Chapter 3
Craig came running out immediately. Once he took sight of the
situation, he knew exactly what to do. Running over he grabbed Brian roughly by
the arm. Knocking Brian out of the shocked state he was in. Brian winced as
pain shot up his arm.
Brian felt like throwing up. He had never felt so horrible. He was
hungry, tired, dizzy, nauseous, and his whole body was in pain. On top of all
of that he felt completely detached from the whole situation. His mind was too
fuzzy to comprehend anything but the pain.
Reality struck as he was being forced into the
basement. His vision was blurry but suddenly, he felt safe as he fell into a
pair of arms. Brian heard voices yelling his name. Comforting voices the voices
of his friends.
Nick gently took Brian into his arms bringing
him over to where A.J. was being laid down. He carefully lowered Brian to the
ground. Kevin was taking care of A.J. so Howie rushed to help Nick with Brian.
Howie grabbed one of the pillows they were given. He set it on the ground. Nick
then, as gentle as possible laid Brian down. Brian immediately shut his eyes
succumbing to oblivion.
Looking over at his cousin, and then to A.J.
Kevin became furious. “What did you do to them,” Kevin demanded sharply. His
voice not once wavering.
Jack looked at Kevin, surprised that he had the
courage to be so sharp. Especially since the two of them were so much larger
then him.
Kevin did not once tear his gaze from the two
men. His green eyes bore into Jack and Craig, waiting for a response.
“I guess they weren’t strong enough to take a
day of work,” Craig finally responded. His voice full of bitterness.
“You had these to out there for, God only knows
how long,” Kevin spat. “They were working outside for hours, obviously without
any water. You actually except them to be strong! You make me sick! So help me
God if they don’t pull through this, I’ll freakin’ kill all of you!”
Jack and Craig stared at Kevin shocked. Nick
and Howie too. Nick was silently pleading with God that they wouldn’t hurt
Kevin. Hoping he would just get away with a lecture or a threat. Nick knew deep
down inside they would have no such luck.
“Boy you just screwed up,” Jack yelled. “I hope
you do realize what’s going to happen to you! We’re taking you to the boss,
Rob! He’ll take care of you boy!”
Howie
and Nick stared at Kevin. They envied his courage when they saw no trace of
fear on his face. Howie truly did believe that he was more scared then Kevin.
“Please don’t,” Nick began. His voice
faltering. “Please he didn’t mean it! Kevin means so much to us like a brother.
Please don’t take him!”
“I’m touched, really I am,” Craig said the
sarcasm etched in his voice.
“Nick, it’s alright I’ll be okay, I promise.”
Kevin’s voice was so calm and collected.
Nick
almost believed him, almost. He had seen Rob. Rob was a large and bitter man.
The person behind it all. The man that wanted to see them dead.
Craig
pulled Kevin away from AJ’s side. “No one talks to us like that boy,” Craig
yelled. Jack walked over to Kevin and Craig grasping Kevin’s other arm.
As they
walked out of the basement, Kevin turned his head around and smiled at Howie
and Nick. Trying his best to somewhat make them feel better. He knew there was
no way he could. He was far more scared then they would ever know.
Howie
looked over at Nick. “It’ll be okay, have faith. Kevin’s strong he can take
care of himself.”
“No D. you saw how big those guys are!”
“Yeah Nick I know, but maybe just maybe they’ll
let Kevin off the hook. You know just as well as I do that they want to torture
make our lives miserable before they kill us. Hopefully we’ll have a plan
before they do.”
Nick
felt somewhat better. Maybe Howie was right.
“Yeah, Howie you’re right but how long can we
survive this? How long can Brian and A.J. survive this? Look at them! They look
like the living dead! They can’t, we can’t survive going through this day after
day! I mean did you see Brian when they brought him in there. He had not
freaking clue what was going on! A.J. was friggin’ unconscious!”
Howie looked
away. Nick was right he was one hundred percent right. Brian and A.J. couldn’t
survive another day of it. With no food and barely any water, they were bound
to die. It was inevitable. There was nothing they could do about it. Nothing at
all. They were going to have to sit around and watch people who were
practically their brother’s die. Unless they could find a way out of it but
that was pretty much impossible. The odds weren’t in their favor. Five, if not
more large men held them captive.
“I’m sorry Howie,” Nick said feeling bad.
“No Nick, your right.” We have to get out of
here.
“No man, we’ll never get out of here. These two
have no strength and they won’t for a while. I’m sure Kevin won’t have too much
strength to do to much of anything either. So it’s impossible to break out. We
are just going to have to take everything day by day.
“No Nick,” Howie began. “Maybe Brian and A.J.
are stronger then we think. They aren’t quitters. They aren’t going to give up
on us this soon Nicky, they can’t they won’t.
“I hope to God that you are right Howie. But I
have this feeling that everything isn’t going to be okay. That when we get out
of this, if we get out of this….”
“What Nick?”
“That maybe one of us won’t get out. That
someone will die,” Nick said solemnly.
“Nick don’t ever say that again!”
“D. I’m just thinking realistically!”
“You can’t be so negative Nick!”
Their
conversation was interrupted when A.J. began to stir.
“Hey Aje,” Nick said in a quiet voice. “Sorry
to wake you.”
“You didn’t,” A.J. moaned.
“So, how are you,” Howie asked, eyeing A.J.
thoroughly.
“Okay, I guess, considering what I’ve been
through.”
“Yeah A.J. we’re sorry,” Nick said silently,
not wanting to wake Brian.
“It’s not your-hey where’s Kevin?”
“Uh…um…” Nick began
“Spit it out Nick!”
“Okay, okay. They took him. He smarted off so
they took him.”
“Oh my God,” A.J. said taking it in.
“This can’t be happening.”
“A.J. it’ll be ok,” Howie reassured.”
AJ’s eyes filled with tears the thought of what
Kevin could be going through was horrible to even think about.
“Brian, is he alright,” A.J. asked his voice
failing him.
“Yeah, Brian will be ok,” Nick said wrapping
his arm around A.J.
“This way Kevin,” Jack ordered.
“Here we go.” Kevin walked into the room. His
voice void of any fear.
“Well, well, well Kevin,” Rob began “You are in
quite some trouble buddy!”