Chapter 22

“We have to tell the police,” AJ yelled. “We have to. They can get him! I bet. I know. This is our only chance. Kev…you do know that they aren’t gonna let us off free. We’re gonna hafta pay. One way or another…”

“AJ! I think five million is enough! Look at us! We look awful! We’ve put up with so much. We were all five nearly killed! I think they’ve done enough. We’ll just give them the money and get out with Brian. Then we’ll hand it over to the police,” Kevin argued.

“Ok…how are we supposed to get five million,” Howie asked. He was quiet through most of Kevin and AJ’s heated arguments, but he felt that he needed to speak up.

“Um…each of us can pull a million.”

“Okay. That’s fine. But…are we going to get the rest from Brian’s account? Dude…that’d mean we’d have to tell Leighanne! We can’t bring that poor girl into this,” Nick said.

“One of us can pull an extra million,” Kevin said. “I will.”

“Kevin,” AJ began. “Listen. We need to contact the police. Tell them.”

“AJ,” Kevin started softly. “You didn’t hear what Rob said. He threatened Brian’s life. We make one wrong move we could end up losing Brian forever. And I’m confident that we can do this and get out with Brian just fine. We’ll call the police as soon as we get out okay?”

“AJ…I agree with Kev. I mean…we don’t wanna do anything that might get Bri hurt,” Nick stated.

“Yeah,” AJ sighed, his tone sounding defeated. “I don’t want anything to happen to Brian either. I just…wanna make sure it all works out.”

“Guys. We’d better go clean out our bank accounts so we can get out there,” Howie interjected.

“Yeah,” they replied simultaneously and walked out.

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

After twenty minutes of walking, Charlie spotted something. Brian’s yellow shirt, sticking out. He appeared to be resting against a tree.

“Run!” Charlie growled and took off.

Brian’s eyed darted to the source of the noise. He got up immediately and ran. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He ignored the relentless pain and the sweat accumulating on his forehead and kept ahead. Not watching where he was going, he tripped and fell, knocking his head roughly on a rock.

“I’ll get him,” Craig barked, lifting Brian’s body off of the ground.

They hurried back to the car and threw Brian in the backseat and sped off.

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

“They’re lucky,” Rob growled to no one in particular. “What did you think you were doing,” he demanded to Brian. “Answer me!”

Brian just moaned. “M-my head.”

“YOUR HEAD! WELL MAYBE IF YOU WEREN’T SUCH AN IDIOT,” he shouted, making his own men grimace. He slapped Brian roughly in the face; Brian stumbled backwards and landed on the floor.

“GET UP! You’re lucky, kid. Yes, you are. If I didn’t need to do somethin’ with ya you’d be deader’n a doornail!”

Brian paid no attention. He was forced back into the large van. He tried not to think about where they were taking him. Hoping that they wouldn’t hurt his friends.

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

“Kev, the map says to turn right here…”

“Geez,” Nick started, disgusted. “This place looks and smells awful! There must be tons of gangs…Hurry Kev...it's a quarter till!”

“Yeah. I’m sure there are. We’ve got to get Bri and get out. Quick, or else we’re gonna get ourselves into some serious trouble.”

They arrived a few minutes later. About five minutes later, a van, which was different then the one they had to sit in, pulled up.

“Oh God…I hope he’s okay,” Howie murmured silently, his voice etched in utter terror.

“Me too,” they all agreed in unison.

Kevin was the first to step out. He looked livid, but then again, Rob always looked livid. Brian was forced out, he looked terrible, but they chose to ignore that, because all that mattered was that they had Brian back.

Brian slowly glanced up and a smile formed on his weary face. He was about to run over to Kevin when Jack held him back.

“Hand over the money first.”

“Fine.” Kevin approached Rob cautiously. His eyes still fixed on his cousin. He handed the bag, expecting something terrible to happen to one of his band mates. He was afraid that a gun would fire resulting in his or one of his friends’ lives. To his relieved surprise, Jack shoved Brian towards him, straight into Kevin’s arms.

They all heaved a deep breath of relief. They backed up slowly and one by one climbed into their van. Kevin took the front seat with A.J. Brian was put in the middle of the backseat with Nick and Howie.

They arrived at the hospital. Brian was placed on a stretcher and rushed into the emergency. He had fallen unconscious on the way to the hospital, so Kevin sped up a bit. They waited for about fifteen minutes before a doctor walked in.

"Hello," she said kindly.

"Brian...is he going to be okay," Nick inquired anxiously.

She smiled. "Yes Brian will be fine. He has a nasty concussion, but nothing that won't heal. He's resting now, if you wish to visit him. He's got quite a lot of bruises and sore muscles but a concussion was the only thing we could find that wasn't minor."

They ran down the hall, practically and smiled when they saw Brian. He was curled up on his bed. His eyes fluttered open when he heard his friends walk in.

"Hey Rok. How are ya," AJ smiled, lowering himself into a seat next to him.

"Fine. I thought I was gonna die. I got out...and—and they took me and brought me back. I ran away! I thought they were going to kill me. I couldn't believe it when I saw you guys."

"How'd you get out?"

"Jumped out the window."

"Ouch," Nick winced.

"Guys," Howie began a tremor in his soft voice. He smiled reassuringly. "It's over."