Chapter 14:
Phone Calls and Bad Dreams
It was the strangest dream. I was trapped in a
big hole in my own backyard and people where all around me calling my name,
trying to find me. Many voices I recognized but most I didn't. I screamed for
help over and over again only to fall on deaf ears. I try to climb out of the
crevice but it proved to be too big so I just fall back on my butt again and
again. The boys are within inches of finding me actually walking right next to
me but still. No luck...
"Yeah, well that's just fuckin great! I told you to go through that room
before ANYONE else had a chance.."
Joe's voice was echoing through my head. Maybe Joe could get me out of this
stinking hole. I look around for Joe but only hear murmurs and see bottoms of
shoes...
"So what now? Are you going over there?"
Joe! I try to scream but no sound comes out. I hear footfalls right beside my
head and realize it's pacing...
"Well, I've got my own problems here! He got out. Made it all the way up
to the room and saw the Galeed"
Galeed? Where did I hear that word before?
"No, he wouldn't listen I had to throw him against the wall...no Christ
calm down he is fine, just knocked him out!"
Joe? Can you hear me? help me Joe?
"Listen Trish, I gotta go he's waking up...yes I will....no and be careful
what you say! don't let them trick you into anything..okay..bye"
Joe? I scream jumping and trying to get out of the hole.
"Yeah Nick, I'm right here. You're gonna be okay" I felt a gentle
hand wiping my forehead with a cloth. I willed myself to open my eyes and there
was Joe sitting at the foot of my bed.
"Joe, what happened?" I tried to sit up but my right arm was stuck on
something. He pushed me back down on the bed.
"Easy there tiger, you hit your head. Just lie back and rest." I
closed my eyes trying to recall where I was and what had happened. No luck.
"Did a fan get me or something?" He looked down at me with surprise
evident in his eyes. I tried to move my arm over my face to block the light but
once again I had no luck.
"Why can't I move my arm Joe? Is it broken?" I tried again and that's
when I started to remember. Then a sense of sheer panic overtook me as I tried
with all my might to get away from the man I was sure was going to kill me. I
squirmed but he pulled me back down.
"Nick you are going to tire yourself out. Relax, you need to rest." I
looked over at my handcuffed right hand and wanted to cry. I jiggled it trying
to set myself loose.
"It's no use my young friend, you have to learn your lesson. Nick I have
been doing this for a long time. Did you REALLY think you were gonna be able to
get out of here?" I was part listening to him and part still trying to
break free.
"I mean, no one has EVER come close to escaping." I decided to rest a
minute when the dull throb coming from my head was threatening to make me fall
back to sleep.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked just so frustrated I almost
wanted to ask him to kill me now and get it over with. He pulled closer to me
and wiped my bangs out of my eyes.
"Because we love you Jacob"
"What did you just call me?" He quickly retreated back.
"I meant Nick sorry, you just look exactly like my little Jacob." He
had the same faraway look Trish got when she spoke of memories.
"So, is this what you did to Jacob? Throw him against a wall and chain him
to a bed?"
He slapped me. I flew backwards onto the pillow and shut my eyes. He
immediately grabbed me into a hug rubbing my back and crying.
"God Nick I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I'm so sorry. Please
forgive me please Mom and dad forgive me." As he rocked me I felt my body
shaking. I had always wondered what fear would really feel like. Now I knew.
Every single hair on your body stands up sending chills to every pore. A taste
of salty water runs through your mouth and your heart gets very tight in your
chest. A feeling of total panic drips it's way into your veins and you feel
your head wanting to explode.
That's how I felt anyway. He finally stopped rocking me and I dropped back down
on the pillow.
"Joe, can you unchain me please? I promise I won't run." He looked as
if he would do it when his phone rang. He turned away from me and picked it up.
"Hello? Yeah hi what is it now?... you what?" whatever the other
person was saying was not making Joe happy.
