MC's POV
I lay here feeling dazed and perplexed, in a pool of my own blood! I must of passed out from the shock or searing pain that's surging through every inch of my body, I ease myself up taking my time, and lean against the cold stone wall for support, my body is weak from dehydration, starvation, and my numerous wounds, my mental state has also taken a battering, and it takes all my strength to pull the sleeve of my top until it tears at the seams, I carefully wrap it around the open wound on my thigh fastening it tightly, to ease the blood flow, hoping it looks worse than what it is, although the blood loss suggests otherwise!We have less than 24 hours, and Hope is all that I have left, Hope that once again Jake evaded his pursuers. Hope that between the group, Alan and himself they will save us! These are the only thoughts keeping me alive in this very moment, and I refuse to believe that my time with Jake is over, I did not fight for him for it to end like this! Ulric groans loudly grabbing my attention, I glance over to see him pointing at the floor, I watch him intently as he places his index finger in the blood that has made it's way over to him, he pulls his blood covered finger out and starts to write something on the concrete. I use the wall to manoeuvre myself closer to see what he is writing, the words read "my son" he can't be serious! can it really be that Otis was behind Jason this whole time, how can such a monster be a person i only remember fondly, did i really cause all this suffering, my blood runs cold at the thought, the man is suppose to be deceased! And if he's Capable of inflicting such horrific wounds on his own father, what in the world is he going to do to me!
MC: Your own son did this to you Ulric?
He nods in agreement, and starts to sob, it is clear he has only ever wanted his son's approval and now look at him, a shell of a man waiting for death!
MC: I'm sorry he did this to you. We will get out of here ok! They will find us! There is still hope!
He looks up giving me a half hearted smile, and starts to write something else, then the door swings open before i can read it, I recoil back to my position, trying to avoid eye contact with Otis, he's unpredictable and that scares me more than anything! I hear him place our daily glass of water and stale bread on the concrete floor. I stay quiet, as quiet as I possibly can, it seems the sound of my voice is an easy trigger for him, and I can not risk anymore attacks!
OTIS: WELL MC YOU HAVE LEFT QUITE THE FUCKING MESS ON MY FLOOR! BUT LUCKILY FOR YOU I'M IN A GOOD MOOD! 21 HOURS AND COUNTING! THE PREPARATIONS HAVE BEGUN!
He paces the room, excitable like a little child on his birthday, but then he stops.
OTIS: WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!!
Fuck!!! What could I have possibly done now, i have not even said a word!! I'm to petrified to look but i have to know what he's so angry about, I glance over at him to realise it's not me he is angry with, it's Ulric! He's spotted the writing on the floor, a lump rises in my throat not wanting to witness what ever punishment awaits Ulric. Otis storms out the room and returns with a thick rope and a chair, I look at Ulric and as he catches my gaze he starts to sob, i can see his heart is broken, the love he holds for Otis even after everything he's done is undeniable, he lunges forward grabbing on to Otis's leg, as a last hope, he just wants to hold him, one last time, his son, his flesh and blood! I can't help but sob with Ulric seeing how desperate he is for his son's love, only to be rejected! Otis kicks ulric off and grabs the rope, placing it around Ulric's neck and tying it tightly, he stands on the chair and threads the other end through a thick metal hoop attached to the ceiling. He walks over and releases Ulric from his shackles.
OTIS: THERE IS A REASON I CUT OUT YOUR TONGUE! YET YOU STILL DISAPPOINT ME! THAT FUCKING BITCH DESTROYED MY LIFE, AND YOU STILL TRY AND HELP HER! YOU ARE NOT A FATHER! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A COWARD! YOU ARE DEAD WEIGHT TO ME NOW! AND YOU WILL PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR YOUR BETRAYAL!!
Otis grabs the rope hoisting up Ulric until his feet are off the floor, and ties it to another metal hoop on the wall close to me. Ulric starts to thrash, making the most haunting sounds as he gasps for air!
MC: OTIS PLEASE DON'T DO THIS, I BEG OF YOU!
I shouldn't risk it but I can't watch this man die, I lunge forward and grab onto the rope, trying desperately to untie it, when Otis grabs me from behind, squeezing me so tight I can barely breath, I have never know strength like his! I am powerless in this moment, I can not save him!!
OTIS: NOW YOU WATCH HIM DIE! LOOK IN HIS EYES AND WATCH THE LIFE FADE AWAY RIGHT INFRONT OF YOU! AND KNOW IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!
I scream repeatedly begging him to stop, but he just laughs at my desperation, how can this man do this to his own father! Then a deafening silence fills the air as Ulric's body goes limp, slowly swinging from side to side, the only sound is the creaking of the rope under the pressure, until he comes to a halt! Otis releases me leaving me standing there, I can't bare the pain, it's like a thousand needles being plunged into my skin, I fall to my knees, and that's when I am able to see Ulric's last words, and it breaks me, hitting me like a knife to the chest It reads "Forgive Me!"
Jake's POV.
The image of MC is tormenting my thoughts, the torment increased by the newly found knowledge that Otis is her captor, Alan has confirmed that after finding no death record for him, the man is unhinged, unpredictable and always one step ahead, I have to save her, I can not bare to live a life without her in it! The group are all in my room whilst I try and track the phones location. Alan is looking into any properties rented or brought under the names Jason vanderwalt or Otis and Ulric Barret. The rest are trying to dig up any information they can, so far we have nothing, but I'm getting close I can feel it! It's now 2am we have 19 hours left,I won't let her down, not again!
Jessy: Guys Ted said we are right where Otis wants us to be, what if he's expecting us to trace his message!
Jake: It's a possibility Jessy, but it also leaves us in an impossible situation.
Jessy: What do you mean?
Jake: Call it catch 22, like Ted said he's smart, he might be waiting for us to track his location, so we are out of his way, we could go there and find nothing, or we could risk not going there and MC dies, he's left us with no option.
Alan: Hang on. The pine glade festival starts tomorrow, he also made it very clear MC's death would be one to remember, which to me sounds like he is counting on an audience.
Jessy: So you think he plans to take her life infront of everyone at the festival? Seems risky don't you think! Would he really put his own life on the line like that?
Alan: Yes I believe he would, this man cares for nothing but vengeance Jessy, the message he sent to me states all sinners must pay, including him, so maybe this is his big finale, he wants to be remembered for punishing the sinful.
Phil: So we really could be on to something here!
Alan: We can only hope, so 24 hours from the time the message was sent takes us to 9pm, any ideas why that time I significant?
Dan: That's the time of the parade, if he wants an audience that's the best way to get one, the parade goes through the whole town.
Alex: Sounds plausible, but we can not at any cost afford to be wrong.
Jake: Alex is right, even if we are on to something, which i believe we are, we need an ironclad plan, we can't risk acting on impulse, Otis will have all areas covered, remember he's had 10 years to think about this!
Dan: So what's our next move?
Jake: I still need to secure a location, we can not risk not going there, whether he's expecting us or not.
Cleo: And what if our theory is wrong?
Jake: That's the problem Cleo, everything we think we know so far could all be down to the fact it is what he wants us to know, like Ted said he's a master of manipulation, there is no room for error, we need to be certain, MC's life depends on it, and time is not on our side!
It feels like we are making progress and no progress all at the same time! We can't be sure of anything and that terrifies me to my core, today is the day I could lose MC forever if we make even the smallest mistake! I can not and will not lose the only woman I've ever loved, that is not an option, even an eternity with her will not be long enough! I'm coming MC I promise you that!
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