A/N: Hey guys!! (I say that every chapter, don't I?). Thankyou so much for all of the reviews, last chapter I hit over three hundred! AGH! Thankyou! And can I just say, they get better every chapter. I really do love how enthusiastic you all are, I really appreciate it, and I love hearing your ideas, 'Omg's' and your death threats. You are so awesome!
It's those reviews that have brought this next day and pretty long update!! :D
Anywhoo, this is, I'm pretty sure, my favorite chapter so far. I really enjoyed writing it, and I just love everything that happens. So please Enjoy, and prepare yourselves.... ;)
All Just A Lie.
Chapter Fourteen: The Search Begins.
Caitlyn tip-toed through a corridor, her heart racing wildly and her blood pumping furiously throughout the entirety of her quivering body. She swiped the back of her hand over her forehead, wiping away the droplets of sweat that bubbled upon the top of her head.
She stuck her head hesitantly around the corner as she came to a small crossroads in the building. There were so many rooms, so many twists and turns, how was she supposed to find Mitchie? It was impossible, this place was enormous, and each section looked practically identical to the last, this was most likely due to the dim lighting that filled each room.
Caitlyn sighed a half-hearted sigh of relief as she realised she was alone in her part of the building, this thought also brought with it an ominous fear. She wished to have Nate by her side, his hand in hers, keeping her going and keeping her strong.
She was surprised to feel a calming effect pass over her just at the thought of Nate. She had to get out, she would fight for Mitchie, fight for herself, all so she could see Nate once more.
Caitlyn straightened herself up as she stood in the middle of the connecting corridors, her neck turning from side to side, her mind tormenting her with images of what she could find at the end of either one.
Right or left?
It was a simple question.
But Caitlyn just couldn't decide.
One could lead her to Mitchie.
The other could lead her to her death.
But which one?
She continued to stare down the dismally lit hallways, both giving off an eerie chill and both ominously terrifying. Caitlyn looked down at her feet, willing them to move in any direction they so wanted. But they wouldn't. Her feet clearly protesting with this new development of danger.
"Just choose one." Caitlyn whispered to herself, biting on her lip as she turned her body to the left and took a large breath. "Ok." She whispered to herself before whipping around and stalking down the corridor to her right.
She nodded shakily as she willed her feet to move a little faster, yet worked hard to make sure her footsteps were silent. Her converse pacing soundlessly over the dirt dusted tiles, she tried her best to keep to the side, hoping to blend in with the shadows of darkness that spread over the walls.
The corridor wound around corners, and was menacingly long, Caitlyn's heart speeding up at every door she approached. She would carefully press her ear up to the wood, waiting noiselessly as she strained her hearing, calming a little when no noise greeted her. She would then, with a shuddering hand, push the door open, surveying the room around her and leaping back into the corridor as quickly as she could.
She continued with this routine for several minutes, joyous that she had not bumped into any criminals, yet downhearted that she hadn't found Mitchie, or any evidence of her presence.
What if she wasn't even there?
What if it was just a trap?
Caitlyn pushed the dismal thought to the back of her mind as she approached another crossroads, once again turning to the right. This corridor was different, darker, scarier. It had no doors, yet was dauntingly long, stretching over a large space with a sharp right turn at the end. She began to walk, her quivering legs dragging her to the middle of the hallway.
And then it happened.
She froze, her ears prickling as she heard footsteps approaching from the sharp turn at the end of the hallway.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Caitlyn stopped breathing as she took a few light, silent steps backwards, praying that the footsteps that advanced on her were further away than they sounded.
But then she heard something else.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
More footsteps approaching her from behind.
She was trapped.
"I can't believe she tied you up."
It was Alex, and he was angry.
"Go check on Rob…I'm going back to Caitlyn." Alex's voice growled from around the corner, she heard his footsteps turn into a jog, as they became weaker. But two sets of footsteps still remained, both edging closer to Caitlyn. All either needed to do was turn a corner, and they would see her, exposed and helpless in the corridor.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Each step sent Caitlyn's heart into a small spasm of terror, her entire body shaking as a fear she had never experienced slashed against every limb, every organ. She spun around on the spot, turning from left to right, waiting for someone to appear. She gasped as her foot attached to an upturned tile, staggering backwards as her arms flailed, desperatly searching for something to grip onto.
"Hey! Whose there?" She heard someone yell as she fell against a wall, the whole corridor being simultaneously plunged into darkness as her back smashed against a switch. She whimpered as she heard both men shout in protest.
"Rob, is that you?" Both men had turned the corners, mere metres away from Caitlyn.
"Yeah, there's someone in here. Get your torch out." Rob ordered, his voice dangerously close, too close. Caitlyn jumped, flinching as his footsteps neared her, she took a few more steps backwards.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Ok." Oliver replied. She jumped again, attempting to ignore just how close Oliver now was. She would have to try and get past one of them, before they got their torches out, or before they closed her in completely.
But it was too late, Caitlyn choked back a sob as she saw a strobe of light point to the floor, it would only be a second before he lifted it in her direction.
