Carla's Point Of View:
His hands were cold on my wrists as the van came to a stop. As we stopped I was immediately being pulled from the van and into a room, a dark room. I tried to look around but I didn't recognise the street, the building, I was in an unknown place with unknown people.
My wrists were becoming sore as my arms frequently moved to try and free myself, the rope (I think it was rope) rubbed against my wrists, the charms of my bracelet digging in most likely drawing blood.
The sound of the door slamming echoed around the empty space I found myself in and I thought, for a second, that I was alone.
"Sit down," His voice was harsh as he spoke, the words repeating as they bounced off the walls and I did as he said almost immediately. The fear inside me was prominent and as I sat his footsteps suddenly grew louder and louder and louder. I looked to the door, my only way out but another darkly dressed figure was standing there blocking my freedom.
I watched him as he moved closer to me, there was some light, although I'm not sure where it was coming from, and I could see sweat beads forming on his forehead and a grin, a proud grin or a relieved grin. Maybe a bit of both. His eyes burned into mine and the coldness of his look was bitter enough to send shivers down my spine.
My eyes darted around the room, I was desperate to look anywhere apart from him and when I did look I thought I recognised him but I couldn't be sure. Despite the fact my eyes were not upon him, I could feel his gaze clawing into me, he was watching my every breath, my every blink.
"How did you know my name?" I dare to ask and as his hand comes into connection with my cheek I know it was the wrong decision. I wanted to raise my hand to my face to hold my cheek, to subside the pain but the ropes were still restricting me.
"Don't talk," He ordered before taking a slight step back and checking his, clearly fake, watch, "You'll make this easier for everyone if you just keep quiet."
I watched his face and he looked slightly scared and as my mind started whirring and working overtime it all began to make sense. I thought about the day, the significance and how the kidnap surely wasn't just a coincidence.
"I want to know how you know who I am," I asked again firmly, I didn't want them to sense my fear, an amount of fear that I was aware could be felt.
"Shut up!"
There was a sharp pain, a sudden pain, and then it went black.
Nick's Point of View:
My hands were clammy as I paced the space, the male voices I'd heard on the phone replayed over and over again in my head. One of them shouting to get rid of me, the other warning her about something; his tone was harsh but I didn't hear Carla's voice at all.
My pacing quickened as I thought about explanations and reasons it had happened, I thought about where she could be but as the thoughts multiplied so did my worry.
"Someone needs to go and find her," My Mum told me with a sigh and I stopped pacing due to the tone in her voice, the tone of disappointment and the way she made the situation sound so typical of Carla.
"It's hard to find someone when you don't know where they are!" I snapped and tried Carla's number for about the twentieth time. Straight to voicemail.
"I knew this would happen," My Mum muttered under her breath before going to walk away.
"You think she did this on purpose?" I asked her rhetorically, "From what I heard it didn't' sound like she had much choice."
"Wait you think she's been kidnapped?" Kylie asked and I sighed because I didn't want to admit it, I couldn't bear to think about it.
"I don't know," I sighed, I don't think it was that I didn't know probably more the fact that I didn't want to know. Well, I did want to know, I needed to know Carla was safe and that she was okay but, the thought of anyone hurting her caused a pain in my chest.
"She went for a walk, to clear her head, and she can't have gone far. She said she wouldn't be long and we made a joke about Mum getting annoyed if she wasn't on time," I say, I get a grunt from my Mum and everyone else seems to be listening.
"Nick mate, she surely can't be far," David tells me but I can sense the nerves in his voice, "How about right, I'll go walk around a bit see if I can see her."
"Yeah um that'd be good, I'll stay in case she comes back," I told David as he made sure he had his phone before walking out the court doors.
"Lost something?" Gemma asked in her voice that never failed to annoy me, I could see Callum smirking in the background.
"Piss off, Gemma," Kylie told her harshly but Gemma didn't move. I tried to ignore her presence and rang Carla's number again. Voicemail.
"Hey Carla, it's me again. I don't know what's happened or where you are but please just let us all know you're safe, we're worried. Just come back as soon as you get this or ring me if you want me to come and get you. I love you." I shoved my phone back in my pocket after leaving the message knowing it was on loud in case Carla rang back.
"What are you looking at?" I asked Gemma harshly as I realised she was stood staring.
"Carla's missing?" She asked and there was something in her voice, a slight hint of something that caused me to be suspicious.
"Get lost, Gemma. Stop tryna get involved in stuff," Kylie snapped at her as she glanced at her watch. Ten minutes till we were due in court.
Gemma glanced around to where Callum was standing, he was in deep conversation with his Mum probably completely unaware that Gemma was still standing with us. She took a step closer to me and I wondered what she as doing because the sarcastic grin and vanished from her face.
"She's with some blokes."
"Yeah, I'm aware of that," I snapped at her, thinking she was just digging for gossip.
"Callum arranged for them to take her away to this warehouse place so she couldn't come to court, I don't think they're gonna hurt her but I'm not sure. He's been planning this for weeks," Gemma told me and I stood still for a moment unsure how to react to what I was hearing.
