The Ascended (28 page)

The cold, scratchy and torn leather of the rabbit was biting against my legs as he placed me, gently, in the back seat. Then he left me there. Silent minutes passed in the dark, alone.

My skirt was bunched up past the comfortable point of my thighs but I couldn’t reach to pull it down. Suddenly I heard voices and I panicked but soon recognized them. Danny and Matt were coming and I felt them climbing in.

“What happened?” Danny almost yelled as he took his jacket off to throw over my legs.

I tried to speak, but couldn’t but I realized he was not talking to me.

“She fainted. She’s ok,” Matt said, with a clear voice, only a faint indication of the lie that he was telling.

“What happened? She really saw one?” Danny said sounding really worried.

I felt him pushing my hair back to see my face better.

“Yes. It was waiting for her when she got home but I scared it off,” Matt lied some more.

“What did it want?”

“I don’t know but don’t worry. I’m taking you guys somewhere safe. Look, I’m sorry if I’ve been...not so nice lately. I’m really sorry. Just trust me when I say that I love your sister and I won’t let anything happen to her...or you. Ok?”

Jeez. He really sounded sincere. I couldn’t hear a lie at all. He has never said he loved me like that before. Not without a condescending ‘baby’ or ‘girly’ at the end. Maybe those stupid one act acting lessons at the community college paid off for him after all.

Danny didn’t say another word, just climbed in and started the car. I could tell he was the one driving by the horrid grinding of the gears and the all too fast take off, spinning the gravel rocks in our driveway.

I still kept testing
myself,
sure I would come out of it soon and awaken to reveal this fraud for what it was.

Where was he taking us anyway? This was by far the most confusing game with Matt ever. Wait- Did my
hand just twitch
? Or was it the car moving?
The car.
Dang it!

Why on earth did Danny believe Matt’s crazy story so easily? I mean, I never told Danny about Matt hitting me or much else of the other abuse, the yelling and pushing sometimes, mainly just meanness, but he’s seen and heard him at the apartment a few times, so why would he believe him then?

I stayed still and listened to Matt’s instructions of where to go. They didn’t say much else. Danny asked Matt why he had been harassing me. Matt explained that he had a drinking problem but was getting help.
Lies.
Matt did have a drinking problem but he wasn’t getting help. He would never admit he had a problem.

I feel it as we pull to a stop. I almost fall into the floor board with the momentum but swing back just in time.

“Where are we?” Danny, finally, started getting inquisitive.

Only an hour too late!

“A little place I found. We’ll be safe here. Nobody knows about this place.”

“A warehouse?
What are we
gonna
do there? I mean, we don’t have food or anything.”

“I’ll handle that. First let’s get her inside before he figures it out and comes for her again.”

“Can he track her or something?”

“Um.
Yes,” Matt lied.

“Ok. Let me-” Danny said and I felt him tug at my arm.

“No, I’ll get her. I’m faster with the weight. You grab the duffel bag from the trunk if you don’t mind,” Matt said as he gently lifted me from the back seat under my back and knees, cradling me to his chest.

Wow, he was warm.
Really warm.
Maybe he was running a fever. Maybe he was in some fever induced delusion.

He was probably carrying me to my death in some Silence of the Lambs craziness! He was not the man I thought he was.

They weren’t talking anymore as we walked, and I could smell dust, oil and mold as Matt carried me through the warehouse. We stopped.

“Does it work?” I heard Danny ask.

“Yes. I put these things here in front to hide it. We’ll be safe.”

“Wow.
Thorough, Matt.
Thorough,” Danny said approvingly.

He told Danny that he was Matt? Ugh. Why the charade with me and not Danny? Didn’t think he’d believe it I guess.

I can feel us moving down, like an elevator. It was squealing and screeching and hot in there, it seemed to go on forever.

“What kind of place is this? Who has an elevator that goes down in a warehouse?” Danny asked.

“The kind of people who want to hide things.
We can turn off the elevator once we’re at the bottom so no one else can come down after us.”

“Nice. Thanks man, you saved her. I owe you.”

“No problem.”

No problem? Was I ever going to wake up?

Who knew how many floors the elevator went down before we jolted to a stop. A lot or that elevator was slower than molasses. I assumed Danny went to look around because Matt carried me silently to one of the rooms. I felt him maneuver us through the door way.

A big comfy chair was under me, one that smelled like antiseptic. He set me down in it and took my face in between his hands. I wanted to gasp at his touch and closeness but my body refused.

“I know you can still hear me in there. I’m sorry I had to do that to you but I had to get you and Danny to safety. It’ll still be a while until you wake up. Listen, I know how this sounds and
looks
and I can explain everything to you both when you wake up, but I’m not Matt. Matt is dead and I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that. I’m not here to hurt you or Danny. We’re underground a warehouse with only one way in and one way out. The elevator and I have the key. I promise you, I’m not
gonna
hurt you. I’m here to help.

“We are going to be here together for a while so it would be nice if you’d get use to the idea... Sherry,” he breathed my name with such a sweet tone. I could feel his breath on my face. He was closer. “I can’t believe I’m actually here, actually touching you.” His thumb rubbed back and forth over my cheek. “You don’t know how long I’ve... Just try to get some sleep. We’ll go over everything together later. By the way, my name is Merrick. I’ll be around when you wake up.”

He let his hands slide away from my face slowly, almost reluctantly,
then
I heard him shuffle from the room. What was all that? Why was he touching me like that?

I was more confused than ever.

End of Preview

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