Caitlyn braced herself for the wave of light to hit her, but before that could happen she felt a hand cover her mouth, suppressing the gasp that burst from her lips as she was pulled backwards into a doorway, a doorway that she had previously not noticed.
She felt her back be pulled into someone else's body, her eyes wide as she tried to fight against the hand that was pressed roughly to her mouth.
"It's me." A low whisper hit her ear, Nate's familiar voice soothing the panic that harassed her body. She felt her heart flutter at his touch, her whole body relaxing as she melted into his form.
She quickly stiffened once more as two beams of light appeared in front of them, footsteps growing louder from both sides. Caitlyn felt Nate's hand slide around her stomach, holding her tightly and pulling her closer into him.
Caitlyn closed her eyes firmly as the light grew bright, the footsteps almost on top of them, Nate merely held her even tighter, his slow breaths hitting her cheek. Oliver crossed their path first; seemingly oblivious to the couple pressed into the small gap. The footsteps stopped soon after, Caitlyn presumed he had approached the other man, Nate finally let his hand drop from her mouth as they began to speak.
"Where'd she go?" Oliver questioned, utterly bewildered.
"God knows." Rob cried, groaning as he flickered his torch around the hallway, thankfully bypassing their hiding place. "Who is this girl?"
"I don't know, but she's hot." Oliver replied, dumbly. Nate tensed at these words as Caitlyn slipped her hand behind her, linking it with his free one.
"You've seen her?" Rob questioned, clearly ignoring the additional remark.
"Yeah…erm…she knocked me out….tied me up." Oliver explained bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No way!" Rob laughed, hitting his shoulder roughly.
"Oh shut up….besides, if I see her again, I'll make her pay!" Oliver cursed loudly, thumping his torch against the wall. "I swear to god, I'm going to kill her…..after I've had a little fun with her of course." He added, laughing along with his friend.
Caitlyn felt bile rise in her throat at this remark, Nate's grip becoming inconceivably tight and his jaw tensing.
"Come on, we better find her before Alex kills us." The other man replied as the torchlight suddenly began to fade, footsteps fading with them.
"Oh my gosh." Caitlyn breathed, Nate sighed as he span her around to face him, kissing her passionately before she could speak. "I was so scared." She whispered as they broke apart, burying her face into the crook of his neck.
"It's ok, you're safe." Nate soothed, wrapping his arms around her, and telling himself as well as her. "Did you really knock that guy out?" Nate said with a soft chuckle as he kissed her shoulder blade.
"Maybe." Caitlyn giggled holding him tighter. But just as Caitlyn's panic and fear had begun to subside a deep voice echoed around the corridor.
"Rob, I'm sure there's still someone down there." Caitlyn jumped away from Nate, looking at him with wide terrified eyes.
"What's that? Is that a doorway." Oliver queried, footsteps growing closer once more. Caitlyn swallowed, stepping closer to Nate, her shuddering body fitting into his. He looked down at her, kissing her lips once more. She tried to stay calm as her whole body shook, her lips moving robotically over Nate's as he held her closely, his hand gripping on to her cheek before he reluctantly pulled away.
"I love you, never forget that." He whispered to her, letting his hand graze over her upper arm.
"What? What are you doing?" Caitlyn questioned, her voice hushed and panicked. Nate smiled at her softly, before spinning her around and pushing her roughly against the locked door.
"I love you." He whispered again before darting from their sanctuary.
"No, Nate." Caitlyn uttered, her voice quiet yet hysterical as she tried to grab his arm before he could delve into the light. But she wasn't quick enough.
"There! There's someone there!" Rob bellowed as they began to run after Nate. Caitlyn crushed a hand to her mouth, muffling her sobs as she slid down to the floor, watching as Rob and Oliver belted, hastily in Nate's direction. "It's ok." She heard Rob call to Oliver, his tone amused. "He went down a dead end."
Caitlyn pressed harder against her mouth at this, her sobs racking through her body as she pictured Nate being caught and perhaps even killed, just a few feet away from her.
Shane sighed as he poked his head, warily around a door which he had opened minutely. It, like all the others, was empty and he was beginning to lose hope. He was still yet to find Mitchie, or any trace of her being in the same building. He looked at his watch, squinting through the darkness to see the numbers. He had just about seven minutes to find her, or else she would be murdered.
His pace quickened at the haunting images of a lifeless Mitchie.
Until now he had successfully managed to keep that thought from entering his mind, but as his time limit drew to a close he found it tough. There was a constant taunting ticking in his mind which panicked him to his core. The ticking screaming at him to move faster, demanding he find her. But he couldn't. Every door he opened greeted him with an empty room, each one swelling his heart with dissapointment and multiplying the already high levels of fear he possesed.
Shane rubbed a hand over his face as he prepared himself to open another door, the light seeming to fade the deeper he dove into this corridor. He took a deep breath before opening the door and sliding his head through the gap, bracing himself for shouts or gun shots.
But none came.
