Somewhere in Between
By: Vela Cruze
Chapter 9:
Arnold and Gerald were sitting in a booth at the Café when Helga's parents walked in. Miriam looked anxiously around the room almost as if she was searching for someone. Even Bob seemed concerned. Spotting Arnold, Miriam walked over to them "Arnold, have you seen Helga?" she asked worriedly.
"I walked her home earlier today."
"When we got home, the front door was wide open. The windows on the back door were broken. And Helga was gone." Bob said.
"We've called all of her friends. No one has seen her. We stopped by the shelter she went to and she wasn't there. She's just disappeared." Miriam's voice quivered. She was on the verge of tears.
"You don't think Frankie has her, do you?" Gerald said looking over at Arnold.
"I wouldn't doubt it. Have you called the police, Mrs. Pataki?" he asked.
"Yes, they're out asking around too. I thought of this place since Helga hangs out here a lot."
"We'll help you look." Arnold said standing.
They followed Miriam and Bob outside. Meanwhile, when Helga's eyes opened, she found herself on a dingy mattress. She immediately recognized where she was; an old warehouse where Frankie and his friends usually hung out. Looking around, she noticed Frankie wasn't anywhere to be seen. She got up and walked over to the exit. She tugged on the door but it wouldn't budge. "Look who's on her feet." She turned to see Frankie sneering at her.
"Frankie, maybe we could work this out, you and me." she said smiling at him. She reached for his hand but he snatched it away, "It's too late for that Helga."
"I know my parents are looking for me." she said trying to bury the fear inside her.
"I know. And they'll find you too. Or at least pieces of you, maybe a leg in your bedroom and an arm in the park." He said snickering.
Helga sighed, tears sliding down her cheeks, she was truly afraid. She knew she was going to die if she didn't think of something fast. Frankie walked over to the TV and switched it on. "Hey babe, look at this. You're on TV."
Helga walked over to him and sure enough her picture was plastered on screen. "Let's see what their saying." He said turning the volume.
"The search continues for 17-year-old Helga Pataki. She was last seen at her parents' house wearing jeans, and a black long sleeve t-shirt. She is believed to be with this young man 23-year-old Frankie Gibson." Frankie's picture appeared beside Helga's.
After a short silence, Frankie looked at Helga, "Are you scared?" he asked.
Her expression changed and he knew the answer was yes. "Don't be. It'll all be over soon." He got up and walked over to a mini-refrigerator. He took out a beer and looked over at her. "I still love you ya know." He said smiling.
"Then why are you doing this?"
"I told you already, no one else is going to have you." He took a sip of his drink, "You know I was thinking maybe I will get your little football head freak."
Helga flashed an angry look at him, "He hasn't done anything."
"You cheated on me with him."
"I never cheated on you." she said.
"You're a liar." He walked over to her and smacked her hard across her face. She staggered backwards, shaking her head to regain her vision. Grabbing her hair, he threw her against a wall. She slid down the wall, her head throbbing with pain. "Get up you slut!" he shouted at her. She managed to get to her feet, leaning against the wall for support. His fist struck her face hard, causing her to lose her unsteady balance. She landed on the floor with a loud thud. Her head ached so badly and she thought this was how she was going to die. Using his knife he cut her shirt open and kissed her neck gently. His hands fiddled with the clasp of her bra, and then he positioned her flat on her back. "Frankie, stop…Please don't do this." she begged. He only mumbled in response, his lips buried in her neck.
"No!"
"Shut up, Helga." he growled straddling her.
She was about to scream when his hand covered her mouth, "If you scream I swear I'll kill you now." He moved his hand and kissed her lips, "Besides you know you want it. Tell me you want it." He smirked at her, but instead of waiting for an answer, he got off of her and began laughing. "It wasn't going to happen anyway." He said after awhile, "I'm much more than you deserve. And I'm having much more fun doing this…" he kicked her stomach. She slid across the concrete floor and hit the wall. He laughed at her and walked away. Helga could feel her consciousness slowly slipping away. She suddenly felt so tired. The pain was becoming nothing more than a dull ache. "Arnold, help me…" she whispered before oblivion overtook her completely.