If I Was Your Boyfriend

The door swings open hard and slams against the thin walls of the shed. Carter had a dark bruise revealing itself across his cheek. His eyes are dark as he forces me onto my feet after unshackling me. I’m blindfolded and tied up then shoved into the back of the car where I hear another door slam.

‘I ran into your little boyfriend.’ Carter informs me as the car starts up.

‘Is that where you got that bruise?’ I stiff out a small laugh.

‘I wish I could say all he has is a bruise.’

‘What did you do to him?’ I struggle to break free of the thick rope wrapped around my wrists and ankles.

‘Let’s just say I hope the ambulance gets there in time. I left his body where they could find it.’

My lip quivers as I picture Justin lying on the ground all because of me.

Justin’s Point of View

A faint beeping sound echoes off the walls around me. I slowly force my eyelids to open as the brightest light greets me.

‘He’s up.’ A voice too familiar chimes.

It was my mom. I sit up in the bed as I wince and look around the crowded hospital room. My mom sat in the chair closest to the bed with Scooter behind her. Danielle and Garrett shared a small hospital seat while Chrissy’s mom and dad sat nervously beside them.

‘Where’s Carter? Where’s Chrissy?’

‘All of LAPD are out looking for both Carter and Chrissy. They’ve shut down the highways and sent out his picture to all of the surrounding cities.’

‘We’ve heard about what you did. It was completely dangerous but we are grateful that Chrissy has someone like you.’ Chrissy’s mom smiles over at me. ‘Just don’t do it again.’

‘Yes ma’am.’ I cough rubbing my ribs feeling some kind of gauze. ‘Why am I taped up?’

‘You have two cracked ribs.’ My mom explains with sad eyes.

‘That’s fun.’ I laugh trying to ease the tension but the vibration sends pain to my ribs, ‘thanks for coming after me.’ I nod towards Danielle and Garrett, ‘It probably would’ve been worse if you guys didn’t show up.’

I had the worst headache from being dropped from the steps. The hospital had wrapped more white fabric around my head. Apparently the fall was so good that I busted my head open a bit back there.

‘Where are my clothes?’ I begin to sit up in the bed ready to leave.

‘You can’t leave.’ Scooter pipes in giving me a light push back down. ‘Doctor’s orders.’

‘No. I need to find her.’

‘You need to rest.’ Chrissy’s dad urges from the background, ‘Let the police handle it.’

‘The police? The guy who has her is a police officer! How can we possibly trust them?’

‘Justin, don’t stress yourself out.’ My mom says quietly.

I could see the pain hidden behind her eyes and it tore me apart. I sigh and lay my head on the soft pillow and stare at the plain ceiling. The doctor comes in and personally explains my injuries to me. Basically I was stuck here in the hospital with my girlfriend out somewhere.

Chrissy’s Point of View

The next time I wake up I was in a dark warehouse, alone. A dim light hung from the center of the room. The sun was just starting to rise through the shattered windows. I squirm causing the chains to rattle. My arms and legs were bound with rusty old chains, leaving me helpless.

‘Good you’re up.’ Carter grins darkly. ‘I was starting to worry about you.’

‘I have to use the bathroom.’ I tug on the chains frustrated.

‘Only if you ask nicely.’

‘Please unlock me.’

‘Good girl.’

I feel my stomach turn as he crouches down beside me to unlock the chains. His breath was masked with alcohol and cigarette smoke. His fingernails were dirty and the tips were burned from using a lighter I’m guessing. Carter helps me to my feet and escorts me down a dark hallway.

‘So, you missed a lot.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Well your boyfriend found out about me. He called the cops and now everyone’s looking for us. Holbrook is calling me nonstop. I had to leave my car and my phone. I can’t go back to my house because they’ll be waiting for me. So I had to bring you here. We’re going to be here until I can figure something out.’

‘I thought every psychopath had their plan mapped out before the napped the victim.’

‘Little comedian, aren’t you?’ he tightens the grip on my arm pulling me closer to him, ‘you’re going have to play nice or else you wont get breakfast.’

‘I really just want to use the bathroom.’

‘Be quick about it.’ He gives me a hard push into the bathroom and closes the door.

I lock the door and turn on the water looking around the dim lit bathroom. A jagged window sat right above the sink. It looked big enough to get through. I carefully climb onto the sink and slowly ease my body through the window. I cut my arm on the way out but I didn’t stop. I land on my feet and hurry out of the abandoned parking lot. I slip into a wooded area and run as fast as I possible could.

‘Now the game is interesting.’ Carter calls out, clearly not too far away.

I rush and weave through the woods until I find the main road and a mechanic’s building not too far away. I run the entire way to the building knocking repeatedly on it. A man opens the door with a startled expression across his face.

