Chapter 8:
Ally's POV:
My dirty blonde waves hang in my face as I lie down on my side, hanging my arm over the mattress. There is an eerie silence all around me, I can usually hear the television, or maybe it's a radio; but I don't hear anything. Maybe he is asleep, but I'm almost positive he wouldn't be. I have the times he comes in here pretty much memorized, it's always the same time every day that he brings me breakfast, and dinner. And right now it's past dinner time.
I sit up and lean my back against the wall. Maybe he did something to himself, maybe this is my chance to make an escape. But I have no way to know for sure, and I don't want to risk making him mad. Suddenly, I hear the noise from the television (or radio) and my heart shatters all over again.
Austin's POV:
The floor creaks under me as I walk into what must have been the kitchen at one point. The cabinet doors have all fallen off and are in old worn out pieces on the floor. There is something that looks like it may have been a fridge at one point, and that's about it. I turn around to walk back into the other room when a mouse runs out in front of me; I jump back and stop myself from screaming like a girl. I'm not afraid of them, but that one came out of nowhere.
I walk into the main hall and study the stairway to the second floor. There are many different holes in the steps and I'm afraid to go up there, but it must be safe if the cops searched the place. They wouldn't have skipped looking upstairs, that's for sure. When I put one foot on the bottom stairs, I hear a noise. I turn around and stop, listening intently.
It's very quiet, but I know I hear something, it almost sounds like people talking. I listen in every direction I can to try and make out where it's coming from. I almost think it's coming from; below me. I kneel down and put my ear to the floorboards, and I hear it louder, its multiple voices; a television maybe, or a radio? Either way; someone is down there.
I start to panic as I stand up. I stay quiet, not wanting to make any noise to give myself away. How can I get down there? I tip toe over to the kitchen, remembering I saw a door in the corner of the room. I open it slowly and reveal the basement. It's getting darker now, but I can still see without needing a light; which I don't have.
I walk slowly down the stairs, but its pitch black. The noise is getting a little louder. When I walk in further, something bumps me on the head. I feel around for it and pull on the string, turning on the light. The room is small, and it's filled with tools and other old items. And that's when the noise stops.
Ally's POV:
The eerie silence suddenly reappears. What is he doing? I can't help but wonder. I tip toe over to the door and listen. I can hear quiet ruffling behind the door, and then everything goes still, "Hello?" I whisper through the door.
"Shut up!" He whispers back.
Why is he whispering? Is there someone out there that he's hiding from?
Austin's POV:
I freeze in my spot, letting my eyes search the room. It's so small, there can't be anyone else in here, but that noise is definitely not a hallucination. My eyes get tired from scanning the room for longer than I can count, and that's when I see it; a small opening under one of the shelves.
I walk over to it slowly, and bend down to study it. It's a crack in the wall, like a bottom of door that's slightly ajar, but it's supposed to blend in the wall, be hidden. He must be in there; this has to be it right? I don't think I could take anymore disappointment. If she isn't here, I'm going to really lose it. But I shouldn't just go inside and do this myself. Officer Clark would have a fit. But they are the ones that missed this door after all… Plus, this is my uncle; maybe I can talk some sense into him? What am I thinking? This isn't my uncle anymore. He kidnapped someone, and that someone happens to be my best friend.
Maybe if I just call Officer Clark… I reach into my pocket for my phone, and when I feel nothing I realize I left it in the car. I turn around to go get it when I remember I didn't even have cell service. I turn back to face the shelf and hidden door. This is it; it's either I do this myself, or risk him leaving with her and then never being able to find her, or even him doing something much worse. I like the first option.
I start to slowly take off all of the junk on the shelf. When I'm done, I study how the area. How does the shelf come off? There has to be an easy way, because I'm sure he has come in and out many times. The more I study, I realize that the shelf is attached to the door, and will move with it. I pull at it slowly, and it starts to move.
Ally's POV:
"What's going on?" I whisper through the door.
"Be quiet until I tell you otherwise." He spits back at me.
I back away from the door and walk back towards my bed, when I realize. What do I have to lose? Either I rot in here for the rest of my life, or I do something that could potentially get me hurt or killed if I piss him off. Either way has a horrible ending, I mind as well risk it.
"HELP ME!" I scream at the top of my lungs.
Austin's POV:
"HELP ME!" I hear from a distance.
