[A/N: Good morning one and all. Hope you all are having a lovely day! Here is chapter 18. Hope you like it. Thank-you once again for readng Iris. Love to all! ^_^ Oh and all rights go to their respective owners...I mean the song that is used in this chapter.]
That was a weird dream. I opened my eyes sleepily and tried to adjust them to the lighting. I wondered what task we would be doing today. I tried to move my arms but it was as if they were tied down or something. Once my eyes were comfortable with the darkness I looked down at my arms. They were bound behind my back with what felt like a thick and heavy rope. My eyes shot to my legs, they were taped to the legs of the chair. That’s when I realised I was pinned to a wooden chair. What the hell was going on here? My mind raced as the events of what had happened hit me like a bullet train. Fear spread through my whole body as I began to shake. Ok Iris, you just need to remain calm. What do they say to do when you are kidnapped? I felt my heart beat increase dramatically as I tried without successful to calm down. They don’t say anything because you’ve never been kidnapped before! I took two deep shaky breaths. It seemed to let me relax a tiny bit but my heart was still going at a hundred miles per hour. First I needed to work out what time it was, where I was and how to get out of here.
“Oh you’re awake.” Brad’s familiar voice commented somewhere in the darkness.
“Where the hell am I?” I snapped. Where did that strength come from? Brad chucked as he stepped closer and flicked on a light. The room around me flooded with brightness and revealed everything. I was in a room that looked like some old store shed with dust and cobwebs all around. Two light blubs hung from the ceiling, one over my head and the other on the other side of the room. The blubs swung from side to side just like they do in the horror movies.
“Well lassie, can’t say you weren’t warned.” Brad shrugged. Jamie entered the room with a frown on her face.
“Boss wants you.” Jamie said shortly. Brad was about to say something to me but noticed that Jamie wasn’t smiling.
“We’ll talk later.” Brad said to be bluntly and then exited through the only visible metal door. Now it was only Jamie and me in the room. Maybe I could get through to Jamie. She could be like Alison, hard exterior with a friend inside.
“Jamie, where am I? What am I doing here?” I asked seriously.
“Oh Iris, you poor little farm girl, look at the mess you have gotten yourself into. It would never have ended up like this if you had just left the competition.”
“It was a little more complicated than you may think.”
“Oh please, you think you found your one true love…Blade is sixteen, a boy, I on the other hand have a man. He understands what I need and he helped me with a career path.” Jamie smirked.
“So what happened Jamie? Brad approached you one day when he found out that you were arranged to marry Blade and swept you off your feet so that you would gain him access to the Deans?” I snapped. “Brad doesn’t love you or want you. He needs you to help him satisfy his boss, whoever the hell that is.”
“Shut up!” Jamie screamed at me. “You are lying. What do you know anyway?”
“Jamie, think about this, Brad is using you.” I said calmly. Good work Iris, make her confused. She may switch teams or get very mad; it’s a fifty/fifty plan. There was a knock at the door before Jamie could respond. A tall skinny man, wearing a grey stripped suit and yellow tie entered with Brad and two other men behind him. I have a bad feeling about this guy Iris.
“Why hello there, Miss Hollow is it?” the skinny man asked in a tone that I didn’t like.
“Iris Hollow, sir.” Jamie explained pointing at me. She looked so small and scared of this new guy. It was odd to see Jamie look like that.
“And you are?” I asked getting annoyed.
“You may call me Mr. Newcastle but I’m more commonly known as…” the skinny man began.
“The Big Lemon!” the guy beside Brad butted in. Mr. Newcastle snapped his head around to glare at the one that had spoken. The sidekick dropped his head.
“Although he is a complete moron, he’s right.” Mr. Newcastle spat.
“What do you want me with?” I asked, feeling the fear build up again.
“You my dear…are going to leave the Deans wide open for me.”
“How?”
“Oh you are a clever girl, aren’t you?” Mr. Newcastle faked praise made me shiver as he proceeded to walk right up to me. “But you cannot outwit me.” He laughed in my face. “Now I shall leave you for a while. You might want to say a prayer for the Deans’ son…for you will never see him again.” Mr. Newcastle laughed again and strolled towards the door, his shoes tapping on the metal floor.