"Where?" Is all I managed to ask and Gemma shrugged.
"I honestly couldn't tell you."
Carla's Point of View:
The dingy room had become lighter, my eyes struggled to adjust when they began to slowly open. I groaned, the pain in the back of my head prominent as I tried to sit myself up again the wall I was slumped beside.
"Mate," I heard one of the men say then I heard footsteps get gradually closer to me.
The light source was his phone light and as he got closer the light became more intense, I squinted as it occasionally shone in my eyes.
"You're alive then," He commented although by his tone I don't think he would have been bothered if I had never woke up. I ignored his comment, remembering what happened the last time I spoke, and moved my aching body into a less painful position. The wall was cold on my back as I sat against it but I didn't care because it gave me a sense of feeling. My knees were drawn up to my chest trying to keep the warmth within my body, my hands trembled as I clutched the end of my sleeve.
I could feel his gaze burning into me and I didn't dare make eye contact, I kept my eyes focused on the wall opposite – the wall that wasn't telling me where I was. I had no idea where I was.
"We've met before," He suddenly spoke and my body jolted at the sudden sound of his voice. I looked at him now and as I studied his face in more light I began to recognise him.
"Yeah," I said quietly not knowing if a response was necessary.
"Callum's obsessed with you, not in a good way. Wants rid of you for today, we agreed to do it," He explained to me and everything began to make sense. The way they knew my name, why it had happened, everything made a bit more sense.
"When can I go?" I asked nervously, then my body clenched waiting for some form of contact that never happened.
"Did you not learn before not to ask questions?" He said his body getting closer to mine as he crouched down. I didn't reply to his comment, it didn't require a reply.
"Callum's been telling me all about you, both of us," He said looking up to his mate who just seemed to be a doorman, "He said there are certain things you hate, a certain thing that make you shut up," His tone made shivers sprint down my spine.
"Everyone has something that they hate," I managed to say trying to get into a conversation, thinking that if I started obeying to them this would be easier even perhaps quicker, "What do you hate?"
"Don't ask questions," His voice wasn't loud as he said this but his tone as harsh, his spit jumping off the end of his lips. His finger reached to underneath my chin pulling it up so our eyes were level. My breathing was quickening as I began to think about the things Callum could've told him. The thing Callum would've told him.
He watched me, our eyes not breaking contact and he lifted me so I was standing, his body in front of mine as I stood against the wall. His breath was harsh on my neck and I could feel the weight of his body pressing against mine.
Even though his friend's phone had begun to ring he didn't stop pressing against me, his hand no longer at my chin but the coldness pressed against my chest.
"Na mate," His friend said sprinting over to where we were stood, he looked around a let me go, let me slump back to the floor.
"Who is it?" He asked, the frustration clear in his voice.
"Callum." He was told before taking the phone.
"What? … She's done what?"
Nick's Point of View:
I needed air, Gemma's admission had sent my brain into overload, I kept thinking about the worst scenario, about a life without Carla, a life with Carla hurt. I was supposed to protect her, after everything I had promised to protect her and I couldn't even manage that. I should've gone with her, she'd said she needed time but, after everything, I should've gone with her.
I stood still when Callum's voice came into my earshot, I just wanted to hear what he was saying.
"Get her out of there quickly … they've told the filth … they're probably on their way … I don't care! … okay … give me five minutes."
The phone call sounded intense and I was desperate to know what he had planned. He'd said to get her out of there but where was she? He was clearly panicked about the police finding out and obviously only wanted to save his own skin. I gave him a few moments after the phone call and then stepped so he could see me.
"I swear, if you've hurt her," I warned him as I leant against the wall, my hands firmly in my pockets.
"They haven't," Callum sighed and he seemed genuine, "I just needed her out the way."
"You didn't need to go as far as you've gone, you've ruined this for yourself," I told him honestly and his face dropped. He no longer had a smirk instead he looked worried and nervous.
"I did it all for Max," He sighed, "I just wanted a chance to be a proper Dad."
"There were other ways, Callum, I honestly don't believe you're all bad," I admitted to him because it was true. I believed he'd been enticed into a world he couldn't get out of, I believed he couldn't believe in himself enough to think he didn't need to go to such extremes to be enough.
"I knew I couldn't offer Max as much as you lot can. I needed to get Carla out the way to try and show you're not all perfect."
"We're not perfect but we love Max, and that's all he really needs," I told Callum and he sighed, like he knew I was right.
"I do love him, I do," Callum told me before checking his phone again.
"Look, I'm going back in because the police are asking questions and I need to be there. Just remember, you don't have to prove yourself to Max, he's only a child."
Carla's Point of View:
My heart was thumping as the relief of the phone ringing swept through my body. Nobody had spoken to me since the call had ended, just quiet whispers were occurring in the corner of the room.
Their voices sounded panicked, nervy, scared. They were talking so quickly, their hands flying everywhere as they spoke. I thought about what Callum had said to them, I only heard one side of the phone call but, from what I'd heard, it didn't sound good.
