Author's Note: This chapter might be a little more on the graphic side but not for blood, for… other things… use your imagination. It won't be too bad, though.

The Night Before the Sunrise

Chapter 9

"A week… no, over a week." Arin thought out loud. It had been at least a week since Pete had beaten her last and Arin loved the feeling of freedom. She knew in the back of her mind that this feeling wasn't real and wouldn't last, but tried to enjoy the time she had. She stood by one of the windows in the room and let the sun shine down over her face. Matt came up behind her and kissed her neck.

"It's been eight days." He said between kisses. He felt Arin grasp his arm as he draped it over her shoulders. She held it to her close and tight, and felt safe in his arms. "I think… it might be about time that we try to get out of here again." He whispered into Arin's ear as her face visibly darkened. "I know your scared because of what happened last time but I think if we left at night this time we'd have a better chance of escaping."

"But even if they can't find us, how are we supposed to find a way out of here?" Arin said slightly angered.

"Arin, I've memorized this place and the exact route to the town."

"Yeah, but that's on the road. We have to stay in the woods or they'll catch us just like last time," Arin said pulling away from him, "I just… after last time…"

"I won't let that happen again. I have a plan that should give us a pretty good head start but I'll need you to agree to a few things, okay?"

"Like what?" Arin asked, fear entering her voice. Matt sighed.

"If we could just get John to distract Pete long enough one night we could get out of here. But we'd have to agree on some things first in order to get him on our side."

"Agree to what, though?" Arin asked, still cautious.

"Agree that when we get out of here you won't testify against him in court or something like that." Arin looked at him with hurt eyes. "I know it's not a perfect plan but we need to get out of here and having him help us is the only way to do it and not get caught. I'm really sorry, Rin, but I think once we get away you'll come to forgive me." He smiled, trying to coax her to do the same.

"I'll agree to whatever can get us out of here. Just stop giving me the puppy eyes." She said still refusing to smile.

"Oh, you know you can't resist them." Matt laughed, "The puppy eyes are unstoppable." He picked her up suddenly and she let out a yelp but eventually smiled. "Come my Queen, we are off to Never-Never Land." He said and lifted her to the bed, kissing her forehead. She giggled and kissed his lips pulling him on the bed with her, wishing her life could be like this forever.

Later that night, Matt sat with John around the fire pit just outside the cabin. Pete had gone in only a few minutes ago when Matt broke the soothing sound of the crackling fire.

"John, Arin and I talked about some things. And we have an offer for you." John looked at him dully.

"No, Matt. I'm not getting involved in this whole you and her thing." John said waving and gesturing with his hands. "I don't-"

"What if it keeps you out of jail?" Matt cut in. "Arin has promised that if you let us go and distract Pete that once we get out of this mess, she won't testify against you at all." John stared at him with a less than convincing look. "She won't press charges or anything. You probably won't even have to hear a thing about the trial."

"I won't be involved at all?" John asked cautiously.

"Not at all. If we can, we'll even avoid mentioning you at all. You were never here; we've never seen you in our lives. After we get away just find a way to get away from Pete and we'll never even know you existed." John still looked wary but slightly more confident in Matt's words.

"No back stabbing?" John asked.

"No back stabbing." Matt told him smiling at his work.

"You know… I never really wanted to do this to Arin; at least not this long. Maybe a one-night thing but I had no idea that we were just going to keep her here and keep using her like this. Can you tell her, I am really sorry?" John confessed. Matt was slightly amazed at John's honestly and noted that he hadn't been drinking in a while.

"Yeah, I can tell her that. She'll be so happy to finally get out of here. Thank you." Both the boys got up as Matt finished.

"I'm heading in." John said, yawning as he talked.

"Yeah, me too. I have to tell Arin the good news. I'll let you know when this is going to happen, kay?" John nodded and started towards the door. Just as they were walking in they heard a muffled scream echo from down the hall.

"Oh my god, Arin." Matt whispered in horror. He ran down the hall and burst threw the door to Pete's room. Pete had Arin laid out sideways on the bed, his back facing the door. He turned when Matt opened the door letting Matt see his gun jammed under Arin's chin, who was desperately struggling to get away.

"Matt, you stay out of this… or I'll kill her." Pete threatened, being careful to keep his gun under Arin's chin as he glared at Matt. Matt stepped closer, testing Pete; he jammed his gun harder into her throat, cutting off her gasp in pain.

"You won't kill her." Matt stated firmly.

"Fine, I'll kill you." Pete said, replacing the gun on Arin's neck with his hand and pointing the gun at Matt's head. His move gave Arin enough time and room to kick him hard in the stomach. Matt lunged at Pete's gun and wrestled it back as Arin freed herself from Pete's grip and ran, around them, out the door. Finally, Matt pried Pete away from his gun and pointed at his head, slowly heading out the door.

"Matt! Come on." Arin called to him, stumbling down the hallway, never taking her eyes off him. Matt turned as he heard Arin scream again, John was holding her by the shoulders. He returned his eyes directly back to Pete who was following him as he made his way down the hall.

"Go ahead, shoot me." Pete said. Matt ignored Pete's words for a second as he listened to Arin and John's footsteps. He heard John whisper something to her and then he left quickly out the door.

"Arin?" Matt called over his shoulder.

"Yeah?" Her voice responded, small and scared.

Good, she's all right… for the most part. He thought aiming the gun at Pete's forehead.

"Plug your ears and run." He commanded and pulled the trigger. Only a small click echoed through the cabin as Matt's eyes opened in surprise. Pete smiled in front of him and grabbed the empty pistol away from him.

"Matt." Arin whispered from directly in back of him, shoving something in his hand that was now at his side. "John, gave it to me." She told him nearly silently. He brought his hand up and quickly studied the switchblade in his hand. He flicked it out and looked at Pete who was fiddling with bullets he had dug out of his pocket, still smiling.

"Go, Arin. Go! Run!" Matt said lightly pushing her to the door. They both burst out of it at a sprint and kept going into the woods. Arin ran right past John, who was sprawled out on the ground near the fire.

"John?" Matt asked. Arin stopped just into the woods and peeked out timidly.

"Go, Matt, leave now!" He said, lifting his head only and yelling in a whisper. "You knocked me out on your way out. I'll leave as soon as I can. Now get out of here!"

"Thanks." Matt said and started away. A shot rang out and glass shattered as he looked out through the trees to see Pete through one of the windows in the cabin. He and Arin ran away as shots were fired, seemingly from all around them. There was a short period of all silence except for the sound of their feet hitting the ground until one blew up directly behind them. More shots flew from behind them and seemed to fall back slightly.

Arin kept an eye on Matt as she ran and felt her heart stop as she saw him collapse as the last shot echoed through the woods.

Author's Note: Mwa ha ha ha! Cliffhanger! You'll have to wait till next time to see what happens… like anyone's actually reading it anyway!