“Lassie, the boss wants us with him.” Brad almost ordered Jamie.
“But I’ll have more fun…” Jamie began.
“Now.”
“Coming.” Jamie obeyed. That is definitely not a healthy relationship. Brad has too much power and is using Jamie to get to Blade.
The door was finally locked, leaving me and the two sidekicks from before. I took a moment to familiarise myself with the two men. The two of them were well-built and dressed in jeans and plain black shirts. One had a bald head and it seemed that he had shaved recently. The other one looked as if he hadn’t seen a razor in a couple of weeks.
“S-so…” I began to mumbled, I wasn’t sure if these guys were nice or going to kill me then and there.
“Is there something that you need Miss?” the bald one asked. I was a little shocked by the kindness and generosity in his voice.
“Shall we start with names?” I suggested, feeling my confidence building.
“Oh of course, I’m Adam Bryans and this is Leslie Webb.” the bald one greeted me.
“Hello gentlemen, I’m Iris Hollow,” I nodded with a smile. These guys didn’t seem too bad but I still had to stay on my toes, they could be acting just like Brad. “So where are we exactly?” I asked trying to sound like I was just generally curious.
“Um…” Adam began. “Do you know Webb?”
“Shut up idiot or we’ll get into trouble.” Leslie snapped nervously.
“Oh right, no more questions.” Adam chuckled. Adam was easy enough to crack but his buddy may be more of a challenge.
“What are you doing?” I stretched my neck to see what was on the table. The two of the henchmen were sitting down on very uncomfortable chairs playing what appeared to be poker.
“It is poker; it is the only thing we are allowed to play when watching you.” Leslie replied.
“I’ve never played poker before, is it hard?” I asked truthfully.
“It is if you don’t have the skill for it.”
“Oh I’m sure you have that skill, don’t you Leslie.” I smiled. Leslie blushed and looked down at his cards, trying to avoid my gaze. Adam laughed and nudged his buddy.
“You got that right missy; Leslie is the best in the gang at poker. I can never read his face.” Adam explained.
“Stop that, though it is true. No one has ever beaten me.” Leslie grinned a proud smile.
“Do you think I could have a go?” Adam and Leslie turned their heads to me at the same time. They seemed to be shocked that I would want to take on someone that has never been beaten.
“I don’t know…we were given strict instructions to watch you.” Leslie said unsure.
“But if I’m playing, you would be even closer to me if I did anything. I’ve always wanted to learn and I have nothing else to do. What do you say?” I said with my spirits lifting.
“Come on Leslie, let the girl play,” Adam nodded in agreement with my statement. “We will know if she is up to something anyway. We can keep an even closer eye on her.” I bobbled my head up and down in a nod with enthusiasm.
“Oh alright but…” Leslie began. “Do anything that is tricky or makes me nervous, you are straight back into that chair, arms tied behind you.”
“Agreed.” Adam and I said at the same time.
It didn’t take long for the guys to release me from my binds and help me over to the poker table. My legs were a little swore from being taped to the chair so they needed assistance to walk. Adam and Leslie had obviously seen the effect of the tape on others and knew what would happen. After I was comfortably sitting down Leslie began to explain the rules of poker to me. If this was meant to be a kidnapping I would be happy for Adam and Leslie to kidnap anytime. I discovered that the two of them were actually nice enough guys. They just seemed like they had fallen into the wrong crowd at one time and didn’t know how to change sides.
“So what exactly is the point of kidnapping me anyway?” I asked casually as I dropped a few chips into the middle of the table.
“Call,” Leslie replied as he placed the same number of chips on top of mine. “Well the Deans are spreading their resources to find you and make sure you are safe. So Big Lemon and a couple of the other guys break into the Deans mansion and steal the key-codes etc.”
“Oh wow, that’s actually pretty smart.” I nodded in agreement to my statement.
“Yeah but we are always stuck here in this stupid metal tub.” Adam sighed.
“Do you really want to be out in the field where there might be blood shed and killing? I think not.” Leslie retorted. The three of us were silent again for another round or two.
“Hey, could you tell us what this is?” Adam said as he pulled my lyric notebook out from underneath his chair.