"She's done what?" Was the only bit I'd heard fully through my panic; I wanted to know who'd done what, why was Callum telling them? Why were they annoyed?
"Right," He said in a harsh voice, stepping back towards me. I sat up straighter against the wall awaiting what he was going to say, "I'm gonna get Callum on the phone right and you're gonna listen carefully and do everything he tells ya."
I nod sheepishly as fear, once again, rises in my chest as he dials the number and I hear Callum's voice on the end of the phone. It's muffled due to the poor connection and the fact he was on loud speaker.
"Carla can you hear me?" Callum asked, his voice clearly full of panic.
"Yeah," I said, my voice was croaky from the tears I'd been trying to hold back since I'd arrived.
"Do exactly what I say," He warns his voice back to his harsh tone but then it changed again when he asked me if I was okay.
"Yeah."
"The lads are gonna bring you back," He told me and I sighed a breath of relief because I thought it was going to be okay, "You need to come back to court and tell everyone you can't speak, that you can't give evidence, tell them you have a headache or something."
"I can't do that, it's not fair on them," I told him but regretted it when his voice raised and told me to be quiet, told me just to listen.
"You come back and deny everything, you tell no one where you've been. Tell Nick your walk just took longer than you'd first thought."
"He won't believe me," I told Callum because Nick could do this thing no one else could, he could read me like an open book.
"Maybe not but hopefully the police will, you need to make it sound convincing."
"The police?" I asked, I was now confused possibilities as to what had happened spinning around my head.
"Gemma blabbed to precious Nick," Callum told me, his voice sounded half angry half pissed off.
"So he knows?" I asked, but I wasn't worried that he knew, as such, I was more worried as to how he'd react – how everyone would react.
"They all know but you have to deny it and say Gemma was looking for some drama, can you do that?"
"Yes," I said even though I knew it was wrong and I knew, eventually, I'd get caught.
"Good. Right get her back. Quickly."
They dropped me off a few minutes away from the court, they told me to walk back in case anyone was outside. They told me I had to make it as realistic as possible, I had to make it believable because otherwise the consequences would be severe.
I stood facing the court building for a few seconds before I let out a sigh and walked in. sure enough Nick was stood practically in front of the door in deep conversation with a police officer. He looked up as he felt the draft from where I'd opened the door and a smile formed on his face, a relieved one.
"Carla," He said as he came over to me but was reluctant to touch me, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "I just got a bit carried away with my walk," I told him forcing a laugh but he didn't look convinced.
"You don't have to lie," His hand made a connection with mine, he gave it a gentle squeeze and I could no longer make eye contact with him.
"You know what I'm like, always getting lost in my thoughts," I said taking my hand away from his before he noticed the marks that had been left on my wrist.
"Callum told me everything," Nick said and I sighed because I knew I couldn't lie any longer but I could feel the police's eyes watching, and listening, in on the conversation.
"Honestly Nick, nothing happened," I told him more firmly.
"Carla, can I have a quick word?" The police officer asked me.
"Um yeah," I said in a tone that was supposed to convince her that there was nothing to talk about.
"What happened, where have you been?" She asked and I sighed as I weighed up my options in my head.
"On a walk. I needed to clear my head," I told her but my eyes were fixed on the floor, my fingers fumbling with the charms on my bracelet.
"Carla, we know that's not true," She said and I sighed then noticed Callum looking at me from across the room, his eyes fixed upon my every move.
"It is, I went for a walk. I had so much stuff in my head, I just needed time to think. Why don't you believe me?"
"Gemma told us you'd been taken," Nick told me and I shook my head, "When I went outside Callum told me it was true."
"Callum as in the bloke standing over there?" The police woman asked and Nick nodded. The police lady nodded back and then walked over to him, panic suddenly formed on Callum's face.
"He told me I couldn't tell anyone," I told Nick and he sighed then took me in his arms and I was safe. He swayed my gently then placed a kiss on the top of my head and I was relaxed and I was safe.
"It's okay, if you tell the police they'll protect you," Nick told me and I knew he was right but that didn't stop me from being scared.
"He's admitted everything, gave us the names of the people who took you," The police officer told me as she came over to where we were all sat.
Nick's arm was around me and I was curled into him as much as I could.
"Thank you," I said quietly because I didn't know what else to say. After everything I hadn't managed to help.
"What about the court case?" Kylie asked, we'd just been told to wait, we'd been waiting for hours.
"There is no court case," The police officer said and for the first time in month I saw genuine, happy smiles upon Kylie and David's faces.
"Why do you think he admitted it?" I turned and asked Nick, he kissed my temple before speaking.
"People like Callum are just scared," He told me and I hummed because I agreed.
"I never thought he'd take any responsibility though," I admitted and Nick shrugged.
"It's been a long time coming and he knew he had it coming," Nick said before kissing my temple again and I smiled up at him.
"Everyone's running from something but we don't know when it's coming."
The End
I can't thank you all enough for all the kind words and support since I started this story, thank you for all the reads, all the reviews - it honestly means everything x