If I had gone to that basketball game two weeks ago, I would still be at home.
I would still be going to my high school, still hanging out with my friends, and still helping out in my mom's cafe.
But I didn't. I didn't go to that game for selfish reasons. I didn't think I was going to be able to handle watching my former teammates play a game that I was supposed to be playing.
I didn't think I could watch them tearing up the court while I warmed the bench. Again.
I decided that, instead of going to the game, tonight was the night.
The night I told my mom who really shot Keith. I thought it was the night for me to tell her that it was Dan.
Her former boyfriend and the father of her child. Me.
But I never got that chance. I never got to tell her it was because of him that she couldn't have Keith.
Dan got to me before I could tell her. And now, I'm not sure that she'll ever get to hear the truth.
My throat burned and my jaw ached.
The gag that was still in my mouth was caked with dried blood.
My wrists were raw from where I tried to get free.
He was good. He'd left me no way to escape.
I closed my eyes. Tried to pretend this was all a dream.
Yeah, right. I'd done enough of that these past two weeks.
I forced my eyes open. 'Snap out of it.' I told myself.
The door creaked open and I steeled myself.
"Well, well, well. Up from your nap?" Dan gave a laugh.
I didn't say anything. What was there to say?
And anyway, the gag was still in my mouth.
"What? Nothing to say?" His cruel smile was still intact.
I shook my head.
He walked around behind me and untied the gag.
"There." He walked back around in front of me. "That better?"
I didn't respond.
He crouched down to my eye level. "I asked you a question."
I wouldn't look at him.
He grabbed my chin in one of his hands and forced me to look at him. "Lucas. I asked you a question. I expect an answer."
I just looked at him, narrowing my eyes as he started to talk again.
"Is. that. better?"
"You sick son of a bitch." I spat in his face.
He flinched, closed his eyes for a moment, then jerked his fist back and punched my left eye. The one closest to him.
"I was only trying to make you more comfortable. No need to refuse my hospitality." He stood up.
"Hospitality?" I demanded. "How about letting me go?"
He turned around. "You know I can't do that, Lucas. You know too much."
I ran my tongue along my teeth. "I won't talk. I promise."
He laughed. "Yeah. Like I'm supposed to believe that."
"Dan, come on. You don't have to do this." I could hear the begging and pleading in my voice, but I had long ago quit caring about my pride.
I would beg if that's what it took for him to let me go.
"Oh I don't do I?" He asked, scooting a chair up across from mine.
He sat down in it. "Tell me something, Luke. If I let you go, do you really think you could keep another secret from your mother?" He hesitated a moment. "No. Of course you wouldn't. You would crack instantly. You're weak like that."
"You would know." I replied.
In an instant, his hands were around my throat, choking me.
"What did you say to me?"
I felt my oxygen being cut off. I could see black spots again. "I'm sorry!" I said. "Please, Dan, let me go."
"Say it!" He yelled, squeezing harder.
I could barely breathe. I didn't know if he would let go even if I did say it.
"Say it Lucas!"
"Please, let me go." I tried again. He didn't release me. "Dad. Please. Let me go, dad."
His grip started to release, but that's when I passed out.
When I came to, Dan was sitting across from me drinking a coke.
It hurt just to breathe.
"Hiya, son." His smirk was still there.
I tried to speak but discovered that he had duct-taped my mouth shut.
Perfect.
I sent daggers his way with my eyes.
"Now don't look at me like that. After all, you're the one who smarted off. Wouldn't you rather not be able to talk as opposed to not being able to breathe?"
He took a long drink from his bottle of coke.
I looked up at the ceiling, praying for a way out.
"Listen Luke, this chat's been fun but I have a lot of errands to take care of today." He set the coke down just inches from me.
My throat burned.
"Now, if you get thirsty, you can have the rest of that."
I gave him a look.
He glanced down at my handcuffed hands and smirked.
"Oh, never mind. Scratch that."
As he walked back out, he cut the light out.
I made a noise. A cross between a whimper and a groan.
"No, no, Lucas. You haven't been a good little boy today. So no light for you."
The door swung shut and I was alone again.