“Where did you get that?” I gasped.
“Oh well I guess Brad or Jamie picked it up when they grabbed you or something.” Adam said bluntly.
“It’s my notebook full of lyrics.”
“You sing?” Adam raised an eyebrow.
“Would you sing for us?” Leslie asked.
“I-I don’t know. I get stage fright.” I stuttered remembering back to the last time I sung on a stage.
“Oh please, you can choose the song.” Adam pleaded.
“I suppose I could sing a song…” I said my voice drifting off.
“Excellent, well where that chair is can be your stage, here’s the book.” Adam said excitedly and handed me my notebook. I took a deep breath and flicked through the different songs as I stood next to that chair that I had been tied to only a few hours ago. Each song had a memory or a story behind it. My notebook was more than just a song book, it held all my secrets and dreams on those lined pages. My eyes finally rested on the last song in the notebook. I hadn’t sung it before but I really liked the sound of it so I had written it down.
“This song is for…someone very special to me…I hope you like it.” I smiled as if I was on a real stage with a microphone. Adam and Leslie clapped in encouragement.
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
“Hey I know this song!” Adam exclaimed in excitement. Leslie quickly hushed him.
I'm not looking for someone to talk to
I've got my friend, I'm more than O.K.
I've got more than a girl could wish for
I live my dreams but it's not all they say
Still I believe (I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
Images of Blade flashed before my eyes. My song to him, our first kiss, the first time he called me baby. What I would give to be with Blade for just one more day. I could tell him everything.
I've often wondered if love's an illusion
Just to get you through the loneliest days
I can't criticize it
I have no hesitation
My imagination just stole me away
(Still...) Still I believe
(I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
I hated secrets and how those secrets have gotten everyone in trouble. After all this it wouldn’t surprise me if Blade never spoke to me again. I put his whole family at risk because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut and handle the situation.
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
Love's for a lifetime not for a moment
So how could I throw it away
Yeah I'm only human
And nights grow colder
With no-one to love me that way
Yeah I need someone who really sees me...
What if Blade can’t find me? Is this the last place I’ll ever know? Will I ever see my aunty and uncle or Zuko again? What about the elements?
(Don't wanna wake...) And i won't wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
You'll reach for me and I'll know it's for sure
Then I'll give all the love in the world
(Don't wanna wake up alone anymore...)
As I finished the song a single tear rolled down my cheek. I really had to stop crying while I sung. Maybe I needed to think of happier songs.
“What’s wrong Iris?” Adam asked gently.
“I-I miss him Adam.” I whispered as I fell to the floor. More tears broke free and streamed down my face.
“Hey it will be ok. Don’t cry.” Adam reassured me.
“Adam, let’s just leave her for a minute.” Leslie said. I don’t really know what else they said because I was too distracted by the pain cutting at my chest. I should have told Blade that I loved him. He had spoken those three words but I hadn’t said them back. Now there was a very high possibility that I would never see him again. Fear and sadness swelled up inside me as I felt my world falling to pieces. I heard a door slam and some yelling voices.
“Big Lemon!” Adam gasped and looked to me sobbing on the floor.
“What the hell is this? Why is she out of her binds? And why is she crying for god’s sake?” Mr. Newcastle barked loudly.
“It’s my fault…I needed to use the bathroom.” I whispered brokenly before Adam or Leslie could speak.
“And you are crying because?” Mr. Newcastle raised a suspicious eyebrow.
“I fell; my legs were swore and not ready to walk yet.” I lied.
“Very well…you two morons, tie her back up.” Mr. Newcastle snapped. Adam and Leslie gave me apologetic looks and lifted me up. I noticed that Adam’s hands were shaking as he tied the rope around my wrists once again.
“It will be ok.” I whispered so that only the two henchmen would hear me.
“I’m sorry Iris.” Leslie whispered back as he once again strapped my legs to the chair. I nodded to show that I didn’t hold them accountable for this.
