Chapter
1:
Julia
I woke up to the sound of my own screaming! I sat up temporarily unaware of my surroundings.
This scenario was getting more and more familiar to me. The nightmares would
come all night long leaving me waking up in a cold sweat. My heart beating so
fast in my chest that I could barely breathe. I looked around the room only to
realize that my nightmare is actually reality. Come on Nick you can do this
breathe... breathe. I closed my eyes and took some long, deep breaths and
eventually I managed to calm myself down. This has unfortunately become a new
ritual for me ever since being kidnapped.
By the dim light shinning through the one window in my prison, I could tell
that the gray of day was beginning to show it's face. I stood up and stretched.
Picking up my journal to see where I had left off. My journal was quickly
becoming my new best friend. I found myself talking to it like it could
actually answer me. I even gave it a name, Julia.
I picked Julia up and read my entries from yesterday. I would never read what I
wrote until the next day. I wanted everything to read perfectly in the event
that someday someone might actually need it as a piece of evidence. I needed to
make sure that my story was told properly. I shuddered at that word. Evidence.
I only hope that someone came across the draw of evidence I left in my hotel
room. I'm glad I didn't take it with me. I almost didn't bring Julia along.
Thank goodness for second thoughts.
At the beginning of my tale, I was pretty sloppy with details and fragmented
thoughts. That was when I was new to this whole 'prisoner' thing. My journal reads
like part novel, part escape plan. I make sure I hide it every night just in
case they were to come down and see it. I knew they were aware I had it with
me. After all they were the ones who gave me Julia. Big mistake on their parts.
She was going to be my ticket out of this place. I was not going to end up like
poor Tye Buckman or any of the other guys they had killed before me. I may be a
little naive and at times stupid but I was not going to be a victim.
Every day I check off at least two things I want to find out about them. I
thought I knew them but apparently I was mistaken. Through those little
queries, I have already found out that Mizpah literally meant Watchpost.That
was why they had strategically placed that word in my drinking glass. It also
means May the Lord Watch us and keep us safe when we are apart one from the
other. It's actually nice when you think about it. It was a Bible quote which
means that maybe Brian would figure it out. Maybe he already has.
The guys... I wonder what they think about all of this. They obviously know.
They put out a huge reward for any info. They must be worried sick. My family
must be worried sick too. The worst part is that the enemy is still there.
Watching them and working for them. "They're really smart but they'll slip
up won't they Julia?" I kissed my journal and opened it up to see what my
assignment of the day was. I heard the door open and immediately threw Julia
under the bed and laid down as if I was just waking up.
"Good morning sweet pea!" she said carrying down a huge plate of
pancakes.
"Did you sleep well?" I sat
up and gave her a scowl.
"Don't call me that!" I said
to her. Scowl still firmly planted on my face.
"Aw, now why not honey? That's
always been my nickname for you! when are you gonna stop being so mad at me
huh?" She came and sat next to me on the bed and I had to try my best not
to just knock her on her ass. She began to lovingly rub my back. "Nick, I
know you're upset with us, but believe me, everything will work out for the best.
you'll see." I grabbed the plate from her and sat at the little table. She
went into my fridge and grabbed me a bottle of apple juice.
"So, if things are going to work
out, does that mean you guys are going to come to your senses and let me
go?" I asked before stuffing a wad of pancake in my mouth. I needed to
carbo load for strength. No starvation diets to prove a point here.
"No Nicky, you don't need to
leave us. Everything you need is right here." We are a family now, the
three of us. You'll see."
"Just like poor old Tye?" I
asked her. She started to cry. I have to remember to write that down I thought
as I continued, "Was Tye one of the family too? Is that how you treat
family Trish? you kill them when you're done with them?" She looked up at
me, wiping tears from her eyes.
"No, you're just being hurtful
because you are homesick. That's all."
"No, Trish, I am being hateful
because I am full of hate. For you and for him!"
She stood up to leave. "I can't
talk to you when you are like this, I'll be back down later."
She ran up the stairs locking the door
behind her.
AHHHH I have to learn how to control my damn temper! I said under my breath. I
quickly ran over to my bed and took out Julia. I jotted down what just happened
and the fact that she cried at the mention of Tye's name. I made that my goal
for today. Find out what kind of relationship she had with Tye, with all of
them before they got to me.
I then went over to the wall by my bathroom and scratched off another mark.
According to the marks on the wall I had been there for ten days. that leaves
me 354 more before I die....
***
