Chapter 79
Third Person
Clara looks around the room, hyperventilating as the realization sets in that she is actually in danger. She tries her best to listen to Stella, who guides her from down the hall on what to see and look out for. Clara does not even question why Stella knows what to look for, simply doing as she is told instead of fighting back like she usually does.
“I…I see a light and a few wooden crates,” Clara chokes the words out. “I can’t move, Stella, I’m really scared!”
The floor below is loud and vibrant. The man who kidnapped them play music so their voices and cries for help won’t be heard from anyone who just so happens to pass by.
“Everything will be okay, Clara, we just have to remain calm, okay?” Stella’s voice echoes down the hall and into Clara’s room.
The blonde nods and lets out a shaky sigh. She looks around some more and continues to call out what she sees to Stella, the most noteworthy item being a bent piece of sharp metal that pokes out from the top of the table that sits nearby.
Just as Clara is about to call out to Stella, to tell her that she is going to try her best to get to the piece of shrapnel, one of the masked men from before enters her room. He kicks the door in and Clara lets out a loud shriek.
“Leave me alone! Please! I can give you whatever it is you want! Money, jewelry, clothes, connections…anything!” Clara cries out from the top of her lungs.
The man ignores her. He brings in a chair and places it in front of the woman, sitting down with his legs spread open. Clara shakes in her chair, unable to control her breathing.
“We need you to make a call to a friend we have in common…Adrian,” the man speaks.
Clara’s heart plummets in her chest. Adrian is the reason why she — and Stella — are in this mess.
The masked man pulls out a phone, his fingers and knuckles tattooed with skulls, lightnings bolts, and bullets. Clara trembles at the sight. He reaches out and holds the phone beside her face, tilting his head to the side.
The man pulls out a gun in his other hand and presses the muzzle into Clara’s knee. She weeps and shakes her head, her blue eyes meeting his.
“I’m going to call Adrian now and you are going to tell him a simple message, okay?” the man pauses. Clara slowly nods and her breathing slightly calms down. “Remember this: Adrian, this is Clara. I am being held at 2953 Rio Bravo Avenue in the old warehouse. Men are holding me and Stella hostage. If you do not agree to end your new project, then they will kill us.”
Clara’s eyes widen as soon as the man says the word ‘kill’. She begins to thrash around in the confines of her ropes and chair but is quickly stilled when the man presses the gun into her stomach.
“Be good for us, Clara, we really do not want to hurt you,” the man says, his voice unfaltering or unwavering. He is abnormally calm in a situation like this. Clara can only assume that he does this for a living.
The man presses the number on the screen. The dial tone of the call begins to ring out between them, each and every sound hanging in the air, ready to snap at any given moment and put Clara out of her misery.
“Hello?” Adrian’s voice buzzes over the line. “Who is this? Why are you calling me at this hour?”
Clara’s eyes move to the man. He nods and presses the gun further into her stomach.
“Adrian? It’s me…Clara,” she begins.
“Clara? Is everything okay?” Adrian asks, concern laced in his voice.
“I am being held at 2953 Rio Bravo Avenue in the old warehouse. Men are holding me…” Clara’s voice falters. She swallows the lump in her throat and looks away towards the sound where Stella’s voice once came through.
Should she save her sister? Or should she let her rot for everything that she has done to her. After all, it is Stella that Clara blames for ruining her life.
“…they are holding me hostage. If you do not agree to end your new project, then they will kill me.”
“Clara?! What are you talking about—”
“Adrian, please! Please come get me! I am so scared right now and,” Clara chokes the words out, her sobs overtaking her body as her voice cracks beyond belief, “and I just want to go home.”
The other end of the line is silent. Clara’s heart pounds inside of her chest. She closes her eyes as tears continue to roll down her cheeks.
“Okay. I…I’ll be there soon. Hang on for me, okay?” Adrian asks.
Before Clara can respond, the man hangs the phone up. He stands from the chair and lets out a sadistic chuckle.
“That was cold, forgetting to mention the other woman,” he notes. “Did she do something to you?”
Clara doesn’t respond.
“Suit yourself. We heard you talking so you better remember her last words,” the man comments. Clara’s eyes widen just for a brief moment before closing. “Open.”
The man taps her chin. She obeys his command. The man shoves a gag into her mouth.
The guilt begins to eat away at her soul once the door closes, but she quickly rationalizes her actions by saying that it is karma at work for what is in store for Stella.
She waits in silence as her foster sister calls out her name, asking her if she is okay from down the hall. When Clara doesn’t respond, Stella soon goes silent herself, giving up hope that her sister will be there to help her before she is gagged herself.
An hour passes. Clara’s head hangs low as sleep begins to overtake her body. The door to her room is pushed open and her head snaps up, eyes meeting a familiar green pair.
“Adrian?” Clara whispers into the darkness.
“Shh,” he hushes her, dropping to his knees from behind, beginning to untangle the ropes, “you have to be quiet. They don’t know that I am here.”
Clara nods. Her wrists are soon freed, feeling sore from the rope, and she stands to her feet, flinging her arms around Adrian’s neck. He pulls her close before drawing away, taking her hand.
“Come on,” he whispers, “let’s get out of here.”
They exit the room, their hands connected and fingers laced together, as Adrian begins to guide them down the hallway. He retraces his steps while Clara looks around the hall, taking in her surroundings.
They head in the direction of Stella’s voice. Clara’s body runs cold, a small and very sadistic smirk spreading across her lips. She adjusts herself to be on the side of Stella’s room.
She looks into the doors of the rooms they pass by, ready to see Stella’s face. When she does, all she can do is smirk and point to Adrian, whose blonde hair is easily seen through the floodlights of the warehouse.
Stella’s eyes widen as Clara blows her a kiss goodbye, waving her fingers before she disappears into the darkness.
