I didn't know that I had drifted off to sleep until Ryan's touch on my arm jolted me awake. My heart now racing a mile a minute.
"Hannah, we're here." He says softly.
"Where?" My voice sounded groggy from just waking up, and my muscles ached as I extended my limbs as far as I could to stretch. I couldn't help but nervously look around, but to my own dismay, there was nothing but wildlife. And the sun was now setting, making this feel creepier than it needed to be. Did Sarah bring Brendon into the middle of the woods? I didn't know she was this much of the 'nature' type. Or did Ryan bring me here like a human who brings a dog that they don't want anymore to be set free? Cause there's a tiny part of me that's thinking I am the dog and Ryan just wants to be over this situation with Brendon. "We're in the middle of nowhere, Ryan."
Ryan just rolled his eyes at my response. "Don't you think that that's what she intended? I don't think she'd want to be in let's say, a random apartment building down the street." Ryan this sass is not appreciated. Especially in the woods where anything can jump out and attack us any second.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." The two of us stepped out of his car, the brisk evening air tingled at my skin.
We walk around for awhile, not really seeing anything out of the ordinary. Strange noises seemed to be surrounding me. At times I could hear the animals lerking in these woods. Or maybe a serial killer. One of the two. And then sometimes the only other sound I could hear was the crunching of leaves underneath our feet. I'm expecting this to be a whole elaborate prank, and Brendon and Sarah are gonna just jump out from behind a tree and yell 'Boo!' right in my face, with Ryan laughing at me and high fiving the two of them.
"Hannah." My skin jumped as Ryan nudges my arm, startling me from my already startling thoughts.
Once Ryan got my attention, he pointed in the direction he was staring. I couldn't exactly see as the sun was already starting to set. But from what I could make out, was a giant brick house. It looked abandoned and the grass and weeds were about two feet high. It also looked like the corners of the house were chipping away. In all honesty, I feel like it was the perfect place for Sarah to hide.
"Brendon here we come." I grab Ryans wrist and bolt over to the front of the building. Probably not the best idea to run up to an abandoned house with someone who lost their mind inside. But honestly at this point, I didn't care. I just wanted Brendon to be safe.
"God Hannah." Ryan yanked his arm away from me once I stopped running and we reached the door. "You have a fucking death grip."
"I'm sorry." I gave him a half smile as he starts rubbing at his wrist.
Taking in a deep breath, I reach for the door handle, hoping it was going to be that easy. I couldn't help but to imagine all of the possible things that could be on the other side of this door right now. All of them didn't have any good outcomes.
The door creaks as I push it open. It really was going to be this easy. I didnt like the thought of that. There was a lamp directly near the front door (an odd choice of placement) that blinded me for a second. But as my eyes adjust, I could see the well furnished rooms around the hallway, and it wasn't as beat up and falling apart as I had expected like the outside. It was surprisingly nice in here.
"Hannah." As I was admiring everything around me, Ryan speaks into the uncomfortable silence. "Lets split up. We'll cover more ground." Ahh yes, Ryan. Split up. In a house where a psycho is hiding. Good idea.
As much as I didn't want to, I nod in agreement and pick a direction, while Ryan goes the other way. I shine my phone flashlight around every corner. There was a part of me hoping that I'd find Brendon and he'd be alright. Or maybe Sarah dumped him here and left. I just didn't want to deal with her. I didn't want to know what she would do if she knew Ryan and I were here.
I happen walk over to a doorway that leads me to a darkened hallway. There weren't any doors except one all the way down at the end. The paintings on the walls were about a foot away from each other, up and down the hallway. It felt like I was being watched. And the paintings weren't helping whatsoever, considering that they were really creepy paintings of older men and women. It seemed as though they were all staring into my soul.
I reach the door at the end of the hall and I open it just a crack and peek through. Not seeing anything, I shine my light into the darkness to reveal that it was the basement. Oh lovely. Just what I wanted, to go down into the spooky basement to die. Just like every horror movie ever, I decide to go take a look. Time to get murdered.