"Yes, I told you he is fine." My heart dropped realizing it was Trish
he was speaking with. He then turned back my way. I winced as his arm came
close to me. I think that made him feel bad. He handed the phone to me and I grabbed
it with my unchained hand.
"She wants to talk to you" I nodded.
"Hello?" there was a pause.
"Nicky? Sweet pea are you all right? He didn't hurt you too bad did
he?" He was staring at me intently.
"Uh..no I'm okay." He seemed to loosen up when I said that.
"Well, thank heavens. I was worried that he..well Nick just please don't
make him angry." Oh great now she tells me!
"Thanks, I figured" She laughed.
"When are you coming back here?" I asked her never thinking I would
want her company again.
"I'm not sure. I've run into some complications." That made me
excited. I couldn't show how pleased I was.
"Okay well hurry back soon."
"I will. You miss me baby?" Ah no but if I could choose between
psycho's I would pick you!
"Yes," I decided to say instead. I handed the phone back to Joe.
"See I told you he was fine" He said winking at me. I suddenly felt
violated.
"Yes, remember be cool over there Trish! don't blow it do you understand
me?" He tried to whisper that but I heard it loud and clear. He hung up
the phone placed it in his Jean pocket. That's probably where it was before.
I'll have to remember that for the next time.
"Okay kiddo, If you promise me you won't try to run anymore, I'll set you
free. Do you promise?" He looked at me with a stern Sunday school teacher
type of look.
"Yes, I promise" I lied
He came over and let me out of the handcuff that bound me to the bed. I grabbed
my wrist and immediately started to message it. It was bruised. Probably from
my struggling. He grabbed my wrist.
"Wow I told you not to struggle. you need to start listening to me
Nick" He walked over to my freezer and took out an ice pack. He came back
and placed it on my wrist.
"You asked me why you right?" He asked me. His eyes never leaving my
injured wrist.
"Trish and I spend a long time deciding who we are going to let into our
little family Nick. You should be honored" He really meant it. I was
supposed to be honored! God what a loony tunes!
"We saw you for the first time in 1997 on some interview. You could have
been Jacob's twin. You had the same mannerisms and everything. We knew than
that you would be next." He walked over to the dresser and took out an ace
bandage.
"We followed your every move and were delighted to see you were doing so
well. The more famous you became the less we thought it would be
possible." He was wrapping my wrist so gently I just for a second pictured
my dad. He looked up at me when he was done.
"Finished. Feel better?" I just nodded. He ruffled my hair and walked
back over to the dresser to put the tape away.
"Anyway, we had almost given up on you when It dawned on me that with
Trish's expertise, she would easily be able to penetrate the BSB camp."
"She was good. I liked her. Friendly and funny." He laughed.
"Yes, she certainly is. Then I was able to become a guard. Don't you see
kiddo? Fate brought us together. this was all meant to happen." He waited
for me to agree with him. When I didn't he continued.
"Destiny is a big thing Nick. You can't fight it. Everything happens for a
reason right? well, consider this your destiny." Just than the phone rang
again. He pulled it out of his pocket.
"Hello?" He sat up really straight and stiff as a board. A look of
panic on his face.
"Yes..um Hi how are you doing? you kind of caught me at a bad time"
He stood up and started to pace around the room.
"No..I mean not that I know of why do you ask?" He paused and glared
over at me.
"Threats? Oh goodness no AJ I think he would have told me that" He
sent another death glare my way.
Oh my God was he talking to AJ? My AJ? my heart started to race and I was full
of hope. This was it. he must have seen the look on my face because in two
steps he was right at my bed hand firmly planted on my mouth.
"Excuse me J could you hold on for a minute? thanks" He whispered in
my ear in such a low gruffy voice it sounded like Satan himself could be
speaking
"Listen carefully to me..If you so much utter one word. I will kill you
and then go and kill him." His grip was so tight it was hurting my jaw. I
started to shake again and was able to do nothing as he talked to my brother
with me only inches away. Like a bad dream...
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