope you enjoyed it like I did,” he beamed in pleasure as he pulled his boxers back on.

I didn't love it. I hated it. I felt weak, used up like a piece of trash. I even felt the heated rush as my blood escaped and leaked out on to the white sheets; the sheets would be ruined like I was. I didn't want to move. Even if I could work through the pain, I had nowhere to go since the door was still locked.

"Once you get comfortable in the home again, we can continue. That will mean staying with me down here," he said with a lustful smile and a deliberately slow lick of his lips, excited for that to happen.

When I didn't answer, he ran his hands over my body again. Both hands were wandering in different directions. I was so tired and disgusted with myself that I couldn't even move and try to keep his hands away, but I also knew it wouldn't make a difference.

He pulled his hand away from my legs with a grimace on his face. There was blood dripping from his hands. I hoped that would stop him. I hoped he would send me to my concrete room with no windows, let me live in seclusion and humiliation. I'm not sure why he was disgusted; it was his fault I was bleeding anyway. At least the bleeding wasn't as bad as I felt it was, but it was bleeding profusely by the look of it.

His expression changed and he gave me a soft smile. It was as if the blood emotionally touched him. He again started to trace my body with his hands again. I felt sick as I saw a twisted smile curl onto his lips as a thought came to him. I knew instantly I wouldn't like the idea he had thought of, I didn't even want to hear it. I knew there was no way to stop him when I wasn't weak, I had no hope of fighting him off now.

"You'll get used to it. Then it will feel good," he promised as he lightly ran his fingers down my cheek. I swallowed the puke I was about to hurl up as I heard him whisper, "Welcome home, Kelly."

I screamed until my throat burned and didn't stop until he was finished with me.

Chapter 7

I woke up and felt slightly better now that the pain had subsided. Of course, every time I moved my body cried out and writhed in pain. What made it worse was that I really had to go to the bathroom and it hurt to move. I had spent so much time in the bathroom during the beginning of my capture that I liked it better than the bedroom.

I had been locked in the room for a few days now. Steve had left me alone, he was trying to be the 'understanding and caring husband' that he claimed to be. He had Garrett bring my meals and then he'd leave right away. In fact, Garrett was the only person I interacted with after my "welcome home.” But I didn’t want to face Garrett. I was ashamed and in pain. Steve had gotten angry with me because I couldn't force myself to say that I enjoyed it. He pulled me up the stairs as I left a trail of blood and tossed me on the bed to let me cry myself to sleep.

Garrett had taken excellent care of me during the past few days. Each time I made sure to look like I was asleep so he wouldn't ask me how I felt or try to talk to me. He brought me some of his clothes to dress in and placed food and water for me by the side of my bed each day. 

Garrett walked in earlier than expected today. I was sitting up wide-awake and caught off guard by the sudden presence in the room. There were clothes folded neatly in his hands, and as he laid them onto the bed he handed me a paper flower. The small gesture touched my heart. I took the flower gently in my hands and watched him as he rubbed the back of his head uncomfortably.

"Can you get up or do you need help?" he asked with worry in his eyes.

"Not really. It hurts to move, even in my sleep.”

"Can you move?" His voice was shaky and his bottom lip trembled slightly. His face was a mix of green and red, like he was about to throw up all over me and burst from anger.

"I would prefer not to. It hurts, and I just don't want to move unless I have to." I repeated. Did he miss me saying it the first time he asked?

"I'm sor-" he started, but I held my hand up to stop his apology.

"Please, don't start. I can't handle it," I pleaded. Tears trickled down my face even though I was biting my lip so hard that it could bleed.

"Right, well, I brought you clothes to wear when you can move around." He stumbled through his words uncomfortably. He placed the clothes on the bottom of the bed and stood back for me to make the first move. I hadn't changed my clothes since I had been brought here. The clothes Garrett brought me looked worn, the jeans were frayed on the bottom, had holes in the knees, and the long sleeve shirt looked like it had blood on it.

"Are those blood stains?"

