"For once in your life could you just cooperate?!" Gareth hissed and dug his nails into Jack's bicep once he was sure they couldn't be seen through the windows of the dojo. "When I say we're leaving, we're leaving."
"Where are we going?" Jack shot back, refusing to give in to the intimidation, even if his heart was racing at a thousand beats per minute. "Why did you say your name was Alexander?"
"Get in the car." Gareth shoved Jack against the passenger side door of a black Toyota.
"This isn't your car." Jack watched as Gareth walked around to the driver's side and opened his door.
"It's Alexander's." Gareth rolled his eyes before switching back to his menacing tone. "Get in."
"Okay! Okay." Jack didn't even have his seatbelt fastened before Gareth pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the highway. "Gareth. Where are we going? What's the emergency? Is mom okay?"
"SHUT UP!" Gareth slammed his fist into the top of the dashboard and Jack did indeed shut up. "DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW."
"Don't know what?!" Jack practically begged as they merged onto the highway, going in the opposite direction of their house.
"This." At first, Jack thought Gareth had just punched him in the side, but soon realized his phone was caught between the meaty hand and the bruised ribcage.
"What are you talking about?" Jack grabbed his phone and unlocked it.
"The bitch ratted me out to the cops. And you were in on it. Don't act innocent."
"I-" Jack opened the text from his mom and his eyes widened.
Jack, I thought about what you said. Thank you for pushing me. I'm going to the police after work. Act normal and stay as late as you can at the dojo. We'll be out of this soon. I love you.
"I didn't know." Jack shook his head and instinctively moved to text his mom back.
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" Jack froze. "Take out the battery."
"What?"
"TAKE OUT THE BATTERY!" Jack pried the battery out of his phone with shaking hands. "Now snap it." Jack hesitated for a moment. "I SAID SNAP IT!" He complied, anxiety tightening in his stomach as his communication line lay shattered in his hands. "Now. I suggested you follow my orders directly unless you want your bitch of a mother to end up dead in a ditch."
"She's with the police, how could you-?"
Gareth tossed his head back with a laugh. "I don't think you understand how much power I have, boy."
"Fine! I'll do whatever you say, just leave her alone."
"Damn right you'll do what I say. Now shut up and drink this." He tossed a water bottle into Jack's lap.
"What is it?"
"I SAID SHUT UP AND DRINK!"
Jack screwed the top off of the metal bottle and took a sip. The bitter taste surprised him and he coughed for a second.
"Drink it." Gareth practically growled.
Jack sighed before chugging the contents. It wasn't as bad now that he knew to expect the unpleasant flavour, but he still had a difficult time choking back the last few sips.
"Now be quiet. I'm done talking to you."
Jack wrapped his fingers tightly around the now empty water bottle and stared out the window. His brain hadn't quite processed the position he was in, so he was able to just watch the trees and other cars pass by as they zipped along. The silence and scenery must have made him tired because he soon found himself fading off.
"Goodnight, Jack." Was the last thing he heard before his head fell back and his vision swirled into darkness.