Finding the light for the basement, I turned it on and started to make my way down. The stairs creaked with every step I took, not helping me try to sneak and see what was down here. The killer would hear these steps from a mile away. Even with the light, it was still really dark down here. It was furnished quite well though, a lot nicer than I had imagined. It was like an extra bedroom.
I was about to go back up the stairs, when my foot hit something, and I look down startled. It looked like a cell phone. A really beat up one at that. Bending down, I pick it up and examine it. It might be Brendons phone. If it was, what is it doing down here? And why did it look like he smashed it? Pushing the thought aside, I put it in my pocket and hurry upstairs.
"Hannah!" Ryan yells from somewhere in the house. My heartbeat quickened. Did Sarah have him? I hurry to where his voice was coming from, ready to throw a few punches in case things went downhill. "Hannah!" He yells again. Its coming from the second floor.
"What's going on?" As soon as I find him, Ryan was standing in the doorway of what I'm assuming was one of the upstairs bedrooms. He's looking from me to inside the room, fear and confusion in his eyes. Please tell me nothing happened to Brendon if he's in there.
Slowly walking over to him to pear into the room, I freeze once I see a younger girl in there. She was tied to a bedpost, fear written all over her face. She had long silky black hair and was fairly skinny. The dark shorts and tank top she was wearing looked old and tattered as if she'd been here awhile. She looked to be about twenty years old. Her entire body was shaking as she was trying to get as far away from us as possible. "Who's this?" I quickly look from the girl, over to Ryan.
"She wouldn't say." Ryan looks over at her and she tenses up. "She won't speak at all."
"Are you okay?" I look back over at her. "What's your name?" Walking over to her, she struggles to get away from me and I see a tear roll down her cheek. As I get a closer look at her, I notice that she has bruises and cuts over her entire body. There was a discoloration around one of her eyes, and blood trickling out of her nose and mouth, as if this trauma happened recently. "Who did this to you?" I give the girl a puzzled look and she just shakes her head, afraid to answer. And honestly I didn't blame her.
"Hannah," I turn my head to face Ryan. "We've checked the whole house. I don't think they're here. We need to go. Now." He turns to leave.
"We can't just leave the poor girl here!" I stand up and stare him down as he walks through the doorway and out of sight.
"Please..." I turn back to the girl and she tries to desperately move closer to me, though unable to move more than an inch. "Take me with you. Before they come back. If they come back." She pleads. I smile faintly at her and bend down to untie the rope around her wrist, bonding her in place.
"Hannah!" Ryan magically appears back inside the room and grabs my arm to pull me back. "She could be working for Sarah for all we know. I don't trust her."
I look from Ryan to the girl. Do I go with my girl instinct to help her, or my brother who has a valid point?
"I do. And I'm willing to risk it." I pull out of his grasp and turn away from him to get the rope undone. The girl smiles at me and tries to stand, I place my arm around her waist in an attempt to keep her upright. Ryan u still groans at my actions and disappears out of sight once more.
~~~
We are finally able to make it outside, with only a few stumbles here and there. I wonder how long she was tied up for. Was she a prisoner, kidnapped just like Brendon?
Once we all got into the car, after awhile I could barely make out that the girl had said something. Her voice was so soft that it was as if she were afraid to speak. I turn around in the passenger seat to face her.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" I asked her. Her eyes slightly lit up when I had acknowledged she'd spoken.
"Genevieve. My name is Genevieve. But just call me Eve." She looked out the window. "Thank you. For saving me. I really appreciate it."
"Of course. And it's nice to meet you Eve." She half smiles at me and I turn back around in the seat. "Ryan, why don't we stop and rest somewhere? Maybe we can ask her a few questions in the morning."
"Sounds good." Ryan yawns. Today was a long day, and I just hope that the search will be over soon.