"I don't know, but I wouldn't count it out," Garrett stated with an awkward chuckle.

I just watched him as silence made the room feel uncomfortable. He stood blushing the entire time as he looked at me and then quickly looked away. He wouldn't even look me in the eye, which really irritated me. I had already lost my dignity and freedom, now it was just painful to watch him being unable to meet my eyes.

"I got news that might make you feel better," he stated, sitting on the bed next to me.

"Really?" I asked, with a burst of hope that could have killed me by the intensity of it.

"Metaphorically, of course," he added sadly.

"Right, go ahead," I sneered. How could he do that to me? He got my hopes up and then proceeded to crush them in the same second. Sure he sounded sad, but I was starting to see it could all be an act. Why else would he show me such kindness in this prison?

"Dad has decided to leave you alone for a while," Garrett said with a forced smile, as if he was unsure how I would take the news, but was trying to improve my mood.

"Whoop-ie," I sneered, my voice was heavy with sarcasm and anger was lacing my every word.

"Hey, normally by now you'd be with him every night," Garrett snapped, clearly unhappy with my reaction.

I shuddered at the thought of being forced to be with Steve every night. Every grotesque image of what he did to me flashed into my mind and made me start shaking. The sound of clothes being ripped, his weight on top of me, his hands on my body, it all made me feel sick.

"Why is your father like this? Has he always been like this?" I blurted out, finally forcing myself to ask the one question I was dying to know.

"I don't really understand all of it, so I don't know how well I can explain it to you," Garrett said, as he pleaded with his eyes to ask me to let it drop. It looked like it was hurting him to think of ways to answer my questions. He had learned by now he was going to have to tell me, but he was so closed off that he didn't know how to.

He spoke only when he had to, and he never showed emotion. It was like he was afraid to show any kind of feeling, but he was really caring and that was unusual in this house. Garrett sighed, accepting defeat.

"Well, according to my mom, it started before I was here. They had a child die during childbirth. Plain and simple, it crushed my mother. She was devastated, and spiraled for a long time, but they didn't give up. They tried again and had me. For a while mom was happy, but it wasn't what she wanted anymore. She fell out of love with Dad." Garrett ran his hands through his short brown hair, causing it to stand up on end.

"Someone was actually in love with him at one point?" I asked in disbelief. It was too hard to believe. Who could possibly love Steve?

"Oh, yeah. They were high school sweethearts, and had the love of a lifetime according to my mother. He was the perfect boyfriend and an even better husband. He loved her like she had never seen anyone love another person. She knew that their love would never fade, so when he proposed to her after college all she could think was 'about time'!"

"That sounds so nice." I sighed with longing for a love like that, but I had a strong feeling it would never happen for me. Even my love with Andy wasn't that strong; it was nice and filled with happiness, but I never saw our love like Kelly described hers to Garrett. I'd die in this house before I could even experience it.

"She told me it was the most amazing feeling in the world and that I would know when someone was meant for me," he said, staring into my eyes with an emotion I couldn't read. Garrett blinked it away and then continued.

"When I was old enough to understand this wasn't a normal household, my mom took me aside while Dad was at work one day. She explained that we were prisoners in this house and that we had to escape. He wouldn't let her leave anymore because he was afraid she wouldn't come back, and he couldn't handle that. She said that his world would come crashing down if she ever left him, but she had to. She had to get out so she could get me help, so I could have a normal life." Garrett slapped his hand over his mouth as a pained expression pierced his handsome face. The memories hurt him, but I needed to know the truth. I had to push the topic or I may not get another chance.

"Did she run away?"

"Yes, she did," Garrett sobbed. His chest heaved, and he was biting his lip to prevent himself from crying more. "She escaped and she was right. His world shattered. He chased after her and lost control. When he came back and she didn't, I knew he killed her. He was covered in blood, of course he said it was mud to cover it up, but I knew. She warned me what he was capable of, what he would do to keep the life he had created. She knew and tried to help me, but she failed. Now he looks for girls who look like her to relive his life from where they left off."

