Grace
In life…
I always found myself surprised by little things.
Any truth, any secret, any incident could make me go still or start panicking and shock would take over.
But as the call disconnects and Carlos’ laughter filters through the speaker of the other phone…
I struggle to feel surprised.
It’s love, he said. He can’t forget about me because…
He loves me.
I should have been shocked and in denial at the confession that came so suddenly. But I am not.
Instead, my heart is pounding inside my chest, trying to break out of my ribcages.
It’s like I knew he loved me but couldn’t believe it before and now I do. Because he says he loves me.
The masked men leave us to our state, and retreat into the corner, sitting on a table, playing poker.
Tristin said he would come soon. And I believe him. That’s why…I sit still and watch Celine.
The cold, damp air of the warehouse gnaws at my skin, making the sting of the cuts and bruises on my arms even worse.
Tristin’s words have acted like a lifeline in this dark place, and I am clinging to it, putting all my trust in him.
Soon, I will find out if I have been fooled or if I am lucky.
After a while, Celine picks up her head, her usually bright eyes now filled with fear and confusion. The men tied her hands behind her back so she can only move on the floor but not free herself.
How long have we been here? I wonder. Every minute has started to feel like an eternity.
The men get tired after several rounds and rest on the chairs, their masks still pulled on their faces.
My head rolls to the side with exhaustion as I find myself whispering to Celine. “ don’t worry. Everything is going to be alright, Celine. ”
She nods, and silently cries on the floor. My heart hurts for her. She landed in this trouble just because she was my friend.
I am lost in my thoughts and fighting to stay conscious when…
Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot shatters the silence. The door to the warehouse bursts open, and chaos erupts. It all happens so fast that I barely get the chance to make sense of it.
Lights fill the area, and I squint my eyes trying to see what’s happening. Fear has me in a vice, threatening to choke me.
To my surprise, Ethan storms in, followed by several men. The air fills with the sharp sounds of gunshots shortly after.
It’s a mess. The men are everywhere, firing at each other while Celine and I sit, tied in a corner.
My heart pounds harder in my chest. I expected anyone but not him.
Ethan is here, but where is Tristin?
I watch in horror as bullets fly, men shout and fall, and the clash of men makes me sick.
Ethan is hiding behind boxes with his men and two of the surviving kidnappers are hiding on the opposite side. Heads poke out, shots are fired and then they take cover again.
It goes on for what feels like a lifetime, and I realize…how easy it is for one of the kidnappers to make us their target and…shoot us.
Is Ethan an idiot?!
I struggle harder against my restraints, my muscles burning with the effort.
“ Grace!” Celina whimpers in fear.
“ Celine, keep your head down! ” I shout, idiotically grabbing other’s attention but to my relief, they don’t start firing at us.
I pull with all my might, my wrists screaming in protest but the ropes don’t loosen. I can’t let Celine die because of me, something inside my head cries out. I have to save her.
Through my fear-filled eyes, I see Ethan coming out from the other side of the boxes, his expression grim and determined. His men cover him and clear his path so he can get to me.
My breath catches in my throat when my eyes meet his gaze in the darkness. It’s been so long since I last saw him and I feel more angry than relieved that he is here.
Behind Ethan’s figure, a loud explosion shakes the whole warehouse. My ears ring, as shock renders me unable to move for a few seconds.
Is he fucking serious?
The place where the two kidnappers stood is now nothing but fire and ashes. My guts wrench and I double over, dry heaving, struggling to throw up.
They are dead. I am relieved and horrified all at once.
But I am proved wrong.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the masked men sneaking towards Celine.
He is still wearing a mask and there is a trail of blood in his path. His determined eyes lift to me, and then he changes his way, abandoning Celine to rush in my direction.
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