Chapter 14

Kevin blanched and lowered himself to the chair. “No…they can’t be!”

“The police are trying to trace the call. I got a phone call…it was terrible…”

“This can’t be happening,” Kevin moaned placing his head in his hands.

“Man, it’ll be okay, we’ll find a way out of this, everything will be fine.”

“Brian? Nick? Are they okay,” Kevin asked quickly. A trace of concern crossed his features as he made eye contact with Howie and AJ.

“They’re fine. I checked on them a little bit ago. They were asleep.”

Kevin nodded his head and stood up. “I’m gonna go check on ‘em again.”

When Kevin entered Brian’s room he was sound asleep, curled up on his bed. Kevin couldn’t help but smile. He then walked into Nick’s room. He was awake and watching TV.

“Hey Kev, everything okay?”

“No…actually Nick, it’s not.”

Nick looked at Kevin, the alarm evident in his eyes. His voice wavered slightly. “Oh God, Brian, Howie, AJ…are they alright?”

“Yeah, Nick everyone’s fine. Uh…Howie, he got a phone call a little bit earlier. The police are on it…but um…they think that Rob’s back to find us.

Nick went numb with fear. His mouth was agape and his hands trembled. “This…this can’t be happening! It’s not fair!” Nick yelled.

“I know Nick, but we’ll be fine. The police’ll catch them and we won’t have to worry about it anymore.”

“But…what if they get to us before that?”

Kevin sighed. Nick had voiced his worse fear. All of their worse fears. What if they got to them before the police did? “Nick I thought about that too—but we just gotta be optimistic. Hope and pray that the police will get them before they get us.”

Nick nodded, but couldn’t fight off the feeling. The incredible pain that gnawed relentlessly at his stomach.

“Nick are you gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, can I come see Howie with you?”

“Sure, lets go.”

They walked into the room. AJ still sat by Howie. “Hey Nick,” AJ said, trying his best to sound cheerful, hoping to ease the tension and fear.

Nick looked absolutely lost and terribly frightened. “Nick, man cool it. Don’t go freaking out on us okay? We are gonna be just fine, I promise.”

“I know…I’m just scared. What if something happens?”

“Someone should wake Bri and tell him.”

“We will. Don’t worry about that.”

“Can I tell him?”

“Well…I guess Nick if you really want to…” Kevin said softly.

Nick stood up using his left wrist for support, his left hand still not strong enough.

“Careful Nick.”

Nick said nothing and hobbled to Brian’s room.

He lowered himself down to the chair and gently shook Brian, in an attempt to wake him.

“What,” Brian mumbled incoherently.

Nick bit his lip and sucked in a deep breath. “Brian I need to tell you something.”

Brian quickly sobered, quickly becoming coherent, and opened his eyes. They immediately darted to Nick. “What--what’s going on?”

“Brian…Howie he got this phone call. He says that he knows it was Rob. That he can tell his voice from anyone’s. Anyway, he says that Rob said that—that he’s….he’s going to come back.”

Nick then glanced back down at Brian. He had paled the same shade as his white sheets and his eyes were wide and he could easily read the fear in them. He slowly digested everything that Nick had said. Brian’s breathing then began to become somewhat ragged and labored.

“Whoa, chill Rok chill. Everything is gonna be just fine. Relax.

“This-this…it can’t be happening it’s not fair to us. We’ve been through so much we deserve a break!”

“Brian, I know we don’t deserve this.”

“But…there’s nothing we can do about it now. We’ve just gotta stay optimistic and strong.”

Brian shut his eyes briefly. “I don’t feel well.” He said softly.

Nick sighed and ran his hand through his blond hair, not knowing what else to say. “Brian, please, please, don’t give up on us.”

Brian’s eyes remained shut, but he nodded slowly. “I won’t.”

“All right,” Nick said and carefully headed for the door. He gave one last glance at Brian before heading back. He was turned facing away from Nick. Nick sighed, suddenly even more afraid then he had been before.

The day went by quickly. Police came and went all through the day. Questioning them about what their captors looked like for the millionth time, they barely had any time to see their families or talk with each other.

Morning came and Howie stretched and yawned. He turned to his side, and whispered a brief prayer. Not sure if he could handle another one of those threatening phone calls. Those were what put a damper on everything. They had been so optimistic about their recoveries and plans, but it was all gone, and it would take a while for them to get through it. They now had to live with the fear that Rob was still out there to get them. That he hadn’t given up. Now, they had to look over their shoulders until Rob and his crew were found. But how long would it take? Howie shook is head, hoping to rid his mind of that thought. AJ appeared at the door seconds later, the terrified expression on his face was one that Howie would never forget.