Fail!

  “Fuck you! You don’t own me. You will never own me. You don’t even know me or my father. We didn’t do anything to deserve this, it was your trashy family. They’re to blame for your piss poor life. You aren’t entitled to anything.”

  I throw up my hands challenging him. “I’m not afraid of you. At some point the police are going to find you. You’re going to pay for your crimes. They know you tried to kill me and Garver. Whatever you’re trying to get away with won’t work. They have your name. Garver may be helping you, but there’s got to be an explanation.”

  He actually cackles while raising his fist like he’s going to flash to my side and take me out. “My brother isn’t my problem anymore. He chose you over his own flesh and blood. He can rot in the ground with the rest of you.” He slams his hand down so hard on the dresser I jump.

  I’m thinking crazy things, but what else am I to do? It’s eerily quiet, too quiet for grown men fighting to get free.

  What has he done to Dad? I have to get answers, because if my chances of making it out of this alive are cut short, I need to prepare for the worst case scenario. Even though I’m almost positive Garver is innocent, I play the naïve card to get answers. “Garver lured me into this house. I think you’re wrong where his loyalty lies. He betrayed us for you. I thought he was coming to make things right. Turns out, it was a ploy to get back to you. I don’t know how you managed the shack in the woods. He made it believable. I really thought you wanted him to die with me. I thought his injury was life-threatening.”

  My idea works. He immediately starts spewing the truth from his gritted teeth “Stupid girl, you know nothing. He’s messed up everything I had planned. He’s a screw-up. He chose your pussy over getting back what belonged to us. I gave him a chance to be a part of it. He only convinced you to come inside because I threatened his new family.”

  “He pointed a gun in my back and threatened me. He thought it was loaded.”

  “Garver wasn’t helping me. If he didn’t convince you to come into this house I was going to slice up your weak-ass dad. Garver’s too soft. He doesn’t have the balls to follow through with things. He never saw the big picture when it was offered to him. He’s better off in the ground. He would’ve ended up there anyway, once I got what I wanted. I never planned on sharing.”

  “You’re a sick asshole!”

  “Maybe, or maybe I am entitled. Maybe I was prevented from having the life I deserve. They tossed me aside for someone else to raise. I had to watch and hear about Garver, the baby my mother kept. I was glad she lost it. She deserved to go insane for what she did to me. All those times I saw her at family functions and not once did she pay attention to me. It was always about him and that loser husband.”

  “They were childhood sweethearts. You can’t help who you love. Your grandfather is the person you need to blame for everything.”

  “Too late for that. I blame them all. The truth could’ve come out as soon as that old geezer croaked, but they kept it going. She’s never said she wanted me. I thought when I took that prick away she’d change her mind, but I was wrong. That bitch is broken. They broke her, all of them, that’s why they’re dead and I’m still alive.”

  Oh. My. God. This guy is a nutso. Did he just say he took Garver’s dad away?”

  I’m shuffling around for my clothes, pulling up my pants while constantly staring forward to protect myself.

  “I thought your mother killed her husband?” I have to ask. Why not? I’m stalling him. Maybe help will burst through the door. Maybe dad is planning to barge in at any second.

  “She made it easy. I let her think she did it. All those meds they had her on fucked with her head. She was easy to manipulate, and so was the kid. He only remembers what people planted in his head. That bastard tried to cut me out. He said I wasn’t welcome in this house. He told me to stay away. He deserved what he got, and I can tell you, it wasn’t a quick death. I watched him suffer. It was enlightening watching a human being die, seeing the look on their face when they know they’re not going to make it. I thought it would be difficult, but everything fell into place, just like it should have. The only obstacle I faced was losing the auction. Do you know how long I had to wait for all of the legal shit to happen? Do you know how much money I had to save to buy it back? No one was supposed to show up. No one wanted the cursed house, at least no one local. You and your father ruined everything. You took it right out from under me.”

