Chapter Fourteen
Juniper
We’d been on the road for what felt like forever. At some point, he’d ditched his car and stolen another one. Then about another two hours down the highway, he’d done it again. If he was trying to not draw attention to himself, I thought he might be going about it the wrong way. Wouldn’t someone notice a bunch of stolen cars?
Not that I’d complain. If he got caught, then I could go home! But I refused to sit here and not do a damn thing to free myself. I’d run away before, even when I’d had nowhere to go. Now I needed to get back to the Hades Abyss. No matter how bad things had looked, I had to believe Breaker was still alive. If he wasn’t, then… No, I wouldn’t even think about it. I’d trust in his strength and that he’d managed to pull through. Was he already looking for me?
“Uncle Robert, please. I really need to use the bathroom,” I pleaded, my voice trembling slightly as I fought to keep my desperation in check.
Robert’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in their depths as he studied me intently. After a long moment, he let out a reluctant sigh. “Fine. Make it quick.”
He pulled into a rundown gas station, the flickering neon sign above casting an eerie glow over the sparse surroundings. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped out of the car, a potent mix of fear and determination coursing through my veins.
I glanced around quickly, taking in the desolate landscape. The gas station seemed to be the only sign of life for miles, its weathered exterior a testament to the harsh passage of time. The air hung heavy with an unsettling stillness, broken only by the distant hum of the highway. But I did notice one thing. A security camera. I had no idea if it was actually working, but with some luck, it would be.
As I made my way toward the restroom, I knew I had to act fast, to seize this fleeting opportunity for escape. My mind raced with fragmented plans, desperate ideas born from the primal need to survive.
The restroom door creaked as I pushed it open, the dingy interior a stark contrast to the crisp night air. I stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat as I assessed my surroundings. The cramped space offered little in the way of comfort or security, but it was a momentary reprieve from Robert’s watchful gaze.
With trembling hands, I reached into my pocket, my fingers closing around the cool metal of a pen. I had managed to swipe it earlier when he hadn’t been paying attention to me, a small act of defiance in the face of my uncle’s oppressive control. It had been poking out from under the armrest in the center console. Now, as I withdrew the pen and grabbed a paper towel, I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me.
I had to be quick, knowing that every second counted. With hurried strokes, I began to scrawl a message on the rough surface of the paper towel. My handwriting was shaky, the letters blurring together in my haste, but I poured every ounce of my desperation onto the page.
Please help me , I wrote, my heart hammering against my ribcage. I’m being held against my will. My name is Juniper Kelley. If you find this, please contact the Hades Abyss MC .
I folded the note with trembling fingers, tucking it carefully behind the toilet. I left enough sticking out, I hoped someone would see it. It was a long shot, a desperate plea cast into the void, but it was all I had. As I straightened up, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead.
With one last glance at the hidden note, I stepped out of the restroom and back into the suffocating grasp of my uncle’s presence. The flickering neon sign above the gas station seemed to mock me, a cruel reminder of the freedom that remained just out of reach.
But even as fear threatened to consume me, I clung to the faint glimmer of hope that had taken root in my heart. Somewhere out there, Breaker was looking for me. And I had to hold on, to endure whatever lay ahead, until I could find my way back to him.
As I climbed back into the car, Robert’s gaze burned into me, his suspicion palpable. But I met his stare with a newfound resolve, a silent promise to myself that I would not let him break me. I had taken a small step toward freedom, and I would keep fighting, no matter the cost.
The car engine roared to life, and we sped off into the night, the gas station receding in the rearview mirror until it was nothing more than a distant memory. We drove through the night, the darkness broken only by the occasional flash of passing headlights. I stared out the window, my mind racing with thoughts of the note I had left behind, wondering if it would find its way into the right hands.
“You think I’m stupid, girl? I know you’re up to something. I can see it written all over your face. You didn’t talk to the man behind the counter at the gas station. So what did you do?”
I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into the fabric of my jeans. “I’m not planning anything, I swear.”
“Save it,” he snapped, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel. “You’re just like your mother, always scheming, always thinking you’re smarter than everyone else.”
