Keeping Hope (Broken Girl Series) (3 page)

The car is full of screams and squeals as our attacker continues his onslaught. I press on the accelerator, but within a split second, he’s by my side again. The truck thrashes against the side of mine, this time hitting us full on.

My truck is forced onto the grass verge, making steering difficult. I try pulling the wheel to get the truck back onto the road, but before I can regain our position, he hits us again.

I’m thrown from side to side, losing my grip on the steering wheel. The truck tumbles into the dip of the field. The screams are ear piercing. We roll uncontrollably, objects being thrown through the truck.

I hear glass shatter around us on impact, the shards flying around.

When we finally come to a stop, I take a second to catch my breath. My heart pounds uncontrollably, the adrenaline and fear spiking. I grab the wheel, trying to remain in my seat. The truck is on its side. My eyes search the remnants of my truck, looking to check if the others are okay.

Because the truck is leaning partially on its side in an embankment, I automatically I lean toward Jake, gravity pulling me toward him.

As I reach over, I inhale sharply at the pain throbbing through my rib cage. I glance down, feeling my chest, trying to see if I’m bleeding. I check my hands and see no blood, but fuck, I must have badly bruised something. The pain is like nothing I have ever felt before.

I can just about reach Jake’s arm, his limp body resting against the door of the truck. I reach as far as I can, wincing with every slow movement I make.

“Jake, you okay?” I shake him, noticing the small droplets of blood on the side of his head. He groans loudly as he moves, attempting to straighten up.

“Fuck, man, I hurt everywhere.” He raises his hand, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You’re bleeding, man. Are you hurt?” I ask, worried as fuck he might be seriously injured.

Jake wipes down the side of his face. “I think I’m just cut. It must be from the glass,” he replies.

I see the panic on his face as he tries to turn, looking for Abbey. He calls out here name, his voice fading because he’s screeching so loud. “Where is she? I can’t see her.”

I slowly reach down, holding my side tightly as I unclip my belt.

“She didn’t have her belt on. I gotta get out and find her,” I call over to Jake. I climb up, balancing on the back of my seat. I see Abbey in the foot well of the truck.

“Fuck, she looks totally unresponsive. Help me out, I need to know she’s okay.” Jake yells.

Ash shakes his hands, trying to get the belt unfastened. He looks over to her. “Abbey, Abbey, wake up, doll,” he croaks, his voice broken as he tries to get some reaction from her.

Abbey’s head is slumped forward. Her fragile, limp body lying against the floor of the truck. I reach for the lever and kick the door open. I pull myself up through the frame, breathing heavily as the sharp pain continues to wind me. I reach back in for Jake’s hand, pulling him free from the truck.

I hear Ash cry. “Guys, Abbey isn’t moving. I can’t get a fucking response from her.”

We rush to the rear door to help Ash and get to Abbey. I reach in, gripping his hand tightly. Breathing small breaths, I try to work through the pain in my ribs. Jake also reaches in, helping Ash out. He falls to the ground, his body shaking violently.

Jake leans back in. I hold his waist, steadying him as he hooks his arms under Abbey. He lifts her, pulling her carefully from the truck.

I look to the front of the truck, noticing steam bellowing from the engine. Fuck, the truck is a mess. I glance back over to Jake and Abbey. She hit her head badly and a steady stream of blood trickles down the side of her face. I grab my jacket and put it on the ground for Jake to lay her. He places her on the thick overgrown grass, holding her torso tightly, rocking, while talking to her and stroking her hair away from her face. He rips the bottom of his shirt and applies it to the wound on her head, hoping to restrict the flow of blood.

“Dammit, Jake! We need to check her pulse,” I yell as he continues to rock. I scramble to help Ash up from the ground. He slowly makes his way over to Abbey.

“Fuck, Abbey, please be okay. Please, Abbey, I need you to be okay,” Ash cries out.

I stand there frozen in shock.

Kennedy

I almost jump out of my skin as I hear the over-enthusiastic cheers from the front of the car.

I am thrown to the side as I feel the car suddenly steer and jolt to a stop. The only sense I have available is working on overdrive, straining to hear the voices which appear to be making their way out of the vehicle. I’m desperate to know if it is Cole following us.

I have a sinking feeling this isn’t a good sign for whoever is following since we are stopped. I hear the thud of the car doors as they exit, each loud bang causes me to jump. A new, unfamiliar sound fills my senses. It appears to be the heavy rumble of another vehicle beside us. I turn my head, trying to give my ears better access to the noise.

I hear a new voice, one that is nasal and sounds nothing like Master or his fucking minion. I manage to position myself, picking up on part of the conversation.

“It’s done.”

“Excellent! News to my ears. See you back at the manor.”

Shit! The last voice is that of my Master, and the manor was my home of isolation for the last seventeen years. I feel the dip of the cars suspension as the men re-enter the vehicle, start the engine, and speed off. I try to use my weight to steady myself as I’m thrust forward. There’s no doubt in my mind that we are headed back to the commune. I fluster at the sudden thought of Cole. Maybe it wasn’t him following? Or maybe it was, but he lost us. Damn it. I will never know what happened now that I’m going back!

Within ten minutes I feel the smooth concrete under the wheels being replaced with that of bumps. It’s clear we’re going off road. Moments later, the car comes to a complete stop, the engine cuts, and I’m dragged heavy handedly from the car.