  I’m shaking my head. This is all unreal. He’s killed people over his claim to this house? He wants to kill me, because of this house.”

  “You were the one in the attic the whole time.” I’m not asking. It’s a rhetorical question.

  “It’s my house!”

  “You gouged out my eyes in photographs and watched me day after day.”

  “I know every inch of you, probably better than my brother.” He takes me in. “He has a lot to learn about pleasuring a woman.”

  I back up more, fear and adrenaline meshing into a rush of endorphins. “Screw you! I hate you. You had no right to do any of this. I hope you rot in hell. You won’t get away with any of this.”

  “I already am.”

  “Garver will find a way to stop you.”

  “He thinks he’s a damn cat with nine lives. He may have escaped his fate once, but this time it’s a done deal. Now that I have you here, I don’t have use for him anymore. I’m not going to be on the sidelines watching either. This house and everything in it belongs to me, you included. It would be a shame to put you in the ground too. I’ve imagined the many ways I want to have you. We could be happy here. I’d have to change around my story, but I’ll think of something.”

  My stomach is churning with hatred and bile. This sicko actually thinks I’d want to stay with him. He’s absolutely insane.

  Knock. Knock.

  It’s a second chance at escape.

  My eyes look to him and then the bedroom door. Garreth senses my escape plan. He reaches behind him and pulls the gun off the dresser before I’m able to bolt out of the room. I’m standing at my door, raising my hands and praying to myself that he doesn’t fire and end this. “If I don’t answer they’ll know something is wrong.” Play it cool, Sophie!

  “How do I know you didn’t say something to make them come back?” He’s at my throat, squeezing so hard I feel as if I could pass out. Then he lets go when I try to answer.

  “I wouldn’t put my father’s life in danger. I still won’t. I swear. Frank is worried about Garver. He thinks of him as his son.”

  As soon as I say it I can tell it hits a nerve with Garreth. “Frank and Garver will be together soon enough. I’ve got big plans to ensure what’s mine stays that way. There won’t be loose ends. I’ve made sure of it.”

  “Big plans how?” More worry ensues. “What are you planning? What made you this twisted?”

  “Go deal with whoever it is, and then you’re going to find out, little puppet. Make it quick and keep your mouth shut, because if you don’t, if you tell them what’s going on, your dad will be dead before they make it up the steps.” He takes the gun and holds it up to his head, making a sound like it’s firing and blowing his brains out. It’s a warning for me, one I need to take seriously.

  I nod, unwilling to say more in case he’s counting pennants. After making sure I’m redressed, he pushes me out of the room.

  The thirteen steps it takes to get downstairs are spent searching for a way to save us. I need a mind reader to be standing on the opposite side of the door. I need a whole swat team prepared to bust through the upstairs bolted shut windows and take Garreth down. I need to fly out the door screaming for the police to go in and take them down. Would Garreth stick with his threats or do his best to escape, leaving Dad and Garver? At least some revelations were revealed. He’d forced Garver to bring me inside by gunpoint. Will he kill him? Will he kill both of them? Me?

  Please, God, no!

  When my hand reaches the doorknob I’m in tears. I can’t fake being okay. I’m going to be raped and killed if I don’t do something. Taking the biggest breath in my life, and praying for the spirit of my mother to somehow assist, I open the door.

  I’m so close to freedom I can taste it, but the cost outweighs the decision to do it. Two people I love are still in danger. Garreth is unhinged. At any moment he could do something to end this without reaping his reward. He has to realize the chances of this going in his favor are next to none. His end game is probably death, maybe for all of us.

  The door opens and I see a familiar officer on the other side. He nods to greet me. “Evening' Miss Brooks. I was doing a check of the perimeter and figured I’d see if you needed anything.”

  I lean my head on the door as if all's right with the world. A heavy air-filled sigh escapes. “Nah. I’m good. I’ve got plenty of ramen noodles and frozen pizzas. I’ve been sleeping most of the day.” I even manage to fake a yawn. “I guess I still haven’t fully recuperated.”