The mention of my mother sent a pang of grief through my chest, mingling with the fear that already consumed me. I wanted to defend her, to tell him that he was wrong, but I knew it would only make things worse.
Instead, I turned my gaze back to the window, watching as the trees blurred together in a sea of shadows. I thought of Breaker, of the way his arms had felt around me, the safety and love I had found in his embrace. It seemed like a lifetime ago now, a distant memory that I clung to like a lifeline.
As the miles stretched on, the silence grew heavy between us, broken only by the occasional crackle of the radio. I could feel Robert’s anger simmering beneath the surface, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. I had no idea where he was taking me. Breaker had said my uncle was out on parole. Wouldn’t someone notice he’d left town?
I closed my eyes, letting the steady rhythm of the car’s motion lull me into a fragile sense of peace. I would endure this. I would survive, no matter what it took. And when the time was right, I would find my way back to the man who had stolen my heart and given me a reason to keep fighting.
The car lurched to a sudden stop, jolting me from my thoughts. I blinked, my eyes struggling to adjust to the abrupt change in surroundings. Gone were the open roads and sprawling fields, replaced by a dense wall of trees that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.
Robert’s movements were swift and precise as he killed the engine and stepped out of the vehicle. The slam of his door echoed through the stillness, a jarring reminder of the danger that lurked beneath his calm exterior. I watched, my heart hammering in my chest, as he circled around to my side of the car.
“Get out,” he commanded, his voice as cold as the steel of a blade.
I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I reached for the handle. I tugged on it, but nothing happened, then I remembered he’d engaged the child locks. My uncle opened the door. The air outside was thick and heavy, the scent of pine and decay mingling in my nostrils. I stood on shaky legs, my eyes darting from the imposing figure of my uncle to the narrow path that snaked into the woods.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Robert’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “You’ll see soon enough.”
He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh with bruising force. I stumbled as he pulled me forward, my feet catching on the uneven ground. The trees closed in around us, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers, ready to snare me in their grasp.
With each step, the weight in my chest grew heavier, the air harder to breathe. I needed Breaker. I had to survive and find my way back to him.
Please. Please, let him find me. Let him save me from this hell . But as the woods swallowed us whole, as the darkness pressed in from all sides, I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that my pleas would go unanswered. That I was truly alone, at the mercy of a monster with no conscience and no remorse.
And yet, even as the fear threatened to overwhelm me, I clung to the tiniest spark of hope. The hope that somewhere out there, Breaker was fighting for me. That he would move heaven and earth to bring me back to him.
A cabin loomed before us, a decrepit shell of weathered wood and broken windows. Its sagging roof and rotting boards spoke of years of neglect, a forgotten relic hidden deep within the woods. As we approached, my heart hammered against my ribs, a sickening sense of dread washing over me. How had my uncle known this place was here? Had he used it before he’d gone to prison? Or had the people who had helped abduct me been the ones to tell him about it?
Robert’s grip on my arm tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like vises. “Home, sweet home,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “Don’t worry, Juniper. We’re going to have so much fun together. And when my friend arrives, you’ll finally learn your lesson.”
I tried to pull away, but his strength was overwhelming. He dragged me up the steps, the door groaning on its hinges as he shoved it open. The interior was just as decrepit as the outside, a musty smell of decay and rot assaulting my nostrils.
“P-please,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, let me go.”
Robert’s laughter filled the room, a harsh, grating sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Oh, Juniper. You’re not going anywhere. You’re mine now, and I’m going to make sure you never forget that.”
He forced me into a chair, its wooden frame creaking under my weight. With swift, practiced movements, he bound my wrists and ankles, the rough fibers bit into my skin. I struggled against the restraints, but it was useless. I was trapped, helpless, at the mercy of a man who had no mercy to give.
Think, Juniper, think. My mind raced with possibilities. There had to be a way out, a way to escape this nightmare. But as Robert loomed over me, his eyes glinting with a sadistic pleasure, I couldn’t see it. All I could see was the darkness closing in, the walls of the cabin pressing in around me, suffocating me with their isolation.
