lay motionless and attempted to focus on the conversation Aster and Silas were having in the front seat. The music was too loud and I could only pick out fragments.
“They will pay us when they-,” Silas said in an angry tone.
“What if you killed her? She-” Aster shot back. I closed my eyes tightly and tried to steady myself. I felt nauseous. Everything was spinning and I couldn’t contain it any longer. I heaved violently on the seat and floor. Silas slammed on the breaks and cursed as he whipped off of the road onto the shoulder. I heaved again as his hands looped around my arm and yanked me from the vehicle and I slammed onto the gravel road below. Aster was quickly at my side and brushing my hair from my face as I vomited helplessly, expelling the morning eggs and shitty turkey sandwich.
“What if she has a concussion?” She asked as she patted my back soothingly.
“Not our problem,” he answered as he paced back and forth nervously, running his hands through his hair.
“It is our problem if Reid finds out what you did,” she shot back angrily.
“He wanted her! What else was I supposed to do? She was gonna get away!” I could hear the fear in his voice and people do stupid things when they are scared. He may decide it is better to kill me and say I escaped then to take me to Reid injured.
“I'm all right,” I shouted between labored breaths. “I just need a drink of water.” I looked back and forth between the two of them. Silas stared at me for a long moment then went to the back of the van to get me a drink from their cooler. He returned quickly with a bottle and twisted the cap off and handed it to me. I drank slowly trying to buy myself some time to think. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“It can wait. We are almost there.” Silas replied, grabbing me by my arm and lifting me to my feet.
“How? It’s still dark out,” I asked as he shoved me into my seat and pulled a zip tie from his pocket, fastening my hands behind my back.
“You been asleep for a long time,” Aster answered as Silas slid the door shut between us.
“Shit.” The van started back down the road. I stared out of the side window at the street sign that read Church and Main. My mind was racing and throbbing at the same time. This was what I had wanted, granted my plan never went past getting to Grayson’s side. I let my eyes fall closed and tried to clear my thoughts.
We weaved through the hollow and the van slowed as we approached the old farmhouse. I said a silent prayer as we made our way up the driveway. I wasn’t a religious person by any means, but I was willing to try anything at this point. We slammed to a stop with a bang. I caught my breath in my throat and searched into the darkness. Marcus stood in front of the van, illuminated by the headlights.
“Get out of the car Eva,” he growled between clenched teeth. I froze for a moment, as scared of him as my kidnappers. “Get out,” he growled louder and I scrambled to open the door. I was thankful he was on my side. I ran to him, his eyes never leaving the occupants of the van.
“Just leave them. We don’t have time for this,” I pleaded.
He grabbed the plastic tie that held my hands and ripped it from my wrists effortlessly.
Grabbing him by his arm, I struggled to pull him away. He didn’t budge until he was ready. When he finally broke his stance, I nearly fell backward. Marcus wrapped his fingers around my forearm swiftly, holding me in midair.
“Thanks,” I said nervously. He nodded his head and loosened his grip, but still holding on firmly.
“Let’s go,” he whispered as he pulled me around the back of the building. I followed as quietly as I could, cursing my noisy flip flops in my head. “In here,” he whispered in a barely audible tone as he inclined his head toward a barn on the backside of the property. I nodded in understanding and slid off my flip flops, holding them in my free hand. We made our way across the field in the darkness without as much as a field mouse noticing our intrusion. Marcus motioned for me to stand back