  “Do you need me to run into town for you?”

  Deputy Shank is displayed on the right chest pin of his uniform. He’s a young deputy, probably early twenties. There’s a twinkle in his eyes when he asks if I need something. His composure is more laid back than professional, and I catch him taking me in as if he thinks I’m cute. If life were different, I'd probably accept an offer for a date if he gave one, but my path has been chosen and happiness isn’t anywhere in the near future.

  “That’s really nice of you to offer. Dad’s truck is here if I need to run out. The house is locked up and I’m safe. I have nine-one-one memorized if anything happens,” I say with sarcasm.

  That’s when he pulls out a pocket-sized notepad and begins jotting down his cell number. He’s halfway through when I take it from him.

  I can barely write I’m shaking so badly. I talk the whole time so Garreth doesn’t suspect anything.

  “You don’t have to keep hanging around. Before all of this happened my dad reinforced the house. No one can get inside. I’d rather you guys use your resources to help find my dad.”

  Garreth armed inside.

  Dad and Garver tied.

  You have to leave or he will hurt us.

  Come back - get help.

  Deputy Shank reads the message and answers quickly, his eyes scanning the small space behind me.

  He taps on the note as he speaks. “I respect your decision. Take my number and if anything suspicious comes up give me a call. Have a good night and keep the doors locked. If we have any new information about your father we’ll be in touch. Goodnight, Miss Brooks.”

  I mouth the words ‘thank you’ as he back steps. “Please do. Have a nice night, officer.”

  When I close the door I know help is coming. All I have to do is keep everyone alive until they arrive.

  No sooner do I spin around when I see Garreth standing at the foot of the stairs, a disgruntled grimace plastered across his smug face. “Should’ve known I couldn’t trust you.”

  “What are you talking about? We exchanged numbers and I don’t even have my phone on me. It got tossed in the woods, remember?”

  Having no idea how much he saw, I pray my little lie will suit his curiosity. At the same time the cruiser is pulling away I’m being yanked by my hair back up the stairs. Once in the room I spot Garver the same way I left him, tied and struggling to fight for his freedom. Dad is still nowhere to be seen. When Garreth shoves me onto the bed I abruptly sit up and wave my hands to stop him from pouncing on me. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

  He’s leaning forward, one knee topping the edge of the bed. “Hold it.”

  “I’m serious. I can’t hold it. Please, give me a break. I’m here. I’m doing what you said. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get out of this so let me use the bathroom. It’s not like I can jump out the windows. We had to secure them to keep you out, remember?”

  He ponders on it. “You can go, but I’m coming with you.”

  I shove past him. “Of course you are.”

  For some reason unbeknownst to me he doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt me. It’s more like he wants to keep me for himself, which is super sick and twisted. At any rate, he’s not sexually assaulting me yet, and if I can just hold off for a little while longer, help will arrive. I can handle the groping, and even the nasty innuendos. I can’t handle him having his way with me.

  We get into the hall bathroom, him standing in the doorframe. “Can you turn around? I can’t go with you staring at me. You obviously never had a sister.”

  He lets out an amused chortle. My eyes roll as I focus on making myself pee. The strand lasts for two seconds before trickling to nothing. This couldn’t be more awkward, yet it gives me just enough time to grab my dad’s ugly green comb and slip it in the waist of my underwear before pulling them up and flushing. The comb always made me laugh. It’s probably from the eighties, plastic, and best of all has an extremely long handle that ends in a sharp point. Normally it wouldn’t be deemed dangerous, but need be a stab to the jugular would probably kill him. If only I’d paid more attention in biology class to know exactly where to aim without having to study his neck.

  The sound of something falling gets our attention as the toilet flushes. Garreth leaves me to check it out, but I’m right on his tail to make sure the people I love are okay.