I freeze in my tracks, stopping the door from hurting any further. I hear it again, and I know that voice; it's Ally. I want to yell back, I want to tell her I'm here for her, but I don't want to give myself away. But one thing I know, if she's randomly calling for help now, he must know someone is here. He could be anywhere, watching me or listening for me; ready to hurt me at any moment. My eyes wander around the slightly lit up room. I walk over to the light and shut it off. I walk upstairs to the basement door loudly and slam it shut, hoping he'll think that I left.
I walk back down as quietly as possible and stand beside the shelf door, where if it's open I'll be hidden behind it. I hold my breath and wait; that's when the footsteps start. He actually fell for it, or he's just coming to kill me. This is the time I realize I really should have grabbed something sharp, or heavy…
The door swings open, almost hitting me in the process, causing me to jump back as gracefully as possible. I try to get my eyes to adjust to the darkness, as I watch his shadowy figure walk up towards the stairs; this is my chance. When I hear him open the basement door, I scurry over to where I remember a tool box being. I grab a hammer, and a crow bar, and jog into the door he came out of.
It is a little more lit up then the other room, and I realize it's a long hallway. There are three doors on each side; she could be in any of them. But the worst part is she stopped yelling… Why? What did he do to her? I jog through the hallway and go to the first door on the right. I know I don't have much time at all; he's probably noticed my car in the driveway by now.
The first door looks like a small kitchen. There are dirty plates and take out boxes everywhere, along with a really dirty sink full of more plates. It smells horrible in there too; I don't think he's ever washed a dish in his life. That's one room down, five more to go.
I go to the next one on the same side, it's a bathroom. I don't waste any time in there. The next room, is completely empty; nothing! I really hope there isn't a trap door in there, because I don't have time to look. I start at the last door on the other side when I hear his footsteps. I walk into the room and shut the door behind me, leaning against it, listening. The room behind me is dark, probably another empty space, but I'm too worried about him right now.
I'm listening for his footsteps when I hear a whimper behind me. It makes me almost jump out of my skin. I turn around and look. There is someone in the corner of the room, curled up and facing the wall. Their hair is a bright shade of blonde, and they are shaking uncontrollably. Does he have others here? That sick bastard…
I walk over slowly, not putting my back to the door, "Hello? Are you okay?" I whisper into the darkness. They don't respond, but they let out another whimper.
I get closer, and kneel down next to them, "I'm Austin, and I'm not going to hurt you." I whisper.
That's when she turns around, and I'd know that face from anywhere, even with blonde hair and dirt covering her forehead, "Ally." I whisper in shock.
She sees me and bursts into quiet sobs as she jumps into my arms, completely knocking me over, but she doesn't let go, she clings onto my neck for dear life as she lies on top of me. I rub her back soothingly, "It's okay. I'm here now Ally. I'm so glad I found you; I couldn't live with myself if I lost you. But we need to go, he's out there." I whisper in her ear.
"Okay." She says slowly.
I sit up as she gets off of me, standing behind me, "Who is he? Where is he?" She whispers. I can't tell her right now, I shouldn't tell her. What if she thinks differently of me if she knows it's my uncle? What would go through her mind? I can't tell her now.
"It doesn't matter Alls, we just have to get out. Here take this." I say, handing her the hammer.
"What's that for?" She asks.
"To defend yourself; just in case." I say.
She grabs my hand before we start to walk over to the door. Her hand feels cold and small in my big warm ones. I can't believe he died her hair, but I can tell why. If it wasn't for knowing Caroline was dead, I would have thought it was her. It's so weird how much they resemble each other.
I stop at the door and listen. I don't hear anything; it's dead silent. I know that that is not a good thing. I don't want to open the door; I don't want something to happen. I don't want to lose Ally when she's right in the palm of my hand. I feel complete again, like my heart is whole; I really am in love with her. I turn to face her, and she looks at me slowly, "Listen Ally. I'm going to open this door, and honestly I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what he's going to do, but just stay by me and don't let go of my hand no matter what, okay? And if you have to use it, use the hammer." I tell her.
She looks me straight in the eye, and I could just die right there. Looking at the shape she's in and the pain in her eyes, I could kill my uncle right now for putting her through this. She just nods in response. I take the door knob in my hand, and turn it.
Author's Note: Sorry i had to the chapter there. I know, i'm cruel, i'm mean etc. But i realize that the story is sort of short because there isn't much i could put in between what's going on without sounding like a broken record. So here's your chapter, don't worry there will be more!