Captive - Onyx martin (ebook offline reader txt) 📗

and rummaged through each drawer.
Louis came to me and grabbed me by the arm so tight it hurt, “You’re coming with me.”
But at once his blood sprayed all over me, and his body fell limp to the floor. Nick casually returned the gun to its drawer and held me.
“It’s over now. Just us and nobody else to ruin it.”
He returned to sucking on my neck but I was too numb and dead inside to feel anything but bitter hatred.

Chapter 16

Chapter 16
2 days later

“I’ll see you later, right? I’m taking you to dinner afterwards. I have a surprise for you.”
I smiled up at him and let him wrap his arms around me and kiss me. I returned it, much more passionately than ever before.
Once Nick left for the stage, I took his car keys, went out the side door and found the car. I popped open the trunk and grabbed a small blue backpack I’d put in while Nick was asleep. I closed the trunk and returned backstage.
I was finally leaving. Finally going home. I told myself I wouldn’t miss Him. Or any of them. They’d stolen me away from my family, beat me, raped me. I knew Nick would be hurt, if he actually cared like he said he did. Sometimes I was convinced he only did this to make up for kidnapping me.
I was breaking all my promises to Him, doing this. But it’s not like he hasn’t broken any either. I wanted… needed this. To go home where I belong. To be in Louis’s arms again and love him. Nick took him away from me. Took everyone I cared about away from me.
20 minutes into the concert, it was time. I took my bag and went down the side steps that led down to the crowd. At least it was dark so nobody would see me. But if even if it was bright, they’d all be paying their attention to Nick and the band anyways.
I ran into the frantic, screaming crowd and followed along the side wall, towards the fountain where we’d agreed to meet.

Fine. I’ll help you.
But only because I care about you.
I’ve looked up a map of this place.
I’m guessing he’ll keep you backstage?
Try to sneak out a side door or something.
Some way that won’t cause commotion.
There’s a fountain, a big on, near the entrance.
Meet me there.

I found it. There was a large statue of a dolphin spitting water into a large pool. Beside it stood an oddly familiar face. Except his hair was cut short and he was toned and muscular.
“Louis!” My heart pounded in my throat. I couldn’t believe he was actually here. I never thought I’d ever get the chance to be with him again.
I held my arms out for a hug, but he turned away, “Let’s get out of here.”
I followed, realization hitting me about which song Nick was singing hitting me as my heart fell a little.

♫ If you only saw yourself the way I see you ♫

“Axel, come on!” Louis shouted. I turned to take a last glance at Nick, but he was already looking right my way. We made eye contact. A thousand words, a thousand emotions seemed to pass through in that tiny little stare. He knew.

♫ You’d realize how much I truly love you ♫

He gave me the slightest nod of understanding, a nod that nobody but I would catch. He turned away.
That was his way of letting me go. Telling me it was alright. He understood what I had to do.

♫ But if we ever had to say goodbye
I’d let you go
happy with the thought
That you once belonged to me ♫

I turned and ran, following Louis to the entrance doors. We made our way out the lobby, ignoring the security guards’ warnings, “Go out and you won’t be able to come back in!”
We stepped into the outside. It was warm, but with a chilly breeze. The sky and clouds were several shades of pinks, purples and reds with the sunset. I took a deep breath. I was free. No more hiding. No more sneaking.
“Axel!” A pair of arms pulled me in and I was crushed against a body.
“Oh, my God, I missed you!” I felt her tears soak the shoulder of my shirt. Her voice was so soothing yet painful. It’d been far too long.
“I missed you too Mom…” I struggled not to cry.
Louis kept off to the side, watching us with folded arms. His eyes were cold, face emotionless. Did he even care? Did he care that was back? Did he care that I’d been kidnapped?
“Come on, guys. Got places to be.” He sighed, getting into the passenger side of the car.
Mom finally let me go, smiled at me and slipped into the driver’s seat. I took my place in the back. She started the car and we pulled away, out of the parking lot.
Just before it left my sight, I stole one last look behind us. The sign read, in big bold letters,

Contagious
Tonight at 7 o’clock!

Beside it was a picture of the band. Ben, Tanner and Stones with their arms folded, standing around Nick, who leaned against the wall behind him. His face looked tired and worn, hands shoved into the pockets of his black jeans.
Then it was gone. Forever.
I would never see these faces in person again. Never feel his embrace, nor his kiss. I would never see that beach house again. Would never spend another night in the bed of which he’d taken my virginity.
This was it.

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

It was faint at first, but grew louder and louder until I recognized the voice. But now it was… different. There was more pain behind it, more secrets it held. Yet it was still melodic and beautiful.

♫ I watched the world fall before me
Every truth like shards of glass
Falling from the sky
Everyone was out for me
I knew it was the end

And through the fire and ash
There was you and only you
I was left alone to wonder
How could something so innocently beautiful
Cause so much grief and destruction? ♫

“I loved y-“

I blinked a few times, eyes trying to adjust to the sudden brightness. At first, I didn’t recognize my surroundings. But then the events of yesterday replayed themselves in my mind. I sighed, in half relief, and half of something I didn’t completely understand.
My room was still the same. Same blue blanket, same dresser, same window, same everything. Just with a thin layer of dust over everything.
I made my way to the computer and logged onto Facebook. Let’s see what Louis is up to. See if he wants to hang out.
But my heart fell as I read the first line in the news feed.


Louis Merrick went from single to In a Relationship with Kristine Lauren.

Kristine Lauren? The same girl that commented on his status about me so long ago, during my first week of captivity? Her profile pic was of her and Louis kissing. I sighed again and shut down the computer.

The next few days passed slowly. I woke up early, went to bed late. Mom took me shopping for new clothes, and I found myself constantly looking for Contagious shirts. I pretended to still hate the band, but always looked up their songs on Youtube when I was alone.
Louis sometimes said ‘hi’ or ‘what’s up’ but nothing more. He was spending more time with Kristine. He seemed happy with her. Always uploading pictures of them together, making statuses of all the things they did together.
I guess I was happy for him. He found someone better, like I always said he should.
Three days after coming home, I sat outside at 8 at night, watching the sky. The band would be catching their flight. To where, I didn’t know. Maybe everything was better that way. I belonged here. I was home. I should be happy.
So why did I feel so empty?
Only now, with tears rolling down my cheeks did I realize my mistake.

Everything happens for a reason. Even kidnapping.
And for me, that reason was for me to meet my soul mate.

I stood, grabbing my backpack once again. If this was what freedom felt like, I didn’t want it. In truth, the loneliness I felt now was even more painful and overwhelming than ever before. I really did love Nick. I needed him. But I’d just let him go, throw him away like trash.
He’d set up that concert in Florida to give me the chance. The chance for decision. To see if I really loved him. Otherwise, he’d let me go home without a fight.
I had to find him, no matter where he was. I hadn’t the faintest clue where to begin, but I had to do this. I belonged with Nick. He was my home now.

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