Chapter Fourteen: A Collar Doesn't Always Tell You Your Way Home
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I stood in a dark room. I couldn't see anything. "Hello?"
There was no answer.
"Someone help me. Please," I called. "Help me."
A figure stepped out of the darkness.
It was Eddie. He gripped my father's arm and held a knife to my dad's throat.
I held out a gun, pointing it at Eddie's head shakily.
"Put the gun down," Eddie warned. "Put it down!" In his other hand was the remote controller. He pressed the button for a moment.
I dropped the gun, falling to the floor.
Another shock went through me.
My body jerked.
A few more shocks went through me.
"Eddie, please! Stop!"
He did.
I lay on the ground, unable to move. I could hear voices.
"He's gone," one said. "What's the time, doctor?"
"1:47 a.m."
"We've done all we could do," a woman said.
"What? No. No. You can still help him." It was Melissa. "There's something else you can do. There's gotta be something you can do…right? Please." She was crying.
I lay in the darkness, trying to get up.
I have to get out of this. I have to see Melissa.
I used all my strength to reached out and grasp the gun in my hand. I lifted it, then pointed it at Eddie.
I pulled the trigger.
"Mel?" My voice was barely audible.
She got out of the chair and rushed to my side, gripping my hand. "Jackson, I'm so glad you're okay!"
"It was dark. I couldn't find you. But I heard your voice and found my way back. I followed your voice out of the darkness."
She softly hugged me, kissing the top of my head. "I love you."
"I love you, too."