Taylor
The anxiety burning through me made me want to run and find her over sitting in a car and wait for the possibilities. I couldn't wait around aimlessly searching while I knew what was happening to her or what I thought was happening. We didn't know where to go. Ritchie would hush me as soon as I opened my mouth to speak.
"It's almost midnight Ritchie. He's hurting her." My hand kept pulling at my hair out of nervous habit as my knee kept bouncing up and down.
"We're going to find her."
"How can you be so sure?! We've been driving around while you made calls in Spanish so I don't know what the hell you said! And you've been driving around all this long without telling me shit but what if we're going in the wrong direction?! What are we doing Ritchie?! Please I just want to find her!" I snapped.
It felt aimless being with him. I felt like I was wasting my time but it'd be even worse if I was alone. I needed him and as much help as I could get. The police were searching too but they wouldn't have anymore luck than we would. How could this happen again? I bit my lip and shook my head. He looked at me through the corner of his eye with concern. Every so often he would look at me like he wanted to say something then turn back to the road. He sighed and eventually spoke.
"Everyone is looking for her... I know some people going around the whole island. You love her to death and I care for her. We will find her and he's going to get what he deserves and you're going to bring her back home."
"I love her too much to lose her but a part of me already feels like I did. Look where we are again." Every memory was pouring over my eyes all at once. Every second I allowed to watch felt like a punch to my heart. All things I've cherished about her. All the little things she did the most to make me love her everyday. I couldn't describe the feeling of her being taken gave me. I felt so empty and ripped inside out. The fear I felt for her and never being able to find her in time was too much.
"Of course the worst possible thing had to happen the day we were going to go home. The day we could put this being us and start over. How much more hardship could she take?"
"She's pretty damn strong for what happened and the lifestyle that you guys have. Constantly moving around with everyone in your business..." My phone kept going off in my lap as he spoke. Every second a new message, text message, call, instagram dm, and twitter. Everyone asking me questions, distracting me but none of these messages could tell me where she was. "I want to say I could promise you she will get out but I don't want to lie in case..." We both grimaced. "A woman like that doesn't go so quickly. It takes a hell of a lot of strength to break someone like her."
"What if you're wrong?" I wanted to believe that she would get out of this okay but I couldn't shake that ache that she wouldn't. That the fight would be over and none of this chasing was even worth it.
Squinting, looking forward again, he frowned. "Basta ya. Stop it." He corrected himself. "We'll get her."
I pressed against the back of my seat and waited. He cleared his throat before speaking again. "You still want the gun I gave you? Why'd you give it back?"
"She wasn't comfortable with me having it." For the first time, I actually paid attention to where we were. There was barely any houses. Just the road in front of us. I didn't know what he was following.
"How convenient." He rolled his eyes. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and he cleared his throat after several minutes. I didn't want to pester him but was afraid to ask questions and pissed him off. He noticed my body language and spoke up. "We've been illegally following every car that was reporting stolen around the time she went missing. The cops thought we should sit back and let them do their job but obviously," he rolled his eyes, "look who got here first. Anyway, there weren't that many cars reported but one did look pretty close in relation to Hayley. That's the car."
The further we drove, more parts of a house showed itself. The car slowed to a stop and I jumped out, feeling my adrenaline pick up. The car before us was empty and the house was just as dark as the woods surrounding us. I just had to go inside and get her out safely if they were here. I walked behind Ritchie inside. I couldn't see the things I was stepping on or where I was going.
We searched the entire house. My hands trembling as I felt along the walls to find my way around. We met back up outside at the car. I felt I had my hopes up for nothing because she wasn't in there. Trying to keep my composure, I folded my hands up over my head and looked around for sign. Squinting through the rain. She must've ran off and he chased after her. The possibility of her being too far away for me to hear her scream over the storm made my chest ache. Ritchie wasn't even standing that far from me and I couldn't hear him over the thunder that cut him off.
Fucking great.
She's been gone since the afternoon. Who the hell knows what happen to her? Who's to say we're just following him while she was dying somewhere back at the beach?
I walked away from the house to get privacy to cry. I wouldn't even know where to start looking. We would have to wait until the sun rises to see clearly but she can't wait that long and I can't leave her out here that long knowing he's out there with her. I watched the trees. Maybe if I stared long enough I'd notice something that didn't seem right.
Ignoring every thought and whatever the hell Ritchie was planning, I kept moving my eyes through the trees. A screams bounced through the woods. I couldn't tell the direction it came from. Ritchie was next to me, listening out too.
"Hayley?!" She wasn't answering. We're here baby please answer. I couldn't help but think if it was her final scream. Ritchie began running. In my panic state of mind, I didn't even think to follow her voice. I felt stupid for just standing there. I ran after him.
Hayley
I couldn't see where I was going but I couldn't stop running. I prayed I wasn't going in a circle. My body was aching, my chest was constricting but I was happy I got away. I don't know how but when I woke up, he was gone so I ran. He called after me but that was a while ago. Since then I've been running my ass off, hoping I lost him.
I tripped and fell. I've been running for so long, I couldn't pick myself back up. The dryness in my throat made me cough whenever I tried to take a deep breath. I backed up against a tree and listened out for other movements behind me until lights flashed across the trees in front of me.
