Revenge

Chapter 8

***ETHAN'S POV***

This is a dream, I thought, fighting back tears (yes, I was in tears). You're still in the cell. You're still asleep. Erik is right out there, and he is not dying. Wake up, Ethan. WAKE UP.

No matter how hard I pinched myself, I wouldn't wake up.

I had to get her down. How?

Grabbing a rickety old chair, I climbed up on it. Misty looked at me fearfully.

She had dark circles under her eyes. Her cheeks were tear-stained, and her face was pale. Misty's dark roots were showing in her hair through the red. She was gasping for air.

"I'm going to help you, okay? Everything is going to be fine."

Misty began to choke.

I got out my small pocket knife I'd retrieved from my house when I changed clothes and began sawing through the thick rope.

This would take forever.

Misty couldn't last much longer.

After 2 minutes of moving the knife back and forth, the rope broke loose. I quickly hopped off the chair and helped her up off the floor.

She was weak, weary, exhausted, and overwhelmed. I'd never seen anyone this petrified.

Her clothes were her pajamas from when she was taken. They were ripped and dirty. She had a bullet wound in her shoulder, near her neck. It didn't look severe, and it wasn't bleeding.

I wrapped her in a gentle hug. "You're okay now," I whispered. I could feel her ribs.

She broke down as I held her.

"We need to get out of here before whoever is here comes back." I looked at Erik.

How did he get here, anyway? The police said they'd found him. Why hadn't they brought him back?

I got my phone and called the police.

While I was on the phone, Misty screamed at something behind me.

I turned around to see who I had thought was Erik, standing up and clenching a gun.

"Don't move," whispered the man hoarsely. "Misty, get on your knees. You too, boy."

I dropped down on my knees beside Misty. I knew now that WASN'T Erik.

"I knew you'd come, boy," he said. "All I had to do was plant a little trap and lore you I'm here. And what do you know? You're in here. Right now."

"Who are you?" I demanded.

"You know who I am," he said with an evil grin. "You know me, Ethan."

"Tyler," I whispered. "No."

"Cecily and Sullivan are dead. Sammi and Talia fled the country. Jamie and Philippe are in jail. Erik is long gone. Now all that's left is you and Red."

Misty was trembling.

"Any last words, Ethan?" said Tyler.

Misty let out a cry in anguish. "Please," she begged, shaking. "Please, Tyler."

"We have had this conversation before, Ms. Tora. Remember? You've still got those scars on your back, don't you?"

"You monster!" she screamed. "You demon!"

"Call me what you want, but it'll be unimportant in the end, once you're all dead."

Misty was sobbing. She sank to the floor, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.

"Well, Ethan, it's the end of the road for you two."

"Don't do it, Tyler," I said quietly. "You don't have to."

"You already know too much." He laughed bitterly. "Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the maggots bite." Tyler raised the gun, smiling.