I glanced at the pictures of the girls on the wall. Kelly must have been the first one, she was the only one not tied to a chair. She was on the ground, auburn hair covering her face slightly, but you could see the fear in her green eyes. Her complexion was pale, probably from the lack of sunlight that entered the house and not being able to go outside.

Although, as I compared Kelly's photo to the other girls' photos, there were many who looked similar to Kelly, but I was almost a dead ringer. My hair was darker and my eyes were blue, but we looked alike, there was no mistaking that.

I looked at Garrett, he had tears building up in his eyes. He missed his mother—she tried to save him and now he tried to protect the girls, but eventually they would die. They had nothing to fight for except freedom, and even that wasn't enough.

"Why did you tell me to be sick?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

"Normally he leaves girls alone when they are sick." His voice faltered. "Well, he didn't," I said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. The second it came out of my mouth I realized it had been the wrong choice to make.

"I can see that! I could hear the screams! You think I meant for him to do that to you?" Garrett yelled, suddenly standing up from his seat on the bed. The abrupt movement tumbled me to the ground. My body cried out in pain, and anger rose in me.

"I don't know! I did what you said and look what happened!" I yelled.

"I was trying to avoid this! It's not my fault!"

"Then whose is it?"

"Yours!" he screamed, pointing his finger at me. He almost poked me in the eye, but the real issue was that he was blaming me for being here. How was it my fault?

"How so?" I spat back as I forced myself up. Pain shot through me, sending every inch of my body into searing pain. I was inches from his face, waiting for an explanation.

"You shouldn't have been somewhere he could take you! Why were you alone?"

"I wasn't alone! I was on a playground! Where your dad shot a man and killed Andy..." I said, as tears sprang from my eyes at the memory. Andy’s eyes suddenly turned dark, the sign of death as he fell onto the ground. Blood pooled from his chest and started to spread around his cooling body. The fear, the screams, and the blood, those things would never leave my memory.

"Anna?" Garrett questioned. "Anna! Please say something!" Garrett cried as his eyes filled with worry and fear.

When I didn't answer, I saw him lean forward and felt his lips lightly touch mine. I tensed, but then I felt at peace. I felt his hands wrap protectively around my body and pull me toward him. I let myself melt into him as the butterflies in my stomach took off again. A sigh escaped my lips before I returned the kiss. I felt at once safe, and in a state of bliss until Andy's dead body flashed in my mind.

"No! Don't you dare touch me! Don't ever touch me! How dare you blame this on me! How dare you even suggest that!" I screamed, pushing Garrett, and the comfort, away from me.

But I couldn’t stop myself, I took a step forward to kiss him again.

Garrett stepped back and said, "All of the girls were easy targets! Alone, sometimes at night, and typically in deserted places. How the hell was I supposed to know?" 

"You ask! I'm not like every girl!" I retorted, insulted by his accusation that I was just another girl. Didn't he feel the passion of that kiss or had I made it up? Maybe he was used to it after his time with the previous girl.

"I can tell, because most girls wouldn't end up here! Isn't that right 
mommy?
" Garrett sneered in anger. He knew what buttons to push and hit them all in a row.

I extended my arm and slammed my hand onto his cheek with a loud smack. I had to shake my hand to relieve the stinging sensation but I couldn't shake the anger off Garrett's face.

"Ouch!" he yelled clutching his cheek as he glared daggers into my eyes.

"I'm not your mother! Don't ever call me that again!" I yelled at him, stepping toward him in case I had to hit him again.

"Or what? What are you going to do? Send me to my room?" Garrett questioned, holding his face in both hands in feign horror.

"Get out Garrett! I never want to see you ever again!" I screamed as I started to shove him out of my room.

"That might be kind of hard 
mom—
since we live in the same house!" he yelled as he walked out of the room. He stopped outside the threshold of the door and turned to glare at me again. I could tell he was about to say something, so before he could I slammed the door in his face.

"Not if I have anything to say about it..." I muttered over the door’s violent slam. "If I have anything to say about it, I'm getting out of here—one way or another, dead or alive."