It was a large room that seemed empty, and was completely soundless. He opened the door a little wider, letting his entire body squeeze through the gap and study the room. He sighed, his teeth grinding together as he studied the room, another dead end. He looked over the room once more, squinting through the darkness.
Suddenly the shattered pieces of his heart began to cry, scream and shout from where they lay in their bit as his eyes fell upon a tiny, frail girl sat on a chair at the back of the room, a low yellow light smothering her.
Shane refrained the urge to yell her name as he saw her brunette locks. But he couldn't stop himself from running, his feet pulling him, like a magnet, towards her. He knew there was most likely someone guarding her, someone with weapons, but he didn't care, she was so close to him. The thought of death a tiny thought in the back of his mind as he approached her, his entire body aching to touch her.
But his happiness was short lived as he finally approached her, sliding to his knees in front of her weary and unconscious body. He brought the back of his hand to his mouth, disobeying the urge to throw-up as he looked over her beaten body. Dried blood clutched to her forehead, her cheek and her lip, fresh wounds and bruises smothering her face. Shane curled his fingers into fists as he noticed the bright red, angry line that decorated her throat, blood oozing from the mark.
Someone had used a knife on his Mitchie.
And he would kill that someone.
Shane drew himself into action as he watched her shallow breaths claw through her body. He brought a hand to her face, pulling her neck to an upright position as he began to gently shake her, his thumb sliding across her cheek bone as he willed her to wake up. But nothing happened, her body remained deadly still, her strained breaths pushing from her pale lips. Shane brought his face closer to hers, his anger melting away into sheer desperation as she refused to open her eyes.
"Mitchie?" His pleading voice whispered, tears building in his eyes as he knew this image would be burned in his mind forever. Appearing in each of his nightmares, and plaguing his memories of her. "Mitchie.." He repeated frantically, his voice cracking as still nothing happened. "Come on, Mitchie, open your eyes…please..." He begged desperatly, wiping his thumb over a crimson cut on her cheek. "It's me, Shane….please Mitchie." He begged, but she remained still.
Until a small moan escaped her lips, her eyes lids flickering open. And then she was looking at him, her mouth dropping open and her eyes widening with shock.
"S-Shane…" She stammered, her voice hoarse.
"Oh, thank god." Shane breathed, letting his tears fall down his pale cheeks, he wanted to smile, to laugh, but he knew neither were safe yet.
"Shane…you have to go, he'll be back soon…please, leave." Mitchie begged, pushing herself upright and wincing as pain attacked her ribs. Shane caught this, his eyes darkening.
"I'm not leaving you." He whispered huskily, his eyes shimmering. Mitchie stared at him in disbelief.
"You-you have to." She croaked, her eyes frantically searching the room for any signs of Alex. "He'll come back....he'll kill you." She spluttered, coughing at the strain her body was under.
"So." Shane retorted blankly, challenging her to argue further. "I'm not leaving you." He said again, returning his hand to her cheek and silencing her completely. Her whole body shivered under his touch, the feel of his skin touching hers sending sparks through her frail body. "What did he do to you?" He whispered darkly, his lower lip quivering as he looked over her once more. Mitchie just stared at him, her body involentary frozen as her mind thrashed with thousands of questions.
What was he doing here?
Why was he helping her?
What about Ruby?
Ruby!
Mitchie quickly remembered about the malicious blonde.
"Shane…Ruby…" Mitchie started but he interrupted her weak words.
"Ruby means nothing to me, Mitchie. We're not going out…it's fake." Shane mumbled, clearly embarrassed as he looked deeply into her eyes, unable to read her stunned, pained and fearful expression."I still love you, Mitchie. More than anything in this word…. And that will never change. I know you've found someone else, but I just want you to know that, I love you, so much." Shane told her. "Oh god, look at you." Shane added under his breath, tears pushing up his throat as he bit back a sob. He had never felt so sick in his life, his whole mind unable to comprehend just how someone could hurt a person as magnificent and beautiful as Mitchie.
Mitchie froze, her body attempting to take in the information as Shane bent over her body, attempting to undo the ropes that bound her to the chair.
"I'm going to get you out of here, Mitch, don't worry." Shane promised, although the fear in his voice suggested otherwise.
'I love you, too' Mitchie thought, but she couldn't say it, her entire body had turned to stone. Her mind unable to establish what was happening to her.
This was all too much.
And it was about to get a lot worse.
"Get away from her." Another voice bellowed.
Shane jumped up, turning to Alex who stood only a few meters away, anger etched into his features.
"You." Shane snarled as he stared at Alex and stepped in front of Mitchie's body. "I'm going to kill you." He bellowed, his body shaking with fury.
"Oh, really?" Alex said with a smirk as he lifted his hand, displaying the gun, which he so happily pointed in Shane's direction. "Time's up." He whispered, placing his finger upon the trigger.
A/N: Wow, I'm so sorry for leaving you with that! Now, that is some serious drama, I expect some death threats will be directed for me this chapter!! :D
Please review, and let me know....should Shane die!?! Mwah ha ha ha!
Love you all!
Emma. x