Chapter 42
Heather
Tyler's grip on my arm tightened as he pulled me out of the car, his eyes darting around nervously. He was trying to keep it together, but I could see the cracks in his composure. His father, Halverson, was pacing nearby, barking orders into his phone. I was terrified, but I couldn’t let them see it. I needed to stay strong to find a way out of this mess.
"Move," Tyler hissed, shoving me towards the old gas station. I stumbled forward, trying to leave subtle clues—a scuff mark in the dirt, a torn piece of my shirt—anything that might help Danny find me.
Inside the gas station, it was dim and smelled like mildew. Tyler pushed me into a chair, tying my wrists to the armrests with rough rope. I winced as the fibers bit into my skin, but I forced myself to stay calm. Panic wouldn’t help me now.
"Why are you doing this?" I demanded. "What do you want from me?"
Tyler glanced at me, his expression conflicted. "Just shut up," he muttered, avoiding my eyes.
Halverson walked over, his face twisted into a cruel smile. "You really don't get it, do you? Your aunt was too nosy for her own good. She found out about our operation, and we had to silence her. You’re just a loose end."
My stomach churned with rage and sorrow. "You killed her because she found out you were smuggling drugs in the horse trailers? You’re monsters."
"She was a liability," Halverson said coldly. "And now, so are you."
I glanced at Tyler, trying to gauge his reaction. There was a flicker of something—regret, maybe?—in his eyes, but he quickly looked away. I had to keep pushing, to find a way to reach him.
"You don’t have to do this," I said, my voice softer. "You’re not like him. You can still make this right."
"Shut up!" Tyler snapped, but there was a tremor in his voice. "You don’t know anything about me."
"I know you’re better than this," I insisted, leaning forward as much as the ropes would allow. "You don’t have to follow in his footsteps. You can choose your own path."
Halverson laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Don’t listen to her. She’s just trying to mess with your head. We’ve got a job to do."
Tyler hesitated, his eyes flicking between me and his father. I could see the conflict tearing him apart. He wasn’t a monster, not like Halverson. There was still a chance, a small hope that I could reach him.
"You know this is wrong," I said quietly. "Please, Tyler. Help me."
For a moment, his expression softened, but then he hardened his features, turning away. "Just stay quiet," he said, but his voice lacked conviction.
Halverson’s phone buzzed, and he stepped away to answer it, leaving us alone for a few precious minutes. I took a deep breath, focusing on Tyler.
"Please," I whispered. "You don’t have to do this. Let me go, and we can figure this out."
Tyler’s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he was struggling. I pressed on, hoping to break through the walls he’d built around himself.
"Think about your life, your future," I urged. "Do you really want to spend it running, hiding, always looking over your shoulder? You can change things. You can do the right thing."
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. I could see the internal battle raging within him. He was scared and conflicted, but there was a part of him that wanted to break free from his father’s control.
Halverson returned, pocketing his phone. "Time’s up," he said, glaring at Tyler. "We need to move. Get her ready."
Tyler nodded stiffly, walking over to untie me. His hands shook slightly as he worked, and I met his eyes, trying to convey my trust and hope.
"You’re making a mistake," I said softly. "But it’s not too late to fix it."
He didn’t reply, but I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. He pulled me to my feet, keeping a firm grip on my arm as we walked towards the door.
Outside, the night was eerily quiet. I tried to come up with a plan. I needed to leave more clues, to find a way to stall for time. I stumbled deliberately, kicking up dirt and leaving marks on the ground.
"Keep moving," Tyler ordered, but his voice was shaky.
Halverson was already at the car, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Hurry up. We don’t have all night."
Tyler pushed me towards the car, but as we got closer, I saw headlights in the distance. My heart leaped with hope. Danny. He was coming.
I needed to stall, to give him more time. I turned to Tyler, pleading with my eyes. "Please, don’t do this."
"Get in the car," he snapped, but his grip on my arm loosened.
"Tyler, listen to me," I said urgently. "You’re better than this. Don’t let him control you."
Halverson noticed the hesitation and stormed over, his face twisted with anger. "What’s taking so long? Get her in the damn car!"
Tyler flinched, but his grip tightened again. He pushed me towards the car, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. He was on the edge, teetering between loyalty to his father and the desire to do the right thing.
As we reached the car, the headlights grew closer, and I heard the sound of engines. Halverson’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed my arm, yanking me towards the car.
"Move it, now!" he barked, shoving me into the backseat.
Tyler got into the driver's seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Halverson climbed in beside him, turning to glare at me.
"Try anything, and you’re dead," he snarled.
The car sped off, and I glanced out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the approaching vehicles. Danny had to be close. I just needed to buy a little more time.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Somewhere you won’t be found," Halverson replied, his eyes cold and calculating.
Tyler remained silent, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. I needed to reach him, to break through his defenses.
"Please," I whispered. "You don’t have to do this. It’s not too late."
Halverson growled, turning to Tyler. "Shut her up."
Tyler hesitated, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror. His eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn’t quite read—conflict, maybe guilt. He didn’t move to silence me, instead focusing on driving.
Soon, we reached an old warehouse. Tom Halverson got out first, slamming the car door behind him with a force that made the whole vehicle shudder. Tyler followed, both of them moving towards the station's faded, peeling entrance. They left the keys in the ignition, the engine idling softly, a low hum that filled the tense silence.
My heart hammered in my chest as I looked around. Alone in the back seat, I realized this might be my only chance. The ropes binding my wrists were tight, biting into my skin, but in my desperate state, the pain seemed distant, almost inconsequential. I wriggled my wrists, feeling the coarse fibers of the rope graze against my skin with each movement. Slowly, painfully, I worked one hand free, gasping softly at the relief and the stinging pain that came with it.
Freeing my other hand was quicker now that I could use my fingers to tug at the knots. My hands free, I looked up to survey my surroundings, trying to formulate a plan. The doors were locked from the outside, a simple measure but effective in keeping me trapped. I fumbled with the keys in the ignition, but as I struggled with the locks, I heard Tyler and Halverson’s voices growing louder, approaching the car.
Panic surged through me. Before I could make any further moves, the car door yanked open, and Tyler's furious face loomed over me.
"Nice try," he spat, grabbing my arm and yanking me roughly back into my seat. He retied my wrists, tighter this time, the rope biting into my skin. "You’re not going anywhere."
Halverson stood behind him, his eyes cold and calculating, and I knew my chances of escape had just slipped away. I sank back into the seat, my mind racing for another plan, hoping Danny would find me soon.