Breaker, please. Find me. Save me. Don’t let him win .
But the only answer was the sound of Robert’s laughter, echoing through the cabin like a death knell. And as the tears began to fall, as the hopelessness threatened to consume me, I wondered if I would ever see the light again.
Robert’s laughter faded into a menacing chuckle as he leaned in close, his breath hot against my cheek. A chill skated down my spine, and I fought hard not to flinch away from him. He’d enjoy it if I did. He thrived on making people fear him, especially young girls and women.
“Rest now, Juniper,” he whispered, his voice dripping with false tenderness. “You’re going to need your strength for what’s to come.”
With those terrifying words, he straightened up and strode toward the door, his footsteps heavy against the worn floorboards. The door closed behind him with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the cabin like a final judgment. And then, silence. A suffocating, oppressive silence that wrapped around me.
I sat there, my body trembling, my heart pounding in my chest. The ropes cut into my skin, a constant reminder of my captivity. But even as fear threatened to overwhelm me, I forced myself to focus, to take in my surroundings with a desperate intensity.
The cabin was small, barely more than a single room. A threadbare mattress lay in the corner, its surface stained and lumpy. A rickety table stood against the far wall, its surface littered with empty beer cans and cigarette butts. Considering the state of the cabin, those looked too fresh to have been here for years. Had someone been staying here?
My gaze darted around the room, searching for anything that might aid in my escape. A loose floorboard, a forgotten tool, a sharp edge to saw through my bonds. Anything! But there was nothing. Nothing but the emptiness of the cabin and the weight of my own helplessness.
As despair threatened to engulf me, I closed my eyes, conjuring up the image of Breaker’s face. His strong jaw, his warm brown eyes, the way his lips curved into a crooked smile when he looked at me. I could almost feel the touch of his hand against my cheek, the rumble of his voice as he whispered words of comfort and reassurance.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the fear and the uncertainty. I would not let Robert break me. I would not let him win. I was Juniper Kelley, and I was a fighter. I would fight with every ounce of strength I had left, until I was back in Breaker’s arms, where I belonged.
As my gaze swept across the floor, I noticed a glint of metal peeking out from beneath a tattered rug. My heart leaped in my chest, and I stretched my feet out, straining to reach it. With a bit of effort, I managed to hook the edge of the rug with my heels, pulling it back to reveal a small, rusted nail.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start. I managed to get up, then decided to do this as quietly as possible. If I went hopping across the floor, my uncle might rush inside. I laid down and inch wormed my way over to it. The metal was cool and rough against my skin.
I set to work, using the nail to pick at the knots that bound my wrists. The process was slow and tedious, and more than once the nail slipped and bit into my wrist. I refused to give up, refused to let the fear and frustration overwhelm me.
As I worked, my mind drifted to thoughts of Breaker and the life I wanted with him. Lazy mornings tangled in each other’s arms, watching movies together, going on dates. I wanted it all. And once I was back with him, I’d tell him exactly how I felt.
The last of the knots finally gave way, and I felt the ropes loosen around my wrists. A surge of relief and triumph washed over me, but I knew I couldn’t celebrate just yet. I still had to find a way out of the cabin and away from Robert’s clutches. I reached down and untied my ankles, then stood on shaky legs, my muscles protesting after I’d been confined. The floorboards creaked beneath my feet, and I froze, holding my breath as I listened for any sign that Robert had heard. But the cabin remained silent, save for the pounding of my own heart.
With cautious steps, I made my way to the window, peering out into the gathering dusk. The woods beyond were dense and foreboding, but they offered a chance at escape, a path back to Breaker and the safety of his arms.
I took a deep breath, my fingers curling around the window latch. This was it. The moment of truth. The moment where I would either find my freedom or face the consequences of my actions.
But I was ready. Ready to fight, ready to survive, ready to do whatever it took to make my way back to the man I loved. With a final glance around the cabin, I pushed open the door and stepped out into the unknown, my heart full of hope and determination.