‘Can I come in?’

‘Sure.’ He pushes the door open further and lets me inside. ‘Car broke down?’

‘Not exactly. If you have a phone I could use it would be much appreciated.’

‘Phone’s on the back wall.’ He points wiping his hands on a dirty red towel.

‘Thank you.’

As I dial the number a car door slams shut causing me to drop the phone. From the glass window I could see Carter walking towards the door.

‘Excuse me, do you have a bathroom?’

‘Yeah, right around that corner. I’m going to get the door. He’s one of my regulars.’

‘Thanks.’ I hurry into the cramped bathroom and shove it close.

I didn’t know anyone out here or anyone I could trust. Carter could easily find me since he knows the place so well. I just needed to find a way out without him seeing me.

‘Either you can come out now or I can kick this door down and it wont be pretty.’ Carter’s cryptic voice is on the other side of the door.

Before I could open the door it is kicked open nearly hitting me out of the way. Carter bombards his way in and shoves me out of the bathroom. As we were walking out I see the man unconscious on the floor.

‘Relax. He’s alive.’ He says before we walk out of the door and to the old station wagon.

‘Just let me go.’ I plead as he starts the car up.

‘But then you won’t get to here my story.’

Carter drives back to the warehouse and makes sure to chain me up tighter than before. He grabs a rusty stool and sits down across from me.

‘When I was little I didn’t have many friends as you may have guessed. I liked to write poetry, and I’m sure you already know that. Others didn’t seem to enjoy my poems. They thought I was weird. They thought I was some kind of creep. Even my own parents. My dad wanted to son he could be proud of. He didn’t want some wimpy poet. He wanted me to go into the Army like he did. My mom she didn’t care. She was exhausted from taking care of me while he was gone. She lost any effort when she found out he liked to cheat while he was away. She let herself go. She stopped caring about me. She didn’t wash my clothes. She didn’t feed me. She didn’t even look at me. I was a freshman in high school and the football team was giving me a hard time. They shoved me, knocked my books down, the captain even stomped on my glasses. I sat there in the crowded hallway holding what was left of my glasses. Wondering how I would explain this to my parents. I knew I didn’t have the money to replace them. I mean I was still wearing the shoes from seventh grade. My backpack and pants had holes in them. This was before holey jeans were in. Many people watched but no one cared. Some even laughed. They thought it was funny that these Neanderthals were picking on this small kid, this innocent kid. I didn’t say anything to them. They didn’t even know my name but they tortured me. Finally, some girl in a pretty dress bent down and helped me picked up my books. She apologized for them and she said how they were the worst. She stacked up my books and stood on her feet. Her hand was in front of me, offering it to me. Finally some one had acknowledged my existence. She wasn’t like the others. She was gorgeous and nice. A very rare combination. The popular girl was helping the nerd. The bell rang and she scurried off to her class. I went home that afternoon and I dreamt about her. I assumed she had already forgot about me. But the next morning she stood at my locker with a black case in her hands. She had went out and actually bought me a new pair of glasses. I couldn’t believe it. With the new glasses I could really see how beautiful she really was. Her smile was breathtaking. I wanted her to be mine. I wanted her to myself. That day at lunch she sat there and I shared my poems with her. She hung onto every word. She thought it was neat that I was so much more creative than the typical preppy jock at our high school. I never asked her out. I mean I knew she would say no so I just admired her from afar. After high school I never talked to her again. I graduated from the police academy because I didn’t have the money to go to college.’ He went on in detail looking off in space as he reminisced, ‘this is where you come along my dear. One day I was on patrol and stopped at this magazine rack to see your picture on the front of it. I couldn’t believe it. You looked just like the girl from high school. You were her splitting image. Same beautiful smile, same hair, same eyes, you even had her nose. I thought I was dreaming. Chrissy Thorton. As soon as I got off work that day I went home and looked you up. Your birthdate. Your birthplace. I desperately needed to ease my wandering mind. Finally a picture came up. With you and your mom. And my questions had been answered. That girl from the hallway was on the screen with you. Somehow you looked even better as if that was possible. I knew if I couldn’t have her, then I would be honored to have her daughter. So I waited and I watched. For weeks I would catch you walking somewhere around in LA with that little punk beside you. Then you broke up. I knew this was my chance. I wanted to swoop in for the kill and make you mine. Out of the blue, you two get back together and I was infuriated. I felt like I had lost to the jock again and I couldn’t take it. I wanted you and I was going to have you. No matter what anyone said or did. You were going to be mine.’ He pauses to stroke his spine-chilling hand across my cheek, ‘and now you are.’