CHAPTER 18
LANDRY
I could hear the bass from the music in the distance, letting me know that we must be getting closer to the drop site. Cashton hadn’t faltered, still carrying me over his shoulder like a sack of flour the entire trek down through the forest. I had given up screaming through the gag at some point along the way, my legs exhausted from kicking him the entire time. Just as I thought it was all about to be over, I heard a loud burst echoing from somewhere around us.
“Fuck!” Cashton exclaimed, both of us hitting the ground before rolling so that his body covered mine. The weight of him on top of me pressed down onto my rib cage, making it harder to breathe.
I heard more bursts, this time much closer as the opposing players approached. I felt Cashton move around, most likely reaching for his own weapon before I heard him fire off rounds directly above me. Adrenaline raced through me once again at the action taking place around us.
The shots continued back and forth, my mind racing as I tried to figure out a way to use the distraction to my advantage. My movement was extremely limited, hands still tied behind my back and pinned underneath me as the full weight of him pressed down into me.
I rallied all of my strength, throwing my knee up as hard as I could and hopefully connecting with his groin. The loud grunt let me know that I had hit my mark, his body rolling off of mine in the next moment.
I squirmed against the ground, getting myself onto my stomach before struggling to get to my feet. It took me a few attempts before I finally made it up, taking off in the direction of the music and voices in the distance. I ran as fast as I could, using whatever senses I had left to the best of my ability, desperately hoping that I wouldn’t run into a tree or something else. With how close we seemed to be to the field, I just needed to cross the tree line and it would be a straight shot to safety. Mortification at the thought of people seeing me like this crossed my mind, but as long as they got me out of these ties, I didn’t even care anymore.
“Landry!” I heard Cashton yell a moment before I heard the sound of a burst ringing through the air, pain piercing through the side of my thigh the next moment. The force of it sent me crashing to the ground, the muscles in my leg throbbing. Without my arms to catch myself, the impact knocked the wind out of me. The adrenaline allowed me to recover pretty quickly, finding my way to my feet once more as I continued, hearing Cashton a few yards back yelling “Motherfucker!” and a scuffle breaking out.
I kept moving, feet racing as I felt the dirt and rocks turn to grass under my shoes. I felt the sun hitting my skin, no longer blocked by the trees. I heard commotion as I raced to what I assumed to be the edge of the crowd of spectators, suddenly slamming into a hard body as hands grabbed my shoulders to keep me from stumbling.
“Landry?” I heard Zayn’s voice, and I didn’t need to see his face to know that he was smiling, amusement clear in his tone.
The sack was ripped from my head, a bit of my loose hair being pulled in the process. The mask came off next, and I could finally see clearly. The crowd must have grown, looking larger than it had when I had spotted it from up in the woods. The sun was already beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the field. I could spot red solo cups being passed around as the music blared from truck speakers.
“Well, look at you,” Zayn laughed, the dark tattoos around his neck vibrating as he noticed the gag still pressed between my lips. I turned my face back to him, my eyes pleading with him as I silently begged him to remove it, muffled sounds escaping me.
“Oh, little Landry. I wish I could help, but Cash wouldn’t really like that now would he,” he teased, his condescending tone laced with malice. “You’re his hostage, after all. I’ll let him decide when it comes off. I will say though, I’m really loving this look. I guess he decided to take a page out of my book. ”
What the fuck? Zayn was my friend, why wasn’t he helping me? I knew that he was close with Cashton, but still, we were close enough that I figured he would help me out.
“Landry!” I spun around at the sound of Bexley’s voice, the sound making tears of relief prick at the backs of my eyes. I didn’t think I had ever been so happy to see her beautiful red locks as she slammed into me, her arms wrapping me into a tight hug that I was unable to return thanks to the zip tie binding my wrists.
“Oh my gosh, I am so happy to see you. Are you okay? I’ve been so worried about you,” she cried, pulling back to look at my face.
“What did they do to you?” She exclaimed as she saw the gag, hurriedly reaching behind my head to undo it. I breathed in a lungful of the cool evening air and felt it make its way through my lungs. She turned to Zayn, looking up at him and asking “Do you have a knife? Or something sharp that I can use?”
“I don’t know, wildcat. You forgot to pat me down, after all. Who knows what I’ve had in my pockets this entire time,” he winked.
A blush bloomed across her cheeks but her eyes turned fierce.
“Zayn. Please.”
But he only shoved his hands into his pockets, playfully smiling down at her.
“Fine,” she huffed. “I guess I’ll just go find some other guy to ask. C’mon, Landry,” she said, her hand grabbing onto my arm as we turned to walk away. Zayn’s jaw ticked and he clenched his teeth together before eventually giving in .
“Wait,” he called.
We paused, waiting as he reached into his pocket and pulling out a small switchblade before handing it to Bexley.
“You’ve had this the entire time?” she asked in bewilderment. “Why didn’t you set yourself free?”
A small smile pulled at the corner of his lips as he just stared at her, looking smug but also slightly perplexed, as if mentally asking himself the same question. He didn’t respond, so she offered a small “Thank you” before moving behind me to free my wrists.
As soon as I felt the zip tie snap off, I turned around and threw my arms around her, squeezing her tight as she returned the sentiment.
“Are you okay?” she murmured into my ear, neither of us wanting to let go. So much had happened since we had last seen each other, and a happy tear slid down my cheek at finally being reunited. I finally felt safe for the first time in days.
“I am now,” I replied, and I meant it. “What happened with you?” I asked as I finally released her.
She looked from me to Zayn and then back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears as a small smile bloomed across her face.
“My team won Taken” she said, and my eyes bulged.
“You what?” I stammered.
“Yeah” she chuckled, looking down at her feet. “Zayn was our hostage.”
My mouth dropped open, at a loss for words. “Oh my gosh, Bex!” I exclaimed, throwing myself back onto her .
“I’m gonna go find the guys,” Zayn uttered before heading into the crowd, pulling his pack of Marlboro 27’s out of his back pocket and lighting one between his tattooed fingers.
“We have so much to catch up on,” I told her, “But first, I need a drink.”