The ropes loosen around my legs and the blindfold is suddenly whipped from my head. I blink furiously, trying to remove the dots from my eyes at the quick change from dark to light. The brightness stings my eyes as I continue to blink rapidly, trying to regain focus. The first thing that comes into sight is Master. I look to the side at the devil attached to my arm. It is the kidnapper from school. I want to pull my body from his tight grip, but quite frankly, he’s the only thing holding me up right now. My whole body tingles as I try to regain the feeling back. Every inch of me feels numb from being in the same cramped position for so long.

I stand as straight and tall as my stiff body will allow, glaring straight at my abuser.

“Well, well, well, Kennedy,” he snarls. “Glad to have you back, my angel.” He reaches his revolting hand toward my face.

I jolt my head back, moving away from his impending touch. I can’t bear the thought of him touching me. The memory of his abuse flashes like a lightning bolt through my mind. I work to push the thoughts away; I’m not going to let him get into my head, not this time. I have a reason to be strong; I have to think about the baby.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I yell out.

“But you’re mine to do with what I want.” He smiles slimily at me. His wicked grin spreads further, as though my words have amused him.

“No! I’m not. I don’t want anything to do with any of you sick bastards!” I scream.

I feel the sharp sting of pain across my cheek as he hits me with the back of his hand. My head whips to the side from the force. My face pulses from the contact. I calmly return to my upright position and look him dead in the eye.

He takes a step closer, leaning in. His voice is barely a whisper, “You are lucky you’re carrying my unborn child. If you weren’t, I would kill you, right here, right now with my bare hands. But know this, Kennedy; once I have that child, and make no mistake, I will have that baby as my own, I’ll no longer have a need for you. I will enjoy watching every painful moment of your slow, excruciating death!”

My heart races in reaction to his threats. I fear for my own life, but even more so for my child. I have to remain strong, no matter what. Years of fear never stopped the torture, so remaining strong and hoping help will come is all I can hold on to.

“Oh, and your silly little friends – the ones who were following us, let’s just say we took care of them.”

My eyes widen as a loud sob and screams escapes my mouth. “What the fuck have you done to them?” I cry.

He laughs menacingly as I drop to me knees, sobbing hysterically. “Take her to the cell,” he orders before marching off.

Cole

“Jake, my phone! Where is my phone?” I rush out. He sits, holding Abbey in a trance like state. “I need to call an ambulance. We need to get help for Abbey! Jake…talk to me.” I kneel next to him, softening my voice. “Jake, dude, she’ll be okay, but we need to get the paramedics here. She’s been unconscious for a long time.”

I reach out and take her limp arm in my hand, pressing my fingers firmly on her wrist, trying to find a pulse. I struggle to locate any sign that Abbey is still with us. I feel the blood drain from my face. I drop her arm and jump to my feet, taking small steps back and forth as I frantically run my hands through my hair, letting out a growl.

“No, no it can’t be,” sobs Ash. “Here, let me try.” He sidles up to her, trying to locate the pulse in her neck.

My eyes wander to Jake. He hasn’t said anything or moved an inch, fear etched on his face. I flit between the three of them, swallowing down hard as I take in the devastation.

I can’t just fucking stand here. I have to do something. I dash to the overturned car, leaning in through the opened door. I spot my phone on the floor of the front foot well. Still clutching my ribs, I pull myself inside. Leaning down, I try to reach my phone. The crunch of broken glass echoes under my feet as I move around.

My fingertips make contact with the metal and I stretch a bit more, taking hold of it. I shove it into my pocket and grab onto the door frame, pulling myself out.

The agonizing pain in my side spreads. I grit my teeth and push through it.

Once out of the car, I drop to the ground, letting out a growl of frustration fueled by the intensity of the pain. I pull the phone back out of my pocket, holding the phone tightly in my hands as I try to steady them from shaking wildly.

“Dammit!” I bellow. I mentally try to calm myself as I unlock the screen. There’s a thousand voicemails and text messages, mostly from my mom, but my main priority is getting help for Abbey.

“I found it, Cole. The pulse. She’s alive,” Ash calls over.

“Oh thank God,” I yell, jumping up and racing back over to where Abbey lays motionless with Jake and Ash.

“Her pulse is very weak though, Cole. We need to keep her warm.”

“Good idea, Ash. I’ll see if I can get in the trunk. I know there will be a blanket or a jacket in there.” I head back to the truck while dialing nine-one-one.

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

“I need an ambulance! Quick! My friend, Abbey, is unconscious. We’ve been in an accident. We were run of the road by a truck. She’s non responsive.” My words fall from my mouth so quick. I stop and take a breath.

“Is she breathing?” the gravelly voice asks.

“Barely. We found a pulse but it is very weak!” I rush out.

“Okay, what is your precise location?” the operator asks.

“I’m not sure. We came off the Interstate 10 about an hour ago. I’m not familiar with our surroundings. We appear to be in the middle of fucking nowhere.”

“Please, sir, try and remain calm. I’ve got a general location based on your cell phone, but due to the area, it may not be precise. I will dispatch emergency services immediately.”

I hear the phone beep as the call disconnects. I look at the phone, and see I’ve lost my signal.

“Fuck,” I growl out, pushing the phone back into my pocket. I attempt to open the trunk of the truck. Luckily, it opens with limited effort. My tools and football gear spill out as I search through, looking for something to wrap Abbey in. I grab a blanket and my hoodie and rush over to her.