Thanks for the reviews, everyone. I'm glad you all like it. I hope that continues. ;) Anyways, on with the story!
Oliver, the wounded boy's name, lay in the corner of the van, unconscious. Meredith had stopped the bleeding, at least externally. She didn't want to even think about all the internal injuries he could be suffering. He could slip away at any moment. Unfortunately, his teenage friends didn't seem too worried about that happening as they once again ignored her recommendation to go back to the hospital.
"How'd this happen?" Meredith asked, breaking through the silence that had settled in the van. "Was there some kind of knifing war? Because we got a couple other kids who came into the hospital with similar wounds…"
Wes shrugged, fingering his own pocketknife. "Nonya business."
She nodded, more to herself than anyone else. "So, I think it's time you let me go now. I helped your friend. You'll be a lot safer if you guys let me go."
"Yeah? Why's that?" TJ asked from the front seat. "So you can go tell your cop friends where to find us?"
"My husband is the chief of that hospital you just kidnapped me from. He has every cop out there searching for me. If you let me go, I can call him and the cops deplete to a handful. You'll have a better chance of escape if you let me go right now."
Wes glanced at TJ, worried, but the driver just smirked. "You think we're stupid or somethin'?" The older boy wanted to know. "We let you go and they catch us, you ID us and we go away for life. Nuh-uh, not happenin', sista."
"If you just—"
"Shut up! Shut the fuck up!" TJ screamed from the front seat, losing any patience he had left. "You have a death wish or somethin'?"
Meredith swallowed, fear evident in her eyes as his voice rose. She looked at Wes, her unblinking gaze made him squirm.
"TJ… come on man… what are ya doin'?"
"What I need to, man." TJ responded, sounding serious and exhausted. "I ain't lettin' anyone send us back to juvy. We ain't goin' back there. They'll kill Oli."
The mention of the younger boy made Wes tense up. He swallowed and glanced back at Meredith. His eyes saying more than his words ever could. She knew in that instant that it would take a miracle for her to get out of here alive.
"How's he holdin' up?" Wes asked, gesturing to his injured friend.
Meredith closed her eyes. "I don't know. I can't know. I did what I could, but for all I know he could be bleeding internally. If—" She didn't finish her sentence as a sound cut her short. A siren.
"Aww, man…! Shit!" TJ cursed, glancing into the review mirror as the red and blue lights flashed into view. "How'd they find us?"
Meredith glanced out the tinted rear window as a police car followed them from a couple feet away. Hope flashed across her eyes. Her freedom was just seconds away, she could feel it. She allowed a small smile to form on the corners of her lips. She would see Derek soon. Everything was going to be okay. She was saved.
"Man, what are we gunna do?"
Tj drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he cast another glance towards the following vehicle.
Meredith knew he wasn't about to give up. He had made that very clear. Her eyes widened as she realized what his only option was—what he was about to do. The hope inside her was short lasting, like someone who blew up a balloon and let the air out immediately. She wasn't going to get out of here alive. She wasn't going to see Derek or Cristina, or anyone else for that matter again. Her feeling was back. The feeling that told her she wasn't going to live much longer. She swallowed, trying to process everything at once.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She found herself speaking as TJ began to accelerate. Why was she even talking? It was of no use. She would be dead soon. "Please… just stop the car. It'll be better for everyone."
"Shut up, bitch!" TJ snapped, pushing his foot down to the floor.
The car jerked at the sudden speed, as though it was trying to catch up to the demanded pace, which in the process, sent everyone in the back crashing to the floor. Meredith cried out in pain as the wrist she had tweaked when she was first thrown into the van hit metal. Her head collided with the rear of the car, and for a moment, she thought she would lose consciousness.
"A little warnin' next time, man!" Wes screamed at his partner-in-crime. He looked at Meredith, pulling out his pocketknife as he did, as though he was expecting trouble. "You okay, blondie?"
She swallowed and nodded as she rubbed her hand over her sprained wrist. She was too scared to respond with words. Wes ran his fingers across the blade of his knife, which she knew would soon be across her neck.
"This is the police! Pull your vehicle over immediately!" A voice boomed through a blow horn.
TJ laughed. Apparently he didn't think this whole situation was serious anymore. "Not happenin', brotha!"
Meredith's small frame took a beating at every turn. She tried to steady herself against a wall, but every sudden turn would send her rolling across the floor. It was pointless. She knew by tomorrow she would be covered in bruises. If I'm alive tomorrow…
"Watch this!" She heard TJ snicker from the front. That's the last thing she remembers before she was thrown across the van and faded into the world of unconsciousness.
Ta-da! Whatdaya think? Drop a review and let me know.