Mr. Newcastle or Big Lemon or whoever he was barked out orders that I didn’t hear and pointed to me. I stared in a daze as the tears continued to flow. I really had to gather myself together if I was going to make it through this. Now I knew how Mrs. Deans must have felt when she was kidnapped all those years ago. I hadn’t asked Blade how his father actually found his mother. Could they use to same method to save me? I could feel myself gaining some confidence again. My tears ran dry as I took deep breaths. Brad and Jamie now joined Adam and Leslie in watching over me. I was guessing that Mr. Newcastle didn’t think that Adam and Leslie were up to the job of keeping an eye on me. He was probably right but did I really look like I was going to do anything? Adam and Leslie were huge guys and looked like they could take out anyone. They probably didn’t have the guts to though. My little voice observed. I had to agree with it this time. That little voice in the back of my mind had actually be right for most of the competition. That’s when I remembered the competition. Would the Deans cancel it? Would they think that Jamie had been kidnapped too? Jamie and I were both missing, it made sense that they would believe she was also in danger. I had to get through to Jamie. She may be my only hope.
“Jamie, how did you and Brad meet?” I asked looking between the Scottish Brad Pitt and the girl with jet black hair.
“Oh…Brad saved me from some thugs…” Jamie smiled at Brad. The evil butler smiled back but it wasn’t as affectionate or friendly. He’s hiding something.
“So you were just there at the right time?” I asked Brad.
“Guess so lassie.”
“But how did you know? Thugs usually take their victims into dark alleyways right?” I continued my questioning.
“Actually they had dragged me down a deserted alley. How did you know where I was?” Jamie asked thinking back on the event.
“How many were there?” I asked.
“About six…” Jamie replied.
“So Brad, you took on six guys…did they even hit you?” I questioned with major cynicism.
“What are you talking about?” Jamie looked confused. “Where are you going with this Iris?” She hissed. I turned my focus from the now fidgeting Scotsman to Jamie.
“Doesn’t it seem odd that Brad knew exactly where you were and took out that many guys?” I asked sceptically. “It’s just doesn’t add up, does it Jamie.”
“What are you trying to say? That Brad knew I was going to be attacked?” Jamie snapped.
“Exactly.” I replied sharply.
“You’re ridiculous.” Jamie shook her head.
“I’m ridiculous when you’re the one believing that a guy, who is a criminal I might add and old enough to be your brother is interested in you. It’s not that hard to find out information about people these days. You had an in with the Deans. All Brad had to do was make you think he was a hero.” I explained.
“You lie!” Jamie screamed. “You don’t know anything, Brad loves me…” Jamie insisted as she turned to her beloved butler. Brad smirked at me and crossed one of his legs over the other to get more comfortable.
“Congratulations Iris, you have found me out. Fortunately your friend here was not so clever.” Brad gestured towards Jamie. Jamie’s face dropped and her eyes swelled with tears. My heart felt the pain she reflected. To be betrayed like that was just unthinkable.
“B-brad?” Jamie stuttered in disbelief. “She’s lying right?”
“Oh wake up Jamie. You really thought someone like me would have the slightest interest in someone like you. Don’t make me laugh.” Brad smirked.
“No, no, I don’t believe this.” Jamie shook her head as the tears darted down her pale cheeks. I hadn’t wanted for Jamie to find out this way but it was the only possible way for the two of us to get out of this alive.
“He’s just been using you Jamie…” I began. “I’m so sorry.” Jamie rose from her seat and stared at Brad and me.
“You said you loved me.” Jamie gazed into Brad’s eyes.
“I lied.” Brad shrugged. “I’m paid to.”
“Brad, how could you do that?” Leslie gasped.
“Oh shut up you big lung.” Brad growled. Leslie and Adam took a step back. Brad really did intimidate them.
“So this is all a lie?” Jamie cried as she yanked a necklace off her neck. The silver chain held a small love heart. It was a beautiful little necklace but had lost all its charm since the truth was being revealed in such a way. Jamie let the necklace fall to the floor. The room was silent for a moment. I didn’t dare utter a word. I couldn’t imagine the pain that Jamie was going through. She brought her phone out of her pocket and began clicking away.
“What are you doing now?” Brad barked.
“Deleting all the photos of you and messages from you!” Jamie screamed back.
