AN: ok first I am soooo sorry I haven't been posting in like forever. school started up again not too long ago and I have had no time to write thanks to my teachers :o I am going to try to post at least 1 chapter over the weekend or days when I have off. Again sorry I won't be posting much but its just because I am super busy with school now and sports and all that crap.
Hanna's POV
I didn't realize how strong Melissa is. It all happened so fast I didn't have time to acknowledge what happened. Thanks to her I now have a busted lip and bruises on my arms and legs. Plus my face hurt like hell. I couldn't move because of all the pain and Melissa had tied my arms behind my back. I tried to wiggle my hands out of the rope but I couldn't . My hands were too big. I always hated my hands. They were the one feature on me I wish I could change. They are like the size of a baseball mitt. I desperately want small, petite sized arms like Alison's. Thinking about Alison made me realize how perfect she was. It wasn't fair. Everything went right for her. Well, except for getting murdered—but still she always got what she wanted. Everyone loved her, she did whatever she wanted and got away with it.
When I was known as "hefty Hanna" in 6th grade, I started to think nothing good would ever happen to me. My parents were splitting up, I couldn't fit into any clothes, and I was so ugly and nerdy I was scared to go to school sometimes because of the names people were calling me. I think it was Alison who started the name game. And when I finally found out and confronted her about it, she said, "C'mon honey. We all know it's true." But now I know I will never be the same Hanna Marin I was in 6th grade. I got my confidence back; I lost loads of weight and became friends with some of the coolest people in Rosewood High.
After a while I tried one more time to get my hands out of the rope but I failed miserably. I thought how much I wished Caleb was here right now. He would comfort me and put his warm arms around me while I sobbed into his chest. Thinking about him and how much I missed him made me cry. I hadn't seen him for a really long time. He wasn't responding to my texts or returning my calls. He hasn't even been to school for the past week. I went to his house to see if he was there, but I didn't see any cars in the driveway. All the lights were turned off. It didn't look like anyone had lived in the house for years. After that, I kind of lost hope I would see him for a while. It was horrible to think about but I had to force myself past all of the pain and hurt to understand what was going on with Caleb.
I didn't want to think about being trapped in the basement or not seeing Caleb anymore; I closed my eyes and let the tears that had been built up inside of me pour down my face.
Aria's POV
When Melissa was beating me up, I felt helpless. She was too strong and I was too weak. Of course, no one likes to think about themselves being too defenseless to fight, but that's just the way it is. If only Ezra was here. He would protect me from Melissa, scoop me up in his muscular arms and then buy me a coffee at the brew. I sighed. If only he was here. Then everything would be ok.
As I sat on the ground with my hands tied behind my back, I tried to think of something –anything to get my hands untied. Then I noticed not too far in front of me, a small, pointy looking object glittered in the darkness. I stood up and slowly walked towards whatever this mysterious object was. I bent down and saw it was a knife. A knife! What kind of basement is this? It has huge Barbie dolls, bricks, and apparently knives. Then realization dawned on me. This was it. This is how I am going to get free!
I turned around so that my back was facing the knife. I stretched my hands as far as they could until I felt the handle of the knife in my hands. I it held in my hands and began to cut through the rope. I was pretty successful and managed to only cut myself once or twice. When my hands were free, I jumped up into the air raising my arms high. I did it! I actually did it! Now all I had to do was find Hanna.
Moments later, I found her slumped against the wall. I shouted her name but she didn't answer. I tried again but nothing. As I got closer I could see her eyes were closed. Good job, Hanna. Just when I am about to rescue you, you decide to take a nap. I shook her shoulders gently at first, trying not to startle her. But after a while, I thought, screw gentile! I slapped her face a bunch of times and yelled in her ear. She opened her eyes wide and let out a scream. I quickly covered her mouth with my hand.
H- what the hell, Aria?!
A- your welcome! If it wasn't for me, you would still be snoozing away, giving A the perfect chance to get you.
H- you mean Melissa.
A- yah. I can't believe she is A!
H- I know right? I mean, why her?
A- I have no idea. But I do know if we don't get out of here fast, we will end up like Ian. *shivers*
H- but first it would be nice to have my hands back. Hey, how did you get out?
A- easy. (holds up knife)
H- why didn't I think of that?
A- (shrugs) I dunno. But c'mon. Let me free your hands.
H- thanks.
Hanna turned around and I easily cut into the rope without cutting Hanna.
A- now. We should probably look for Spencer.
H- yah. She can't be too far.
A- you never know what A could have done to her. I hope she is still here.
H- she has to be.
A- yah. *looks away*
H- hey, what's wrong?
A- it's just—every time we seem to be heading in the right direction, we come crashing down.
H- I know what you mean. But I promise, as soon as we find Spencer, together the 3 of us will find a way out of this creepy old basement.
A- and then it will be all over.
H- *nods*
A- I'll look over here, and you look over there.
H- ok.
I took one last look at Hanna before I started to look. Her words still rang in my ears. I hoped she was right, that we would find Spencer and get out of here. But then what? There was still A—Melissa to deal with. Then I remembered what Hanna said. Together. Together we will make it out of here, confront A, and end this. Together.