  Garver is still where he was before, he’s yelling through the duct tape but I have no clue what he’s saying. His brother pushes by me and heads down the hall to my father’s bedroom. He opens the door as I follow, and once inside I notice it’s dark. Garreth flicks the light switch but nothing happens.

  My eyes begin to focus as he checks the bed and sees its empty. He slams his fists down on it. “Come out, come out wherever you are.” Before I know what’s happening, he’s grabbed me and shoved his body behind me while one hand brings the barrel of his gun to my temple.

  I immediately feel as if the temperature in the house has risen twenty degrees. My clothes seem like they’re sticking to my skin. My eyes burn from all the crying. The palpitations in my chest feel as if they’re going to thump my heart right out of my body. I try to gulp a lump in my throat, albeit it’s so dry it sticks. I cough and finally get enough fluid to secrete the dryness.

  Listening closely, I can hear Garver in the room across the hall. I can feel Garreth’s disgusting figure pushing himself against me. I know the exact measurements of the tip of the gun as it embeds into my soft skin.

  “If you think for one second I won’t put a bullet in your daughter’s skull you’re fooling yourself. I don’t need her for this to happen. In fact, the more I think about it, my original plan will still work. Her death will cause you to sell me this house. You’ll want it to happen fast so you can disappear. No one in this town will even miss you.”

  “Please.” Dad’s voice comes from the dark corner of the room. He’s walking toward us with his hands raised, but it takes until he’s about four feet away to make it out. “I beg of you. Don’t hurt my little girl. I signed the papers already. They’ve been overnighted to the mortgage company. You don’t have to hurt anyone.”

  He presses the barrel harder when he replies, each word causes the indentation to have a chance to form. “Do you make me out to be a fool? I’m no idiot. The first thing you’re going to do is call the cops.”

  “I won’t. As long as Sophie and I are freed, we will walk away. The only calls I’ll make is to my boss. He can spread the word that we won’t be returning. I’ll tell him the ordeal with Sophie scared us so we hightailed it out of town.”

  It’s a good plan, though it won’t stick. Too many people have been looking for dad. I was abducted and left for dead. Now I’ve notified the police and they’re coming back with extra men to get us out of here.

  Garreth takes the gun away from my head and taps the handle against his own while he thinks about it. With the weapon pointed away from me, Dad reacts with all of the fight he has left in him. His large frame slams against Garreth sending them both backwards on the floor. The gun falls from his grasp and slides somewhere near the bed. I’m not about to look for a light. Instincts of survival kick in and I know it’s now or never. When Garreth hears sirens he’s going to flip his shit and I don’t want us to be around when it happens. With all my might I rush toward them and grab my father while using my free foot to kick at Garreth’s head. If we can knock him unconscious we will have time to flee. Dad gets his footing, punching Garreth one time before standing. Garreth reaches out and grabs my ankle. As soon as I feel his hand clasp around it I know I’m going down.

  Falling to the floor, pain ripping at my side, I suddenly recall the comb I have stuck in my waistline. With horrible precision, and so much desperation, I take it by the threads and jab in the direction of his face. At this point I’m screaming words that have no meaning. All of the pain, anger, hate and despair are pouring out of me with every stab. I feel the contact it makes with his cheek, and how it feels to break into the flesh. I feel the rejecting blows that don’t cut through the fabric of his shirt or pants. I make contact with one of his wrists as he attempts to defend himself. Dad is fighting him too, both of us determined to subdue this maniac so we can get out of here.

  Someone is pulling me off the floor, grabbing my father by his arm and calling our names. Garver got free. He tugs the both of us into the hallway and closes the bedroom door, before we all haul ass down the stairs. We don’t look behind us. I’m in front, Dad is behind me, and Garver in the back. Simultaneously, the sounds of our footsteps and vehicles barreling down the driveway capture my attention. Help has arrived and all we have to do is make it to the door and outside.

  Upstairs, the door is opened, proceeded by Garreth calling out for revenge. He’s growling threatening profanities as we hit the wooden stairs.