Brad sat bored in his seat flicking his eyes to his watch every so often. Adam and Leslie began another poker game and were mumbling to each other. I rested my eyes on Jamie. She was still crying but only silent tears as she looked to Brad in anger. I wished that I could help her. I didn’t know if my plan for separating Jamie from Mr. Newcastle’s crew had been a good thing or not. Was it right for her to find out that she was being cheated like that this way? I felt kind of responsible. There was a sudden bang on the door and I jumped in surprise. Brad sprung from his chair as did Adam and Leslie. Jamie sat quietly, her face becoming even paler. Was she going to be sick? I didn’t have any time to ask her when the door fell to the floor. Yes, the actual door fell to the floor in a cloud of dust. There were gunshots and yelling. A gust of wind from the outside caused the dust in the room to rise even more and blind me from what was going on. My heart bounded in my chest. What was going on? I tried to yell out but I couldn’t even hear myself. I heard someone cry out my name.
“I’m here!” I yelled again. My voice finally lifted over the sound of the entire ruckus. A pair of large hands wrapped awkwardly around me. I couldn’t tell who it was or why they were hugging me but I felt relief fill my whole body.
“Thank god we found you.” A voice said but I couldn’t work out who it was, it was too muffled by all the other noises in the room.
“I don’t understand, how did you find us?” Mr. Newcastle asked somewhere in the mess.
“Because I told them where we were.” Jamie snarled back.
“How? When?” Brad almost gasped.
“You really think that I would have that many photos of you on my phone. God, how dumb can you be?” Jamie laughed but I could still hear the hurt in her voice.
“It’s over.” The person hugging me whispered. This time the voice was clearer.
“Mr. Deans?” I asked unsure.
“It’s ok Iris, you don’t have to say anything. It’s time to get you home.” Mr. Deans replied. I would have hugged back but my hands were still bound. Tears of joy rolled down my face. It was really ok? I was really going to go home? Could this be real? I felt the rope being untied from behind me and my legs were released as well. Before I could process what was going on, Mr. Deans lifted me up and carried me out of the room.
The sunlight hit me like a ton of bricks. It was so perfect. Soft white clouds dotted the blue sky before me. It was as if the world knew I had been saved. I could have jumping around and sung for joy but I had a feeling that my legs and Mr. Deans wouldn’t let me.
“What’s going to happen to Jamie?” I whispered to Mr. Deans. The older man stiffened slightly.
“I don’t know Iris; we’ll let the authorities work that out,” Mr. Deans said truthfully. “Let’s just get you safely back to the mansion.” I nodded in agreement and tightened my grip around Mr. Deans’ shoulders a little. I knew that Mr. Deans and I had met on odd circumstances but maybe we could start again. He had after all searched for me.
“Mr. Deans…what day is it?” I asked as my eyes finally adjusted to the brightness. Mr. Deans helped me into a car and slid in the other side.
“It’s Friday 30th May…did they do anything to you Iris?” Mr. Deans asked concern present in his voice. I shook my head and gave a small smile. So I had been kidnapped for a whole day. I was lucky that Mr. Newcastle hadn’t ordered his henchmen to do anything to me. The only thing that hurt was my wrists and legs and even then it was nothing that a little sleep couldn’t fix. The car pulled out and we began driving through streets that I had never seen before. Where the heck were we?
“Mr. Deans…I’m sorry…” I mumbled as I looked down at my hands in my lap.
“What the devil for?” Mr. Deans asked in surprise.
“It was my fault that your company was attacked and the mansion and…”
“Iris,” Mr. Deans said as he placed a hand on mine. “This is not your fault. It is my fault for not having better security and for not keeping an eye on you. I am so sorry,” My whole body began to tremble. The shock of the events of the kidnapping must have caught up with me. Just let it go Iris, you are safe. I burst into a blubbering mess and turned to sob into Mr. Deans’ shoulder. Mr. Deans lightly patted my back. I was safe. Everything was going to be ok. I was alive. “I’m so sorry,” Mr. Deans whispered into my hair as I continued to cry. I didn’t care if I looked like a wimp; I was tired and had been scared as hell. It’s not everyday that you get kidnapped, you know? “We are nearly home, you’re safe.”
“Thank-you.” I whispered a response and felt my eye lids become heavy. Iris, just have a little sleep, its ok.