Mine

Chapter 13

"Camden? Baby is that you?"

"It's me baby, how are you?"

"I'm scared. I'm lost and cold. I want you."

"I want you to baby, but I'm gone now."

"No, we can be together. I want us to be together."

Camden looked like some kind of blurry mist. He walked towards and pinned my arms to my side.

"Listen to me Madison, you have to stop."

"I can't, I want you."

"Madison, they are going to kill you while you're weak. You have to let me go."

"I can't. I'm not strong enough."

"Baby, listen to me, I'm in a far better place. I'm with my family and my friends and you'll be here too one day, but not today, not now. I need you to keep trying baby, I need you to keep pressing on. You can't die like this."

"I'll see you again?"

"Yes baby, you'll see me again. Not right now though, you're not ready. Wake up and fight. Fight for your life."

"I have to wake up? When can I see you again?"

"I'm always here. Watching you and hope you get out, it's time to wake up now."

"Waking up is so painful."

"I know baby, I know."

Camden kissed my forehead and disappeared.
••••••••••••••••••••••••

I woke up to Amanda shaking my arm. I looked down at her and blood was streaming from a cut in her forehead.

"Can you make me better?"

I took her hand and led her to the bathroom. I couldn't get Camden's voice out of my head.

"Who did this to you?"

"Daniel and Craig. They wanted to play doctor but daddy said no and Daniel hit me."

"Your daddy said no? Where's Daniel and Craig now?"

"Daddy took them to the house."

"What house?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Daddy says I can't go in there. I just hear screams and stuff, it gives me nightmares."

"So your daddy's not here?"

She shook her head and my heart jumped a little.

"Amanda, I want you to go get dressed okay?"

"What's going on?"

"Me and you are going somewhere okay?"

Amanda rushed off and I was shaking with anticipation. I had been in here for months and finally I was getting out. I ran my hand over the cut on my leg where I had tried to sneak out the first time.

I walked to wear Amanda was changing and saw her slip her shirt on and turn to me. I grabbed her hand and ran downstairs. I went to the kitchen and retrieved another knife before going to the front door.

It was locked.

"Amanda, do you know where your daddy keeps the keys?"

"In his room."

The chain slowed me down some, but I ran to William's room and looked through the dresser. A key chain with two keys on it sat alone in one of the bottom dressers.

I used one to unhook the chain and the shackles fell. I moved around to regain some comfort in my stiff bones.

I ran back to see Craig standing with Amanda.

"Are you trying to escape?"

"I..."

"Answer me! My father won't be pleased."

He turned for the door, but I ran and pushed the knife through his back. He let out a yelp and then hit the floor.

"Oh God, is he dead?" The knife was shaking in my hand and his body remained motionless on the floor.

"Craig?" Amanda whispered from behind me. She knelt down to her brother and rubbed his hair. Blood was pooling at her feet and the whole site disgusted me.

"Amanda?" I touched her, but she grabbed mine and twisted it.

"You killed him!"

"I was trying to save us both!"

I wasn't intent on killing her, but I held the knife out in front of me. Amanda ran off somewhere and I just stood there, completely motionless. I couldn't even gather my thoughts at this point.

I controlled my hands just enough to try one of the keys into the lock.

"I'll shoot you dead."

I turned around and William stood there with a rifle. It was pointed at my head and that just made more swear pour from my body.

"You killed my boy."

"You killed Camden, I guess we're even."

"Amanda go get my gear. It's hunting season."

I didn't know what he meant by those words, but I knew it couldn't be anything good.