I heard gunshots close by and ducked. It was too dark to see where he was shooting. I didn't know if he saw me or if he was just wasting bullets. I looked back at the car again. I was afraid of wasting my chances by staying silent or getting up only to get shot. I crawled, trying to contain my panic. Seconds after I heard his fast footsteps coming towards me, I got pulled by my left arm and immediately screamed what I could manage from my strangled throat. Whoever was in that car was there for me and he knew it.
"Shut up." He tried not to yell as I tried to break free. My name was called in the distance and the voice brought hope back to me.
I got out of his grip before sharp pain came down on my spine. He hit me with his gun right when I tried to run. I cried out and collapsed back to the ground. The sound of rustling leaves got louder as they approached us. I kept my eyes on Taylor's growing silhouette.
My attacker's arm went up to my neck. I desperately felt for something to hold onto as he effortlessly yanked me to my feet. His gun pressed onto my temple as I quietly whimpered and pleaded. Across from me Taylor gave me a look of what I was feeling. This would end well or horribly but we only had one chance. The gun's pressure was released for a second before there was a clicking sound then was pressed back onto my head. My heart accelerated at the sound.
Ritchie and Taylor ran to us. I was pushed from my attacker and he ended up on the ground with Taylor. I ended up in Ritchie's arms. I cried for Taylor to move away from him but he wouldn't listen. Ritchie pulled me further away. Taylor was on the ground trying to push the man off him. Each punch he received made me wince. I wanted to do something. I wanted Ritchie to do something but we both sat and watched. Taylor made a quick move and ended up on the guy, his fist constantly coming down on his face. The guy tried to choke Taylor off but it only made him hit harder.
He had both hands around Taylor's neck and they both paused before fighting to get something a few feet away. They were standing then and the gun the man held misfired. Firing just passed Taylor's side. I screamed for him. Once he realized he wasn't hit, he quickly took a step back then multiple guns went off at once. The sound seemed to be everywhere. The blast blocked out all sound like I instantly went deaf. The guys fell to the ground and I was pulled. I couldn't tell who was hit and who wasn't. Myself included. The back of my head was hurting. I groaned and reached behind it and felt warmth pool at my fingertips. I laid still, it was too painful to move and I needed to make sure there wasn't any new wound. If I'd stayed still, I'd feel it. Another shot was fired. I realized the open wound came from a fallen tree meeting my skull at the end of my fall. Taylor was hunched over, on his knees, panting with a gun in his hands. He looked over himself before looking over to me and quickly running over. I closed my eyes and sighed. It was finally over.
"Hayley?"
Warm hands were all over my body. Checking for wounds as he tried to hold back his whimpers. Even with his light touches, it still brought the pain back to my attention. I tried to speak and tell him I was alive but my lips wouldn't form the words. I was in too much pain. The arm that was dangling away from my body I used to tug on his shirt. He let out a breath of relief that I moved and leaned over me to place kisses all over my face. My limp body was lifted up and carried away.
"I'm going to get you out of here. We're going home. I promise." He panted in between words as he put me in the backseat of a car. I mumbled about taking the pain away. Groaning when my back touched the cushion of the seat.
"I'm sorry baby I know it hurts." His voice was muffled but he still sounded close. Trying to see anything was adding to my pain. I closed my eyes again and unsuccessfully relaxed, depending on him to take care of me. He carefully lifted my neck. Soft lips pressed to mine before and wet cloth was pressed to the wound at the back of my head. I hissed and jerked away from it. He crawled over me more and softly shushed me. He gave me a moment before putting the cloth back behind my head. This time it was a painful sting but I could take it. A voice came from outside the car.
"Can you hold this right here for me sweetheart?" He turned my head slightly and guided my hand to take the place of his. "I'll be right back, I just need to talk to Ritchie okay?"
"Don't."
"I'll be right back."
The warmth his body casted over me disappeared as he left the door opened and disappeared outside. I was too afraid to be left alone. I failed at gripping his shirt and keeping him over me. My fingers slipped from the fabric and he was gone. I waited for him to come back but he was taking too long as I began feel alone. I scrambled out of the car, almost collapsing, I gripped the open door in hopes of support and to get to him faster.
Sirens and flashing lights everywhere. The bright lights gave me a headache. I sunk to my knees still holding onto the back of the car. I painfully looked behind me. I could clearly see the blood coming from the side of my attacker's face. I felt at any moment he would get up and come back for me. Ritchie rushed to me, put my arm around his shoulders, his arm around his waist, and pulled me up. His discolored sleeve caught my attention.
"You're bleeding."
"So are you. I'm sorry this happened to you." He smiled sadly.
"Did he..."
"Bullet barely got me." It was effortless with me in his arms.
"Did Taylor kill him?" He shushed me and smiled to himself. I was placed onto a stretcher with bright lights in my eyes. I closed them. My body was aching and it became hard to breathe. Things happening all around me. Hands probing me, pulling at my eyes, and putting stuff on me. Voices yelling. It was too much excitement. My body was shaking before I realized I was in an ambulance. My hand was held, people were talking to but I didn't understand a thing. A mask was placed over my face and I no longer felt the need to stay awake.
