Chapter 18
Eric
T he video cut off at 'Fuck!'
He'd left the video running through it all, as she taunted him, as he hit her. He fucking hit her. My skin grew hot, the room closed in, and I saw red. If I ever got my hands on him, I was going to fucking kill him.
But my mind kept echoing the word 'Kill' back to me. "He's going to kill her." My lungs caved in on me and the words left my mouth in a breath.
My best friends trembled. Ethan was still staring at the phone even after the video ended. I didn't know what thoughts were lurking inside his head, but given the incident with Marco, I knew it was something dark. I couldn't fucking blame him. Watching the slime with our Lily, barking at her, shoving the gun in her temple, grinding her knees into the ground, hearing the thump as he hit her and her grunt in response. I wanted to split him in half and leave him to the vultures to feed on.
Matt threw his phone across the room, regretting his action as soon as it smashed into bits. He ran to pick it up and tried to turn it on. "Fuck!" he yelled, tossing it again.
Ryan had sunk to the floor, holding his head in his hand, rocking back and forth, his sanity on the point of no return.
My phone started ringing and I answered in a rush. "If you ever touch her again, you fucking..."
"Mr. Fletcher, sir. Turn on the news."
I caught my breath and planted my feet into the solid ground to keep my head from spinning. A second was all it took for me to recognize the voice as one of our military contacts, but that second was stuck in a whirlwind.
"T-turn on the news." I pointed at Ethan, my voice trembling. "Has something happened?" I asked the contact.
Everything blurred.
The room spun.
My body was already anticipating horrible news. My legs faltered and hot tears filled my eyes.
The contact spoke. "We've caught sight of the assumed kidnapper's vehicle. After getting the call from the hospital in Virginia, we requested all the security footage from the past twenty-four hours. We were able to get a clear picture of the unknown male and the vehicle of escape. It's been spotted pulled up on the side of the road. We have reason to believe he's fled into the forest with her."
Recalling the trees and the brown and green smashed foliage on the ground, I put two and two together. "Yes! You're in the correct area. Please keep searching. We just got a video from the kidnapper, threatening to kill her. Please hurry!"
From Ethan's phone, the reporter's voice was coupled with absolute chaos; helicopters whipped the wind, instructions were being shouted. It was like a damn war film. I called my mom and dad, trying to juggle two things at once. Their cellphones went unanswered, so I tried their house phone.
"I hope you're not watching the news!" I pleaded as soon as the receiver was picked up.
"No, these idiots have us playing cards as if we're old people in a home. I'm dying to know what's happening, but they've confiscated our phones. What's the update?" my mom asked.
"I'll tell you later." I injected some strength into my voice. Though I was hoping that later would hold some positive news, I couldn't be sure.
"Mrs. Fletcher, who are you speaking to?" A voice said in the background, before speaking to me. "Hello?"
"Did you just snatch the phone from me? I will knock you upside the head..." I could hear my mother's voice echoing.
"Hi, it's Eric," I announced.
"Oh, hi Eric. It's your mom's nurse. Mr. Fletcher! Please sit back down!" she yelled.
"Is everything okay?" My heart sank.
"Yes, yes, dear. They're just being stubborn, but not to worry, there's a full staff of medical professionals and security on hand," she breathed.
Her exhaustion was clear. "Thanks for being there when I can't," I said with my whole chest. Between worrying about them and Lily, I didn't know how I was still standing.
"No worries. I hope Lily makes it back home safely. I'm sorry, I have to go..." she apologized.
"Yes, yes. That's okay. Thanks," I heaved.
"Was that more news?" Matt asked me.
Filled up with so much air and no way to release it, my voice broke as I marched out the door.
Ryan
Matt turned the TV on, finding a live streaming of the news. I hurried forward and plastered my eyes on the screen.
"I should prepare the place for her return," Matt mumbled to himself. "Get her those bath things she likes and some fresh clothes. Food. She'll need food. And a new phone." He grabbed his keys and hurried out the door.
My phone rang. It was Tyler. "Hey man, as soon as I saw the news, I jumped in my car. I'm on my way over to the forest now, what do you want me to do?"
I was frazzled. "What do you mean? Eric's contacts are already on it."
"He arranged all that?" he asked, with an upward inflection in his tone.
"Long story, but yeah," I answered half-assed, not wanting to be distracted from following every move, but the reporter was annoying me. I'd rather see the live footage, not her.
"Okay, but what if they don't get to them in time?" Tyler asked.
I knew what he was insinuating.
"They'll get to them faster than you can," I argued.
"Who are you talking to?" Ethan asked.
I let out an irritated breath. "It's Tyler," I said, walking away from Ethan because I couldn't listen to him, Tyler, and the fucking news all at once.
Ethan snatched the phone and I was happy to let him take over the conversation, until I heard him say, "If you can get to them first, and you can do it without getting caught, ki—"
I snatched that phone back so damn fast, questioning Ethan with a scowl. I didn't have time for this foolishness.
"If you come across Lily first," I said, just for the fucking sake of it. I doubted he would. "Get her back, WITHOUT killing him, please."
Ethan got the full force of my glare as I hung up the phone and threw it at his chest.
"What the fuck is wrong with you? You don't make fucking deals like that with ex-mob bosses, no matter what they say! Are you fucking crazy?!" Oh, I could raise up on my toes and punch him in his big, stupid head.
"Yeah!" He fired back. "A little. I'm a little crazy at the moment and fucking desperate. That piece of shit hurt Lil..."
'Gunshots can be heard in the distance.' The reporter's voice broke through our discourse. Ethan and I stopped talking at once and turned to face the screen. My limbs were dead.